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Children march toward a better life on Universal Children’s Day

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:52 GMT

Source: member // World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe/ CA office

More than 50 years ago, people of colour in America marched to change the way their society was treating them. Now, in Albania children are doing the same thing for a similar reason; fighting a similar prejudice, except now instead of race it is about the rights of children to be protected from violence, among others.

This Universal Children's Day on November 20, tens of children from the Albanian capital Tirana and Shkodra, came together in Shkodra, located northwest of the capital.

More than 50 years ago, people of colour in America marched to change the way their society was treating them. Now, in Albania children are doing the same thing for a similar reason; fighting a similar prejudice, except now instead of race it is about the rights of children to be protected from violence, among others.

This Universal Children's Day on November 20, tens of children from the Albanian capital Tirana and Shkodra, came together in Shkodra, located northwest of the capital.

'We are marching to promote our rights', said several children on the day.

Children marched along the main boulevard of the city displaying strong messages about child
rights. As they marched, children and adults used a megaphone to broadcast messages, such us 'We need to be protected from the dangers of trafficking', 'not be forced into oppressive child labour', 'the rights to a quality education', 'be protected from physical and psychological abuse', be included in decisions that affect our lives', 'to have basic food, clothing, and shelter', etc. They also wore t-shirts designed by them with messages such as 'I have my rights, don't exploit me!'

According to UNICEF, thousands of children across Albania experience oppression and injustice in the form of abuse, violence, and exploitation. Fifty-two percent of Albanian children are subject to abuse, 30% experience domestic violence, and 12% are exploited (UNICEF, 2011).

Dire poverty in Albania, especially among Roma families, often causes children to work or beg and miss out on receiving an education. And, vulnerability makes both children and adults easy prey for traffickers who spout promises of work and a better life abroad.

'Many people in Albania are not fully aware that children do have rights,' said Blerina Nika, World Vision's Anti-Trafficking Programme Coordinator in Albania. 'Marches like this are aimed at opening the eyes and the minds of the adults in their world. These marches let them know that children are hoping for and planning for a better life in a better world when they become adults. Realising and respecting these rights is the first step to creating that better world,' she said.

During November, World Vision in Albania worked together with children, communities and local partners to run several awareness-raising activities in Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, Kurbin, Elbasan and Kor�a Area Development Programmes (ADPs) and other communities around the topic of child rights.

In Dibra ADP (a five-hour drive northeast of the capital) children from several schools and the surrounding communes also marched in the street and spoke up for their rights. They enjoyed a simple party where they wrote about their rights on balloons and released them into the air.

'I'm so happy to be a part of these activities and to speak for my rights in front of the people', said 12- year-old Shatule Ismail, from Dibra. 'I did not know that we have the right to have a family,' said Shatule's brother.

In Tirana about 20 children from Kurbin ADP (an hour's drive northeast of Tirana) joined other children for an exhibition of artwork and photos advocating for child rights.