********************************************************************** 04 November 2003: ACR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Vol.2, No.45 ********************************************************************** CONTENTS UNICEF: 90 million children go hungry every day in South Asia [Report] INDIA: No children on the farm [News] CHILD RIGHTS: A Tool for Change? Reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child [report] ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: SRI LANKA: 7 year old boy illegally detained and tortured by the police [Urgent Appeal] ********************************************************************** UNICEF: 90 million children go hungry every day in South Asia [Report] A new Unicef report highlights the sorry plight of more than 1.2 million children in 46 of the world's poorest nations The first ever scientifically measured report on child poverty in the developing world, sponsored by Unicef, was released on October 21, 2003, at Londons House of Commons. The Unicef-commissioned report entitled `Child Poverty in the Developing Worlddetails the sad lives of more than 1.2 million children from 46 of the worlds poorest countries. The report was prepared for Unicef by the Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research at the University of Bristol. According to the report, over 15% of children under five in the developing world are severely malnourished. In South Asia alone, more than 90 million children go hungry every day. Nearly 20% of the worlds children do not have safe water to drink. Many have to walk more than 15 minutes to access water. While 134 million children between the ages of seven and 18 have never been to school, girls are more likely to go without schooling than boys. One child of every three lives in a dwelling with more than five people per room, or with a mud floor. The report points out that globalisation, pressure on developing countries to liberalise trade, and cuts to aid budgets are adding to poverty. ______________________________________________________________________ INDIA: No children on the farm [News] Following allegations of wide-spread child labour in their business activities, foreign and Indian agri-business firms pledge to reform themselves. An update from The India Committe of the Netherlands. Seed multinationals Monsanto, Emergent Genetics, Hindustan Lever, Syngenta, Advanta and Proagro (a subsidiary of Bayer) as well as some big Indian seed companies, have agreed to co-operate with the MV Foundation in Andhra Pradesh - Magsaysay award winner Dr Shantha Sinha is the group's general secretary - to eliminate child labour from the cotton seed industry. The companies will come up with a concrete proposal shortly. Almost 250,000 children under fourteen work on hybrid cotton farms in Andhra Pradesh; now a six-month target to eliminate this labour has been set. This was the outcome of a meeting between the companies and the MV Foundation (MVF) in September in Hyberabad. The outcome is a real breakthrough in view of the ongoing debate on the issue. The companies who were present are all members of the Association of Seed Industry (ASI). The annual assembly of ASI also passed a resolution on September 13th to pro-actively discourage directly and through its members the practice of child labour in hybrid cotton seed production and further take effective steps along with other stakeholders towards eradication of this evil from the hybrid cotton seed industry. These developments took place four to five months after the publication of a report on child labour in hybrid cotton seed production by the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN). It was revealed that almost 250,000 children under fourteen years of age, mainly girls, work on hybrid cotton farms in Andhra Pradesh for long hours under hazardous conditions. Dr. Shantha Sinha , secretary of the MV Foundation and chairperson of the meeting, wrote to ICN: "all companies recognised that children are being employed in the farms to which they have sub-contracted seed production. They also recognise that it is part of their corporate social responsibility to correct the situation". She told Global Ethics Monitor :"all of them agreed for the first time they were responsible, which was a very big gain. Swiss seed multinational Syngenta, after having met MVF in June 2003, had agreed to contact other seed majors to set up a joint monitoring effort in collaboration with the MV Foundation. Paswan Malik, head of Syngenta Seeds India, said that the formation of the group in September was an admission on behalf of the companies that they had responsibility for the actions of their contractors. Also Ranjana Smetaceck, spokeswoman of Monsanto India, stated while referring to the joint meeting: "We consider this our responsibilit,y as everyone else would around the table". Sheadded that it is a pretty realistic targetto eradicate child labour from the Indian hybrid cotton seed production in the coming six months. However, President Hugh Grant of Monsanto writes in a letter of September 18 2003 to the Washington-based International Labour Rights Fund that, being a minority owner of the Indian company Mahyco, they 'encourage Mahyco to discourage inappropriate child labour practices'. No reference is made to Monsanto's participation in the meeting