Children’s Parliaments Where Children Are Seen And Heard

I wonder what children’s would dream up for the World.  I am sure it will astound adults.  Children are not seen and heard still, even though they speak more, they are not acknowledged as equal participants at the table.  The decisions of adults affect children, yet I feel adults can learn from the innocence of children.  A state of play long forgotten.

Here is a summary I wrote about a Children’s Parliament.  I have written a Children’s Circle forum as I feel we need to shift from politics and return to forums to really hear each other and support each other in new visions.

 

A Children’s Parliament – What is Your Vote?

 “If you assume that there’s no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, there are opportunities to change things, there’s a chance for you to contribute to making a better world. That’s your choice.”

Noam Chomsky

A Global Crisis

It is evident that World leaders and decision makers have been aware for decades of  unsustainable life patterns and have been unable to mobilize the collective willingness to change direction in order to ensure and secure a future for the children to inherit.

The evidence that we must change the way we see and act in the world is overwhelming, examples are as follows:

James Speth, an environmental advisor to former US Presidents outlines the situation and our responsibility:

A global crisis has unfolded quickly, and, as in a classic Greek tragedy, we have been told what the future may hold, but so far we seem unable to step from the path to disaster that has been mapped out for us.  The last act is about to begin…  The Royal Society in Britain, supports those who believe that ‘we are standing on the breaking tip of the sixth great wave of extinction in the history of life on earth…it is different…it is caused…by us[i]

On January 12, 2001, 100 of the World’s Nobel Peace Laureates published a ‘Dire Warning For Planet Earth’, reinforcing the idea that it is time to change the way we think:

The most profound danger to world peace in the coming years will stem not from the irrational acts of states or individuals but from the legitimate demands of the world’s dispossessed… It is time to turn our backs on the unilateral search for security, in which we seek to shelter behind walls.   Instead, we must persist in the quest for united action to counter both global warming and a weaponised world.  To survive in the world we have transformed, we must learn to think in a new way. As never before, the future of each depends on the good of all.[ii]

Mahatma Gandhi, a powerful advocate of nonviolence could see clearly that the greatest force at the disposal of mankind was principled nonviolence.  For Gandhi, this was not simply the absence of violence it was the outcome of internalising the intrinsic values of nonviolence and truth, as the core to who we are as humans.   Satyagraha (holding on to truth) and ahimsa (love or nonviolence) were the pillars of his creed.   It was through the integration of the mind (truth) and the heart (love) that Gandhi discovered the integration of emotional and intellectual intelligence which provided a basis for infinite patience and inner strength.  He realized that universal values are the real power and real hope for humankind.   

The Future Is In the Hands of Children

 Gandhi saw the future in the hands of the children:

“If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we have to begin with the children.”

 Children from all walks of life across the world will inherit complex and difficult challenges in the future such as.   

environmental depletion and destruction, world governance power and control issues, nuclear weapons, war and terrorism, disease, AIDS and HIV, social displacement, family breakdown, psychological disorders, violent resolution of disputes, unfullfilment and a sense of meaningless in their lives.  

 Urie Bronfenbrenner from Cornell University (developmental psychologist) states that the hecticness, instability and inconsistency of daily family life are rampant in all segments of society.  He says that what is at stake is nothing less than the next generation.  That we are depriving millions of children of their competence and moral character.    This raises questions in respect to how children are going to cope when confronted with so many emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical problems in the future.

 Empowerment of children provides them with the essential emotional (values, feelings) and intellectual (cognitive, analytical) skills to prepare them to deal with the challenges in the future.    According to Daniel Goleman in his paper ‘Emotional Intelligence’ we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels and the intellect cannot work best without emotional intelligence.  He can see hope in a new paradigm which urges us to harmonise head and heart.

Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlights the importance of emotional intelligence succinctly:

“Human rights are inscribed in the hearts of people; they were there long before lawmakers drafted their first proclamation.”[iii]

In the decade since the Convention on the Rights of the Child more than 2 million children have been killed and 6 million injured or disabled in armed conflict.  Tens of thousands have been maimed by landmines.  The proliferation of light weapons has meant more child soldiers fighting adult wars.  More than 4.3 million children under 15 have died from AIDS and 1.4 million are living with HIV (7,000 infected per day).  In addition, 30% of children under 5 suffer malnutrition and 1 child in 10 is living below the poverty line (rich countries inclusive).  Thus for every step forward, failures to act or fulfill promises undermines progress for children. 

Children are the next generation it is imperative we now put children first.[iv]

The Global Movement for Children is a force for change involving every citizen and nation and states the betterment of children’s lives starts with you.  The GMC has a wide range of organisations working together as a force for change. 

