An up to date list of countries where we work can be found on our website. Design and lay-out: Joanna Zeenny. Drawings:
COLORING MY FUTURE DRAWINGS FROM CHILDREN IN SYRIA
War Child Holland believes no child should be part of war. Ever. Nevertheless, millions of children and young people worldwide grow up in conflict-affected areas. Children and young people’s rights to be protected from violence, abuse and neglect, to live a dignified life and be supported in their healthy development are violated on a massive scale. We empower children and young people to change their own future by protecting them from the effects of war, promoting psychosocial support and stimulating education. We enable them to strengthen their self-confidence and to build positive relationships with their peers, family and wider community. We unleash children’s inner strength with our creative and involving approach. We inspire as many people as we can. War Child Holland is an independent and impartial, international nongovernmental organisation investing in a peaceful future for children affected by armed conflict. Our work is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. An up to date list of countries where we work can be found on our website. Design and lay-out: Joanna Zeenny Drawings: Children in Syria For more information, please contact War Child Holland: T: +31 (0) 20 422 77 77 E:
[email protected] W: www.warchildholland.org, © War Child Holland, 2014
Supported by
3
“It is the right of a child to play. It is the right of a child to live with family. It is the right of a child to learn. It is the right of a child to express his personal identity. It is the right of a child to watch television.” -Rola, Girl, Rural Damascus 4
5
INTRODUCTION The on-going conflict in Syria is having a long-term and devastating impact on children. The rights of children, protected by the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), should be upheld at all times during war and peace. However, widespread unrest, displacement and violence has led to the denial of many basic rights for Syria’s children. These rights include children’s right to be heard on the issues that affect them, and children’s right to express themselves and their opinions. In January 2014, War Child published a report1 highlighting children’s own perspectives on the situation they are facing in Syria. This booklet – a collection of drawings, stories and quotes – builds on this effort to share children’s voices and raise awareness about their daily reality, including their dreams and fears while growing up in war2. The booklet highlights the five child rights that children in Syria felt were most important to them: their right to protection, education, healthcare, nutrition, and play. Ultimately, this project aims to raise awareness and understanding for the reality that children face after three years of armed conflict in Syria, and for the rights of children and young people that the international community has a role to help protect and uphold.
-Yara, Girl, Rural Damascus
RIGHT TO PROTECTION Children have the right to be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence or abuse. They have the right to grow up free from fear. “Who protects me from war?” - Ola, Girl, 10 years old, Homs displaced from Damascus
“We sleep to the sound of gunshots. We wake up to the sound of gunshots.” - Lamia, Girl, Rural Damascus Female.
“I want protection from this man” – Ashraf, Boy, Rural Damascus
9
10
11
Of the children in Syria who spoke with War Child, 81 percent felt that protection and safety were their most urgent concerns. Because of the overall insecurity, the repeated risk of displacement from their homes and separation from their families, and the constant threat of attack, children in Syria live with overwhelming fear.
“I need someone to save me from war” - Hala, Girl, 9 years old, Homs
The drawings made by children show the contrasts between feelings of fear and insecurity generated by the violence and armed threats with feelings of safety they still associate with their homes and families.
[From top to bottom] “I am scared of boys. I feel I am not scared when I am with my family” “I am from Palestine, I want to draw and be with my family” -Cedra, Girl, Homs
“I am afraid of…” [drawing of a plane] “I hide with my mother and father” -Nour, Girl, 9 years old, Homs
“What scares me the most is the sound of bullets and shelling” – Hani, Boy, Rural Damascus 12
[From right to left] “Peace of mind and satisfaction,” “Green trees,” “Childhood dreams,” “A small house that isn’t destructed,” “In Syria,” “Flowers and Jasmines” “No planes and shelling” “Birds” -Aisha, Girl, Homs 13
Displacement and violence tear families and communities apart. The instability that children have to cope with as a result, exposes them to threats such as recruitment into armed groups, child labour, or early marriage. Several children made drawings about working.
“It is my right to live with my family” - Yara, Girl, Rural Damascus 14
“I feel safe in my home and with my family” - Mahmoud, Boy, Rural Damascus
“Protect me from work” -Nour, Girl, 9 years old, Homs displaced from Douma, Rural Damascus
[This drawing above shows one figure handing a weapon to another figure.] “This is wrong. He should not take advantage of him while he is young and force him to take weapons. He should not teach him violence. This is violence.” -Aya, Girl, Damascus 15
RIGHT TO EDUCATION According to the United Nations, as of June 2014, more than half of Syria’s school-age children no longer attend school. The rate of enrolment in education is now the second lowest in the world 3.
Of the 22,000 school buildings across Syria, more than 5,000 are no longer in use because they have either been damaged or destroyed, or because they are being used as shelters for displaced persons.
