Lebanese children submit first child-led report to UN

LEBANON – From cluster bombs to child labour, Lebanese children have shed light on the issues affecting children in Lebanon in an unprecedented child-led report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Over a period of two months, children from Beirut, the Bekaa valley and Marjeyoun, Southern Lebanon, came together to brainstorm about issues that affect children. They then analysed, debated and agreed on the information to include in their report. “In our Children’s Council in Marjeyoun, we decided to research about cluster bombs and landmines and how this situation affects the lives of children in Lebanon,” says Joelle, 13. “We live in fear of cluster bombs and this causes psychological problems and lack of freedom of movement in our villages,” says Kassem, 14. “This is violence against children. We decided to write about street children in the report. We put ourselves in the place of street children and it is a terrible situation that no child wants to live in.”

We live in fear of cluster bombs and this causes psychological problems and lack of freedom of movement in our villages. This is violence against children

In the report, children also highlighted issues such as child labour, children with no identification or unregistered at birth, children with disabilities and violence against children. “This activity was very good because we talked about child rights and we learned how children can help other children when their rights are violated,” says Hydar, 14. “We are very concerned about working children.” Conducted as part of World Vision’s ‘Children make their voices heard to the United Nations’ project, the initiative aims to give children the opportunity to write with their own words a report on child rights and submit it to the UN.

We are committed to children who expressed that they seldom have the chance to express their opinions and to be listened to

World Vision believes that this project plays a critical role in giving a voice to children and provides a platform for lobbying for the inclusion of child rights in the governmental agenda, and mobilising and educating children on their rights. “We clearly identify child participation and the principles outlined in article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a pivotal component in our advocacy initiatives,” says Patricio Cuevas-Parra, World Vision Lebanon advocacy manager. “We are committed to children who expressed that they seldom have the chance to express their opinions and to be listened to. Children articulated great appreciation for the opportunity to participate and to influence their communities and peers and to contribute to a more just society.”

The report submitted to the UN will be part of a final UNHRC report, which is called the ‘Stakeholder Report’. -Ends-