Adolescents suggest measures against discrimination
On 3 and 4 July 2009 the third meeting was held in Athens between the Children’s Ombudsman and the Youth Advisory Panel. The Panel was set up in January 2009 and is charged with the task of conveying to the Ombudsman the views of children on matters relating to the protection and violation of their rights.
The agenda covered matters relating to discrimination, evaluation of the Panel’s work to date and the planning of new activities.
On the afternoon of Friday 3 July an open discussion took place, also attended by members of the Youth Advisory Community of the Children’s Ombudsman, at which proposals were discussed for the prevention and combating of discrimination in the school environment. The delegates discussed the pain felt by children who are the victims of discrimination and insults, or subjected to stereotyping by teachers and fellow pupils, for reasons such as ethnic origin, sex, performance in school (good-bad students), appearance, religion, family background, health, disability, sexual orientation, and so on. They asked the Children’s Ombudsman to help provide better training and awareness-raising for their teachers in these areas, to improve protection of schoolchildren against possible violations of their rights, and to improve opportunities to help children understand and discuss their rights and responsibilities. Two of the measures proposed were to strengthen the role of student councils, and to introduce a regular discussion hour for each class, where the children could discuss issues relating to their social lives and relationships with one another.
On Saturday 4th July a significant part of the discussion was dedicated to the ‘Rights of the children of immigrants’. After hearing about legislation and recent changes in the law, the members of the Panel expressed a wish to assist in the efforts of the Ombudsman to protect the rights of all children of immigrants. They took a particular interest in the issue of equal participation in society and equal prospects for children of foreign parents born in Greece or who have lived here for many years.
Special mention was also made of children with disabilities and children living in institutions, as well as the special measures to help them live as full members of society, without constraints or discrimination. The delegates insisted on the need for respect for these children’s internationally acknowledged rights, and the need for all members of society to develop a greater awareness of these rights.
Finally, the Panel discussed its programme of new activities, to continue its mission in the year ahead.
The Children’s Ombudsman expresses his gratitude to Aegean Airlines for the gift of free tickets to allow members of the Panel and their escorts to travel. He also thanks the Athens - Attica Hotel Association for their provision of free accommodation, especially the hotel Stratos Vasilikos, where the delegates stayed. Finally, he thanks the SOS Villages for making available coaches to allow the teenagers to attend concerts at the Schoolwave festival.
Thessaloniki teenagers at meetings and discussions on rights to participation and expression
Entering on his sixth year of continual communication with children, and after many visits to schools and regional Dialogue Days with students, the Greek Ombudsman, in his capacity as Children’s Ombudsman, organized in Thessaloniki on 15 March 2009 the first public debate with schoolchildren. The topic to be discussed was ‘The role of pupils in the drawing up and implementation of School Rules’. The event involved 130 children from 60 junior high and high schools in the Region of Central Macedonia. With great respect for the formalities of the debating arena, the children exchanged views and proposals for a type of school that would function as a democracy, guaranteeing mutual respect, preferring dialogue, agreement and persuasion to orders and punishments, strengthening participation, encouraging creativity, cultivating the arts – a place of enjoyment and satisfaction for both children and teachers. The proposals put forward by the children will be forwarded by the Children’s Ombudsman to the Ministry of Education. At a time when Greek society is deeply concerned about the role it is bequeathing to the next generation, especially after the events of December 2008, the need for adults to listen to children’s views is more vital than ever.
The open discussion was organized at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, by the Children’s Ombudsman in association with, and with participation by, the Regional Director for Education, the Secondary Education Directorates of Eastern and Western Thessaloniki and the Offices of Health Education. The discussion was also attended by the 20 members of the Youth Advisory Panel, since the idea and the subject for discussion had originated in the dialogue held with them.
The Youth Advisory Panel of the Children’s Ombudsman, which consists of 30 boys and girls aged 14-17 from all over Greece, meets 3-4 times a year. Between meetings it communicates through local gatherings and via the closed electronic forum created for this purpose. The forum is also attended by young people who had expressed interest in becoming members of the Panel but had been unlucky in the draw. This led to the formation of the Youth Advisory Community, which communicates regularly, exchanging news and views.
A second meeting of the Youth Advisory Panel was held in Thessaloniki on Saturday 14 March. The meeting took place at the SOS Children’s Village in Playiari and was attended also by children from the Village who are members of the Youth Advisory Community. The Panel members spoke about the activities they have developed at their schools, expressed their opinion on various issues and on cases in which the Ombudsman is engaged, and also participated in creative workshops, preparing trial radio messages, posters and banners on the rights to participation and expression, to which activities in the first quarter of 2009 are dedicated. It was agreed that their next meetings should be held in the various regions and will be devoted to further elaboration of the projects in which they are involved.
Meetings of the Youth Advisory Panel requiring transport for the young people and their escorts from various parts of Greece are made possible by the kind support of Aegean Airlines (free air tickets) and the Hotel Associations of Athens and Thessaloniki (free accommodation).
More information: tel. +30210.7289703, +30210.7289605
