CHAPTER 2: INTRODUCING ISSUES OF VIOLENCE
The Violence Study says that:
- Violence against children is never right.
- Violence against children can be prevented.
- Adults are responsible for upholding children’s right to protection.
Yet the Study found that violence against children takes place in every country of the world,
in every culture and ethnic group, whether families are well-educated or not, and whether
they are rich or poor.
The Study found that children and young people experience violence in five different
settings or places:
- At home
- In schools or educational settings
- In institutions such as orphanages and children’s homes; and in prisons or other
detention centres
- In the workplace
- In the community
Many countries are working to protect children from violence, but it still takes place and
is not always reported. There are many reasons why much violence remains hidden. For example:
- Fear: Many children are afraid to report violence, especially if the person who has hurt them is more powerful and
could harm them again.
- Stigma: Children may be afraid that if others know about the violence, they will be blamed or isolated.
- Beliefs about violence: Sometimes violence is seen as a ‘normal’ way of dealing with things.
- It is not reported: Sometimes children and adults do not trust the authorities, or sometimes there are simply no
authorities to go to when violence should be reported.
- It is not recorded: Even if violence is reported, there is often no record kept, so that no one knows about the
problem.
For more information, see the Young People’s Violence Study Report.
The two activities in this chapter can be used to introduce issues of violence, why it is hidden, and where it takes
place.
The next five chapters focus on each of the five settings: home, school, institutions, the workplace, and the
community.
Activity 1: What You Don’t See Is…
Why do this?
- It gets everyone drawing and talking.
- It shows that violence against children is often hidden.
What you need:
- Large sheets of paper and markers
- A copy of the “What You Don’t See Is...” and the complete photo for each group
- Time: 45 minutes
What to do:
- Divide the young people into groups. Give each group a large sheet of paper, and the “What You Don’t
See Is...” photo. Ask them to draw, and write, about what they think the rest of the photo shows.
- Each group briefly presents their ideas. Then, give each group a copy of the
complete photo.
- Discuss:
a. What was your reaction when you saw the whole photo?
b. What do you think this child is feeling?
c. What kind of violence is “hidden” in the small photo? In the complete photo?
d. What other kinds of violence are “hidden”?
Bring out the idea that violence may not be easy to see, or may be ignored by the adults who should stop it. The
activities we’ll be doing together will help us see the ‘whole picture’ of violence against children.
Activity 2: Violence: Who, What, Where?
Why do this?
- To share ideas about violence
- To introduce the Violence Study
What you need:
- Flipchart and markers, or chalkboard and chalk
- Cards or slips of paper
- Tape (to hang cards)
- A copy of the Young People's Violence Study Report
- Time: 45-60 minutes
What to do:
- Ask: What does ‘violence’ mean to you?.
Write ideas on the flipchart or chalkboard.
- Share the Violence Study’s definition (see box).
The group can rewrite this in their own words.
Ask: Do you agree with this definition? Is
anything missing?
- Form groups of four. Give each group cards or
slips of paper. Ask them to write down examples
of violence against children they know about.
Each card should have one example of WHAT
happened, WHO did it, and WHERE it happened.
A definition of
violence: |
“...violence occurs
when someone uses
their strength or their
position of power to
hurt someone else
on purpose, not by
accident. Violence
includes threats of
violence, and acts
which could possibly
cause harm, as well
as those that actually
do. The harm
involved can be to
a person’s mind and
their general health
and well-being, as
well as to their body.
Violence also includes
harm people do to
themselves, including
killing themselves.” |
Note to the group leader: Some young people may talk about violence they are currently experiencing. Review Chapter 1, Part C, on how to handle this.
4. Have the groups cluster their cards according to where the act of violence takes
place. If the group is small, this can be done all together.
5. Discuss: What categories did you find for where violence takes place? Explain the
five settings from the Violence Study – home and family, schools, institutions/prisons, the workplace, and the community. How did your categories compare with those in the Violence Study?
Next steps:
- Let the group know about the Young People's Violence Study Report, and where they
can read more about issues of violence against children.