in Hyderabad. Unilever and Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) - its Indian subsidiary that markets several popular brand-name products, e.g. Close-Up, Surf, and Lipton - have rejected the accusation of using child labour in hybrid cotton seed production. Unilever stated that it made sure that its suppliers complied with the agreement not to use child labour. Both HLL and Paras(in which HLL now has a 26% share) were present in Hyderabad. It was agreed in the meeting on 7th of September that the Association of Seed Industry would set up a Child Labour Eradication Group, including a representative from every company, that will conduct internal monitoring. This group will also co-operate with MV Foundation and others to design a collaborative work plan and facilitate external monitoring. According to Dr. Sinha's communication to ICN, this would include giving lists of farmers contracted by companies to MVF and monitoring of child labour through their local Child Rights Protection Committees. In addition training programmes, exposure visits and public meetings are envisaged. The MV Foundation also has a long and successful experience in mobilising communities against child labour and preparing working children to enter full-time formal education. During the last twelve years around 250,000 children have thus been withdrawn from work and entered into schools. MVF's view that no child should work and every child should be in full-time educationhas also become the policy of the government Andhra Pradesh. In March 2004 there will be a new meeting of companies and MV Foundation together to take stock of the progress made. The India Committee of the Netherlands, Amnesty International Netherlands, Novib/Oxfam Netherlands and FNV Mondiaal will continue to monitor the results of the agreement reached with the MV Foundation and the resolution of the Association of Seed Industry. ______________________________________________________________________ CHILD RIGHTS: A Tool for Change? Reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child [report] This paper looks at the modalities and impact of State and NGO reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and of Save the Children UK (SC UK)'s involvement in the reporting process in eight countries examined. A key goal for the review was also to consider ways in which both the reporting process and SC UK's participation could be more effective. The paper tries to answer the following questions: 1. Does reporting to the Committee bring actual benefits? 2. Do Save the Children's programmes benefit from being involved in the UNCRC reporting process (and thus increase their impact on children)? 3. Does the reporting process benefit from Save the Children's involvement and does the organisation have a unique or distinctive role to play? 4. How could the impact of the UNCRC reporting be increased? Some practical recommendations are provided to use the reporting process as a monitoring and advocacy tool and to maximise its impact as much as possible. Although this is an internal review, it can be useful for other child/human rights or development organisations, UNICEF, relevant UN agencies and government officials actually or potentially involved in reporting to the CRC Committee. Also for more effective use of the reporting to other human rights treaty bodies to advance children's rights. For more information or to order copies, contact: Sue Bullivant, Save the Children 17, Grove Lane, London, SE5 8RD, UK Tel: + 44 20 7703 5400; Fax: + 44 20 77032278 Email: s.bullivant@scfuk.org.uk Website: www.savethechildren.org.uk Visit: www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=3764 ______________________________________________________________________ ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: SRI LANKA: 7 year old boy illegally detained and tortured by the police [Urgent Appeal] Dear friends The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a seven-year-old boy has been illegally detained and tortured by the police from the Polpithigame Police Station. According to the information from his mother, the boy has still not recovered from the shock. Your urgent action is required to correct this matter immediately. Urgent Appeals DeskAsian Human Rights Commission. DETAILED INFORMATION: Name of the victim: Wijekone Mudiyanselage Sujith Priyantha Wijekone, 7, of 244, Thalawa, Moregollagame Alleged perpetrator: Officer In Charge (OIC) Mr. Wijeratne and police officers attached to the Polpithigame Police station Period of detention and torture: From 30 July to 31 July 2003 Case details:At about 4:30pm on 29 July 2003, the Officer In Charge (OIC) Mr. Wijeratne with two other policemen came to the house of Sujith Priyantha (7 years old) by a vehicle belonging to the Polpithigame Multi Purpose Cooperative Society (name of shop) and searched for him. At that time, Sujith Priyantha's mother, 47, was not at home. The OIC sent a person to bring her to the house. When she arrived at home, the OIC told her that he wanted to take Sujith Priyantha to the police station because he had broken a cooperative shop and stolen some goods. Sujith Priyantha's mother strongly denied the charges and opposed his arrest. Then the OIC told her to bring Sujith Priyantha and his sister to the police station before 7:00 am of the next day (30 