6,000 sign petition for children's rights

A HUMAN rights group has taken to the streets with its petition fighting against the involvement of children in demonstrations.

Around 6,000 people have signed the 'Stop the Exploitation of Bahraini Children Towards Acts of Violence' petition which was spearheaded nearly two weeks ago by Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS), Gulf European Centre for Human Rights and Gulf Non-Governmental Organisations Forum.

The paper petition was originally housed at the BHRWS headquarters in Manama but since conflicts broke out on Bahrain's streets, the society has closed its doors due to the unsafe situation, said BHRWS secretary-general Faisal Fulad.

Instead society officials have taken to transporting the petition with them to gatherings around the country to encourage local people to add their signatures.

"It wasn't safe for people to come to our offices, so we decided to take the petition with us to areas such as Seef, especially the malls which are now open, Budaiya, Riffa, Saar, Muharraq and Manama, and people could sign up then," said Mr Fulad.

"Signatures must be from Bahrainis, of all ages, gender and religious affiliations; it is open to anyone who believes that children must not be brought into such situations."

"We hope to get between 20,000 and 30,000 signatures before sending the petition to the UN headquarters in Geneva and New York," added Mr Fulad.

The petition is a reaction against the increased number of demonstrations led by schoolchildren and students that were held over the recent weeks in Isa Town and Sitra.

"The use of children to fight a cause is a crime," said Mr Fulad.

"To take them from schools and involve them in a civil dispute is against human rights and the rights of a child."

"They are being brainwashed about sectarian ways and this is wrong."

The petition is also part of a campaign to increase awareness in schools. alicia@gdn.com.bh


(2011-3-20/gulf-daily-news.com)