As a Dutch student on exchange in Singapore, I had the opportunity to attend "Children's Day Forum" organized by the Singaporean NGO Think Centre. The speakers addressed children rights in relation to handicapped children and youths, income and race, and the impact of foreign domestic workers on the child.
October 1th was International Children's day. Issues concerning the Human Rights of children are often related to developing and war prone counties and most often revolve around child soldiers, child labor, and education, to name just a few. Although these problems definitely deserve attention, it remains important, however, to address seemingly less urgent matters which afflict even highly developed countries. The issues concerning Children's Rights that these societies face are often more subtle and, therefore, harder to address. These are issues such as discrimination, abuse and even poverty.
As a Dutch student on exchange in Singapore, I had the opportunity to attend "Children's Day Forum" organized by the Singaporean NGO Think Centre. The speakers addressed children rights in relation to handicapped children and youths, income and race, and the impact of foreign domestic workers on the child. Although the latter sounded a bit unfamiliar to me (to my knowledge live-in domestic workers are not a wide spread phenomena in the Netherlands), The Netherlands does face comparable problems in other aspects. Moreover, not only are some of the issues the same, the problems around solving them are surprisingly similar.
While I am hardly an expert, there is no denying that the Netherlands is facing problems concerning poverty and income disparity, especially affecting the immigrant population. While the Netherlands has greatly prospered after the Second World War, the past few decades have also coincided with the slow breakdown of a social safety net (e.g. unemployment insurance, universal health insurance etc.) that proved to be too costly. Although the Netherlands as a trading nation has benefited from a more open and liberal market economy, it has also led to greater income disparities.
The Netherlands has free education until the age of 16. However, children from poorer families do face increased obstacles when it comes to education. Poverty affects children in emotional, physical, and psychological ways ranging from a poor diet, influencing concentration, to literally having no space to do homework or have quiet time. These children are at risk of falling in a vicious circle of a lack of education and lower income jobs. Unfortunately, the first, second, and now even third generation of immigrants face increased risks. Not only has this group traditionally been on the low income side, they also face additional problems such as language barriers, and even discrimination. Studies show, for example, that the number of people of immigrant descent attending higher education in is extremely low compared to the native Dutch population. Obviously, immigrant children face certain environmental and institutional constraints, not faced by Dutch children, which inhibit their chances later in life.
Another serious issue in the Netherlands is that of abuse. According to the Child Abuse Reporting and Advisory Center, an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 children are victims of child abuse each year. In 2002 the Dutch Children's Rights Collective even concluded that the Dutch Government was violating the U.N. Convention on Children's Rights, and especially criticized the long waiting list for assistance to abused children. As a result of abuse, 40 to 50 children die each year.
Although there has been public outcry especially concerning the issue of child abuse, and whilst the government is making some attempts in solving issues, actual change seems to be an arduous process. Improving the rights for children in these cases require positive enforcement by the government, and for highly hierarchical institutions to be more flexible. It appears that change is more likely when there is an active civil society pursuing these issues. Organizations for the handicapped, for example, are plentiful in the Netherlands. They have successfully influenced the government and this has considerably improved the position of handicapped individuals. Also, many of these organizations provide additional resources to facilitate an integrated life in society. Although children with a handicap do face obstacles there are many facilities that allow them to attend regular schools and to perform well. Studies show, for example, that 60% of children with a visual impairment attend regular schools and that handicapped youths move on to higher education as frequent as non-handicapped.
Questioning, reviewing, and organizing seem to be most effective addressing issues concerning Children's rights in countries such as the Netherlands and Singapore. Sometimes policies are made with good intentions, but end up being counterproductive. These policies won't change if they are not brought to the forefront. Moreover, voices need to be heard in order to prevent the issues falling into simple cost-benefit analyses. Making laws that improve children's position is important, but to think that this is enough is a mistake. True equality in rights can only be reached when this equality is actively pursued. The government plays a vital role. However, civil society is crucial when it comes to guiding this role.
Sources and Relevant Links:
4th October 2003, the Think Centre Organised a Forum on the Rights of Children to celebrate International Children's Right Day [October 1st]. Marija participated at the Forum together with 30 other concern participants.
Think Centre Children's Day art installation at School
Think Centre Children Day's Display: Fabric for the Nation
