Our Right to Be Protected From Violence: Activities for Learning and Taking Action for Children and Young People

This online booklet from the The Secretariat of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children is for adults, youth leaders and peer educators who work with groups of young people aged 12–18 in community centres, youth groups, and other settings. The book gives information about the UN Study on Violence Against Children (referred to as here ‘the Violence Study’), activities that can be used to help others learn about these issues, and ideas for taking action against violence. Sponsors are the International Save the Children Alliance, United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), and the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

The activities book explains the purpose of the Violence Study and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It then provides a short version of the CRC and activities to familiarise youth with the document, e.g., pick ten articles and rank them as their importance to you. The booklet intends to prepare leaders of activities, particularly youth leaders, for the personal stories and strong feelings that may result from group work. It includes basics of working with groups such as agenda setting and guidelines for participation, as well as types of activities including discussion formats, role plays, action research, reporting, evaluation, and closing activities. It encourages action and contains guidance on action planning.

Contents include:

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Introducing Issues of Violence
• Chapter 3: Violence in the Home and Family
• Chapter 4: Violence in Schools and Educational Settings
• Chapter 5: Violence against Children in Institutions and Prisons
• Chapter 6: Violence against Children in the Workplace
• Chapter 7: Violence against Children in the Community
• Chapter 8: Going Forward
• Resource List
• Annex 1: Convention on the Rights of the Child (short version)
• Annex 2: Energisers
• Annex 3: Closing Activities
• Annex 4: "“What You Don’t See is..."