The free
charters
Children’s priorities
for the post-2015
development agenda

About ChildFund AllianceChildFund Alliance
211 East 43rd Street, Suite 1402
New York, NY 10017

Afghanistan, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia,
Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde,
Dominica, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala,Guinea, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland,
Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mali,
Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand,
Nicaragua, Nepal, Paraguay, Papua New
Acknowledgements
Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
This report would have not been possible
South Korea, Sri Lanka, The Gambia, Timor
without the commitment and hard work of Leste, Togo, Uganda, United States,
many individuals across ChildFund Alliance Vietnam, and Zambia.
and beyond. We specially thank theLead editor: Felipe Cala
following countries for facilitating theFirst published in 2014
© ChildFund Allianceconsultations and documenting children’s
aspirations, opinions and views:

ChildFund Alliance is a Virginia Nonstock
Corporation organized exclusively forChildFund Alliance is a worldwide allianceof 12 children’s development organisations charitable purposes within the meaning ofworking in 58 countries to improve the lives Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, and incorporated in the stateof vulnerable and excluded children,of Virginia.
helping them overcome poverty andachieve their rights. Find more information
at www.childfundalliance.org.
Published by

Designed by Gill Advertising www.gilladvertising.com
2

The free charters, Child Fund AllianceContributing editors: Andrew Johnson,
Sarah Stevenson, and Avril MacDonald

Table of contents

Executive summary

2

About this report

5

Major themes and priorities coming out of theconsultations with children
The Millennium Development Goals

8

Violence against children

10

Quality in education and health for all, and other priorities

12

A clean and safe environment

13

	Awareness raising, education, laws and protection
from violence as key areas for Governments
Monitoring and indicators

15
18

The free charters from children
Africa20

The Americas

40

Asia Pacific49

Europe66

Annexes
List of participating countries

69

Coding explanation70

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1

Executive Summary
As the United Nations and Governments from around the world converge
at the UN General Assembly to discuss and define the next set of global
priorities to eradicate poverty and attain sustainable development,children’s participation must be central. It is imperative that children’s views
are listened to and acted upon, as it will be they who will be living with andinheriting the choices made by world leaders today.

For the past few years, the world has seen
unprecedented efforts on the part ofGovernments, UN entities and civil society
to reach out to citizens and communities
across countries and regions. In the
UN-led processes alone, more than 3
million citizens, including children andyoung people, from throughout the world
have had the opportunity to express theirviews and state their priorities for the next
generation of development goals.
Building upon these ongoing efforts,
ChildFund Alliance is committed toamplifying the voices of children,
particularly the most vulnerable andexcluded, so they can reach Governments
and decision-makers in capitals and at theUN. In 2013, ChildFund Alliance, as partof its Small Voices, Big Dreams initiative,
conducted 6,500 one-on-one interviews
with children in 47 countries, asking themto rank what is important for them andtheir families, according to the MY World
survey, and what they wanted world
leaders to do about violence againstchildren.1
In addition, ChildFund Alliance undertook
a series of focus group discussions in 41
countries, engaging over 1,300 children,
to gather their views on the issues ofviolence and exploitation, and their placein the next set of global priorities, whichwere published in a report last year.
The current report presents the results ofan additional round of over 50

2

The free charters, Child Fund Allianceconsultations held in 40 countries andengaging over 2,300 children, who came
together to discuss their aspirations andpriorities for the future of sustainable
development. We asked children thefollowing questions:
1. What priorities do you think should
remain the same in the next priorities forthe world?
2. What priorities do you think should be
added to the next priorities for the world?
3. If you could do one thing to improve
the natural environment, what would
you do?
4. What do you want leaders in yourcountry to do about these issues?
5. How do you think all this should bemeasured?
After discussing these questions in groups
and in plenary, children were asked toelect two peer representatives to draft –with the aid of the facilitator – a children’scharter on the post-2015 development
agenda, which ChildFund Alliance thencollated and analysed. These are all
included in this report.
Children’s priorities and views are veryclear, cutting across countries and regions:• The efforts that began with the MDGs
should not be brought to a halt, and all
current priorities should be carriedforward in the next development
framework.

• Violence against children is one of theissues that was not included in the
MDGs and should be prioritized by the
post-2015 development agenda. In
82% of participating countries, children
indicated this was one of the priorities
that should be added to the next
development framework, with specificcalls for ending bullying, child labour,child marriage, child trafficking, corporalpunishment, female genital mutilationand cutting, children associated witharmed forces or groups, and violence inschools.
• Quality and universality in educationand healthcare are also important tochildren. Children want the MDGs on
education and health to go further, andfor Governments to ensure thateveryone – males and females, children
and adults – can benefit from goodquality education and healthcare
systems.
• Children want more trees planted thancut; they want less use of toxic materials
and more recycling; they want lessgreenhouse emissions and cleaner air.
• Children want to be involved in themonitoring of the next generation ofdevelopment goals, and are aware of
the importance of measuring progressat the local level, and with the direct
engagement of the communities.

The free charters, Child Fund AllianceChildren across countries suggested
different indicators to measure andmonitor progress for the post-2015
development agenda. These indicators
include:Indicators on education:• Schools in the community

Indicators on fulfilment ofbasic needs:• Children enrolled in school• Level of income in the community• Girls enrolled in school• Households with enough food

Overarching indicators:• Test scores for children• People with access to electricity• Media coverage of issues• Children who complete secondary school• Awareness levels at community level• Trained teachers in classrooms• People with access to clean drinking
water• Existence of budgets andimplementation plans• Cases of corruption in schools

Indicators on children’s engagement
and participation:

Indicators on health:• Children who grow up to be productive
citizens• Availability of medicines in healthfacilities• Children involved in the decisions that
affect their lives• Women dying at childbirth

Indicators on violence againstchildren:• Violence and conflict in communities• Existence of campaigns to prevent
violence against children• Cases of violence against children• Adults who can read and write• Hospitals built• Children who have a home
Indicators on environmental
protection:• Planted trees• Rate of abusive tree-cutting• Reduction in deforestation• Deaths of children from treatablediseases
Indicators on employment:• People who are employed• Young people who cannot find a job
after graduation• Punishment of perpetrators of violenceagainst children

1

MY World is a UN global survey for citizens. Working with partners, the aim is to capture people’s voices, priorities
and views, so they reach world leaders as they define the next set of global development goals. As of August 2014,
more than 3,000,000 had participated.

freefromviolence.org

3Demographic breakdownof consultations
Africa16

COUNTRIES

Asia Pacific

14 14 28

COUNTRIES Afghanistan

25 25 50

Burkina Faso

69 55 124

Cambodia

42 31 73

Cape Verde28 24 52

India

68 50 118

Ethiopia

53 28 81Indonesia

Gambia30 30 60

Japan

Ghana

35 25 60

Kyrgyzstan

Guinea26 24 60

New ZealandKenya

21 21 42Nepal

35 24 59

Liberia

23 17 40

Papua New Guinea

19 25 444414

34 28 62
2

1

3

Mali

24 24 48

Philippines

38 35 73

18 24 42South Korea

25 28 53

Senegal33 29 62

Sri Lanka

16 14 30

Sierra Leone

27 20 47

Timor Leste

30 25 55

Togo

19 20 39

Vietnam

41 34 75

Uganda13 15 28

Zambia106 91 197

The Americas

8

23 22 45
10

Mozambique

Girls Boys Total
539 471 1,010

COUNTRIES

14

Benin

Bolivia

15 11 26

Dominica

28 26 54

Guatemala75 55 130

Honduras

21 22 43

Mexico15 17 32

Nicaragua

34 29 63

Paraguay

40 30 70

United States

18 27 45

Girls Boys Total
246 217 463

Girls Boys Total
408 346 754

Europe2

COUNTRIES

Belarus26 22 48

Ireland

39 21 60

Girls Boys Total
65
43
108

About this report
Children’s participation in the decisions
that affect their lives is not only a right,
but also a general principle and part of
the general measures of implementationof the Convention on the Rights of theChild (CRC).
The purpose of this report is to amplify
the voices of boys and girls in the agendasetting process for the post-2015
development framework, seeking toensure that their views are actively
listened to and taken into account.
This report is based on first-handinformation that over 2,300 children
shared during consultations in 40
countries across Africa, the Americas,
Asia Pacific and Europe. To conduct andguide these consultations, local facilitators
asked the following questions:
1. What priorities do you think should
remain the same in the next priorities
for the world?

enabled children to express their opinionand develop their recommendations.2
To ensure that consultations wereconducted in a safe and inclusive
environment and to support thefacilitators the following documents wereshared:• a concept note
• a facilitators’ guide• a consultation session plan
• a child-friendly PowerPoint presentationon the MDGs and the post-2015
development agenda• a list of open-ended questions• all the necessary consent forms forchildren and their caregivers

Additionally, the facilitators were provided
with guidance and feedback, as and whenneeded, to successfully conduct theconsultations and collate the information.
This report is divided into two main parts:
The first part consists of a quantitative
analysis of the qualitative data that was
gathered during more than 50
consultations. The second part includes
the outcomes of these consultations, inthe shape of children’s charters drafted bypeer-elected representatives.
Additionally, Annex 1 includes a list of allparticipating countries; and Annex 2,
information on how outcomes from theconsultations were coded to conduct thequantitative analysis.

• a documentation and reporting guideline• a suggested template for children to
draft their charters

2. What priorities do you think should be
added to the next priorities for theworld?
3. If you could do one thing to improve
the natural environment, what would
you do?
4. What do you want leaders in yourcountry to do about these issues?
5. How do you think all this should bemeasured?
The information gathered during theconsultations was later coded to obtain
quantifiable results. The charts in the firstsection indicate in what percentage ofcountries children raised a particular issue.
The selection of countries was based on
those where ChildFund Alliance works.
The ethical and meaningful participationof boys and girls was ensured as perinternational standards and best practices,
including General Comment No.12, which

2

The General Comment No. 12 of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is the Committee’s interpretation on
the right of the child to be heard.

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5Participating countries

6

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

USA

Belarus

IrelandKyrgyzstan
USA
Afghanistan

Japan

Nepal

South Korea

MexicoIndia

SenegalGuatemalaHonduras
Nicaragua

Dominica

Mali
Togo

Cape Verde

The Gambia
GuineaSeirra Leone
Benin
Liberia Ghana

Vietnam
Ethiopia
Kenya
Uganda Sri Lanka

Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Philippines
Papua New Guinea

Indonesia
Mozambique

Bolivia

Timor-Leste

ZambiaParaguay

Participating countries

New Zealand

Disaggregation ofparticipating children
by region and sex
Africa539 471 1010

The Americas

246 217 463

Asia Pacific408 346 754

EuropeGlobally65

43 108Girls Boys Total
1258 1077 2335

54%
46%
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7

Major themes and priorities coming
out of the consultations with children

1

The Millennium
Development Goals
Throughout the last decade and a half,
the concerted efforts of national
Governments and the international
community have saved more children thanever before from preventable diseases,
and have provided them with access toclean water and sanitation, to education,and to healthcare. Much more still
remains to be done to eradicate poverty inall its forms and achieve sustainable
development.
Across the consultations, children
displayed an acute awareness of the factthat the promises contained in theMillennium Declaration and in the MDGs
are still partially unfulfilled. “There are stillpoor people in our country, and poverty
and hunger still exists in ourcommunities,” children in Cambodia said.
“We think the eight MDGs, andCambodia’s goal on demining, should
remain as priorities for the next 15 years.”
While prioritization varied from country tocountry and from region to region, all thecurrent MDGs received support forremaining in the post-2015 development
agenda. “They are all still importantbecause they directly impact us,” children
from Papua New Guinea said.
Globally, eradicating extreme poverty andhunger (MDG 1), and achieving universal
primary education (MDG 2) werementioned by children in 82% of thecountries as needing to remain in the next
development framework, followed bycombating HIV and AIDS, malaria andother diseases (MDG 6), in 64%; ensuring
environmental sustainability (MDG 7), in
69%; and improving maternal health(MDG 5), in 67%.
8

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

Regional analysis
In Africa, achieving universal primaryeducation (MDG 2) was mentioned bychildren in 87% of the countries, while
eradicating extreme poverty and hunger(MDG 1), and ensuring environmental
sustainability (MDG 7) were raised in 80%of the countries; and improving maternal
health (MDG 5), in 73%.
“I think we should keep MDG 1, because
poverty and hunger keep rising every day
and kill many children all over the world,”
said a 14-year old girl from Togo. On
MDG 8, a 15 year-old girl from Ghana
observed: “The global partnership fordevelopment carries the rest of the goals,
because it creates a forum forinternational dialogue to enable all thecountries to air out their views on issues
affecting the world.”
In the Americas, eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger (MDG 1), andcombating HIV and AIDS, malaria andother diseases (MDG 6) were brought up
by children in 88% of the countries, whileachieving universal primary education(MDG 2), and promoting gender equality
and empowering women (MDG 5), in
75%; and ensuring environmental
sustainability (MDG 7), and developing a
global partnership for development (MDG8), in 63%.
In Nicaragua, a 16-year old boy stated:“All the goals are important and are
related to each other. What we have to dois get commitments from everyone, as thisis a shared responsibility and it does not
only rely on the rich or poor countries.”
In Asia Pacific, achieving universal primaryeducation (MDG 2) was prioritised bychildren in 86% of the countries, while
eradicating extreme poverty and hunger(MDG 1) and combating HIV and AIDS,
malaria and other diseases (MDG 6), in
79%; and improving maternal health,in 71%.
A 14-year old girl from Nepal said:“HIV and AIDS-affected people andchildren have faced much discrimination insociety. This is why this disease should be
prevented. It is urgent to carry out research
to find a medicine that cures suchincurable diseases.”
In Europe, the following MDGs werementioned by children in both participating
countries as needing to remain in the next
development framework: eradicating
extreme poverty and hunger (MDG 1),
reducing child mortality (MDG 4),
promoting gender equality andempowering women (MDG 5), combating
HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases(MDG 6), and developing a global
partnership for development (MDG 8).
A 16-year old boy from Belarus said, in
relation to MDG 8: “Strengthening
partnerships between countries, plus
developing trade, will help countries toimprove their economy. They will havemore money to improve healthcare, takecare of the environment, and in short solve
all the issues that we have discussed.”

