Kids should be seen…and heard
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for UNICEF as the UN agency is using the occasion of its mid-term review to highlight the status of children in Belize. Today, News 5’s Patrick Jones attended the launching of a new study at Bird’s Isle.
Starla Bradley Acosta, Programme Officer, NCFC
“This publication, “Children Should Be Seen and Heard” gives snapshots of children and adolescent participation in Belize. It gives a glimpse of events past and present that have given children and adolescents the opportunity to be heard.”
Patrick Jones, Reporting
With hundreds of primary and high school students in attendance, the National Committee for Families and Children and UNICEF launched the thirty-two page book. Starla Bradley Acosta, who compiled the report, says it shows that young people do have meaningful ideas and opinions?mbut not enough outlets for them.
Starla Bradley Acosta
“There are programs that are ongoing, and events that have been held in the past did give them that space. But unfortunately participatory events are generally sporadic and they are not maintained.”
Bradley says that while most people are content to let children be seen and not heard, it¡¦s time to debunk that way of thinking.
Starla Bradley Acosta
“In researching and in reviewing all of the events, our children and adolescents are definitely concerned about education, and they are concerned about poverty, and how poverty affects education. That’s one of the overriding issues that kept coming up in the events.”
Patrick Jones
“Now who would you want to read this book or this report?”
Starla Bradley Acosta
“Well, I would ideally want everyone to read this report. I would want the children and adolescents to read this book so that they can become more aware that they are in fact rights holders and what it means to have the right to be listened to and to freedom of expression and to associate with friends; to practice their own culture and religion and to access relevant information.”
Marleny Cuellar, Facilitator
“Who wants to tell me one of their rights as a child? Come, come…”
Student 1
“To say no.”
Marleny Cuellar
“To say no to what?”
Student 1
“If they want you to take drugs or something and about alcohol or if they want you to go somewhere with them.”
Marleny Cuellar
“Anybody else? Anybody else knows their rights?”
Student 2
“Children have the right to speak freely.”
The book also makes for interesting reading for adults, giving them an insight as to the innermost thoughts of children and adolescents. Deputy Regional Director of UNICEF, Alfredo Missair who is on a working visit to Belize, says the publication is an important addition to the organization’s library.
Alfredo Missair, Deputy Regional Director, UNICEF
“Well I think this is wonderful, for me it’s one of the most difficult rights to achieve. And it doesn’t happen in one day. It just happens. It’s a very long process of learning to listen to begin with. Adults, we are very good at saying everyone what to do and we are very bad at listening to everyone what they have to say. And if we were more attentive to what people have to say and children in particular, adolescent included, we will be I think better people and better societies.”
Patrick Jones, for News Five.
