Plan calls for end of violence in schools on International Children’s Day

In Guinea Bissau, Plan used a public event which was organised to celebrate International Children’s Day, on June 1st, to highlight how violence against children in schools continues to affect children across the country and to call on the Government to take action to stop this abuse of child’s rights.

The event, in Buba (South West Guinea Bissau) was headlined by a 16 year old boy. Within his speech he said:

Is a pity to me that strikes against children constantly occur in our public schools, given that in the future this country will need capable men and women leaders to ensure the effective development of our country. For that to happen we need our current leaders to believe that the top priority should be investing in the education of its children. The government must invest in children's education by improving the quality of teaching. They must take into account that there are students in our universities who do not know how to write. In most cases this is not their fault. It is caused by a lack of quality education.

In Guinea Bissau, Plan carry out a range of programmes with the aim of eliminating violence against children in schools.

More than 1000 children took part in a large carnival when the campaign was launched, raising awareness about violence against children across many communities.

Of these children 60 have received support and advice to become child parliamentarians, who act as champions for this issue around Guinea Bissau and meet with government and local authority officials to urge more action on eliminating violence in schools.

Finally Plan have so far trained nearly 500 teachers, in positive discipline teaching methods, showing them there are alternative ways to discipline a class room without using violence.