100

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Question 1
What priorities do you think should remain the samein the next priorities for the world?

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freefromviolence.org

9When asked about which issues should
be added to the current priorities andincluded in the post-2015 development
agenda, violence against children wasconsistently the top priority for children
across all regions – in Africa, Asia Pacific,
the Americas and Europe – having beenbrought up in 82% of the countries.
“Governments should combat violence,take care of the environment and end
injustice,” said an 11-year old girl from
Guatemala, while a 16-year old boy from
Togo stated: “We can see that in theworld, children are victims of many formsof violence. Many children drop out ofschools because of violence. We should
include this in the next development
agenda.”Children made explicit calls for the
post-2015 development agenda toaddress the following forms of violence:bullying, child labour, child marriage, childtrafficking, corporal punishment, female
genital mutilation and cutting, children
associated with armed forces or groups,
and violence in schools.

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l
i
or ty
u c onren’
ala t fo
s
l
io r
Em
rig
n al
l,
ht
pl
oy
s
m
en
H
ou
tf
sin
or
g
al
l
A
c
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ta t
t o
A ion clego cce a an
od ss nd anu to hyg ndCh
tr foo ie saf
iti d n e
ild
on a e w
re
nd
at
n’
er
s
,
C
rig
of orr
h
tt
G up
ov ti
o
o
pl
Pe ern nayase ac m n
cu e en d
rit an ts ac
co
y d
un
ci
tiz
ta
en
bi
lit
s’
y

100

P
se eaccu e
rit any dVch iolild enre ce
n agAsia Pacific

64%

50%

20
36%

50%

40

50%

50%
36%

50%
29%

50%
29%

38%

50%
29%

0
21%

20

50%
21%

25%
25%

21%

The Americas

25%

The prevention of and response toviolence against children was prioritizedby children in 80% of the countries inAfrica, 100% of the countries in theAmericas, 71% of the countries in Asia
Pacific, and the two participating
countries in Europe.

A 15-year old girl from Zambia said:“I want a new world where children areprotected from all forms of violence andabuse.” In India, a 15-year old girl stated:“No child in the village should have towork!” A 12-year old boy from Honduras
said: “Child labour should be controlled
so that more children are able to go toschool.” In Belarus, a 16-year old boy
said: “Children should be free frombullying: from peers and adults, in schooland everywhere. This is unacceptable, inany country.”

50%

38%
25%

0

50%

20

All graphs show percentages of countries

freefromviolence.org

11

3
training for youth, andQuality in education technicalinformation and communications
technologies (ICTs) in schools.
and health for all,and other priorities HealthChildren in 51% of the countries

Education

In 54% of the countries children called for
quality and safe education for all to beprioritized, including access to secondary
education. Children from Ethiopia statedthat the next development goals should
not focus only on primary education,
because in this country most girls dropout during secondary school, due tovarious harmful traditional practices –such as child marriage, female genital
mutilation, and marriage by inheritance.
In Ireland, a 16-year old girl observed:“If you’re given an education, you learn
about your rights. If more people hadaccess to education, it would lead toother, positive things.”
On the subject of attaining quality
education for all, concrete issues werealso prioritized, such as access to adulteducation and literacy programmes,
12

The free charters, Child Fund Allianceprioritized quality healthcare for all as an
issue to be addressed by the next
development framework, and called forspecific related issues to be addressed,
such as access to sexual and reproductive
health and rights, prevention of deadly
diseases, and prevention of substanceabuse. A 10-year old girl from South
Korea said: “Because not enough doctors
are available or because people can’t
afford to go to the hospital, many people
face death today. No one should die froma disease that can be cured. We need tobuild more medical centres that are open
to everyone free of charge.”

Regional analysis
In Africa, issues to be addressed by thenext generation of development goals
included quality healthcare for all, andquality and safe education in 53% of thecountries. “Schooling is not learning!”

said a 15-year old boy from Ethiopia. And
a 14-year old boy from Benin said: “It’sgood to send children to school, but every
day we must ensure that they also havegood academic results.”
In the Americas, children called for peaceand citizens’ security to be considered a
global priority in 75% of the countries,
while in 50% they called for quality
healthcare for all, quality and safe
education, and employment for all to bealso taken into account.
In Asia Pacific, children in 64% of thecountries called for quality and safe
education; in 50%, for quality healthcare
for all; and in 36%, for children’s rights,
and employment for all.
Children in both participating countries in
Europe also prioritized peace andcitizens’ security. A 16-year old boy from
Belarus called for world leaders “to stopand prevent wars and armed conflicts toavoid children from suffering. Many
children die, many have their houses
burned, they have no place to live, andtheir childhood becomes hell for them.”

4

Question 3
If you could do one thing to improve the naturalenvironment, what would you do?

A clean and safe
environment

80
60

67%

59%

40
20

31%

28%

23%

21%

18%

0

100
80
60
40
20
0

10%

10%

,

Africa

13%

87%

R
w ed
as uc
te e
u
Ra ma seise na of
ge to
aw
m xi
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a
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t a rec al, i
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ll
an h
fig ssioev le pro
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ol f gPr nita acc
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ild ste aMetlif m er
ob
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m
ot
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in h
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E ro cher
to na nm ilds
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U ec e a pa
ag nd t th nf ffa rti
ric er e orc irs cip
atul tak en e
iotu e vi strnre su ro ic
st nm t laaiwe
nb n sle t

In 31% of the countries, children called
for a reduction in the emissions ofgreenhouse gases and for better air
quality. As children in Burkina Faso put it:“Prohibit factories from producing lots ofsmoke and toxic gases that pollutethe environment.”

100

A
an dd
d re
la ss
nd de
Re
de fo
im d
gr resan p ucrad ta
ed ov uat tiore e se
Re
io n,
c
w
yc a ofga d
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se uce
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m
a
n
Ra
na ma
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ise figissio
ge te
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en llu re
to na
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es
pr ct as a ion nh
ou
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St ect elnoan p t f
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lsna as en ePr tur tin vir stri
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ot
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ild urc rici tEn
es ty,
lif
ga
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at
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in
Pr
su
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ai
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to
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e
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ul
rn
tu
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at
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s
so
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rg
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To improve the natural environment,children in 59% of the countries alsomentioned the need to reduce the use of
toxic materials and improve waste
management. The production andconsumption of plastic bottles cameacross as an area of particular concern, as
did the lack of proper ways to dispose ofwaste. Again, suggestions in this area
were varied, and included small andeveryday actions such as stopping the useof plastic bottles, increasing the numberof garbage cans in public spaces, or
recycling at home, but also larger-scale
solutions such as forbidding the dumpingof waste into lakes, oceans and rivers.

Global DataAd dla ese dre
nd rt ssde ific de
gr at forad ion es
at , a ta
io n tion d nGlobally, children showed great concern
regarding the destruction of forests, andaddressing the indiscriminate cutting oftrees was mentioned as a top priority
across countries and regions. Indeed,regarding environmental issues, children
in 67% of the countries were clear thatthe next generation of development goals
should address deforestation,desertification and other forms of landdegradation. Suggestions for
Governments in this area were varied, andranged from enacting and enforcing strictlaws against indiscriminate cutting oftrees, to the direct engagement of thecommunity in reforestation activities –such as planting two trees for every treethat is cut down.

53%

47%

27%

13%

13%

7%

7%

7%

7%

7%

All graphs show percentages of countries

freefromviolence.org

13

The Americas

88%

60

40

100

80

60

40

20

100

80

60

40

0

14
R
t ed
im oxi uc
m p cm eu
an ro a s
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o
St ct edna n op th nf
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na a en etu stin vi strRra g ro ic
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Ra
iss
es y,
ise
fig io
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at
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us
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at
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80

Asia Pacific

21%

A
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R fic ew ed ati for
as uc on es
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St
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ild vir strRae
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ise
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U
e
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ev
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t
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In gy at
s
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A l pa thedm d rk n
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es

100

Europe100% 100%R
ga ed
se ucesa e
R nd mw ed fi issi
as uc gh on
te et om use po f gAan o llu re
d
an d
ti e
ag f
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us
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to na de fort
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dcy im
U ect en atio ion
cl p
se
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th fo n , d
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Inat iro ric
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tu easso e awn,ra e
uc nt sl p thes
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of
ks u
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an mb
er
d er
gy
re o
se f
rv
es

Question 3 (continued)
If you could do one thing to improve the natural environment, what would you do?

75%

50%

43%

50%
50%

20
38%
25%

0

50%
21%

50%
21%

50%

20

All graphs show percentages of countries

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance
25%

14%
25%

14%
25%

14%
25%

0

43%

29%

7%
7%
7%

Regional analysis

Children in Africa prioritized thefollowing actions to improve the naturalenvironment: addressing deforestation,desertification and land degradation, in
87% of the countries; reducing the use of
toxic material and improving waste
management, in 53%; and raisingawareness about environmental issues at
all levels, in 47%.

“We need to create awareness and ask
people to protect and keep ourenvironment clean,” said a 16-year old
girl from Kenya, while a 14-year old girlfrom Burkina Faso stated: “We must plant
trees because it’s the trees that bring therain.”In the Americas, reducing toxic waste
and improving waste management was
brought up in 88% of the countries; andaddressing deforestation, desertificationand land degradation, in 75%.
Additionally, enacting and enforcing laws
to protect the environment, and stop
wasting electricity, water and natural
resources were prioritized in 50% of thecountries.

“There’s a lot of talk about protecting theenvironment, but nothing is done. We
want more actions and not just words,”
a 12-year old girl from Bolivia said.
In Asia Pacific, children prioritized
addressing deforestation, desertificationand land degradation in 43% of thecountries, as well as reducing the use of
toxic material and improving waste
management. They also wanted to stop
wasting electricity, water and natural
resources in 29% of the countries; andreducing the emission of greenhousegases, enacting and enforcing strict laws
to protect the environment, andprotecting wildlife, in 21%.
“We would be happy if the Government
would manage our natural resources
better, for example, by protecting
biodiversity. We also want our community
to practice waste management in aproper way, such as reducing andrecycling garbage,” children fromIndonesia said, while children in Japan
stated: “We hope each one of us will start
doing little things so as not to waste
natural resources and protect theenvironment, so that the world can beclean and safe.”
Finally, in Europe, both participating
countries prioritized reducing the emissionof greenhouse gases, and reducing theuse of toxic material and improving waste
management. Children in Ireland said:“We want more electric cars, more bins,stronger laws on littering that are
enforced properly.” And added: “Wemust develop policies to encourage
greener methods of recycling,
construction and transportation, while
reducing waste and nurturing theenvironment.” A 16-year old girl from
Belarus suggested: “Zero waste [policies]
should be implemented: both inproduction and in people’s lives.”

5
Awareness raising, education, laws
and protection from violence as key
areas for Governments
The importance of laws and theirenforcement and implementation was
raised in various ways across countries
and regions. Children want their
Governments to enact new laws or to
enforce and implement existing laws toaddress the different issues –fromprotecting children to safeguarding theenvironment, to promoting genderequality and empowering women.
Enacting and enforcing laws was the mostfrequent suggestion for Governments,
being brought up in 54% of all countries.
Children identified that raising awarenessat different levels –communal, local,
national, regional and global– and acrossdifferent population groups isfundamental for the successful
implementation of the post-2015
development agenda. This suggestion wasmade by children in 51% of the countries.
They asked Governments to raiseawareness on issues as varied as violenceagainst children, children’s rights,
environmental degradation, natural
disasters and infectious diseases.
Children also emphasized the need for
Governments to promote and enhance
education at different levels –pre-school,
primary, secondary and tertiary– andensure access to all people without
discrimination –especially, to children withdisabilities and girls. This issue wasbrought up in 41% of the countries.

