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Map by ASDFGHJ.

Children working with Save the Children UK Mongolia Programme created a report for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the ChildA group of adults in the United Nations who check how well countries are respecting children's rights. Click to read more. in 2008-9, in the form of a film and a publication. They worked together to research the issues and make the film.

In June 2008, 28 children gathered to begin making the report. Only one child dropped out – the others worked all 3 months of the summer. The children met every day and evaluated their work every day.

The group of children who worked on the report.

The children began by choosing the theme for their report: ‘Child protection from abuse and violence’. Then they designed and carried out researchFinding out about something. into violence against children in Mongolia.

The research was done using a questionnaire, individual interviews and desktop study. 180 children of age 8-18 from 3 poor districts as well as care centers, big markets, garbage places, temporary shelters and police units participated in the research. Out of 180 children 99 were boys and 81 were girls. 110 out of 180 participants lived with their family.

The research focused on the assessment of the current situation, identified reasons for lack of protection for children and suggested solutions. The key conclusion by the children was that there is an urgent need for development of a child protection system in Mongolia.

Then the children made a report about their research. It had two parts:

A written report all about the research. The written report said that 82.8% of the respondents to the questionnaire confirm that children suffer from violence. 78.9% of the participating children thought that children shouldn’t face corporal punishment and emotional abuse for their wrongdoings. 58.3% of the participants didn’t know where to go if they suffered violence.

Two short films: Children for Children (about how the research was done) and Child protection today (about violence against children and the need for a child protection system). Children wrote the scripts of both documentaries, and the filming was done by a young person who had done a Save the Children UK black and white photography course.

These documentaries were translated into English and submitted to the UN as a part of the shadow report. The documentaries were also shown on TV, on several channels. Also, the documentaries will be used as an advocacy tool in further work of SCUK in promoting child participation and the development of a child protection system in Mongolia.

The children held two launch events to tell people about the report:

First, they held a special meeting for their parents. Parents were very touched to learn what their children had been doing. Some parents even cried. They were very proud of their children. Before the meeting, some parents had not been happy about their children being involved. But after the meeting they were more supportive. When the children had been making the film, adults working with the children often phoned parents to tell them about what their children were doing.

Children with their parents.

Then, they launched their report at an event attended by over 120 representatives of state, non-governmental, educational, media and youth organizations. During this event the two documentaries were shown for the first time. The adults at this event were very impressed by the children’s work and acknowledged the significance of this groundbreaking effort that would bring child rights implementation to a new level. The report was also directly delivered to all parliament and government members.

After making the report and film, the children decided to create a Protection Club, which aims to get the government to follow up on the CRC report recommendations. Find out more.

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