Issue
In Somalia’s fragmented environment, children and women continue to be the most vulnerable groups with their rights to survival, protection, development and participation consistently violated. Absence of meaningful participation by a critical mass of Somali children and women has deprived them of the opportunity to contribute to social development initiatives. Beyond deprivation, this has manifested itself in a range of abuses, violations and both petty and large-scale tyranny, practised for the most part with impunity. The spread of HIV/AIDS, the further perpetuation of violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination against children, particularly girls, and the deepening disenfranchisement of young people are among the high societal prices to be paid. What is the CPP programme? The Communication, Protection and participation (CPP) programme seeks to provide a human rights based framework to influence behavioural change for Somali children and youth. It focuses on communication for development, youth as agents of change, protecting children from violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination, and HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and control. HIV/AIDS prevalence in Somalia is regarded as low despite the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the surrounding countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. A baseline knowledge-attitudes-practices (KAP) and sero-prevalence study in the Northwest in 1999 found that the overall prevalence of HIV amongst antenatal patients was 0.9 percent. However, very mobile high risk groups have had an effect, and the numbers are changing. In addition, Somalia has a high prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and low awareness on HIV transmission. Combined with high levels of stigma and discrimination, these factors could quickly evolve into a serious problem unless there is rapid and adequate support for carefully designed HIV/AIDS prevention and control across Somalia. Recent studies suggest violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination against children continue on a wide scale. Low education levels, poor access to safe water and sanitation, and inadequate health and nutrition services demonstrate a prevailing lack of human rights accountability within Somalia, for which children remain the foremost victims. Children the foremost victims Children and youth are among the most vulnerable Somalis, and many have known nothing but conflict and hardship. Many have suffered displacement and have observed, experienced and sometimes participated in violence. A majority have never experienced normal, stable social relationships and systems of governance, had no opportunity for education, or have had their education interrupted. Many are exposed to weapons, khat (a plant stimulant) chewing and other social ills. This isolation has resulted in the formation of loose youth groups that are struggling to express their need to be involved in community development activities. Among them are growing categories of children who are in need of special care and protection. These categories include the internally displaced, children from minority groups, the very poor, orphans, disabled children, working children, children living in the streets, militia children and children in conflict with the law. Girls are especially disadvantaged in most of these categories. However, rather than being seen as marginalized or disaffected, youth can be powerful catalysts for rights-based demand creation and, with practical assistance, can become agents for community empowerment. Adopting a human rights-based approach to programming implicates humanitarian agencies to strengthening and better integrating programme outreach, to effectively support young voices in expressing and articulating their human rights requirements at all levels of society.
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