A 15-year old girl from Timor Leste said:“It shouldn’t only be primary education,but education for everyone no matter
how old they are.”Specific suggestions on education werealso made. Children in 21% of thecountries called for their Governments tobuild more schools, and to adequately
equip new and existing schools, whilechildren in 18% of the countries asked foraccess to be increased, and 13% forquality to be enhanced. Other concretesuggestions included hiring well-trainedteachers, providing support for children to
go to school, and providing opportunities
for alternative education.
The importance of punishing offenders ofviolence against children cannot be
overstated, and children in 36% of thecountries called for their Governments toprotect them from violence andexploitation, indicating the high level ofconcern children face having offenders
and perpetrators living among them. Callsfor ending the abduction of children, childlabour, child marriage and sexual violence
were also explicitly made.
Enhancing children’s participation indevelopment actions came across as oneof the strongest aspirations of children. In
26% of the countries, children said thatthey wanted to be actively heard by adults
and decision-makers.
freefromviolence.org

15

Regional analysis
All these issues were represented acrossthe different regions, with slightvariations. In Africa, awareness raising
was prioritised in 53% of the countries;
promoting and enhancing education, andenacting and enforcing laws, in 47%; andprotecting children from violence andexploitation, and enhancing water,
sanitation and hygiene, in 27%.
“Governments must step up security for
their people and bring those perpetrating
acts of lawlessness to book,” said a
15-year old boy from Kenya.

Global Data

100
80
60
40
20

E
en na
fo ct a
rc n
e d
Ra
l
th is aw
e ea siss w
ue aP
s a rened romt a esuc oll s a
at te
le bo
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a
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Pr
nd
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en
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E
e
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A
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dd n a ces ent ent
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nu se
tr cu
iti rion ty

In countries in the Americas, enacting
and enforcing laws, and raising awarenesswere the most frequent suggestion toGovernments, with 63% and 50%
respectively. 25% of the countries
prioritised the following actions:promoting and enhancing education;
protecting children from violence andexploitation; enhancing children’s
participation; addressing corruption; andimproving healthcare. “Participation
spaces, where children are respected byadults, should be promoted, as adults
think they are the only ones who are rightand they dismiss children’s points ofview,” said a 16-year old girl from
Nicaragua.

Question 4
What do you want leaders in your country
to do about these issues

54%

51%

41%

36%

26%

23%

15%

15%

0

13%

13%

13%

100
80
60
40
20

R
th ais
e ea
iss w
ue a
re
Pr
en om s at ne
ha o
al ss
l l ab
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ev o
a
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En e nel ut
sac du dt a cand tioPen nvi rot
fo
ol e
rc
c
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la
Im a ildws
sa p nd reni ronta ve exp fr
o
tio a
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E
n cce itata nh
an ss tike an
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hy w
c
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E ld han nsu re ild
ne terr,n
d re ’s engo foo vie ’s poPr d d w ar
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ef on y cco ion
Im
or
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Pr
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al
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B p gein uil ow nd
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A p e
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re
up ss
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Africa

53%

47%

47%

27%

27%

20%
0

16

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

20%

20%

20%

13%

13%

13%

13%

40

20

100

80

60

40

20

100

80

60

40

0
nd
R
en
th ais
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tio nto cipen ac ati
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60
E
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80

P
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En e a hildac ga ret a in nnd st c froRaen hil m
th isfo dre
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Pr
w
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s
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uc o
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B
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oy
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P
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G ’s e ge
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ac tioco n
En p e c rm ua
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Pr od odel ov nu se
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ity cc n
es
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100

Europe100% 100%

nd
E
en
pa nh
ch rt an force
ild ici celare pa ch
Pr
w
t
n
i
i
s
ed om
’s on ldr
vi a e
uc o
n
e
t
at e
w nd ’ssi t
P io annt ak
an rot n d e
o e
d ec
nh
ac
t
ex c
co
a
nc
h
un
Ra plo ildet
th is ita reee a ti n
iss w on from
B ue arvi
ot uil s at eneoldhe s a ssenr c tro ll l abcee
Pr ou ng ve ou
be om nt ti ls t
tw o rie es
ee te s with
G n c tec
ua o hra un nont tr loee ie gych s tra
ild
ns
fe
re
r
n’
sr
ig
ht
s

ta

ac

En

The Americas

63%

50%

25%

50%

50%

50%

50%
25%

50%
25%

36%

50%
25%

29%

50%
25%

0
13%

29%

50%
21%

0
13%

14%
13%

14%

13%

14%

13%

Asia Pacific

43%

14%

In Asia Pacific, protecting children fromviolence and exploitation; enacting andenforcing laws; and raising awarenesswere mentioned by children in 50% of
the countries, as actions that Government
should take to address the issues
prioritized for the post-2015 development
agenda. Promoting and enhancing
education, and addressing unemployment
were suggested in 43% and 36% of thecountries respectively.

A 12-year old girl from Vietnam said:“The Vietnamese leaders should
understand and listen to children –understand their needs and expectations,and build a healthy environment forchildren’s development.” And a 16-year
old boy from Cambodia stated: “Wewould like the Government to eliminate
corruption and bribery and strengthen law
enforcement in the country.”

In Europe, enacting and enforcing laws,
and enhancing children’s participation
were raised in the participating countries.
In Belarus, a 17-year old girl suggested:“Some kind of law should be passed toprotect children from abuse by parents.
And to protect mothers, if fathers beatand hurt them.” In Ireland, a 16-year old
boy stated: “The opinion of young people
should be taken more into account.”

50%

20

All graphs show percentages of countries

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6
Monitoringand indicators

Overarching indicators:

Indicators on education:• Media coverage of issues• Schools in the community• Awareness levels at community level• Children enrolled in school

When asked how they thought progresson the different issues should bemeasured, children across countries andregions suggested the use of qualitativeand quantitative research methods, suchas focus groups and periodic on-site
inspections, or public opinion polls andother types of surveys. Furthermore, it
was suggested that progress should bemeasured at the local level and with thedirect engagement of children and theircommunities. “Children are better placed
to report their problems for solution,”
said a 17 year-old boy from Guinea.

• Existence of budgets andimplementation plans• Girls enrolled in school

Indicators on children’s engagement
and participation:• Children who complete secondary school• Children who grow up to be productive
citizens• Cases of corruption in schools

The children suggested different indicators
to measure and monitor progress for the
post-2015 development agenda. These
indicators include:• Children involved in the decisions that
affect their lives
Indicators on violence againstchildren:• Violence and conflict in communities• Existence of campaigns to prevent
violence against children• Cases of violence against children• Punishment of perpetrators of violenceagainst children• Test scores for children• Trained teachers in classrooms• Adults who can read and write
Indicators on health:• Hospitals built• Availability of medicines in healthfacilities• Women dying at childbirth• Deaths of children from treatablediseases
Indicators on employment:• People who are employed• Youth unemployment after graduation
Indicators on fulfilment ofbasic needs:• Level of income in the community• Households with enough food• People with access to electricity• People with access to clean drinking
water• Children who have a home
Indicators on environmental
protection:• Planted trees• Rate of abusive tree-cutting• Reduction in deforestation

18

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

The free charters from children

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AFRICA20

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

The Koulikoro Region free charter from children

The Dangbo free charter from children
Aware that by formulating the Millennium Development Goals,
the United Nations has allowed humanity to make a lot of progress,
Aware also that at the fourteenth year of their implementation, theMillennium Development Goals have not still been achieved in ourcountry, the Republic of Benin.
We, the children of the villageof Dangbo, ask Heads of State:• To keep the eight priorities and continue
to lead the fight to achieve the eight
goals for a better world in thenext term;• To continue the fight against violenceand sexual exploitation of children;• To redouble the efforts to fight against
discrimination against women;• To redouble the efforts to fight against
forced marriage and child marriage;• To create effective conditions foruniversal primary education to givechildren the best conditions for successin their lives.

We also urge Governments
to cope with new challenges
such as:• 	The fight against any destructive
and non-protective acts against theenvironment;• The fight against coastal erosion that
destroys the southern part of ourcountry;• The fight against the exploitation of ourforests and our rivers.

We urge the Governmentof Benin:• To always ask appointed officials if they
are able to produce the expected resultsfrom their position;• To pass laws to facilitate theimplementation of the Millennium
Development Goals;• To effectively engage in public awareness raising for a good understanding of
the current and future goals;“

Outside of discourse, noaction has been taken up
to today to allow for
the protection of theenvironment.
16-year old girl

“

A

Benin

• To entrust the execution of serious tasks
only to those citizens that respect forthe public good;• To carry out the assessment of the goals
every two years;• To systematically change appointed officials when evaluation results are
not good.

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Burkina Faso
The Gogo free charter from children
We, the children of the Gogo commune in Burkina Faso,
ask Heads of State to continue to reduce extreme poverty
and hunger, guarantee primary education for all, andprotect the environment.

• To guarantee appropriate housing
for all;• To ensure inclusive, free and professional
secondary education;• To put an end to all forms of violenceand exploitation against children, inparticular corporal punishment, sexual
violence and child labour.

We want a clean and safe environment,
where the fight against deforestation andplastic bags, as well as the promotion ofgreen fertilizers and the democratizationof solar energy are given priority.
We ask the Government of Burkina Faso
to take into account the concerns ofchildren in the formulation of the post2015 agenda.

“

Our Government should
vote FOR laws against all
forms of violence againstchildren and ensure thatthese laws are enforced.
17-year old girl“We also urge the Government
to tackle new challenges,
such as:The Koubri free charter from children
We, Koubri Children, state that these targeted issues
are so important that solving them will result to theimprovement of life.
We, children of Koubri,
Kadiogo Province, Central
Region, Burkina Faso, requestfrom Head Of States to keep on
working to:

We also ask governments toface challenges such as:• Achieve universal primary education
for all;• Provide housing for those who do
not have;• Improve maternal health;• Fight against youth delinquency;• Ensure environmental sustainability; and• Fight against drought;• Reduce child mortality.

• Improve the construction of healthcentres;• Provide financial support to farmers
and livestock breeders;• Improve information centres;• Include technical training in primaryschool by 6 grade.
22

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

We want a clean and safe environment
where reforestation and the fight against
deforestation, as well as awareness raisingon the dangers of plastic bags arepriorities.
We request from the government of
Burkina Faso to ensure that children are
well treated and go to school. We also
request that technical training is
introduced in all schools.

Cape Verde
The São Tiago free chartersfrom children
Charter 1:
We, the children, want theGovernment to do thefollowing:• Provide improved and clean
environment• Put in jail all people who don’t respect
the law• Improve the hospitals and offer better
training for doctors• Improve learning conditions in our
schools

We think the following
should be in the newMillennium Goals:• End poverty and hunger• Fight against diseases• Improve maternal health• Quality of life and respect for theenvironment• Fight violence against children andexploitation of children
So, this is what we wanted theGovernment leaders to do
July 16th, 2014“

Put an end to hunger andpoverty. Because there area lot of countries in theworld that still suffer fromhunger and poverty.

Charter 2:
We, the children of Cape Verde are asking
the Government leaders to continue tofight for the first MDG, regarding ending
hunger and poverty in the world, because
if we manage to make them disappear,basic education will be of better quality,
so will quality of life and maternal health;child mortality will be decreased; and joint
work for the world development willcontinue, as will the respect for theenvironment and the fight against AIDS,
malaria and other diseases.

disappear and not have descendants totalk to about the wonderful history ofhuman life, and we want to fightdeforestation.
Finally, we are asking the Government totake seriously into consideration theserequests. Despite the number of years andthe efforts it will require, we wanteverything to be acted upon, especiallyregarding protection of children and theenvironment, so that in the coming years
we have the possibility to continue tocreate new and different challenges.

We also ask Heads of State to face newchallenges such as introducing a new goal
regarding the need to prioritize andensure the protection of innocent children
as citizens.

With best wishes, for a
confident and objective fight.
We, the children of Cape Verde,
are all together.

We want a clean and safe environment,
where our planet is a priority (reduce
global warming to zero, combat climatechange, etc.), if we don’t want to quickly

July 17th, 2014

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23“

Ethiopia
The Nazareth free charter
from children
We the children of Nazareth,
Ethiopia ask world leaders tokeep focusing on:

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:

We ask the Government ofEthiopia to:• Violence against children and women• Promote gender equality and empower
women• Traffic accidents• Enforce strong laws against perpetratorsof violence against women and children• Improve maternal health• Attention to street children, disabilities
and old people• Make sure the quality of education is tothe expected standard• Achieve universal primary education• Good governance• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger• Provision of basic needs• Create access of playing ground forchildren• Reduce child mortality

We want a clean and safe environment,
where green development strategies are
given priority.

