The Participation of Argentinian Children in the Regional Consultation

Dr. Ingrid Porras Jiménez  |  01/06/2005

Summary:

The participation of Argentinian children in the Regional Consultation on Violence against Children.

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Link: http://www.violenciaestudioalc.org

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Further information:

The Participation of Argentinian Children in the Regional Consultation

The participation of Argentinian children in the Latin American Regional Consultation was coordinated by Defence for Children in International – Argentina.

The Republic of Argentina is made up of 23 provinces with a population of 36, 260, 130 inhabitants, 49% of whom are male, and 51% are female, according to the last census carried out in 2001. People under 14 years old represent 25% of the total population, 57% of these live in poverty, and 25% are indigent (INDEC, 2004) Website: www.indec.mecon.org.

136 children and adolescents between 9-17 years old participated in the Argentinian National Consultation. They worked in 12 focus groups which represented the area in which they live (rural-urban); economic situation; ethnicity and disability. The focus groups were divided according to age and gender.

It is important to point out that the methodology used in Argentina, which was designed by Save the Children Norway, is the same as that used throughout the region, in which 2000 children participated from 17 Latin American countries.

Information about the working groups in Argentina:

1. Provincia Santiago del Estero (Urban area): young people (male) 15 - 17 years.

2. Provincia Santiago del Estero (Urban area): 13 young people (female) 15 - 17 years.

3. Barrio El Tala - Distrito Quilmes, Province of Buenos Aires: 13 girls 9 - 11 years.

4. Barrio El Tala - Distrito Quilmes, Province of Buenos Aires: 12 boys 9 - 11 años.Barrio El Tala - Distrito Quilmes, Province of Buenos Aires: 12 boys 9 - 11 years.

5. Barrio San Damián - Distrito Hurlingham, Province of Buenos Aires: 13 girls 9 - 11 years.

6. Barrio San Damián - Distrito Hurlingham, Province of Buenos Aires: 11 girls 9 - 11 years.

7. La Matanza, Province of Buenos Aires, Urban area: 12 young people (male) 15 - 17 years.

8. Chascomús, Province of Buenos Aires, Rural area: Children and Young People with hearing and motor disabilities: 1 boy, 4 girls, 9 young people (6 female, 3 male)

9. Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Urban area: 7 young people (female) 16 - 17 years.

10. Barrio Palermo, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Urban (middle class): 4 young people (male) 15 - 17 years; 8 young people (female) 15 - 17 years.

11. Comunidad Toba de Clorinda, Province of Formosa, of Toba Ethnicity, Rural area: 10 girls 9 - 11.

12. Comunidad Toba de Clorinda, Province of Formosa, Toba Ethnicity, Rural area: 8 young people (male) 15 - 17

Generally, children in Argentina reported that most violence takes place within the family, in schools and in the community. The home is a site of physical, psychological, and, to a lesser extent, sexual violence. They said the main causes of violence within the family were the use of drugs and alcohol as well as parent’s lack of education. In schools they said violence was a result of teachers’ impatience, poor anger management and frustration. The children also reported on violence amongst their peers, which they said was a product of violence in the home and in environment in which they live. Commenting on violence in their communities, they mentioned the prevalence of gangs, drug and alcohol abuse and the lack of places where young people could meet up. They said that the responsibility for this lay with the State because of the lack of opportunities, jobs and education. One boy said “It’s the government’s fault that there’s so much violence in Argentina: it’s the government that doesn’t look after the children, that doesn’t take charge when it should, and that the police abuse their positions of power (17 year-old, Buenos Aires).

Another girl made an appeal to the wealthy and to institutions and authorities, asking them to listen, that they have a dialogue with the children. Disabled children said that the most severe form of violence they experience is discrimination, the lack of ramps in the street, the lack of awareness of employees on public transport who do not want to take wheelchairs, the lack of opportunities they have in finding work and the rejection they feel on a daily basis… One girl from Chascomús said that sign language should be taught “We are people too and we want to have some opportunities”.

The children who participated clearly identified the different types of violence, and made an appeal to the authorities to act on this issue, but above all else, to listen to them because they have a lot to say…Once more the children of the world say to the world of adults…LISTEN UP, WE WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO US, WE NEED A SPACE TO PARTICIPATE…

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