A BHRWS poster showing a child burning a tyre
Focus on impact of street violence on Bahraini children
MANAMA, June 23, 2015
Street violence and the effect it has on Bahraini children will be discussed in a sideline seminar at a major UN forum today (June 23).
Bahrain Human Rights Group (BHRG) is hosting the event in Geneva to coincide with the ongoing 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
It wants to expose what group general co-ordinator Faisal Fulad describes as ‘the exploitation of Bahraini children in acts of violence.’
“We want to spread the truth about the situation in Bahrain,” he said.
“We have enough documents, pictures and videos which prove that children are being used to be in the front of rallies, demonstrations, street violence and acts of terror.
“This is on the rise and we see children as young as eight or 10 on the street with Molotov cocktails or other weapons.
“This shows that they are attracted and trained into such acts.”
Fulad called on the Education Ministry to use the influence it has over young Bahrainis and mould them into upstanding young citizens.
“Children spend close to eight hours in schools and it is from the classroom that they should learn about patriotism,” he said.
“If ma’atams and religious sessions just once in a week are capable of injecting sectarian hatred into young minds, why are our classrooms failing to educate them on nationalistic feelings?
“We need more schools in villages and the General Organisation of Youth and Sports should make use of their youth centres to impart wisdom and encourage children to defend their country, irrespective of whether they are Sunni or Shia.
“Our children must grow up as Bahraini citizens and not as a Sunni or Shia.”
Fulad said a set of recommendations would be handed over to UNHRC officials, with copies sent to Bahrain’s UN representatives at the end of the seminar.
A movie on Bahrain will also be screened during the seminar, which will be attended by children’s rights activists and BHRG members.
The BHRG is a joint body consisting of members of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS), Bahrain Jurists’ Society, Al Karama Society and the Bahrain Free Labour Union Federation (Al Hurr).
The UN Human Rights Council session commenced on June 15 and will continue until July 3. - TradeArabia News Service