“

Stop violence against
male children!

• Ensure environmental sustainability

14-year old boy“• Develop a global partnership fordevelopment• Protect us from bad people

The Silite free charter
from children
We the school children from Silite District, feel that eradicating poverty
and hunger, quality of primary education, gender equality and women
empowerment, improving maternal health, and combating HIV and AIDS,
malaria and other diseases is still important areas to work on rigorously in
our community as well as in the country.
The reason is that women and girls still
face workload by undertaking householdchores, negative community attitude
towards gender equality, low womenparticipation in different aspects of life,and community’s negative attitude
towards women capability. For instance,talking about girls’ education somehow isdifficult for various reasons such as girls
do not have time to play, there are fewer
opportunities for them, there is a
24

The free charters, Child Fund Alliancetendency to prefer sending the boy childto school, and exposure to different kindsof harmful traditional practices (earlymarriage, abduction, FGM) against girls
and women adversely affect themeconomically, socially and from healthy
life. Due to the above reasons, women
couldn’t get equal opportunity with thatof men and could not make genderequality realistic in our community as wellin our country. Second, though theGovernment is intensively working on theprevention of HIV and AIDS, currently, lackof community awareness on HIV and
AIDS, gang rape, not using and throwing
tools to practice FGM, traditional delivery
and cutting of tonsillitis, and marriage byinheritance (if the couples are HIV and
AIDS victim and if the wife passes away
first, the husband is entitled to getmarried to one of her sisters despite his
HIV status). Third, since most of ourWe have three issues in addition to theabove critical concerns of us which we
feel are important. Primarily on harmful
traditional practices because it is a root
cause of all problem in our locality andhave impact on education, maternal
health, child mortality, HIV and AIDS,
gender equality as well as on poverty andhunger. For instance, girls are facing FGM,
early marriage, abduction, and marriage
by inheritance. Due to these problems,children are becoming street children,
facing socio economic problem. Second,
construction of infrastructures such as
road construction and health posts. We
have raised this as important concerns ofus because children when they come toschool, market they are crossing forests
and walk long distances exposing them torisks such as gang rape, sexual assault andother forms of violence. Third, water,
sanitation and hygiene as it is a root causeof disability, hunger and poverty, serious
diseases, and other problems. Thus, all theabove issues are important due to theseverity and magnitude of the problem inour community as well as in our country.
We the children of Silite District, Ethiopia,
ask world leaders to keep focusing on
enacting policies, laws and regulations
which protect and safeguard our rights
and wellbeing, creating awareness among
traditional and religious leaders as well as
community in general of our rights andwellbeing; to put in place effective andefficient law enforcement mechanisms; tohighly focus and work on eliminating
harmful traditional practices; and finally,
to work on child empowerment andchildren’s recreation and playgrounds at
school, as well as at the community level.

We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as community attitude,community awareness, harmful traditional
practices, and law enforcement gaps.
We want a clean and safe environment,
where awareness raising at thecommunity level on environmental
protection is given priority.
We ask the Government of Ethiopia towork intensively and rigorously on
harmful traditional practices, primaryeducation access and quality at the sametime, gender equality and women’s
empowerment, HIV and AIDS, water,
sanitation and hygiene, infrastructure,such as roads and health centers, and on
health issues.

“Countries’ growth will
happen with equal treatmentof women, men, boys
and girls.
13-year old boy“

community especially adults are illiterate
and live in rural parts of Ethiopia; they are
exposed to poverty and hunger. This
happens because in rural place farmers
have small plot of land, erratic rainfall,
and the farming is not supported bytechnology, thus, farmers’ income is low
and the family is exposed to hunger andpoverty. As a result, our family will not be
in a position to send children to school.
Fourth, achieving primary education is oneof the areas where the Government has
been working intensively for the past 15
years. However, though access isachieved, the quality lags behind. Going
to school alone is not learning – ourparents who studied many years ago andwho haven’t completed their school areable to teach us now. From this we could
understand how the quality of education/
learning has lag behind. Moreover, thefocus so far has been to primaryeducation, however most girl students
drop out after they join secondary school
and this happens due to violence against
the girl child and various harmful
traditional practices such as earlymarriage, FGM and abduction. Fifth,
improving maternal health as it is not yetachieved we feel it is important to workon for the next MDGs because mothers
are dying due to harmful traditional
practices that causes obstructed labour,mothers are still giving birth at home, andfood taboo in the locality of the mothers.
Mothers’ death is still rampant in our
locality as they die due to fistula, UVPs,
and various harmful traditional practices.
We feel it is important to keep on
working because deaths of mothers havesignificant impact on the life of thechildren.

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The Gambia

We the children of The Gambia are aware of childparticipation in decision-making about basic educational
needs, healthcare, and poverty within our villages.

“

Provide adequate andgood food with cleanwater for all.
13-year old boy“

The Brikama free charter
from children

By having free basic education we areable to improve our livelihood to succeed
and become leaders. The basics of asustainable future are adequate
healthcare services, and a clean andhealthy environment. Poverty and hunger
are factors that are responsible forchildren to drop out of school, effected bymalnourishment, loss of confidence, andeven death. Moreover, global partnerships
can aid in addressing the above issues for
all in children in The Gambia.
We the children of The Gambia ask
leaders to keep focusing on basic freeeducation, infant and child healthcare,poverty and hunger alleviation, and childrights. These issues shall in no small
measure support in developing adequate
school systems and healthcare services forchildren of The Gambia. However, it shallsupport in enhancing the most sustainablebright future for all children.
As future leaders, it is our duty to help the
people attain clean water, stop the spreadof diseases and build global partnerships.
We also ask leaders to address newchallenges such as a global partnership.
This should be put at the centre stage of
our Government’s agenda for a more adeveloped country.

26

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

We want a clean and safe environment
where afforestation, waste management
systems such as recycling, indiscriminate
dumping, and bush fires are given priority.
These issues are affecting the community
and the country at large.
Indiscriminate dumping has affected ourwater systems while also affecting the
agricultural farmlands creating a toxic
environment to grow produce. We want
the Government of The Gambia to enact
the laws to protect the people fromharmful diseases, such as malaria and TB.

We ask the Government of The Gambia
to ensure that all children, including thedifferently abled, have free education up
to grade 12; to provide mothers andinfants with good healthcare andchildcare services; to alleviate poverty andhunger, and enhance child protection
mechanism in all communities. We want
our Government to enhance childparticipation and protection for a more
conducive environment for all children.

GhanaThe Tamale free charter
from children
We the children of Ghana
ask world leaders to keep
focusing on:

We want a clean and safe environment,
where children and women are given
priority.

• Achieving universal primary education• Promoting gender equality andempowering women• Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger• Developing a global partnership fordevelopment

We ask the Government of
Ghana to:• Include more women in leadership
positions• Educate people about the environmentand how to keep it safe
• Provide facilities to avoid open
defecation in the community• Enforce laws on illegal mining• Provide dustbins to avoid dumping ofrefuse around• Train more people to take care ofchildren with disabilities• Ensuring environmental sustainability

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:• Providing quality drinking water to all
people• Providing good conditions for workers
and motivating them• Children with disabilities should study inthe same school as children without
disabilities• Reducing teenage pregnancies, earlyparenthood and forceful marriage or
betrothal“

Government must provide
more employment in orderto reduce extreme poverty.

“

13-year old boy

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Guinea
The Guinea free charter
from children
With constant concern to promote children’s rights and achieve a world in which all
children enjoy their potential, we the children of Guinea believe that world leaders
have great roles to play. We are therefore happy to contribute to the elaboration of
the post-2015 agenda and the post 2015 process. During our discussions we took
some times to carefully go through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
and identified some priorities that should continue to be focused with supporting
reasons why we identified them (see table below).

We the children of Guinea ask world leaders to keep focusing on
the below priorities:
Goals

Details

Why keep focus on thisOne

There is plenty of food for everyone to haveenoughFood is an inevitable need for survival (children and adults).

Two

All children can go to school no matter where
they live or how much money they have.

For better development of a country, children need to be
educated.

FourChildren don’t suffer from diseases that canbe cured with a visit to the doctor and good
medicine.

The health of children must be secured, and prevented from
illnesses so that they can grow to become better leaders.

Five

Pregnant women can visit a midwife, nurse or
doctor during their pregnancy and when they
have their baby. If they need medicine, it isavailable.

Since children are hope for future and since they cometo being through women, better care should be given to
pregnant women.

Seven

People take care of the environment: jungles andforests, oceans and rivers, etc.

Environment should be protected because we live within it andthere we carry out all routine activities.

Eight

Rich governments can help poor governments,
and people can help other people in different
countries by paying them fair prices for foodwhen they buy it.

The wellbeing of children often ensured by loving and goodcare givers (elders, rich countries, etc.)

28

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“

Early or forced marriage
is a scourge with many
dangers to the lives ofyoung girls.

“

16-year old girlWe also ask leaders to tackle new challenges, such as:
New challenges

Why consider thisChildren actively participate in all decisions affecting their lives.

This is important because doing something for a child without
his/her consent is a crime against that child. Children are better
placed to report their problems for solution. The participationof children in all decisions affecting their lives is anindispensable factor for the promotion of children’s rights.

Girls get married when they attain mature age and give theirconsent

Leaders and adults must fight against early and forcefulmarriage, which is a scourge with many dangers to the lives ofyoung girls (health, education, mental health, etc.).

Schools and homes are free of corruption and actions are inplace to prevent all forms of corruptions

Corruptions in homes and school settings prevent children
from benefiting quality education.

Children are free to play and talk with friends.

Child play and entertainment give them confidence and help
to acquire a well-developed learning spirit.

We want a clean and safe environment,
where water and sanitation, zero pollution
and tree planting are given priority.

• F ight against corruption and enforce
actions to prevent it in schools, homes
and work places;

We ask the Government ofGuinea to:• P roduce more food to help children togrow in good health;• Raise the awareness of the populationon the importance of protecting our
natural environment;• Increase youth centres and play grounds
for children.

• Encourage the active participation ofchildren in all decisions that affecttheir lives;
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KenyaThe Baringo County free charter
from children
So many issues are still affecting children and we feel there is need formore efforts dedication and resources from all leaders around the world
to limit the suffering children are facing.

We the children of Baringo
County ask world leaders tokeep focusing on:• Goal 1: Eradicate poverty and hunger• Goal 2: Achieve universal primaryeducation• Goal 3: Improve maternal health• Goal 6: Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria
and other diseases• Goal 7: Ensure environmental
sustainability• Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

30

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:
1. Security and peace
2.Increasing more teachersand doctors
3. Provide computers to schools
We want a clean and safe environment,
where towns have litter bins, improved
sanitation and reduced pollution.
We ask the Government of Kenya toincrease more soldiers and police, recruit
more teachers and doctors and help street
children to live a decent life.

“

Pollution is dangerous toboth the environment andhuman beings. It causes
dangerous diseases likecancer that leads to death.
We need to create awarenessand ask people toprotect and keep ourenvironment clean.
16-year old girl“We have settled on the issues statedbelow because we think they affect us somuch and need the attention of all theleaders around the world.

Liberia

We the children of Liberia, ask world leaders to keep
focusing on quality education, good medications andenough food for all.

“

For me, children should be
able to put their hands up
and say something for older
people to hear.
13-year old girl“

The Bomi free charter
from children

We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as bad diseases and childtrafficking.
We want a clean and safe environment,
where women and children are given
priority.
We ask the Government of Liberia to stopcheating, to practice good leadership, tomake good laws for children, to allow
children to make their own decisions, andto provide jobs for our families.

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Mali
The Koulikoro Region free charter
from children
We have chosen these problems because they are
the problems with which we live every day.

We, the children of theKoulikoro Region in Mali, urge
Heads of State to continue to:• Fight against the mutilation of girls• Fight against sexual violence• Build health centres and maternity
centres• Combat the punishment of children inschools• Combat sexual harassment of girls• Combat the involvement of children inwars.
• Provide work to those unemployed
graduates• Combat child labour

We also ask Governments toaddress new challenges,
such as:• Children who are forced to beg formoney in the streets• Students who are punished by theirteachers• The protection of nature, especiallyforests and water sources• Migration of girls from the countryside
to the cities• The presence of small children in mines

We want a clean and safe environment,
where hygiene and sanitation, as well as
the prevention of bush fires, theconservation of forests and reforestation
are given priority.
We ask the Government of our country,
Mali, to enact laws that uphold the issues
listed above.