“I am extremely sad when I am absent from school.” – Lana, Girl, Rural Damascus
“It is my right to learn, and to read, and to not forget about school” - Sham, Girl, Damascus 17
Schools are meant to be safe spaces where children can learn and develop. Children in Syria highly value their education, and prior to the war, Syria had one of the highest student enrolment rates in the Middle East. “I would love to return to school and to my friends” -Omran, Boy, Rural Damascus
“Be optimistic about success at school… Knowledge is light, ignorance is darkness” – Issa, Boy, Damascus 18
[From top to bottom] “I wish to become an artist. I wish to become a doctor.” -Rahaf, Girl, Rural Damascus 19
Many children placed their education second in importance only to their safety and security. They felt that the lack of safety and security greatly affects their ability to access education. The sentiment expressed by children in Rural Damascus, echoed that of children across Syria: “How can I focus on something and learn if I can’t be guaranteed that I am safe at all? 4” Despite the importance children in Syria place on their education, getting to school has become risky and schools have become dangerous places. While travelling to and from school, children and parents fear coming under attack and sniper fire, or being harassed and detained while passing through checkpoints.
Children adapt their behaviour to avoid shelling or sniper fire. One child living in a besieged area said, “We walk beneath balconies one by one when we leave school or the children’s centre under the shelling, leaving a distance between each of us…This is what we were told to do [by the local relief foundation]5”. Children are also exposed to the risk of armed attack, kidnap, and intimidation from other children and armed men while at school. Going to school is an important way for children to maintain a sense of routine and normalcy during conflict, and is essential for safeguarding their opportunities for the future. Many children’s drawings reflected their desire to return to school, to continue their education, and to realise their dreams.
“My beautiful school” “It is my right to learn. When will I go back to school?” -Yara, Girl, Damascus
Children’s drawings also reflected child labour as a concern that further restricted their right to education. Young boys in particular felt that their responsibility to make an income outweighed their ability to continue their education. They often earn money by collecting bullets, cleaning cars, or selling cigarettes or vegetables6. “It’s my right to learn” - Ibrahim, Boy, Rural Damascus
-Mahmoud, male, Rural Damascus 20
21
RIGHT TO HEALTH Children linked their concern over their health to decreased availability of medicines and specialised doctors, the inability to access medical services, or the unequal treatment in service provision. Children also felt that the increasingly unsanitary environment worsened issues related to health and hygiene. Children fear traveling to hospitals because of the dangers presented by checkpoints, snipers or armed attack along the road, and intimidation by armed groups or armed checkpoints inside hospitals. “There are always [armed men] at the hospital, which makes it a target for attack.” - Boy, Rural Damascus An estimated 60 percent of the hospitals in Syria are damaged or destroyed7. Pharmacies can no longer stock basic medicines. Half of Syria’s physicians have fled the country.
“I wish we could dig a hole and throw all the garbage inside so that the mosquitos go away.” - Reem, Girl, Rural Damascus
“Who protects me from illness?” – Inshirah, Girl, 13 years old, Homs 23
“Emergency Room” –Faris, Boy, Damascus
“Healthcare” -Ahmad, Boy, 10 years old, Damascus 24
[From top to bottom] “Health care is my right.” “Health care is my right because it protects people from illness and we should take all vaccinations and medicine.” -Mohamed, Boy, Damascus
25
“I need protection from animals and insects.” - Sara, Girl, 9 years old, Homs from Al Aideen camp
Children frequently voiced their concern about the increasing health and hygiene issues resulting from the deteriorating sanitation network across Syria. Children complain about dust polluting collective shelters where they live with other displaced families, the lack of cleaning supplies or insecticide for these spaces, and the spread of skin diseases such as scabies and lice. Children’s drawings often showed insects and flies accumulating from garbage in the street.
This drawing is a risk map made by a group of children living in a mosque that is functioning as a collective shelter in rural Damascus. Children use happy and sad faces to identify locations in their community where they feel scared/sad, safe/happy.
26
“Healthcare” -Wafaa, Girl, 7 years old, Damascus 27
RIGHT TO NUTRITION Children have the right to a standard of living that fulfils their physical and mental needs, including nutritious food.
“I am extremely sad when I am hungry.” -Marwan, male, Rural Damascus
“Who protects me from hunger?” –Eman, Girl, 12 years old, Homs 29
“There is no money to buy biscuits.” – Yousef, Boy, Qaboun
Children in Syria who spoke with War Child commonly expressed their desire for bread and to have enough food for survival. Children whose families are still able to access basic foods complain that they miss good-tasting and nutritious food.
“We need to plant inside the camp.” - Majd, Boy, Damascus
The United Nations estimates that up to 4.7 million people in Syria live in communities that are difficult or impossible to reach because of the conflict, and where accessing food and other life-saving resources is extremely difficult or impossible. The siege of civilian communities severely impacts children’s quality of life. Nutritional needs are the most urgent concern for children living in these areas, reflecting their highly vulnerable and fragile situation.
