Ref: JU/ISF/06-07/e-225 Date: 11th November 2006 Dear
10 children and 4 NGO representatives from Goa are presently in Delhi participating in the India Social Forum. These were selected through participatory workshops on children's rights and children in a globalizing world, one earlier in May 06 and the other at the end of Oct. 06, organized jointly by ARZ, CRG, JAN UGAHI. A statement on the 2nd workshop, which was a more direct preparation for the ISF was circulated to the Press earlier.(Copy attached for your ready reference) We are attaching also the Declaration made by the children at the end of the workshop. You may want to consider publishing relevant parts of it for the information of the public. This would be much appreciated and a representation of the children's voices for a more child-friendly world and state. Gregory D'Costa. CHILDREN'S DECLARATION We, the seventy-three child participants, of the Goa Workshop on "Children in a globalizing world" held at Peaceful Society, Madkai, Goa from 28th October evening - 31st October afternoon, in view of presenting the issues affecting children as well as our demands, at the India Social Forum 2006, declare as under: The migration from the villages on account of poverty & lack of employment, displacement caused by Government, multinational projects, caste based conflicts/atrocities and natural calamities has resulted in a large number of our families having to be uprooted from our social and cultural bases and roots. In the process, in the host state, we are continually in a state of uncertainty and struggle due to lack of housing, sufficient job and income generation opportunities for our parents, the anti-migrant bias (especially against socially and economically backward migrants), fear of being evicted and displaced again and again from our dwelling places by the sarkar and bhatkar, harassment by the police, lack of necessary documentation of identity (age, residence, ration, voter identity), some of these even after years of stay or after being born here. Many of us, due to various reasons, are not able to pursue school, be it family pressures to work and contribute to family income, lack of necessary documents, lack of proper school facilities, discouragement due to poor performances, negative approach of teachers including discrimination based on region, caste and economics, punishment, change in the medium of instruction to English medium in the middle school, discrimination in school and outside on regional, economic, linguistic grounds. While there are Government hospitals and PHCS, discriminatory attitudes of staff especially to the outsiders/ghatis as the migrants are called and those without influence, as also other practices like charging Rs.20 for case paper, only prescribing and not providing medicine, makes it difficult for us to access the health system. Non availability of doctors in the hospital due to their private practices. As a result, we fall into the hands of the private health sector even though we cannot afford it. The urban setup combined with tourism in particular foreign tourist further leads to deep seated influences on our cultural and social development, in life style including language, dress, food habits, use of mobiles, effects on our behavior patterns. A process of victimization leading to violation of dignity and rights, takes place. We are exploited by employers, tourists, bhatkars, others for child labour, sexual abuse, and sometimes initiated into drinking alcohol, smoking, taking and peddling drugs. These are aided by middlemen from our own and the host community. There is also 'bal vyapar' or child trafficking taking place wherein children are brought to Goa from other states or taken to other states and abroad, by tourist paedophiles and other traffickers for the purpose of labour and sexual abuse children are also photographed and used for wrong purposes. The above structure and influences and the resultant violation of our rights leads to living in a state of insecurity and fear, vulnerability before the exploiters, cultivation of artificial needs and harmful habits, confusing the luxurious, fashionable, indecent with the necessary, good, decent, dropping out of school. It also leads to us not being able to grow up in a strong family and cultural tradition, aping the western consumerist life style and value system leading to assuming a false identity and collapse of our own family and community structures and value system. In order to improve the above situation, we demand: A child friendly structure in the state of Goa which will enable us to realise the rights to survival, protection, participation and development enshrined in the U.N.C.R.C., with dignity. To make this a reality we further demand: . That rural employment schemes be planned and implemented, that the Government minimum employment guarantee scheme be implemented so that our families are not compelled to migrate, and that we as children are not pushed into child labour situations. Those who have migrated and have been living in Goa for many years some schemes should be formulated for them also. . That our right to education is not denied to us, irrespective of whether we understand the value of education or not, and our parents also realize the value and not pressurize us to work and earn and in cases wherein parents force children to work help of police should be taken and legal action against parents should be undertaken. . That there are enough opportunities to study, that schools admit us despite lack of proper identity documentation, that schools have proper facilities with water and toilet. Vocational training should be made compulsory for students who are scholastically backward. School should also provide facilities for overall development of children such as cultural dance, singing, drama etc. . That teachers are supportive and not threatening or beating, that they are regular and competent in teaching, that they do not discriminate on the basis of region, economics, caste or their own children and us, in terms of treatment, marks, punishment. . Improvement of education at the village level wherein teachers should be trained in skills to provide better education services. . That school education is free and teachers do not demand money for anything from us. Schools should not take any money from children and also provide all the necessities to children on time such as books, bags, shoes and clothes. . That there be an effective monitoring of the mid day meal programme. . Children Committees should be formed in Schools . Parents Teachers meeting should be held on a regular basis- once a month . That boarding which is in short supply esp. for boys, should be provided and set up. . That there should be a proper home or programme for abused children, where they can study or learn some trade and grow up in a healthy manner with counseling and support. . That the big enemy of our rights to education, play and development, i.e. child