July 2003). S Sujith Priyantha's mother could not reject the OIC's order and took her two children to the Polpithigame Police Station next day.At the police station a constable questioned two children until 1:00 pm. At 1:00 pm the OIC took Sujith Priyantha to his room and did not allow anyone to enter. Then, Sujith Priyantha's mother heard her son scream but she was helpless. The OIC kept him for about one hour. Later Sujith Priyantha told his mother that the OIC had beaten and threatened him. In the afternoon the police took Sujith Priyantha and his sister into the police vehicle and searched for a thirteen-year old boy Aruna. After arresting Aruna, the police released Sujith Priyantha's sister. At about 7:30 pm the police put Sujith Priyantha and Aruna into the cell. When Sujith Priyantha's mother protested against the inhuman treatment of her son, the police led her away from the police station. The next morning (31 July 2003), Sujith Priyantha's mother came to the police station again and saw the relatives of Aruna also there. The OIC Mr. Wijeratene told them that he would release the two boys if they pay for the goods stolen from the cooperative shop, which they refused. At about 3:30 pm they went to request the Attorney-at-law Mr. Siripala Hapuarrachi to intervene this matter on behalf of children. When the Attorney-at-law intervened in the case, the OIC agreed to bring the two boys before the Mahava Magistrate. At midnight the magistrate released the two boys on bail. According to his mother, Sujith Priyantha has not recovered from the shock and is refusing to go to school. When he was 4 years old, his father died and his mother, a poor farmer with 5 children, is the breadwinner of the family. SUGGESTED ACTION: Please send a letter, fax or email to the addresses below and express your concern of this serious case. 1. Hon. Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe Prime Minister Cambridge Place, Colombo 7 SRI LANKAFax: +94 11 2 682905 / 575454E-mail: secpm@sltnet.lk (url: mailto:secpm@sltnet.lk) or bradmanw@slt.lk (url: www.ahrchk.net/phplist/lists/admin/bradmanw@slt.lk) 2. Hon. Mr.K. C. Kamalasabesan Attorney General Attorney General's Department Colombo 12 SRI LANKA Fax: +94 11 2 436 421 Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net (url: mailto:attorney@sri.lanka.net) or counsel@sri.lanka.net (url: mailto:counsel@sri.lanka.net) 3. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC Chairman National Police Commission 69-1 Ward Place, Colombo 7 Sri Lanka Fax: +94 11 2 669 128 (need to ask to change to fax mode) / 691 926 Fax HOME: +94 11 2 674148 4. NationalHuman Rights Commission of Sri Lanka No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8 SRI LANKA Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806 Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk (url: mailto:sechrc@sltnet.lk) 5. Mr. Theo C. van Boven Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture OHCHR-UNOG8-14 Avenue de la Paix1211 Geneva 10SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 22 917-9016 Sample letter: Dear Re: 7 year old boy illegally detained and tortured by the police**Name of the victim:* Wijekone Mudiyanselage Sujith Priyantha Wijekone, 7, of 244, Thalawa, Moregollagame*Alleged perpetrator:* Officer In Charge (OIC) Mr. Wijeratne and police officers attached to the Polpithigame Police Station*Period of detention and torture:* From 30 July to 31 July 2003I am writing to bring to your attention the illegal detention and torture of seven year old boy, Wijekone Mudiyanselage Sujith Priyantha Wijekone.According to the information I have received, on 30 July 2003, Sujith Priyantha was questioned by a constable on suspicion of theft. It is alleged that the Officer In Charge (OIC) Mr. Wijeratne took Sujith Priyantha has beaten and threatened the victim during the inquiry. In addition, the police locked up Sujith Priyantha into the police cell that night. On 31 July, Sujith Priyantha was released with another boy on bail, however he has not recovered from the shock and is refusing to go to school. The manner in which the police inhumanly treated the seven-year-old boy clearly illustrates how insensible they are of practicing illegal arrest, detention and torture against the people. I urge you to investigate this case immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice. Please issue special instructions regarding the procedure for arrest, particularly of children. I also urge the Sri Lankan government to develop an action plan to impose discipline on law enforcement officers. I further urge the responsible local authorities to give compensation to the victim according to the standards of international law. Sincerely yours Thank you. _______________________________________________________ Asian Human Rights Commission Unit D,7 Floor,16 Argyle Street Mongkok Commercial Centre Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR Tel: +(852)-2698-6339 Fax: +(852)-2698-6367 E-mail: ahrchk@ahrchk.org Web: www.ahrchk.net -- The "child-rights" mailing list provides information on issues related to children's human rights. Archives of "child-rights" messages, as well as instructions on how to (un)subscribe to the list, can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/child-rights/markup/maillist.php
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