Youths speak out for rights

Publish Date:05/11/2001
Story Type:National Affairs;
Byline:Catherine Hsieh

The hope is that the United Nations could hear the voice of Taiwan's children and make them members of the youth global village. So stressed the 136 children's rights "ambassadors" participating in the first Taiwan Children's Rights Summit.

To strengthen children's rights protection in local society, participants expressed the need for the ROC to become a member of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Held at the end of April in Taipei by local rights organizations, the three-day meeting brought together 10- to 15-year-old children from throughout the island. At the gathering, they learned to be ambassadors of their schools' rights promotion efforts.

The meeting introduced young citizens to the fundamental rights of children. It also provided a forum for them to speak their minds on related topics.

A declaration at the conclusion of the summit lists the 10 major children's rights which participants became aware of during the event.

The declaration also includes calls for improvement on rights protection in such areas as education, health, family environment, recreational activities, and freedom from physical and mental abuse.

The young people made a special plea for safeguarding their right to privacy--Taiwan's weakest area of children's rights protection, according to past surveys. They asked for a stop to improper intrusions by parents or teachers, hoping that adults could respect personal property by not looking into diaries or schoolbags.

Participants also appealed to the media for extra caution when reporting child abuse incidents. Disclosure of personal information such as name, photograph or residence should be avoided so that victims do not have to endure further disturbance, the declaration stressed.

Over the years, activists in Taiwan have been critical of society's neglectful attitude toward children's rights. Indeed, there is much room for improvement.

Established four years ago, the Taipei-based Child Welfare League Foundation has been conducting surveys to compile an annual index on children's rights in Taiwan. Although steady improvement has been made in certain areas, the overall grade remains unsatisfactory.

Concurrent with the summit, President Chen Shui-bian received the little ambassadors in his office as an indication that the administration gives high priority to the well-being of children.

Citing recent surveys of youths, Chen noted that aside from a loving family and good grades in school, a peaceful society is what Taiwan children desire most.

"Our children's wish is what we adults should reflect upon," the president said. "It should also be the direction in which our society heads." Chen also talked to the youths about Taiwan's desire to sign the U.N. convention on children's rights. Although the goal has yet to be realized, he vowed a firm stance on ensuring the rights of children and preventing their physical or psychological abuse.

Taiwan's inability to sign the U.N. convention is regarded as an impediment to better protection of children's rights. Kept out of the world body, Taiwan is unable to submit reports on rights practices to the United Nations and thus cannot benefit from U.N. monitoring.

Nevertheless, the spirit of the convention has already been incorporated into the ROC Children's Welfare Law--local society's main framework for such protection.

Besides, local rights groups and offices of concerned legislators have formed a coalition to push Taiwan's inclusion into the convention. They aim to have Taiwan subjected to international standards on ensuring the well-being of young people.

According to the summit declaration, in view of the strides being made, someday Taiwan youths can serve as international children's rights ambassadors to help other young people around the world