“

Measures should be taken
to guarantee access togood medicines.
12-year old boy

32

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“• Fight against diseases that affectchildrenMozambique
The Maputo free charter
from children
We the children of Maputo, Mozambique, ask world leaders to keep focusing
on the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; the promotion of primaryeducation for all children; improving maternal health; combating HIV and
AIDS, malaria and other diseases; and ensuring environmental sustainability.
We also ask leaders to tackle challenges,
such as improving the quality of education
at all levels, and eliminating all forms ofviolence and exploitation faced bychildren; and to make sure that laws are
effectively implemented.
We want a clean and safe environment,
where children are given priority.
We ask the Government of Mozambique
to strengthen the implementation of childprotection laws, raise awareness aboutchildren’s rights at the community level,and punish all children offenders.

“

Stop violence…
Educate children…

“

12-year old girlfreefromviolence.org

33Senegal
The Dakar free charter
from children
We, the children of Dakar
believe that the following
priorities should remain for the
next priorities for the world:• Preserve maternal health• Fight against poverty• A good education for all children• Fight against HIV and AIDS, malaria andcontagious diseases• Preserve the environment

In addition, we think thefollowing priorities should be
added:• Fight against violence• Help street children• More tolerance in the world• Help Talibé children (street beggars)• Fight against drugs• States should look for jobs for young
people• Fight against exploitation of children

We’re asking the world
leaders to:• Stop sacrificing children• Build more schools for children• Provide free health care for poor
children• Help the poorest families to live with
dignity• Improve families living conditions.

34

The free charters, Child Fund AllianceSierra Leone
The Bombali District free charter
from children
We the children of Bombali District, aredrafting this free charter on the post-2015
Millennium Development Goals on behalfof other children from our village because
we believe that issues like girl childeducation, clean water, clean
environment, improved structures, better
sanitation, quality education, access tojustice, free medical health care, better
sitting accommodation in schools, trainedand qualified teachers, toilet facility, goodroads, electricity facilities are important
issues that should be prioritized by ourgovernment in Sierra Leone if thedevelopment process in the country is tobe sustainable. This is because theseissues are problems that are affecting
children, youth and Sierra Leoneansin general.

We ask leaders to tackle new challenges
such as rape against a girl child, forcedchild labour, inaccessible medical facilities
especially in rural areas, lack of justice ofchildren, cultural practices like for instancein Sierra Leone the “BONDO” society forgirls, etc., if these issues are to be
overcome in order to ensure development.
We want a clean and safe environment
where children have the opportunity toplay with one another, their families andcommunity members. We also want aclean and safe environment wherechildren are given the priority to do things

that will contribute to their person
development.
We ask the Government of Sierra Leone
to ensure that the issues highlighted
above are prioritized in order to ensure
protection and development for children,
youth and Sierra Leoneans in general. This
we believe will contribute in sustaining
the development process.
We are also asking the Government of
Sierra Leone to ensure that issues
concerning children are considered whendrafting development policies.

We the children of Bombali District inSierra Leone are asking world leaders tokeep focusing on the above mentioned
issues if they really want to ensuresustainable growth in the whole world.
Issues like gender equality, construction ofgood roads, proper medical facility,
accessible water facilities, trained andqualified medical practitioners including
trained midwifes, girl child empowerment,justice to those whose rights have been
violated are some of the factors thatworld leaders should focus on whendrafting the post-2015 Millennium
Development Goals.

“

Toilet facilities for eachhousehold should be madeavailable by Government.

“

13-year old girlfreefromviolence.org

35

Togo
The Maritime Region free charter
from children
This free charter is drafted for the world Governments
by the members of the children’s clubs and children’sorganizations in the Maritime Region of Togo.

We, the children of the
Maritime Region of Togo areasking the world Heads ofState to continue to work
towards:• Reducing extreme poverty and hunger• Ensure basic education for all• Promote gender equality and women
empowerment• Improve maternal healthAnd• Preserve the environment• Promote protection of children against
all forms of violence

We want a clean and safe
environment where thepriorities would be:• Promote the rights to reproductive andsexual health for children, young people
and adolescents• The fight against illegal chopping downof trees and deforestation• Create jobs for all• Reforestation• Fight against forest wild fires• Awareness raising of population on
environment protection• Set up of community work to clean up
streets, etc.

We’re asking the Togolese Government totake into consideration all the priorities
we have worked on and to share themwith the other world leaders to make surethey are part of the next Millennium
Development Goals after 2015.
We, the children, hope to see change
happening in the life of people, andespecially children worldwide.

“

We can see that in the world
children are victims ofmany forms of violence.
Many children drop out ofschools because of violence.
We should include this in thenext development agenda.
16-year old boy

36

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“

We are also asking
Governments to address newchallenges such as:UgandaThe Kampala free chartersfrom children
This is a charter of issues affecting children and otherpeople in the country and they are important because if
they are followed, the world can be a better place to live in.

We the children of Kampala ask
the leaders to keep focusing on:• Children’s rights and child abuse• Peace and unity• Infrastructural development• Universal education• Improved health• Stopping corruption• Freedom of expression• Agriculture• Disease prevention• Environmental preservation• Poverty and hunger eradication• Gender equality• Maternal health• Child mortality• Foreign trade

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges such as:• Floods• Land slides• Droughts
We want a clean environment where bothchildren and adults are given priority.

We ask the Government of
Uganda to:
Sensitise citizens on how to preserve theenvironment and put strict laws against
people who destroy the environment
Construct more UPE schools
Starting up small-scale industries to create
employment and fight against poverty

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UgandaWe the children of Kampala ask our leaders to keep focusing on
eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, promotion of universal primaryeducation, reduction of child mortality rate, combating HIV and Aids,
malaria and other diseases.
We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as providing free healthservices to all children, providing services
to children born with disabilities, helping
the youth develop their skills as they learn
at the same time. The security should betightened in our areas of residence,
ensuring that street life for children is
eradicated so as to decrease on the rateof street children. Our leaders should also
promote sanitation campaigns especiallyin dirty places such that the sanitation is
improved on.
We want a clean and safe environment,
where improvement of infrastructure isgiven priority such as constructing
schools, roads, etc., where provision ofincome generating activities is given
priority, where promotion of education is
given priority especially promoting the girlchild to go to school.

38

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

We want a clean and safe environment
where election of good leaders is given
priority, where promotion of sanitation is
given priority, where the lowering of childmortality is given priority, where strict laws
against child violence is given priority.
We ask the Government of Uganda togive counselling and guidance to theyouths. The Government should follow up
parents who don’t take their children toschool. We ask the Government of
Uganda to put up more savings accounts
for the youth to save such that they could
start up businesses. It should carry out
weekly sanitation activities to improve on
the sanitation in different areas such asteaching them on how to recycle wastematerials. The Government of Uganda
should set up committees for people to betaught the dangers of child abuse.
Further, we ask the Government toencourage pregnant mothers to go forantenatal services to get rid of HIV so as
to protect the unborn children, to tighten
the security so as to reduce on theft andinsecurity in our communities. We ask theGovernment of Uganda to up strict laws
against the violence of children’s rights.

Zambia
The Zambia free charter
from children• Achieving universal access to primaryeducation• Fair treatment and respect for women• Combating preventable diseases• Taking care of the environment• Rich Governments assisting poor
Governments by paying fair prices forfood

We ask the Government ofZambia to:• Own these issues as our problems that
require prioritisation• Focus on these issues for the next 15
years with adequate budgetaryprovisions• Draw up appropriate national policies
and legislation were need be as part ofthe process to show commitment to theissues herein raised“

If children are not educated
who will provide healthservices, who will teach the
future children and who
will rule the country?
15-year old girl“We the children of Zambia
ask world leaders to keep
focusing on:

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:• Providing access to adequate clean andsafe drinking water for all• Providing clean and safe energy for all
including rural areas so that people canwatch TV and listen to the news
• Providing social amenities for children incommunities such as play parks andresource centres• Making adult education available forwomen and men especially in rural areas
to reduce illiteracy levels
We want a clean and safe environment,
where two trees are planted for every tree
cut down, and enforcement of laws on
charcoal burning are given priority.

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39

THE
AMERICAS
40

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

The Managua free charter from children, Nicaragua

The La Paz free charter
from children
La Paz, April 14th 2014“

We need to talk more about violence,
we think that alcoholism and drug
addiction are causes of violence.
10-year old boy

Dear world leaders of the United Nations,“S

Bolivia

We are writing to you, wishing you good health and success in the tasks
that you undertake for the wellbeing of humanity.
On April 14th 2014 boys, girls and youth representing all regions in Bolivia
were part of a meeting in the city of La Paz to express our point of view on
the Millennium Goals.
We the boys and girls from
Bolivia ask world leaders tofocus their efforts on:• Food for all• Education• Inequality• Lack of medical attention• Care of pregnant women• Care of big diseases• Enforcing laws for nature• Aid among countries

We also ask them to include
new issues, for example,• Caring for the environment• Policies against alcoholism and drug
addiction• Sexual education for adolescents,
through campaigns, etc.

We want a clean and healthy
environment were thefollowing issues are given
priority:• Recycling• Reducing the use of plastic bags

• Have secure borders• Make sure that laws are known• Raise awareness in schools andcommunities• Teach people what to do in case they
are victims of trafficking and how toprevent it• We hope that we are heard and taken
into account.

• More awareness raising campaigns• Organic gardens• Violence against children• Reducing products that harm the ozone
layer• Trafficking of people• Reusing water• Wellbeing of elderly people and people
with especial abilities• Planting more trees and reducing
indiscriminate cutting• Equality of socioeconomic conditions
and rights• Disposing waste properly• Awareness raising against racism and allforms of discrimination

We ask the government of
Bolivia to:• Taking advantage of hydraulic energy• Protection of endangered species andnot harming domestic and wild animals

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41

Dominica
The Roseau free charter
from childrenChildren are the poorest and most vulnerable in any society.
We suffer from circumstances that we can do nothing or
little about and as such we need to know that someone
cares about our overall well-being.
We the children of the Commonwealth ofDominica ask world leaders to keep
focusing on all the existing MDGs. In thecase where there are schools for all
children to go to, these children shouldhave food and everything that they needso they can attend.
We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as all forms of violenceagainst children –at home, school andeverywhere else, drug abuse amongst
minors, free movement throughout theworld to work, universal tertiary
education, and the provision of fun time
for children, as well as to make children
with disabilities a priority

42

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

We want a clean and safe environment,
where laws are put in place to have acleaner and better environment; where
our natural resources are used well andincludes the use of alternative energy;
where children are engaged in decisions
on management of the naturalenvironment and where people are taught
how to protect the environment.
We ask the Government of theCommonwealth of Dominica to takechildren and youth seriously and makethings happen with the information thatis provided in the charter.

Guatemala
The Guatemala free charter
from children
May 24th 2014
Boys’ and girls’ representatives from Guatemala.

We ask world leaders to focus theirattention on: education, security, equality,
the environment, food and health.
We also ask our leaders to solve newchallenges such as creating sources of
employment for families so that they haveaccess to food. We call on the State forthe opportunity to have quality education
for boys and girls, where the values tocontribute to the prevention of all formsof violence are practiced, including
bullying, and with gender equality, withno differences between men and women.
We ask for the safety of all people,
especially girls and boys, especially fromthe abuses caused by alcohol abuse within
the home.
We want a clean and safe environment
where not littering, not killing animals andnot wasting paper is the priority.
We ask the Government of Guatemala tofulfil its commitment to Guatemalanchildren, respecting our rights andproviding us with quality basic services.

Sincerely,Child representatives from Guatemala.

“

Leaders should listen
to the opinion of boys
and girls.

“

Thank you for taking into account what
we ask for in this letter.

12-year old boy

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Honduras
The Francisco Morazán Department
free charter from children
We the children of Francisco
Morazán Department,
Honduras, ask world leaders
to keep focusing on thefollowing goals:• Enough medicines to treat healthproblems and for better health

We also want the following
issues to be solved:

We want our environment tobe like this:• Creating more jobs in the country• Don’t dump chemicals in rivers• Fighting drug trafficking in the world• Don’t burn forests or cut down trees• Preventing violence and making
security better• Recycle or burry the trash, and don’tburn it• Right to life and reducing abortions• Use organic products and don’t use
chemicals• Prevention of the following diseases:
HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, etc.

• Promoting basic education up to
9th grade• Nutrition for all, with enough food,especially for poor people• Right to life and having more equality
between rich and poor

• Caring for pregnant women• Eradicating child labour• Preventing social and domestic violence• Fulfilling human rights• Don’t kill the fauna and flora from
Honduras• Protect natural reserves• Put laws in place

And we ask that you do thefollowing:• Put stricter laws in place and abideby the ones already in place• Give security to all• Support education, especially forthe poor• Create more opportunities foralternative education• Improve border security• Create sources of employment• Call a truce with other countries• Improve the education and healthsystems““

Awareness to improve.
13-year old girl

44

The free charters, Child Fund AllianceMexicoThe Veracruz free charter
from children
Below we present the important ideas and opinionsof children in our community.