labour is not just prohibited but stopped in reality, contrary to what is happening now. Employment to parents should be provided. . That the discrimination against migrants or the poor, or weak students or girls, stop and that strong punitive measures be taken against those responsible for it. . Those teachers, police, doctors, other hospital staff, and others responsible for discrimination and denial of our rights are particularly held accountable and punished. . That only good tourists and healthy tourism be encouraged. That there be a code of conduct with rules and regulations for tourists and that all hotel managers have this and that it also be displayed in public places. That the police be patrolling on beaches and other areas to keep watch on tourists and other harmful elements to protect children. . That police should be truthful, responsible in doing their duty, not take bribes, and punished when they do not protect us and overlook abuses against us. . Proper monitoring of the police at the lower level by senior police officer and this should be done at the community level with community participation whereby the community should give a feed back of the performances of the police at the lower level to the senior officers. . That those who aid the tourist abusers should be punished heavily. . Stern action against traffickers should be taken. . That children and parents be make aware of the negative influence of the tourist western life style on us and that children below 18 not allowed in cyber-cafes, bars, prohibition of the use of mobiles, or go to discos etc. . Vvisual media should not show and promote films and scenes that are not child friendly. Movies, fashion show that show individuals in less clothing should be banned. . That there should be a ban on foreign foods and other products sold in the state so that only local and Indian products are allowed to flourish. . Gambling of all forms to be stopped in Goa- Matka, Casino and cards. . Closure of bars. . That there should be two price tags, one for the tourist and another for locals so that we do not become victims of the unhealthy and artificial price rise esp. in the tourist season. . That places on the beach be provided for our families also and not just to influential and economically well off people to sell wares. . That Government Hospitals, do not charge money for the public especially for the poor and that they give medicine free of cost. . That hospitals are clean, the poor and migrants be treated with respect and equality by the staff, that there is in all health centres a special children's unit. . All private hospitals should be closed down and in that place government hospitals closer to the residential area should be set. . Lastly, we would like to state that we were explained the important provisions of the Goa Children's Act 2003 by the animators. We realized that there are so many provisions pertaining to the realization of our rights. We demand that these provisions be implemented without further delay by our state Govt.. . As a symbolic exercise in our workshop we represented all the violations of our rights especially those caused by tourism/globalization through a poster of the Narkarsur and lit diyas of protection, prevention, opportunities for development, i.e our rights to childhood. . We would like to burn the Narkasurs that violate our rights and light the diyas that help to realize our rights effectively. Could you help us? GOA CHILDREN'S PARTICIPATION AT INDIA SOCIAL FORUM 2006 Ever since the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, a lot of changes have taken place in society and countries wherein children's rights have slowly assumed a significant place in Government and Social Sector agendas. These changes have been made possible by Children's Rights movements and organisations that have worked hard to ensure that the rights of survival, protection, participation and development remain not merely enshrined in the CRC Charter or Constitutions & Policy Statements of countries but become enforceable and justicable. The Goa Children's Act 2003 and the attempts by Children's Rights organisations and other concerned citizens and groups to see that the provisions therein are implemented is a noteworthy example of such a process. At the world stage, the World Social Forum (WSF) is an open platform to discuss strategies of resistance and alternatives to the model of neo-liberal globalisation, to exchange experiences and to strengthen alliances among mass organisations, peoples' movements and civil society organisations that seek sustainable development with social and economic justice. At the National level, the Indian Social Forum is the forerunner to the WSF. It will be held in New Delhi, from 13 November 2006. The proposed theme for the ISF is "Building Another World: Visions for the Future". An estimated 60,000 people from India, Asia and Africa are expected to participate. Among these, will be a small group of 12 children and 4 accompanying child rights activists, who will be representing our equally small state Goa. These are being selected through a process of NGO & children's participation in a Workshop organized jointly by ARZ, CRG and Jan Ugahi, and scheduled to be held at Peaceful Society, Madkai, 2006, wherein 82 children and 15 organisational representatives will be participating. The theme of the Workshop is "Children in a globalizing world". The workshop will attempt to understand the influences and impact on children in a globalizing world, particularly in the context of migration, tourism, the social sector (education, health.) in Goa. The issues affecting children in Goa, as seen through children's eyes, and the demands of and by the children, will be formulated in a declaration and taken forward to the ISF by the selected group. This declaration will be merged with the declarations of children of other states participating under an umbrella forum called Child Rights for World Social Forum (CR4WSF) & Child Rights for India Social Forum (CR4ISF). And then as a strong and comprehensive declaration of children demanding their rights as children, it will be presented at the India Social Forum. CR4WSF is an umbrella group, which includes organizations of children and networks and alliances working for children's rights in India and other regions. It seeks to make a coordinated attempt to reflect the centrality of children in the agenda of development with justice and to engage actively in ensuring that the conception of Another World is child centered, with children having a role in defining and determining it. The WSF is seen as an opportunity to link the agenda of children's rights with the struggles of other movements working for the rights of the poor and marginalised - particularly those of indigenous people and groups facing social, ethnic, racial discrimination; peasants and workers, women and young people. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
