How to protect children from violence?

The confinement has increased the number of violence against women and children, putting families at risk. World Children’s Day has existed since November 20, 1954 to promote respect and the rights of children.

The rights of the child

Every year since November 20, 1989, we commemorate the International Day of the Rights of the Child. Like many other countries, France has adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Entered into force September 2, 1990, in accordance with article 49.

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations proclaimed the right to special care and assistance for children. The family, especially children, should receive the protection and assistance they need. For the development of his personality, the child must grow up in the family environment, a climate of happiness, love and understanding. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations proclaimed the right to special care and assistance for children.

The Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that the child, because of his lack of physical and intellectual maturity, needs special legal protection before and after birth « .
The child must be prepared for an individual life in society, raising him in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations. The 1924 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child proclaimed these fundamental rights. The General Assembly of November 20, 1959, adopted it and recognized it in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The social and legal principles applicable to the protection and well-being of children apply in matters of adoption and foster care at the national and international levels. This is also the case for the administration of juvenile justice (Beijing Rules) and the declaration on the protection of women and children in times of emergency and armed conflict.

31st anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

In 2020, the Convention on the Rights of the Child turns 31. Many events are organized around this anniversary. Here are some examples:

Each year, the « Children’s Parliament » operation is carried out with the National Assembly. It offers CM2 students the opportunity to discover the role of the legislator during class work. After dialogues and debates, they draft a bill on topical societal issues.

Since 2006, the French Council of Associations for the Rights of the Child (COFRADE) has been organizing debates aimed at the cases of young people aged 14 to 18. A teacher, an educator or a member of the volunteer educational team lead them.

The objective of the Outdoor Youth Solidarity and Citizenship Campaign (JPA) is to make children aware of the right to vacation and make them discover what collective action in the field of solidarity is.

Since 2011, there has been a partnership with UNICEF-France concerning free education and its tools.

Fight against harassment

There are several types of harassment towards children. As a result, the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports has adopted a preventive action plan to combat all forms of violence and discrimination in schools. Sheets and tools are available to the educational community on the site « No to harassment »

The different kinds of harassment

• Harassment between students (physical and moral violence …). Dropping out of school, or even dropping out of school (25% of absenteeism is linked to fear of assault) are the consequences. There is also desocialization, anxiety, depression, somatization (headaches, stomach aches, illnesses) and self-destructive and even suicidal behaviors.
• Cyerharassment, most often in establishments or the web. Cyberviolence is growing thanks to new technologies and new applications that can wreak havoc on adolescents. The pupils concerned can go as far as dropping out of school.
• Cybersexism, girls are more exposed to it

Unauthorized sexting / revenge porn. It is characterized by sexually explicit content that is publicly shared online without the consent of the person appearing on the content, for the purpose of revenge.

What to do in the event of bullying at school?

Whatever the form of harassment, contact harassment advisers in academies and departments. You can also reach the platform for reporting bullying situations on 3020. A final solution, call the platform for reporting cyberbullying cases on 0800 200000.

A day for children

In December 1946, the United Nations established the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide them with emergency health assistance. The mandate became unlimited in 1953. UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories, reaching the most vulnerable and marginalized children, wherever they are.

On the theme of childhood, there are several international days concerning them during the year:

• June 4: International Day of Innocent Child Victims of Aggression
• June 12: World Day Against Child Labor
• August 12: International Youth Day
• October 11: International Day of the Girl
• November 20: Adoption by the Assembly of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed in 1989.

What to do in the presence of a case of a beaten, mistreated or deprived child?

What are the signs of abuse?

Signs of abuse are distinguished by bruising, scratches, burns, bites, fractures, stomachaches, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, rashes, sores, lesions behavioral and emotional changes may be questionable relative to chronological age or development

When to call 119 (emergency number for violence against children?

On July 10, 1989, the parliamentarians voted unanimously on a law relating to the prevention of ill-treatment of minors and to the protection of children. This law gave birth to the National Telephone Reception Service for Maltreated Children, commonly known as « Allô Enfance Maltraitée ». On March 1, 1997, the simplified telephone number, 119, was created.

You can call 119 to report any abuse, whether you are a child or an adult. This national free number is open 24/7 and may be anonymous.

Upon receipt, the call is taken care of by a pre-reception before transfer to a listener. The latter assesses the danger or risk and writes a report. This is sent to a coordinator who in turn sends it as soon as possible to the Concerning Information Collection Unit (CRIP) of the department concerned. In the event of imminent danger requiring immediate shelter of the minor, the SNATED immediately contacts the emergency services for intervention.

After receiving the information, the CRIP mobilizes the appropriate services (social workers, nursery nurses, medical
PMI…) They intervene with the family to check the situation of the minor concerned. They offer appropriate help (close monitoring, administrative measures, etc.). When the intervention of the departmental services is insufficient, the Judicial Authority must intervene following a report to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. It is the same when his family refuses any intervention. The juvenile judge can then order the measure.

New procedure before the criminal courts

Since November 20, 2020, criminal courts can modify the procedural rules applicable to the cases they deal with, in order to be able to continue their activity during the state of health emergency. The modifications may relate to the following points:

• Access of the public and lawyers to courts and courtrooms
• Use of the single judge procedure
• Conduct of the hearing or hearing via an audiovisual telecommunication means
• Transfer of a case to another jurisdiction of the same jurisdiction

These possibilities to modify the procedural rules will cease one month after the end of the state of health emergency, i.e. on March 16, 2021.

Paris plan to fight violence against children

On the occasion of the International Day of the Rights of the Child, the city of Paris has put in place a plan to fight against violence against children. This Plan will be built with all the Parisian players concerned:

• associations working for the protection and defense of children
• institutional partners (National Education, AP-HP, ARS, CAF, Minor Bar, Magistrates, Minors’ Brigade, RATP, etc.)
• experts (pediatricians, child psychiatrists, education specialists, etc.)
• great witnesses.

In addition, artist Olafur Eliasson presented the Earth SpeakR project, #ListenToTheFuture, to empower the next generation to have their say on climate change. Dozens of countries have joined this initiative.

The DASES also launched the « Rights of the Child » mission in August 2020. Its objective is to disseminate a broad culture of children’s rights to 400,000 Parisian children but also to adults who participate in their education to promote of Paris, a leading city in the field of children’s rights.

The Janusz Korczak class, the first class of Young Volunteers for the Rights of the Child. The mission is planned for a period of 6 years. It relies on a team of 20 Young Volunteers for the Rights of the Child who carry out their civic service.

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