UN stamps highlight violence against children

A first day cover as UNPA stamps are launched on August 20

Violence against children is a major reason for millions being out school. It comes in many obvious forms, such as child marriage, child labour, trafficking and recruitment into armed forces – where young people are forced into roles they would not choose and are denied their right to an education.

But violence can also occur at home, in the community, in times of peace. It can be in the form of sexual exploitation and abuse. Or it can happen at school, where girls and marginalised children are often the targets for discrimination and violence.

To raise awareness of the issues, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has issued a set of six stamps. They use the figure of the wolf from the Grimm Brothers’ famous fairytales to represent the abuse suffered by vulnerable children across the world. 

CHILD LABOUR and CHILD MARRIAGE

CHILD TRAFFICKING and CHILD SOLDIERS

SEXUAL VIOLENCE and VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS

UNPA said: “Just because you can’t see violence, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. We must make the invisible, visible. This was the underlying message as UNICEF launched a global initiative to end violence against children and adolescents in July 2013.

“The initiative urges collective action to end violence against children, highlighting the fact that violence is everywhere, but often happens out of sight or is tolerated due to social and cultural norms. Under the banner ‘Make the invisible, visible’, the initiative aims to raise awareness as a first step toward modifying attitudes, behaviors and policies.”

You can learn more here about violence against children here. A World at School also has information here about the issues that prevent children going to school, including child marriage, child labour and discrimination.