Child abuse and its effects on societal progress and development

Last activity 31 January 2011 by Sandman6

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MoElSerial expat30 December 2010 15:29:28

876

[admin note: I removed the videos, too violent]

The videos above ~~were shot in Libyan schools by Libyan students~~ show practices common in Libyan public schools.

The text with different color is merely for readers' convenience.

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During my first week in Libya I went with a relative to the local police station in Sabha. My relative's 10y/o first cousin, who's also a relative of mine, ran away from home seeking refuge in the police station. I noticed he had pronounced cauliflower ears with large blood clots.

The ten year old boy also had fresh lacerations on his upper back resulting from numerous and severe lashing sessions over the preceding days. Not to mention several cuts and bruises around his face and all over his body. I was stunned.

More shocking was the apathetic reaction of everyone else. "happens all the time" they muttered. The boy's father was the perpetrator. He doesn't drink or consume any mind-altering drugs or medicine.

This was back in February. And I had been thinking about it ever since. During this time I heard equally horrid stories on Libyan radio, from cab drivers, and from Libyan kids of different age groups.

I'm now interviewing other relatives of school age who attend Libyan public schools in different Libyan cities to better understand the nature, severity and persistence of abuse that Libyan children and teenagers encounter on nearly daily basis (as I have no questions about its prevalence); and, eventually, intend to approach Waatasemu Charity Association which is sponsoring/has sponsored a pro-family anti-abuse campaign in Tripoli and other major Libyan cities.

I'm learning a lot.
For example, many kids are being abused at home by their parents and extended family, and not just at schools by strangers. Also, psychological abuse seems far more common and intense than physical, and that's what actually causes/caused long-term and irreparable damage to generations of otherwise would-be good citizens.

I would like to tap into the intellectual wealth present on this forum, Libyan or otherwise. Teachers, businessmen and parents are all invited to contribute.. AND NO ENGINEERS! The only exception to this is if you're an engineer who were previously told that you can maintain a graceful conversation in a casual setting for more than five minutes

Back on topic, within the next 1-3 weeks there will be a post on Agreeable Life, possibly the first of few posts on the subject, and the goal is to ignite a positive and fruitful discussion on the topic. Here is some of what I'd like to know: how to spread awareness of the problem, and that it is a problem indeed? And how would you go about persuading adults who engage in what has become a social tradition and habit to change their behavior?
You may also help out by generally brainstorming how we can demonstrate clear and direct connections between abuse in early years and all the socially negative behaviors that any casual observer of Libya can detect.

Unless you deem it better to publicize your response on here, I think it is best to send me a PM.

Thank you in advance for helping the kids.

bluejayViP02 January 2011 15:34:49

169

I know that MBC has had some really good commercials about child abuse in the past several months. An ad campaign on Libyan TV and press would help to raise awareness about the problem. The fact that people are discussing it on TV and radio here in Libya is a good first step. As for violence in schools, it is illegal for teachers to hit children in Libya and has been for many years, so if it is happening people are not complaining. The strap was used in the West for many years, but once it was banned it only took a few firings and court cases for the practice to take hold.
Good luck with your project!

wysokiActive member02 January 2011 19:33:20

I know that in Libyan school in Warsaw physical punishments have been still practised even few years ago. The management changed and they banned it. It was of course nothing compared to what is probably going on in many schools here but shows that it was even spread abroad.

There is much work work to be done, campaigns can be just one part. I know that in Egypt there was a serious campaign against sexual harassment. As I recall there were gangs of young guys just circling girls in the streets and raping them. Government wasn't doing anything, but Internet did. Egyptian blogs just filled out with descriptions. Egyptian media didn't have a choice and started writing about problem, world also notice. Under such pressure government had to do something.

But there is no blogosphere here and quasi free media are weak as they are only a tool in some family power play. The world won't care unless there will be a big outcry in Libya or in Arab world. Arabs are being still viewed as violent so it won't be a sensation to Westerners when they see such videos.

NGO's are also controlled by the government so it makes a decision what is as not important as to make it official. The only body which could act against hardthinkers is actually Saif's foundation. Not a perfect chose but the only one that there is with money and influence to change sth. Still to let someone win over minds of the youth... There would be a very strong opposition to that...

MoElSerial expat03 January 2011 13:05:18

876

bluejay, do you watch Arabic TV? do you understand Arabic? Or is that what friends tell you about abuse in Libya?

wysoki, you're right. I never thought of it. A page in Arabic can have quite a bit of influence. Thanks.

PalachakhContributor06 January 2011 08:39:27

185

I have asked guys to help me to find any children rights protection organizations here on the forum and guys gave a link to the leader's daughter fund - it is somewhere here among the threads, if it will help.

As far as I got it she has some participation in social policy, so that might help.

and a question herewith: abuse to children is closely related to abuse to women as I see it - when a kid from his/her early age sees the mother being humiliated and abused he/she will take it as a norm. I have no proof for women abuse in Libya, just developing the idea. Are there any compains to fight women abuse? A child can come to the police station (at least this is what happened it the above post), I doubt a wife will ever do anything like that especially in the country.

There was a campaign against violence towards children and women when we worked in Tajikistan, they implemented these programs together. And actually, NGOs did it, supported by the developed coutries' funds.

Domestic violence is a thing that would be very hard to fight in such a traditional society as Libyan - I do agree that police will not be of great help as there might be very few statements by the victimes - imagine, they will have to go back home to go on living together with these people. What they did in Tajikistan as far as I remember was addressing the women - the goal was to raise their awareness and to inform them that there were special refuge centers where they could go and stay for a while.

MoElSerial expat31 January 2011 18:06:07

876

MoEl wrote:
within the next 1-3 weeks there will be a post on Agreeable Life

FYI:
I'm busier than I expected. I had to put this little project on hold.

Sandman6ViP31 January 2011 18:19:16

1863

Sky showed a 1 hr documentary around New Year time entitled "The stolen children of Libya" It's available to download from the usual sites.

I just hope that the Dutch grandparents who made the journey to Libya to see their grandchild (their daughter is thought to have been murdered by the Libyan husband) eventually make contact.

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