Learn Without Fear

I felt this should be blogged, as well as forwarded:

I have children, know children of friends and have friends who themselves have suffered abuse, bullying and corporal punishment at school despite such being illegal throughout much of the modern world. This needs to stop.

No child should be afraid to attend school because of the threat of sexual abuse, corporal punishment, or bullying. But every year 350 million children face violence in schools – and with devastating effects. Please help us achieve violence-free schools by signing our petition urging the United Nations to encourage every country to take immediate action so that every child has the right to Learn Without Fear.

The wording of the petition to the United Nations is as follows:

I believe that every child has the right to attend school without the fear of violence. But right now children around the world face sexual abuse, corporal punishment, and bullying in their schools each day. We must put a stop to this cycle of violence against children and make schools safe places where they can learn without fear.

I urge the United Nations to help end all forms of violence in schools by encouraging every country to:

• Work with non-governmental organizations and governments to establish data-collection systems so we can better understand the severity of violence in schools;
  
• Work with teachers and education authorities to develop and implement plans of action for achieving violence-free schools; and
  
• Establish a procedure for children to report violent incidents.
  
  

Please declare that the United Nations supports the right of every child to attend school without the fear of violence.

Please go here to view the a short video, "Learn Without Fear," and sign the petition.

http://www.planusa.org/learnwithoutfear/takeaction.php?tp=VE1HUj0xLHRpZD0xMDA3MDQ1LA%3D%3D

Thank you