We, the boys and girls of Veracruz,
Mexico, ask world leaders to pay
attention to eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger.
We also ask our leaders to solve newchallenges, such as the issue of sexual
abuse against children, violence fromparents to children, and insecurity.
We want a clean and safe environment,
where recycling, not cutting trees andtaking care of water are given priority.
We ask the Government of Mexico topromote non-violence from parents
to children.

“

We should eradicate extreme
poverty andgender inequality.

“

11-year old girlfreefromviolence.org

45

Nicaragua
The Managua free charter
from children
We believe that the issues covered during this meeting are important, as theypose the main problems that are affecting our daily lives as well as the mainneeds we all face as children; therefore, addressing these issues will promote
and assure our wellbeing and a healthier, better-quality of life for all of us.

We also ask our leaders to resolve newchallenges, such as: eliminating violenceand exploitation against children,
eradication of child labour, to decrease
street crime in order to assure safer
neighbourhoods and schools, to facilitate
conditions so that young people receive
education, to guarantee responsible
parenthood, to decrease teenage
pregnancy, to promote job creation and adignified wage for the overall population,and to promote participation spaces insociety for children.

We want a clean and safe environment
where: children can plant and protect
trees where there are none, there is no
garbage, nor tree cutting, educational
campaigns can be carried out, plastic andbottles are eliminated, we can create
ecological surveillance patrols and where
having a happy and healthy childhood is apriority.
We ask the Nicaraguan Government to be
more strict with the compliance of lawsthat protect the environment andcontribute to children’s development, tolisten to children’s opinions, to allow
children to participate and take part in thedecisions of issues related to children, tobe aware of the reality we live in ourcommunities and we urge them to work
harder to guarantee safety in our schools
as an essential part of our fulldevelopment.

“

Natural disaster prevention
is a key topic because often
times we do not knowwhat to do in case of anearthquake and we do nothave access to a first aid kit;in other words we are notproperly prepared in case ofa disaster.
12-year old boy

46

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“We, the children from the municipalities
of Managua and Esteli, urge the world
leaders to focus their attention on thecompliance of objectives that help
guarantee our wellbeing as they have ameaningful impact on our lives; suchobjectives are: to eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger, to achieve universal
primary education, to improve maternal
health, to combat HIV and AIDS, andother diseases, to ensure environmental
sustainability, and to promote a global
partnership for development.

Paraguay
The Presidente Hayes Department
free charter from children
To world leaders,
We the children andadolescents of Presidente
Hayes Department, Paraguay,
after getting together with a
lot of other children andadolescents ask world leaders
to take into account that:• Food should not lack in households• Education services should be available
for everyone• Everyone should have access to good
medical attention

We also ask our leaders towork on solutions to newchallenges, like:• That the more developed countries help
the poorer countries• That there should be more job
opportunities for the parents, so thatchildren do not have to go out to workin the streets• That the laws should be stricter

We want a clean and pure naturalenvironment, free from pollution, wheretrash burning and factories’
contamination are forbidden• Create centres in the community to help
families by training parents or guardians

We ask our leaders to:• Be strict with laws and sanctions• Support the people responsible forsecurity• Stop being corrupt, and do good things• Provide information about the dangersof the use of weapons

Listen to our opinions!

• Light the streets of the city
• Equip health posts with ambulances,medicines and professional people“

All children andadolescents must work
together, united, so theauthorities will listen to us.
13-year old girl“• That they support the fight against theviolence that is growing in our country
and community

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47

United States
The McAllen free charter
from children
Recycling and the environment:

Out of school activities:• Something that needs to be changed isthe environment because there’s toomuch trash in the street at times.

• Clubs, sports.

• Reduce nuclear plants, reduce oil spills,
chemical dumping.

Care for veterans/disabled:• More affordable care.

Transportation:

Animal abuse:• Affordable transportation.

• Why aren’t animals treated equally?

Employment:

Violence:• We need increased employment, it’snot fair that people have to have ahigh-school diploma to have a certain
job. That’s why most people go into
gangs or start selling drugs because they
see no other use in their lives if they
can’t get a decent job.

• Equal rights for women.
• Terrorism, shootings, gangs,
sex trafficking, slavery.
• It’s inhumane to use children as
weapons or for sex trafficking.

48

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“

Just hear us out. All wewant is to be heard.

“• World leaders should aid the Mexican
Government on violence caused bycartel member killing the innocent
civilians because of drug involved andfree will to kill innocents.

A
P

ASIA
PACIFICThe Svay Rieng Province free charter from children

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49Afghanistan
The Nangarhar Province free charter
from children
If I get education I will
support the family andearn money.
13-year old girl“

Our parents are jobless, so how
do we end joblessness?

“

We the children of Afghanistan
ask world leaders to keep
focusing on:• Livelihood programs• Construct markets• Implement projects in our township
We also want peace. Stop fighting. And
all countries should help with
Afghanistan.
Sports grounds and hospital should beconstructed for us

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:• War• Earthquakes• Floods• Poverty

We want clean environment
where this is given priority:

We ask the Government of
Afghanistan to:• Children rights• Bring peace and stop fighting• Separate female education• Pave the roads• Playing grounds• Hire female doctors for clinics• Islamic madrasas• Construct parks and playing grounds• Hygiene• Dig water pumps• Growing and planting trees• Bring electricity• Peace• Provide jobs to jobless people• Stop kidnapping• Construct ECDs
• Provide lesson materials to all schools

50

The free charters, Child Fund AllianceCambodia
The Svay Rieng Province free chartersfrom children
We, the students of Svay Chrum District, think that all of
the issues mentioned below are important as there are still
many poor people in our country.

We ask world leaders to keep focusing on
all the Millennium Development Goals, as
poverty and hunger still exists in oursociety. We want to complete high school
and university and we want to have goodjobs after we graduate from school.
We also ask world leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as paying more attention
to disabled children and orphans, so they
have equal access to education and all
children can go to school. We would also
like children to participate in community
development and decision-making.

We ask the Royal Government of
Cambodia to eliminate child labour in ourcountry, improve access to education so
all children can complete primary andsecondary school education, have English
language and computer classes at school
and continue to promote the equal rights
of women and men in our country.

“

I would like the leaders to pay
more attention to educationand safety of children.
15-year old girl“We want a clean and safe environment,
where garbage is not thrown into lakes
and rivers, and planting more trees,
protecting wildlife and preventing
deforestation are given priority.

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51

Cambodia
We, the students of Romeas Haek District, think that all of the issues below areimportant as there are still a lot of poor families in Cambodia, children still get
sick and die, the health of mothers is still weak, women and men are still not
equal and there people who still want to destroy the environment.
We ask world leaders to keep focusing on
all the Millennium Development Goals,
but with special attention paid to MDG 1:
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
and MDG 5: Improve maternal health.
We also ask world leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as eliminating corruption
in society and creating opportunities forhigh school graduates, with appropriatesalary, according to their capacity andskill level.
We want a clean and safe environment
where forests are protected, deforestation
is prevented and the planting of more
trees are given priority.
We ask the Royal Government of
Cambodia to arrange for the monitoringof these issues at the village andcommune levels, raise awareness ofpeople on the importance of taking careof their health, strengthen the rule of law,and organize jobs for all high school
graduates in all provinces in the country.

52

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

The Kratie Province free chartersfrom children
We, the students of Chhloung District, think that all of the issues below areimportant as there is still poverty in our country, our schools do not haveadequate wells or toilets, children are still dying, women do not yet have equal
rights and we want the environment to be sustainable.
We ask world leaders to keep focusing on
all the Millennium Development Goals,
including Cambodia MDG 9 on demining, explosive remnants of war andvictim assistance, so that all children cancontinue to study, so children andmothers have good health, so women andmen enjoy equal rights and we can reduce
diseases like AIDS even more.

We also ask world leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as supporting wells andtoilets in our communities and schools,
paying more attention to education andsafety of all children and building schools,
school playgrounds, health centres, paved
roads and pagodas.
We want a clean and safe environment,
where more trees, flowers and gardens
are planted and people join together tocollect the rubbish in the village, at theschool and along the roads.
We ask the Royal Government of
Cambodia to provide school materials andbuild playgrounds, and for the leaders tocome down to the villages to support thethings we have suggested and to know
the real needs of the villagers.

We, the students of Chhloung District, think that all of the issues below
are important as there are still a lot of poor people in our villages, we don’t
want a lot of children to die, we don’t want our mothers to get sick and
we don’t want women to get threatened with violence.
We ask world leaders to keep focusing on
all the Millennium Development Goals,
especially to eliminate poverty andviolence, so that all children can complete
primary school and get higher education,and for women to have equal power andrights as men.
We also ask world leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as building schools,
school playgrounds, and toilets andproviding playing materials in schools.
We also want a clean environment andclean water.

We want a clean and safe environment,
where we clean up the schools and theenvironment together, plant more trees
and teachers educate students to not cut
down trees.
We ask the Royal Government of
Cambodia to build more schools, toilets
and school playgrounds, as well as bridges
and good roads.

freefromviolence.org

53IndiaThe Tamilnadu free charter
from children
We the children of Tamilnadu, India, on behalf of all the children, endorse
the current goals for development and we strongly recommend that you to
fulfil all the goals as per commitment.
children. We request you to create anenvironment for children that are freefrom violence and exploitation of
all forms.

“

We demand that the Government of India
makes education compulsory for children
up to grade 12. We appeal to the leadersthat there be stringent punishments for
those who commit sexual crimes against

Stop teachers frombeating us.
12-year old girl“We urge the world leaders to create asociety that is free from discrimination of
caste, creed, race, religion, sex andlanguage. We condemn the use of plastic
to protect nature.

The Palamau free charter
from children
We, the children of Palamau, ask world leaders to keep
focusing on mothers’ health, children’s survival, children’s
education, school quality with libraries for all schools,
adolescents’ health, proper nourishment, right to play,youth employment, having a clean environment, andminimizing poverty levels.

We want a clean and safe environment,
where addressing deforestation, regulated
mining of natural resources, protecting
forest animals, and minimum usage offossil fuels are given priority.
We ask the Government of India to startacting on these issues immediately before
situation slips from our hands.

“

Corruption and malpractices
at local Government canlargely be held single
most reason
for underdevelopment of
the area.
16-year old boy

54

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“

We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as controlling extremism,
exploitative migration, child abuse andsexual violence, child trafficking, andrising risky behaviours of adolescents
towards addiction to alcohol andunsafe sex.

Indonesia
The Kulon Progo free charter
from children
We, the children of Kulon
Progo, Central Java, Indonesia,
ask world leaders to keep
focusing on:
1. Eradicating extreme poverty andhunger
2. Achieving universal primaryeducation
3. Promoting gender equality andempower women
4. Reducing child mortality
5. Improving maternal health
6. Combating HIV and AIDS, malaria
and other diseases
7. Ensuring environmental sustainability

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:
1. Eliminating all forms of violence andexploitation against children
2. Achieving universal secondary
education
3. Reducing unemployment to end
extreme poverty
We want a clean and safe environment,
where forestry and waste management
are given priority, as well as having aquality, green agricultural system andapproach.

“

We are happy if theGovernment could manage
our natural resources
better, for example keeping
biodiversity safe, andmanaging organic farming.
We also want to ourcommunity practice waste
management in a properway, such as reducing andrecycling the garbage.

“

8. Developing a global partnership fordevelopment

We want the Government of Indonesia todevelop policies that could be
implemented at the local level. To ensure
implementation success, a transparent
monitoring and evaluation should be
conducted involving the communityand children.
Kulon Progo, 3 May 2014

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JapanThe Tokyo free charter
from children
We the school children of Tokyo, Japan, ask world leaders to keep focusing
on the goal in the MDGs that says countries in the world should cooperatewith each other.

We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, for example, that the world
becomes a place where children are freefrom violence, with violent organizations
punished, so that children can grow up
safe and well.
We want a clean and safe environment,
where each people can start with a smallthing so as not to waste resources andsave the environment.
We ask the Government of Japan topropose the above requests to the world
leaders and implement the activities toachieve these goals.

“

It is not enough to set
a goal to decrease theviolence at school. We needto aim to end it.

