Every child matters

The world stands at a crossroads. The road to recovery seems long. The institutional mandates to uphold and defend the rights of children have translated into oblivion. The ambitious memorandums, partnerships and deals which claimed to strive and create a safe world for children stand hollow. Armed conflicts, displacements, humanitarian emergencies, climate challenges are giving a tough time to children all over the world. The range is long but the trauma is the same.

Children in North and North East Africa starve for days together, illiteracy looms large over children in many South Asian countries, in many parts of South East Asia child labour practices are a serious engagement, in Latin America the group that is the most vulnerable to crime and trafficking is of children, the “advanced” continent- Europe is home to children population having the highest cases of mental and psychological disorders.

Compounding events challenge the ability of children to enjoy the rights to safety, protection, education and good health. In 2021, the United Nations identified around 2500 grave violations of children’s rights which are only the tip of the iceberg as per the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict. Gaza exposed the western morality and double standards. If we ask our awakened conscience, what would November 14- Children’s Day mean for these unfortunate innocent souls, we would probably get to know that these children want nothing but a happy childhood.

The cumulative trauma of chronic ethnic political violence has a profound and lasting impact on children’s mental health and development affecting their functioning and outlook on the world as young adults. Children indeed face challenges and their voices are crucial in shaping a world that prioritise their wellbeing. the morality of society directly influences the support systems and quality of Education available to them in impacting their future.

From the lens of a child the bitter world has snatched his/her childhood innocence and right to peaceful life. The complaints are endless but he/she is begging, listen to our voices which often go unheard or are neglected. Institutions should work together with policy and decision makers to create safe spaces for us where we can speak up. Don’t we deserve to participate and be heard? Because we are the victim group of violence in many countries which has its rippling effects in the form of killings, displacements and poverty.

Today educational institutions across the globe face irrelevance if they don’t rise and live up to promise of shaping a just world and become a conscious voice of voiceless. Let us not forget that the destiny of this global order is being shaped in its classrooms. Every child matters!
Dr Farooq A. Wasil is Founder Director, Thinsite Services Private Limited