Children

Corporal punishment against children entails multiple violations of children's rights, and its negative effects on children’s well-being need to be addressed. Simultaneously, alternative methods of parenting, such as positive disciplining, should be put in practice more.

Welcome to our fourth Curated series, which addresses some of the key issues affecting children’s rights in South East Europe (SEE). The series marks a collaboration with the Children’s Rights Department at the Global Campus Headquarters in Venice working together with motivated and dynamic Children’s Rights Regional Officers under the Global Campus and Right Livelihood cooperation with the aim of enhancing children's rights globally.

International bodies have warned that the world is a more difficult place for young people as a result of COVID-19. Three years on, children and young people are still suffering from mental health consequences. To prepare for future pandemics, a human rights approach and a new medical perspective on adolescent mental health should be provided.

In South Africa, the shifting from physical to virtual education due to COVID-19 has created inequalities among learners from urban areas who could continue with online schooling and learners from rural areas and also learners with disabilities who were deprived of their right to education.

It is time to step out of the yoke of the official narrative of Kosovo’s patriotic identity, to ignore it and offer in response other narratives, unofficial stories by ordinary people, narrations from the margins of the community affected by the war. Ultimately, non-monumental stories that belong to everyday life.

COVID-19 affected the right to education. The lack of strategic planning often made states’ response ineffective, harming the education process. It is necessary to develop a roadmap to ensure the state positive obligations to safeguard the right to education during crises.

The right to education in Argentina has been a constitutional paramount since 1853 in all its territories. However, many children and adolescents find themselves forgotten by the national education system. The UNSAM Technical High School is an inspiring educational place that follows from the premise of not leaving any child and adolescent behind.

15,000 small schools in Thailand are at risk of being dissolved by the government to reduce public expenditure. Millions of children would face a violation of their right to education. Thailand must terminate this policy for the best interests of all children.

Children whose parents use drugs are an invisible population. Shame, stigma and the fear of separation from their family often prevent them from seeking help. Seemingly, parents who use drugs sometimes encounter difficulties in coping with addiction and parenthood at the same time.

Essential COVID-19 measures interrupted the battle against female genital mutilation and child marriage. With restrictions now eased, Africa must renew efforts to combat these human rights abuses which blight the lives of millions of women and girls.