[child-rights] Moral obligation to get the children in tsunami affected areas back to school, says Asian Human Rights Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2005
AS-03-2005

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

Moral obligation to get the children in tsunami affected areas back to
school

There are heartening stories coming from Thailand regarding the importance
communities and the government are attaching to the problems of children
and their need to return to school. In many places parents have provided
support and encouraged teachers to return to school so that some level of
normalcy can be restored to their children's lives. It is believed that
the reopening of schools will not only naturally benefit the children's
education, but it will help the children deal with any post-tsunami
physiological stress. Stories thus far are revealing the physiological
trauma that many children have suffered as a result of the tsunami.
However, several of the children who have been able to return to school
and who have received special attention and monitoring for psychological
problems that have been detected, have been attended to and treated before
the situation got worse. Psychologists in countries affected by the
tsunami are pointing to the possibility of very serious psychological
problems that may arise in the aftermath of this tragedy. Naturally,
children are likely to be greater victims of such situations. Thus, the
action taken by Thai parents is not only generous but also extremely wise.

There are also reports from Thailand of the military rebuilding damaged
schools so that they will be in a position to be used soon. Other than the
practical aspect of the school buildings being made available there is
also the psychological aspect to the whole nation when their soldiers are
engaged in reconstructing the schools for the country's children.
Observers say that this is in fact one of the traditions of the Thai
military. At times of catastrophes they play a visible role in the
reconstruction of the social infrastructure so that things can be brought
back to normal as soon as possible. Such events create a wholesome
psychological impetus among the whole population who want certain
priorities addressed even in the midst of such devastation.

In both these areas of community redevelopment involving teachers and the
military there is a loud message for the people and the Government of Sri
Lanka. Currently in Sri Lanka, we are witnessing the most generous out
flowing of aid and assistance, both from the local community as well as
from abroad. The crisis not only brought Kofi Annan, the Secretary General
of the United Nations and Colin Powel, the Secretary of State for the
United States of America, as concerned visitors, but it has also put Sri
Lanka before the watchful eyes of concerned people throughout the world.
Besides the aid that has already come to Sri Lanka there is enormous
potential for unprecedented levels of assistance born out of unbound
sympathy that tsunami victims have evoked. Not surprisingly, in the
world's sympathetic eyes, children are at the centre.

One of the major problems at the moment relates to the nature of the civil
administration of the government, spurred by the political leadership of
the country. The delivering of aid by the world's leading international
agencies, including UN agencies, will very much depend on the enabling
behaviour of the civil administration. The solving of the problems of the
civil administration should not be left to run its own course but rather
the political and community leadership must make their presence felt.
Purely compassionate actions to help the victims will not suffice;
creating strong pressure to get the civil administration to act in a
manner that is appropriate to this tragic situation is the duty of the
community and one that should not be ignored. If it is, all the good will
of the community will undoubtedly fail under a civil administration system
that is unable to deal with the situation.

UNICEF must be specially lauded for its attempt to bring the issue of
children to the world's attention. Their work in trying to get schools
reopened and to deal with the psychological aspects of children's
problems, shows an understanding of the type of social implications that
come with such a catastrophe. There are a number of local organisations
too, who are focussing almost entirely on the issue of children affected
by the tsunami. The government should assist such efforts in a specific
way and work towards a timetable for the genuine realisation of the goal
of getting the children back to school. Teachers need community and
government support if they are return to school. They also need to show
their own sense of bravery and compassion if they wish to help children
return to their normal environment. Such effort is particularly important
for those children who have been left orphaned and who therefore
especially require a familiar environment where they can feel supported
and protected. The quick manner in which Thai parents and the military
reacted to support children is an example that Sri Lanka must follow.

# # #

About AHRC The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional
non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues
in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984




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