56“

11-year old girl

The free charters, Child Fund AllianceKyrgyzstan
The Chuy Province free chartersfrom children
We the children of Kyrgyzstan
ask world leaders to keep
focusing on:

We want a clean and safe
environment, where this isgiven priority:• Education• Use more road signs• Improving health of mothers• Cultural development• Improving relationship with developed
countries

We ask the Government of
Kyrgyzstan to:

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:• Put garbage cans in the streets• Stop selling cigarettes• To act together with each other• To help children that don’t have any
parents• To build schools and kindergartens• To make medical services free
• Mutual aid

We the children of Kyrgyzstan
ask world leaders to keep
focusing on:

We want a clean and safe
environment, where this isgiven priority:• To invite investors• Education for all children• To create cleaning days for all people• To create medical services in the country• Use more road signs and to bestpedestrian• To treat homeless dogs from illness• Stop selling alcohol and cigarettes• To create pet hospitals

We ask the Government of
Kyrgyzstan to:• To build good relationship with mothers• To act together with each other• To build schools and kindergartens

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:• T o make repairs in dilapidated homes
and schools• To do regular vaccination of children• To write a letter for principles of ourcountry• To regularly check the work oforganizations (schools, hospitals, etc.)• Struggle with mortality• To regularly get reports from schools,
hospitals, and organizations• Struggle with hunger• To give grants to students• Struggle with corruption• To create shelters for homeless people

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57

NepalThe Sindhupalchok free charter
from children
We Nepali children are feeling proud to explain our views to be taken
into account for the next development agenda and priorities. Children are
discriminated in the society. Corporal punishment still exists. Sexual abuseand exploitation, child marriage and child labour are not yet reduced.
Therefore, we the children of Nepal would
like to appeal/request to world leaders tokeep focusing on following agenda in thenext development goals, so that the rightsof the children should be ensured:• Rights of the children should be ensured• Child marriage should end•C hild-friendly schools all over thecountry should be established andeducation related to life skills should be
provided• E very child should be equally treatedregardless of their caste, religion andage by ending gender discrimination•C hildren’s participation in various
decision-making processes that affectthem should be ensured•C hildren’s clubs should be established inevery village.
•C hild labour should be eliminated• S exual abuse and exploitation ofchildren should end• S trong action should be taken against
people engaging in child trafficking• Children should be treated respectfully

We Nepali children are discriminated athome. There is still capital punishment
implemented in our school, and thecountry still has problems such as sexual
abuse and exploitation of children, childmarriage and child labour. Therefore, welike to appeal/request to the leaders of
Nepal to ensure that the following points
are included in the next development
goals.

• Children’s clubs should be establishedand mobilized for the development ofchildren• Children’s rights should be guaranteed• There should be provision of support for
education for children from extremely
poor families• Child marriage should end• Strong action against person committing sexual abuse and exploitation ofchildren should be taken• There should be provision of childfriendly teaching and learning system• Every child should be equally treatedregardless of their caste, religion andage by ending gender discrimination• Children should be provided witheducation related to life skills• Children should be included in various
decision making processes that affectthem• Children should not be scolded inpublic, rather they should be counselled
separately if they commit any mistakes• Violence, exploitation and discrimination
against children should end• HIV and AIDS should be prevented• Equal education for all!
• Programmes to reduce child mortality
and maternal mortality should be
implemented• A clean and safe environment should beensuredWe humbly request to world leaders andthe Government of Nepal to ensure thatthe above mentioned issues are includedin the next development agenda to makechildren free from violence and ensurethat child rights are guaranteed.
Thank you!

“

Many children get corporalpunishment in school, if
they do not complete their
homework.
58

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“

16-year old boy

New Zealand
The Auckland free charter
from children
We, as representatives of New Zealand youth, ask world leaders
to keep focusing on current Millennium Development Goals’ issues,
including:• E radicating extreme poverty and hunger,
with a raised definition of what‘poverty’ means;• Reducing child mortality;• Improving access to education for all– with no age limit for access;•C ombating HIV and AIDS, malaria andother diseases;• Promoting gender equality.

 e also ask leaders to tackleW
new challenges, particularly:

We ask the Government of New Zealand
to invest in creating an informed public
who understands the social andenvironmental issues facing the world; has
involvement in solving the problems, andis kept informed as to how countries are
succeeding in achieving these goals.
We also ask Governments to invest in
developing laws and solutions to theseissues and to actively commit to ensuring
the success of these goals.

• Reducing income disparity within andbetween countries;• Improving people’s ability to secure thenecessities of life (such as access to safe
food, water, and shelter).
In addition, we want a clean and safe
environment, where Governments
support research and technology which is
publicly owned for the benefit of all; andwhere climate change laws are developedand enforced.

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Papua New Guinea
The Central Province free charter
from children
There are global issues that affect theworld and that impact the lives of
innocent people. Therefore, the childrenof the Central Province communities ask
the leaders of this world to continue
working on the MDGs.
We also ask the world leaders to address
violence against children, unemployment
among the youths, and disaster
preparedness.
We want a safe and conducive
environment for the people of this nation.
We ask the Government of Papua
New Guinea to provide us a better
living environment.

“

From my point of view, MDG 2
covers education, but I think
we should include more
school attendanceof girls and more
employment opportunities
for the youth.

“

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The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

The Philippines
The Philippines free charter
from children
We, the participants of the National Children’s Consultation held on
May 19th, 2014 in Cagayan de Oro City, representing the children of thePhilippines, ask world leaders to keep focusing on achieving the eight
Millennium Development Goals –even after 2015– with special focus
on the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; the improvement ofmaternal health; the reduction of child mortality; the achievement of
universal primary education; and ensuring environmental sustainability.

We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, and exert their best effort toempower children towards full realizationof their rights, free all children fromviolence such as abuse, exploitation,bullying and from all other forms ofviolence; free all children from child labourand drug abuse, pornography,
discrimination; provide appropriate care
for adolescent mothers; and prevent teen
pregnancies.
We want a clean, safe, and nonexploitative environment where children
can continue to live healthy and safe
from dangers.

We ask the Government of the Philippines
to respond and make solutions throughactions such as livelihood programs andtemporary jobs, and educational
assistance to children and youth.
We also ask the Government of thePhilippines to reiterate its commitment instrengthening community-based childprotection structures like the Barangay
Council for the Protection of Children(BCPC) or Local Council for the Protectionof Children (LCPC). Above all, we ask thePhilippine Government to upholdchildren’s human rights and make surethat services are enjoyed by all without
discrimination.
As Filipino child and youth leaders from allover the Philippines, we commit to uphold
the interest of our fellow children andyouth and be accountable and responsible
in all the undertakings we do to promote
and protect our rights as children.
Adopted this 19th day of May 2014 by
the children and youth participants of the
National Children’s Consultation.

“

We want to have all the
MDGs remain because mostof these have not beenachieved to 100% so maybe
in the next development
setting they will be 100%
accomplished.

“

There are still a lot of our fellow Filipino
children whose rights continue to beviolated. Many of us continue toexperience abuse, exploitation,
discrimination, and all other forms ofviolence. More Filipino children remain in
the worst forms of child labour, or are into
drug abuse, while more and moreadolescent girls become pregnant.
Children are also the most vulnerable in
the event of armed conflicts andnatural disasters.

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Republic of Korea
The Republic of Korea free charter
from children
We the children of the Republicof Korea ask world leaders tokeep focusing on the following:• In order to stop school violence, notonly do the students, including theoffenders and the victims, need toreceive regular training, but the teachers
do too. The whole school needs toknow about how they can prevent andreact to school violence.
• In order to have a have a better nature,
we ask for more trees to be planted ineach neighbourhood and solar
generators and pollution-purifiers to beinstalled.

• For a safe environment, we ask for TV
shows and a training programme that
could raise awareness on environmental
protection.
We want all countries to provide children
with the necessities of life, such as food,clothing and shelter. We want more free
medical centres.
We want a clean environment.
We want a safe environment.
We want more places for us to playwithout charge.

We, the children of the
Republic of Korea, ask world
leaders to:• Create a new culture that puts lessweight on academic status• Create laws and policies for childprotection•C onduct research and surveys on childprotection on a regular basis•C reate more free medical centres•C onduct elections in a lawful manner• Create laws that to give children
opportunities to play•B
 an female genital mutilation andhuman trafficking• Eliminate statutes of limitation –no time
limit should be set for criminal charges

We strongly ask the world leaders for
active support!

• Ban all forms of labour that are notappropriate for children• Invest more money to eliminate humantrafficking• Make safety training obligatory at
educational institutions• A variety of programmes are in need tohelp children fulfil their dreams- and thisis where the government needs to put
in more money.

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance•C reate internal laws to guarantee
human rights• Punish offenders equally regardless of
their economic status• Stop all forms of history distortion

62•B an people from hunting endangered
species•B an nuclear weapons“

Wealth should not decide
whether a child cangrow up in a safe living
environment or not; orwhether a child can have achance to learn or not.
10-year old boy“• For the safety of children, we ask forsafety training that could let us practiceand learn how to act in emergency
cases.

Sri Lanka
The Trincomalee free charter
from children
Every person should have the opportunity to live in a beautiful environment
by equally fulfilling their basic rights.

• Mother’s health improvement• Gender• Universal primary education• Global relationships for development• Poverty alleviation• Environmental protection anddevelopment

We ask the Government of
Sri Lanka for• A legal system to protect theenvironment• Awareness raising on bad effects ofteenage marriages“

Awareness from the schoollevel needs to be started toprotect children’s rights
17-year old boy“

We the children of Trincomalee
ask the leaders to keep
focusing on• Development of rural areas• Awareness raising on communicabledeceases through the media

We also ask the leaders totackle challenges such as• Equal rights for children with specialneeds• Supplementary food and nutrition
programs• Alcohol and narcotic prevention
programs• Cultural programs• Welfare activities for elders

We want a clean and safe
environment through• Not wasting water resources• Systematic garbage disposal• Observing the environment by theenvironmental authority• Management of natural resources• Protection of biodiversity• Beautification of environment using
natural resources

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63Timor Leste
The Cova Lima free charter
from children
We, the children of Timor Leste, ask world leaders to keep
focusing on education, health, poverty and hunger.

We want a clean and safe environment,
where the policing of forests and theenforcement of tara bandu (peace pact)
are given a priority.
We ask the Government of Timor Leste
to focus on the areas of educationand health.

64

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“

We need to keep achieving
primary education because
if there is no education wecannot be smart.
13-year old girl“We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as lack of teachers, lackof doctors and nurses, and stopping
various diseases.

Vietnam
The Bac Kan Province free charter
from children
We, the children from BachThong District, would like theworld leaders to focus on thefollowing goals:• Enough food for everybody in the world• Children can go to school despite theirplace where they live or how muchmoney they have
• People pay good attention toenvironmental protection such asprotecting the sea and the rivers• Even working at home, women aretreated equally and respectfully.
• People with diseases such as
Tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS can be cured
thanks to proper medicine andtreatment and that the diseases do not
spread out in communities

We would like the Vietnam
Government to:• Complete the goals set out in the local
social-economic development plans sothat people can enjoy better living
standards• Carry out the solutions andrecommendations suggested bychildren, especially help children who
are suffering from domestic violence
and abuse• Strengthen the social security system toprotect children“Child abuse and violence are bad behaviours that still
happen in Vietnam. The global leaders should add morelaws to reduce child abuse and violence cases. For me,
the most important priority is creating more opportunities
for children to express their ideas and improve their
participation in child related issues.
13-year old girl“

• Advocate for people not to litter• Regulate people to protect the water
sources, manage waste and plant moretrees

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65Europe66

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance

The County Kildare free charter from children

Belarus
The Kobrin free charter from children“

Some kind of law should be passed
that will protect children from abuseby parents. And to protect mothers,
if fathers beat and hurt them.

“

17-year old girlWe the children of Kobrin,
Belarus, ask world leaders tokeep focusing on:• Combating HIV and AIDS and otherdiseases• Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger• Strengthening a global partnership fordevelopment• Promoting gender equality andempowering women• Improving maternal health• Reducing child mortality

We also ask leaders to tackle
new challenges, such as:• Ensuring freedom from violence:bullying, violence at home, etc.
• Ending and preventing wars and armed
conflicts, in order to avoid children
suffering• Not involving children in extreme
ideologies: fascism, Nazism, etc.
• Activating the promotion of universal
human values, including family values:
protection of children and mothers,
promotion of healthy lifestyles, etc.
• Creating conditions for the developmentof children’s talents and potential invillages and small towns• Ensuring the availability of quality
medicaments• Monitoring the quality of information
available to children – i.e. on theinternet, etc.

We want a clean and safe
environment, where priority
is given to:• Using resources rationally: proper waste
disposal, zero waste in production, etc.
• Building environmentally-friendly plants
and factories• Using alternative energy sources• Increasing the number of national parks
and natural reserves

We ask the Government ofBelarus to:• Facilitate the exchange of experience
between states in addressing global
challenges and achieving theMillennium Development Goals,
through professional exchange
programmes, exchange of informationand information technologies, and by
supporting the work of internationalorganisations and NGOs
• Provide sufficient funding for
programmes on healthy lifestyles• Pass laws against abuse and violence inthe family• Toughen penalties for drug trafficking• Take into account children’s opinions inmaking important Government
decisions• Help the less developed countries withfree medicines
The progress on these issues shouldbe measured with the help of public
opinion polls and surveys, statisticalmeasurements, and monitoring the lifeof people.

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67

“

16-year old boy“

Ireland

Education at a young age
can change traditions andways of thinking.