An example of the calibre of organisations include: Oxfam, Plan – Save the Children, UNICEF, World Vision, CARE, ENDA – Latin American and Caribbean Network for Children, NetAid and  Alliance of Youth CEOs.[v] 

In 2001, the campaign ‘Say Yes for Children’ was launched and is speaking out on 10 imperative actions necessary for improving the lives of children, as follows:

 

  1. Leave No Child Out.  All forms of discrimination and exclusion against children must end.
  2. Put Children First.  It is the responsibility of everyone – governments, individuals, non-government organizations, religious groups, the private sector and children and adolescents themselves to ensure that children’s rights are respected.
  3. Care for Every Child.  Ensure all children the best possible start in life.
  4. Fight HIV/AIDS.   Protect children and adolescents and their families.
  5. Stop Harming and Exploiting Children.  Violence and abuse must be stopped now.  And the sexual and economic exploitation of children must end.
  6. Listen to Children.  Respect the rights of children and young people to express themselves and to participate in making decisions that affect them.
  7. Educate Every Child.  Every child – all girls and boys – must be allowed to learn.
  8. Protect Children from War.  No child should experience the horrors of armed conflict.
  9. Protect the Earth for Children.  Safeguard the environment at the global, national and local levels.
  10. Fight Poverty:  Invest in Children.   Invest in services that benefit the poorest children and their families, such as basic health care and primary education.  Make the well-being of children a priority objective of debt relief programmes, development assistance and government spending.

 

Over 94 million people have said ‘Yes’ in the campaign.  Results were reported at the UN Special Session on Children.[vi]

In May 2002, The United Nations Special Session on Children held the most important international conference on children in more than a decade.  It was organised to review progress since the World Summit for Children in 1990 and to re-energise global commitment to children’s rights.  More than 7,000 people participated in which the nations of the world committed themselves to a series of goals to improve the situation for children with the vision of creating a world fit for children. 

 

 Children Are the Decision Makers of the Future

 

Youth Parliaments Are Worldwide

 The One World Network shares Gandhi’s vision that we must begin with the children.   It is critical that children around the world become actively engaged in groups and forums such as Children’s Parliaments that enable them to express their opinions and feelings.  A Children’s Parliament is an excellent forum for learning to express viewpoints and develop skills in problems solving and decision making, representation (villages, schools, communities), conflict resolution, teamwork and democratic participation.

 So what exactly is a parliament?

 The word ‘parliament’ comes from the French word for speaking.  A Children’s Parliament provides a context to amplify the voice of children, develop their ability to make democratic decisions and generate unique solutions that will affect their future.    The Children’s Parliament will give children a voice which will have profound effects on the future of their world.    

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child encourages children’s participation and visibility.  Stephen Lewis, Executive Director, UNICEF states:

The most powerful change wrought by the Convention is the way in which children have become visible. Politicians, media, NGOs and broader civil society feel a clear obligation to include children in their respective public domains, interventions, dialogues, debates, mandates. You can’t ignore children any longer and get away with it. The Convention has raised consciousness in dramatic fashion (1999).[vii]

Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights children’s inclusiveness in decision making processes that affect their lives:

Children have the right to participate in decision-making processes that may be relevant in their lives and to influence decisions taken in their regard — within the family, the school or the community. The practical meaning of children’s right to participation must be considered in each and every matter concerning children. Article 12 indicates that children need to be involved in the process of realising their rights. As a fundamental right of the child, the right to participation stands on its own; it requires a clear commitment and effective actions to become a living reality and therefore is much more than a simple strategy. [viii]

The Children’s Parliament is not a new concept.  There are many different types of Youth Parliaments around the world.   UNICEF reports that many countries are setting up Youth Parliaments to enable children to gain official representation and participate in forums so that their views are heard.[ix]    Many projects focus on teaching children about democracy and the parliamentary system.   

As a result of participating in projects, children develop the self-esteem and skills that empower and prepare them to participate productively, constructively and meaningfully and as citizens in participatory or democratic societies.  These skills include:

 

  • enhancing self esteem;
  • developing problem solving abilities;
  • developing decision making and responsibility;
  • developing creative new policies and solutions;
  • facilitating  community participation;
  • experiencing democracy and citizenship.

 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is actively involved in facilitating Youth Parliament’s.   UNICEF indicate that these are exciting times for the youth and that there is a shift in attitudes of politicians, leaders, non-government organizations in respect of children.  This shift is beginning to focus on the rights of children to have a say and to be heard.  So no more the practice of being seen but not heard.[x] 

UNICEF supports and encourages governments to involve children at the national level.  UNICEF cite the example of Mexico where almost 3.8 million children and adolescents were involved in a government poll of their opinions on issues of concern.[xi]

Oxfam’s International Youth Parliaments (Oxfam IYP) work for positive and lasting change in communities by supporting young people in 150 countries.  The aim is ‘youth building an equitable, sustainable and peaceful world’.

Soraya Mentoor a child from South Africa attended the UNESCO International Youth Leadership conference, and described youth in this way:

Youth are the leaders of today and not tomorrow.

We are assets not liabilities.

We are solutions and not a problem to be solved. [xii]



[i] Speth, J.    Red Sky At Morning – America and The Crisis of the Global Environment, p34, 2004, Published by James Gustave Speth

[iii] http://www.unicef.org/crc/crc.htm

[iv] www.unicef.org/gmfc/what.htm

[v] http://www.gmfc.org/index.php/gmc6/content/view/full/184

[vi] www.unicef.org/gmfc/what.htm

[x] UNICEF ‘Voices of Youth: Explore’ http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_152.html

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Mohandas Gandhi

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”

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