Pacific Islands Commit to Breaking the Cycle of Violence Against Children

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 24 November 2023: The 12 state parties represented at the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of a Child (CRC) in Apia this week have committed themselves in finding ways to break the cycle of violence against children.

At the three days of the Pacific Regional Experience Sharing Workshop on Implementing Recommendations, the participants agree that action needs to be taken to break the cycle.

The meeting heard that children are faced with all kinds of violence with sexual abuse and beating as the common ones.

Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, a former Deputy Chairman of the UN CRC noted the concept of beating a child as a disciplinary method continues in many families.

There is a similarity in culture within the Pacific and beating a child as a means of discipline has become a norm and some even link it to their cultural practice.

“The culture of all Pacific countries are not really different and are based on the concept of helping each other, and it is the family notion that children are important members of the family and that we treasure them and not beat them,” said Vui.

He said the Pacific Islands share common values through culture and they bring those values on the discussion table.

The UN Committee Chairwoman Ann Skelton said the issue is still being debated and whilst some people have a change of mind set over such behaviour, there is a need for more awareness activities to spearhead and put the message across.

Sexual violation of young children within their own homes continues to rise and is a cause for concern in many Pacific Islands.

For Samoa, Justice Vui Clarance Nelson said the number of cases brought before the Court indicates a big problem.

“We can only give out sentences to try and deter such offences,” said Justice Nelson.

The three days discussion also touched on the issue of children in the criminal justice system and climate change.

Children as agents of change
The former UN Committee on CRC Mikiko Otani emphasized the importance of children’s voices.

“The children are the future of every country and they are agents of change, their voices count,” said Otani.

She hailed the presence of the children at the workshop as a good opportunity for them to be heard and voice their viewpoints on the impact of climate change on their future.

“We are all affected by the children and their amazing experiences, you hear them and it’s unbelievable what they came up with and what they say unfortunately, we adults are too often guilty of ignoring children’s viewpoints,” said Justice Nelson.

The children and participants to the Pacific Regional Experience-Sharing Workshop on Implementation of Recommendations with the UN Committee on the Rights of a Child, Taumeasina Resort, Apia, Samoa.

The Meeting Outcome
The Pacific Islands state parties are now committed to:

• Translate & disseminate widely the recommendations to relevant stakeholders at all levels and start consultation with civil societies, children to create national plans and monitor their implementation,
• Reaffirm commitment through demonstration of existing good practices to protect children’s rights with respect to issues discussed such as prohibition of corporal punishment and promotion of positive and non-violent form of discipline protection of children from domestic violence, sexual exploitation & abuse, climate change and emerging issues such as children in the digital environment,
• Continue positive engagement and peer to peer learning amongst Pacific Island countries on good practices & challenges for better progress on the implementation of international standards of children’s rights,
• Enhance interaction with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by reporting under a simplified reporting procedure, implement & follow-up & invite international experts for visits in the region,
• Commit to establish and strengthen National Mechanisms for Implementation  Reporting & Follow-up (NMIRF) in accordance with the Pacific Principles on NMIRF to facilitate and coordinate  a comprehensive approach to follow-up and implementation of Human Rights Mechanism recommendations, including those emanating  from the UN Committee,
• Committing to creating an enabling environment  and platform for multi-stakeholder engagement and for improved ownership of children’s rights at the regional level including collaboration with parents, communities, traditional and religious authorities  and other relevant stakeholders,
• Engage proactively with international & regional partners such as the Pacific Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNICEF Pacific & the Pacific Community to seek technical assistance & capacity building for improved engagement with the UN Committee on the Rights of a Child & enhance implementation of the Convention & the recommendations of the Committee,
• Rising up to the challenge to make best use of the Committee’s general comment no. 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change, and to keep children’s rights and child participation at the forefront of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts at the national, sub-regional, regional and international levels; and
• Committing to champion children’s rights and wellbeing in the Pacific, reaffirming their commitment to international standards on the protection and promotion of all children’s rights in all circumstances.

The representatives from Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu commended the positive outcome of the workshop and acknowledged the Committee for the first ever follow-up visit by a treaty body of the region.