Writing for Rights: Ricky, 14, Peru
I am sending this letter to let you know how the children’s rights are treated in my community and my country, specifically:
- The right to education, which improves the learning capacity
- The right to participation, which is important to encourage leadership
- The right to be listened to in different decision-making spaces
- The right to protection, which is also very important to our development.
I knew about my rights when I started participating in a children and adolescents organisation. It is then when I understood that some rights are violated.
Children and adolescents not only are the future but also are the present.
For example, I see that in my community there are children and adolescents who are physically and emotionally abused and that this affects their integrity. In my community there is still a low quality of education, and teachers are not trained and do not have materials needed to facilitate children’s learning.
Despite the existence of policies in favour of children and adolescents, even the government does not guarantee the enforcement of children’s rights, as children and adolescents are not included in the decision making of authorities. For that reason, I would ask the government to take into consideration the opinions of children and adolescents and that more resources go to education, health, protection and participation.
Children and adolescents not only are the future but also are the present.
We want a violence-free life, for us and future generations.
Yours truly,
Ricky, 14-years-old, Peru