What Teachers Can Do

A child is endowed with fundamental human rights -- the right to life; good health; protection from violence, abuse and discrimination; education; and an adequate standard of living. The survival and well-being of today's children is inseparably linked to the peace of tomorrow's world. However, there are still a lot of children who are suffering from malnutrition, ill health, inadequate or no schooling, poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water -- and gender discrimination and abuse. You may know some of them.

You have direct contact with children to positively influence both their education and their future. You can reach out to children to raise awareness about child protection issues in the fight against all kinds of child abuse. Your role demands commitment and understanding both in the classroom and in reaching out to the community. You can help equip children with skills for life.

Child protection can be incorporated into all class subjects using a range of activities, and outside of formal teaching well.

We must ensure that all children are born healthy and develop in a nurturing environment; that all children are educated in a safe, effective and protective environment; and that adolescents have ample positive opportunities to develop and participate in activities which affect themselves and their future in many positive ways.

Related Online Resources

• The Right to Education

• The Convention on the Rights of the Child

• Implications of the Convention on the Rights of the Child for education

The issue of child protection can be discussed through five meaningful dimensions: participation, access, prevention, discipline and violence, and instability.