Everyone, including you and me must recognize that children’s rights are a priority. And it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that this is never forgotten. Children themselves must also be ready to take the responsibility for their own rights, and the rights of others. Children have a great capacity for compassion. They can speak out on things that adults might be unable to see, or might prefer not to see. Children, too, can change the world for children.
Yet throughout the society, children face discrimination because of the color of their skin, because of their gender, or because of the traditions their parents passed onto them. Because of discrimination, these children are left out and unable to live up to their potential. When a child comes up and speaks to you, do not turn him away, do not treat him as innocent new born, open your ears.
Discrimination takes many forms. In some cases, it is intolerance and hatred, even violence. In other cases, it is more subtle. When a girl is made to feel inferior in school, or when she is kept out of school to take care of the house only because she is a girl, that is discrimination. When no effort is made to allow disabled children equal access to opportunity, this too is discrimination. Not to mention the children that have been slaughtered for religious beliefs in Africa or the children that has been sold as sex slaves. All of this is discrimination. And it must end. We have been children, we have been discriminated already, why do we have to let history repeat itself?
Discrimination is a denial of that which we believe to be self-evident: that all children are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And how can we talk of human rights without starting with the rights of those who hold the greatest potential, yet are also the most vulnerable?
Children speaking out are not ordinary children, they are children who have gone through horrifying experiences during their childhood: they are children who are deprived of education, They are the ones who have experienced abuse and sexual assault. When they cannot find a channel to speak out, they chose not to speak and bury the reality and escape from it. They chose to suffer the burden themselves. But they are children who are not afraid to speak aloud their thoughts. When listening to the children is such an easy thing, why aren’t we giving them any chance and letting the weakest suffer it all.
Making a sustainable improvement in the lives of children requires the recognition of children as individuals with their own needs, rights and aspirations within their communities. Politicians are outsiders to children’s world. Politicians are more interested in winning votes than in arousing public awareness of children. Nothing is better than children speaking out their minds themselves. Their questions are direct, their stories are often moving and their problems are always worth examining.
Today, the idea that the human rights of children is no less important than the rights of adults. Let the children grow please. We are all human beings of the world, the rights of children should not be jeopardized and underprivileged, their voices need to be heard; their suggestions need to be adopted. I know that you are listening to me, but please, too, listen the voice of children, they need us.