“We have to save everything. For example, we can never leave the water on or the lights on during the day, in order to save electricity and reduce the bill. We can’t waste gas, so that we still have enough until God gives us release.” -Akram, Boy, 11 years old, Rural Damascus
30
“A safe situation” -Mohamed, Boy, 10 years old, Damascus 31
In some communities that have endured protracted periods of siege, children are learning to farm and grow their own food in order to survive. “When the road is open and the siege is over, I don’t want to leave the camp, I just want someone to bring me food.” – Jalal, male, area under siege in Rural Damascus The United Nations estimates that 20 percent of people in Syria do not have enough basic food to meet their daily needs for survival.8
[From right to left] “Quickly, feed me barley before someone else eats it.” “Wait till I am full” “I am starving.” “But cows don’t eat ground barley, ha ha ha.” - Marwa, Girl, Rural Damascus 32
33
RIGHT TO PLAY For children, playing is a means to understand the world, to cope, and to develop. Play is an important tool for their cognitive, social and emotional development.
“We don’t play because of snipers and shelling in our neighborhood.” – Alaa, Boy, Rural Damascus
“It is my right to play” -Hala, Girl, Latakia
Every child has the right to play and engage in recreational activities. Even during conflict, children need a safe space where they can express themselves and to develop their hobbies and talents.
In contrast to many drawings reflecting the fear or violence they cope with daily, the majority of their drawings reflected children’s resilience and strength, even in the face of conflict. Even children living in communities with restricted access to food and water or threatened by heavy violence, drew scenes depicting the hopes and dreams they hold on to. 35
“It is my right to practice my hobbies” -Zeina, Girl, Rural Damascus
The opportunity to play and practice their hobbies helps children adapt to new circumstances during a conflict.
Having a safe space to play also helps prevent their exposure to risks related to the conflict such as attack, injury, or harassment.
[From top to bottom] “Me, playing in the sea” “My right to play” - Raed, Boy, Damascus 36
37
“It is my right to play” - Najlaa, Girl, 13 years old, Damascus 38
39
“We want to play every day. We don’t play in fear of shelling and snipers that come down on our neighborhood. Our neighbors left, there is no one left.” - Faris, Boy, Rural Damascus
“We love to play in the neighborhood every day. We don’t play anymore because of snipers and shelling in our neighborhood.” -Fadi, Boy, Rural Damascus
Children also depicted the marginalisation of children displaced from their homes and living in a new community from children who are from that community. The war in Syria has displaced 6.5 million people from their homes and severely limited the availability of safe spaces for children to play. Children feel that
“It is my right to play” – Lina, Girl, 9 years old, Latakia 40
discrimination between displaced people and their host community, partly caused by limited resources, affects the equal distribution of aid and services and even prevents children from equally accessing recreational opportunities.
“No to discrimination based on where you are from.” - Manya, Girl, 13 years old, Rural Damascus 41
CONCLUSION
In Syria, children’s rights to protection, education, health and healthcare services, nutrition, and play, are being violated on a daily basis. After more than three years of civil war in Syria, support and attention for the impact of the war on children and their well-being must be prioritised. Using a participative and creative approach, War Child works around the world and helps children cope with their conflict-related experiences, protects children from the consequences of armed conflict and facilitates access to quality education. The drawings and quotes from Syrian children presented in this booklet are children’s own depictions of their experiences and perceptions. Children want a safe place
“I would love to be every bee who eats nothing but the good, and gives out nothing but the good” - Rasha, Girl, Damascus
to learn and to play. They want equal access to support and services. And they want to be at home, with their families, and without the stress and pressures of war. They want their parents and their communities to be supported to better care for them. It is important that the international community is aware of the situation for children in Syria, and takes action by pressuring local and international donors to prioritise increased funding for child rights programming in Syria. Children in Syria must be listened to, protected from the violence and threats of war, and given support to safeguard their futures.
“It is my right and the right of every human being to be free. My right is to be free” – Sara, Girl, Latakia 43
I want the days to go back to the way they were, and for the days to become better. - Rasha, Girl, Rural Damascus
“Burning fires, no electricity, no clothing, no toys, no libraries, no gas, no health” -Firas, Boy, Rural Damascus
44
45
War Child Holland, “Syria Child Rights Situation Analysis”, January 2014. Available at: http://reliefweb.int/report/ syrian-arab-republic/syria-child-rights-situation-analysis. 2 All drawings and quotes provided by children in Syria and sent to War Child by independent researchers. 3 United Nations Security Council, “Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2139 (2014), 20 June 2014, (10). 4 War Child Holland, “Syria Child Rights Situation Analysis” January 2014 (20). 5 Ibid (22). 6 Ibid (44). 7 UNICEF, “Under Siege”, March 2014 (8). Available at: http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_72815.html. 8 United Nations Security Council, June 2014, (11). 1
46
The rights of children, protected by the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), should be upheld at all times during war and peace. However, many basic rights for Syria’s children have been denied in the last three years. These rights include children’s right to be heard on the issues that affect them, and children’s right to express themselves and their opinions. This booklet – a collection of drawings, stories and quotes – builds on this effort to share the voices of children in Syria and to raise awareness about their daily reality, including their dreams and fears while growing up in war. It highlights the five child rights that children in Syria felt were most important to them. Through their voices we aim to raise awareness and understanding for the reality that children face after three years of armed conflict in Syria, and for the rights of children and young people that the international community has a role to help protect and uphold.
48
