Children's Day is about celebrating children, an opportunity for us to give time to our children and to have fun together. What are you going to do on Children's Day?
| Children's Day is about celebrating children, an opportunity for us to give time to our children and to have fun together. |
It is fifty years since the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed Universal Children's Day in 1954, as a time to promote friendship and understanding among children. It is time to honour our children and to make the children's needs known to the government.
The implementation of the Convention on the Right of the Child that Singapore ratified in 1995 faces serious challenges, the most difficult of which is the cultural attitudes of our families.
The parents prefer to use the cane too often then talk or listen to the child, "submissiveness" is inculcate as a value, with no respect for the child's emotional development and rights. So much pressure to study and do homework but no time for play, fun and creativeness!
The rights of young children are often violated. A child rights-based policy approach is much needed. The vulnerable and discriminated groups are children with disabilities, child with single parent, children from poor families and with unemployed parents.
Children who grow up with respect from others will become individuals who respect others - do you respect the child and the child's right? If our children learn about our rights and about other people and cultures, we can live together in harmony and peace. They can learn it is not wrong to be different but it is wrong to be treated differently if you are. Our dreams for our children is for them to inherit a more just and peaceful world, to have a better quality of life and decent job! The best way to change the world is through our children.
1. The governments support for the 1996 Stockholm Declaration on protecting children especially in overcoming child prostitution and child-sex tourism. The government should adopt the declaration soon.
2. Singapore's ratification of ILO Convention 182 on the Elimination of the worse form of child labour in 2001.
3. The government will soon ratify the ILO Convention 138 known as the Minimum Age Convention. Convention 138 states that only those aged 15 and above could enter the labour force after completing compulsory education.
4. The Parliaments recent amendment to the Employment Act which raised the minimum working age while allowing those between 13 to 15 years to perform light work. Those above 15 years could work on jobs that are non-hazardous to their health.
1. Call for a Children Week: "The children's Week" should be celebrate with the participation of schools, playgroups, kindergartens, cultural groups, libraries and community clubs. The event should develop a sense of self worth, that they respect the dignity of every human being. Focus on the right of children to live their lives with confidence and in safety so that they can mature emotionally and intellectually as good citizens and future leaders.
2. The poor children without lights in public housing estates [per month on average 3000 families are without power]: Children should not be deprived from proper environment for their education. The government could easily prevent this in a rich and wealth country like Singapore. Invest in the education of the children;
3. Non-discrimination means that all children regardless of race, religion and disabilities have the same right to develop their potential - all children, including children born out of wedlock and children with single parent;
4. All Children should have access to education which must include human rights education at all level. Allocating $220m for schools to assist the disabled children is a good start. But much more is needed to remove the various discriminations and promote education on the rights of the child;
5. The government should consider including a two-year pre-primary education as compulsory, and not just as an option;
6. While the 5 day school week is encouraging but it should provide for the right to play;
7. The need for a change in cultural and traditional attitudes of the families, the recognition and respect of the rights of the child, and the participation of children at home, school and the neighbourhood groups among other things.
Sources and Relevant Links:
Think Centre Let a hundred flowers bloom - Bring joy to our children