The Dublin free charter from children
The post-2015 international development
agenda must include children’s right to live ina world free from violence and exploitation.
This is critically important because children
should have freedom of speech and freedom
to reach their own goals and the ability toachieve them. Law should be enforced sothat children feel safe at school and at homeso that they can have their voices heard.
Children should be aware of their rights andwe should all be aware of our responsibilities
to protect them.

to meet regularly to monitor progress andcommunicate ideas.

We the school students of a post-primaryschool in Dublin, Ireland, ask world leaders
to keep focusing on the importance ofgender equality, creating a sustainable
environment, combatting illness and diseasesuch as HIV and AIDS and reducing childmortality rates. It is also key for Governments

We want a clean and safe environment,
where laws are enforced regarding
environmental protection, withconsequences such as higher taxes if they
are not adhered to. Developing andimplementing green policies with the likes
of recycling and reducing packaging. It is

We also ask leaders to tackle newchallenges, such as a renewed emphasis on
equality (sex, race, religion), try to promoteinternational fair trade, educate people andcreate support groups regarding mental
health and provide protection and support
in sexual situations such as trafficking, childpornography and legalising prostitution
and control of sales of arms andammunitions.

important to improve public transport andsearch for alternative sources of energy andtransportation.
We ask the Government of Ireland to leadby example by listening to young people’s
opinions on youth culture, respecting
children’s rights, protect children here while
also working with other countries abroad
to improve fostering and adoption facilities
and methods in Ireland, including childhomelessness and the separation of
education and religion in state run schools.
We propose that this would be monitored
through research and surveys and by
tracking carbon footprints (in relation to
the environment).
Signed by school student representatives.

The County Kildare free charter from children
The post-2015 development agenda
must include children’s right to live ina world free from violence andexploitation. This is criticallyimportant because:Children should be free to enjoy their lives
and have safe homes, and have good
relationships. Everyone is equal! Children
must have access to education. They arealso entitled to have their own opinions
and participate in activities. Children having
a voice needs to be promoted!
We the students of a post-primaryschool in Co. Kildare, Ireland, ask world
leaders to keep focusing on
Everything! But we think food andeducation are priority. We think that
education is important because we believethat children are the next generation.
They should be supported with grants andsponsorship so they can go to school.
68

The free charters, Child Fund AllianceFood is a necessity to live! We need greener
farming methods, new ideas andequipment. We also need to work on acure for HIV and AIDS and generic
medication can be used. Some diseases canbe prevented easily. People need to betaught to help themselves. Free clinics areneeded. We can set targets and share
the knowledge.
We also ask world leaders to tackle newchallenges such as protection of children
against violence and exploitation (such as
sexual violence, child labour, physicalpunishment, trafficking, conflict andharmful traditional practices). Also, to help
fill the needs of people with disabilities,
both physical and mental. To get rid of
nuclear weapons and other forms ofviolence. Laws against discrimination,i.e. racial discrimination, sexual, religious
and bullying in general. Access tosanitation, clean safe water.

We want a clean and safe environment
where we have more electric cars, morebins, increased laws on litter, andenforcement. We need to reducepackaging, develop renewable energy andsolar panels on homes and businesses.
We need to stop cutting down trees andforests, and use less fossil fuels and coal.
We ask the Government of Ireland to makeprotective laws to look out for vulnerable
children. The Government must supportand invest in education. Hold conventions
with other countries and leaders, and haveserious consequences if people don’t abideby the new laws. Educate children/parents/
adults about these issues affecting children.
The Government should carry out surveys
before and after new laws to measure thechange they made, and hopefully reduce
the amount of people affected.
Signed by school student representatives.

Annexes
Annex 1: List of participating countries
AfricaThe Americas

Asia Pacific

Europe1. Benin

17. Bolivia

25. Afghanistan

39. Belarus

2. Burkina Faso

18. Dominica

26. Cambodia

40. Ireland

3. Cape Verde

19. Guatemala

27. India

4. Ethiopia

20. Honduras

28. Indonesia

5. Gambia

21. Mexico

29. Japan

6. Ghana

22. Nicaragua

30. Kyrgyzstan

7. Guinea

23. Paraguay

31. New Zealand

8. Kenya

24. United States

32. Nepal

9. Liberia

33. Papua New Guinea

10. Mali

34. Philippines

11. Mozambique

35. South Korea

12. Senegal

36. Sri Lanka

13. Sierra Leone

37. Timor Leste

14. Togo

38. Vietnam

15. Uganda
16. Zambia

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69Annex 2: Coding explanation
What priorities do you think should remain the samein the next priorities for the world?
“Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger”“Achieve universal primary education”“Promote gender equality and empower women”“Reduce child mortality”“Improve maternal health”“Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases”

Millennium Development Goal 1.
Millennium Development Goal 2.
Millennium Development Goal 3.
Millennium Development Goal 4.
Millennium Development Goal 5.
Millennium Development Goal 6.

“Ensure environmental sustainability”“Develop a global partnership for development”“Cambodia’s MDG 9 on demining”

Millennium Development Goal 7.
Millennium Development Goal 8.
In 2003, the Government of Cambodia, recognising that one
major constraint on development is the continued
contamination of mines and explosive remnants of war,
added demining, explosive remnants of war, and victim
assistance as Cambodia’s ninth major development goal.

What priorities do you think should be added to thenext priorities for the world?
“Access to clean and safe water,and sanitation and hygiene”

Ensuring children, families, and communities have access to clean and safe water, andsanitation and hygiene, such as latrines and toilets.

“Access to food and goodnutrition”

Ensuring children, families, and communities have access to sufficient food for all.

“Access to quality healthcare
for all”

Ensuring children, families, and communities have access to quality healthcare, including
through the building of health centres and hospitals; training of doctors, nurses, andmidwifes; preventing deadly diseases; preventing substance abuse; providing access tosexual and reproductive health, etc.

“Child poverty”

Addressing issues related to child poverty.

“Children’s participation”

Ensuring that children’s opinions and views are actively listened to and taken into accountin the decisions that affect their lives.

“Children’s rights”

Guaranteeing children’s rights as a whole and implementing the Convention on the Rightsof the Child, excluding mentions of specific rights.

“Children’s right to play”

Cultural, leisure and recreational activities, as well as the provision of infrastructure forthese purposes.

“Civil liberties”

Guaranteeing the exercise of civil liberties of children and adults, including freedom of
expression, freedom of movement, and freedom of religion.

“Corruption and accountabilityof Governments”

Addressing corruption of Government officials, and making sure that Governments fulfil
their promises and are accountable for their actions.

“Early pregnancy”

Creating awareness about and preventing early pregnancies in adolescents, excluding
generic mentions of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

70

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“Employment for all”

Creating job opportunities for adults and youth, including through incentives for smallscale industries, training programmes, etc.

“Environmental protection”

Creating clean and safe environment for children, families, and communities, including
through the enactment and enforcement of laws, awareness-raising campaigns, etc.

“Equity, including people withdisability and the ageing
community”

Addressing inequalities, especially for children and people with disabilities, and for theageing community.

“Fair trade”

Implementing fair trade practices.

“Gender equality and women’s
empowerment”

Achieving gender equality, by increasing the number of women in positions of power,
addressing violence against women, etc.

“Housing”

Providing appropriate housing for all.

“Human rights”

Enforcing and guaranteeing human rights as a whole, excluding mentions of specific rights.

“Peace and citizens’ security”

Communities, villages, cities and countries being safer places, including issues related toborder security and to peaceful relations between countries.

“Quality and safe education
for all, including secondary
education”

Guaranteeing children and citizens’ access to quality education without discrimination,
including quality secondary and tertiary education, and adult literacy programmes.

“Refugees”

Providing services for and helping refugees.

“Violence against children”

Preventing and responding to all forms of violence and exploitation perpetrated againstchildren, including bullying; child labour; child marriage; child trafficking; corporalpunishment at home and school; harmful traditional practices against boys and girls;
recruitment of children by armed forces and groups; sexual violence and exploitation; aswell as providing birth registration for all and enhancing child protection systems.

“Youth”

Empowering youth and addressing issues affecting youth, such as youth delinquency andrural-urban migration of youth.
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If you could do one thing to improve the naturalenvironment, what would you do?
“Address deforestation,desertification, and land degradation”

Addressing deforestation, by stopping the indiscriminate cutting down of trees
and re-planting trees; as well as desertification and land degradation, such as
coastal erosion.

“Address illegal mining”

Taking measures to stop illegal mining.

“Enact and enforce strict laws toprotect the environment”

Enacting and enforcing strict laws and regulations to protect the environment.

“Engage in sustainable agriculture”

Undertaking sustainable agricultural practices, including through managed grazing,sustainable pest management, and using appropriate fertilizers.

“Enhance access to water andsanitation systems”

Enhancing access to water and sanitation systems.

“Enhance children’s participation inenvironmental affairs”

Engaging children directly in environmental affairs, through children’s clubs, etc.

“Increase the number of natural parks
and reserves”

Increasing the number of natural parks and reserves.

“Mobilize communities”

Engaging communities and citizens directly in environmental protection activities,
such as clean-ups, and awareness-raising activities.

“Protect oceans and rivers”

Protecting oceans and rivers, including by not contaminating water sources.

“Protect wildlife”

Protecting wildlife and address indiscriminate hunting and killing of animals.

“Raise awareness at all levels”

Raising awareness about environmental issues at all levels.

“Reduce use of toxic material, improve
waste management and recycle”

Reducing the use of toxic material, such as plastic bags and bottles; improving waste
management in cities and communities, including through recycling.

“Reduce emission of greenhouse gases
and fight pollution”

Reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and achieving better air quality,
including through caps for factories.

“Stop wasting electricity, water andnatural resources”

Stopping wasteful use of electricity, water and natural resources.

“Use alternative means oftransportation”

Using alternative means of transportation, such as bicycles.

“Use alternative sources of energy”

Using alternative sources of energy, such as ethanol, solar panels and wind
generators.

What do you want leaders in your country to doabout these issues?
“Address corruption”

Taking measures to address corruption, including by appointing the best candidates
for Government positions and monitoring performance of Government employees,
etc.

“Address drug trafficking”

Taking measures to address drug trafficking, especially through cooperation between
countries.

“Address unemployment, especially
youth unemployment”

Taking measures to address unemployment, especially among youth, including
through incentives for job creation, training programmes, placement services, etc.

“Build and improve infrastructure”

Building new and improving existing infrastructure, such as bridges and roads.

72

The free charters, Child Fund Alliance“Build strong ties with othercountries”

Improving relations between countries.

“Enact and enforce laws”

Enacting and enforcing laws to address the broad spectrum of issues.

“Enact laws and budgetary
appropriations to fulfil the MDGs”

Enacting laws and making budgetary appropriations to fulfil the current Millennium
Development Goals.

“Enhance children’s participation andtake children’s views into account”

Engaging children in decision-making processes and taking their views into account.

“Enhance security for communities”

Taking measures to improve security in communities, such as increasing police
presence, installing street lamps, etc.

“Ensure food security and goodnutrition”

Ensuring children, families, and communities have access to sufficient food for all.

“Guarantee children’s rights”

Guaranteeing children’s rights as a whole and implementing the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, excluding mentions of specific rights.

“Guarantee children’s right to play”

Guaranteeing children have access to cultural, leisure and recreational activities, aswell as providing of infrastructure for these purposes“Improve access to water, sanitationand hygiene”

Ensuring children, families, and communities have access to clean and safe water,and sanitation and hygiene, such as latrines and toilets.

“Improve healthcare”

Ensuring children, families, and communities have access to quality healthcare,including through the building of health centres and hospitals; training of doctors,
nurses, and midwifes; preventing deadly diseases; prevention of substance abuse;access to sexual and reproductive health, etc.

“Prevent deforestation”

Taking measures to prevent deforestation, such as prohibiting the indiscriminate
cutting down of trees.

“Promote and enhance education”

Guaranteeing children and citizens’ access to quality education without
discrimination, including quality secondary and tertiary education, and adult literacy
programmes.

“Promote gender equality andempower women”

Taking measures to achieve gender equality, by increasing the number of women inpositions of power, addressing violence against women, etc.

“Promote technology transfer
between countries”

Promoting technology transfers between countries.

“Protect children from violenceand exploitation”

Preventing and responding to all forms of violence and exploitation perpetrated
against children, including bullying; child labour; child marriage; child trafficking;corporal punishment at home and school; harmful traditional practices against boys
and girls; recruitment of children by armed forces and groups; sexual violence andexploitation; as well as providing birth registration for all and enhancing childprotection systems.

“Provide access to electricity”

Providing access to reliable electricity to those people who do not have it.

“Raise awareness about the issues at
all levels”

Raising awareness about the broad spectrum of issues at all levels, including throughcampaigns, communications activities, community mobilization, etc.

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AFRICATHE AMERICASASIA
PACIFIC

Europewww.freefromviolence.org