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World Vision UK
UK News

Government urged to do more to prevent violence against children

by Eno Adeogun

A report by World Vision UK found the government spends only 2.5 per cent (£35m) of its annual humanitarian budget to protect children in emergencies.

The Christian charity wants this to increase to at least ten per cent.

 

The recommendation follows the unveiling of a graffiti mural depicting a child soldier in London Waterloo's iconic graffiti tunnel on Wednesday evening.

Launching the new campaign called 'It Takes A World', where Kingdom Choir member Sharlene Monique performed, the charity urged guests to add their signatures to a petition that aims to show the UK government that the public is concerned about child protection in some of the most dangerous countries.

 

Rhian Beynon, campaign manager at World Vision UK told Premier: "Millions of children are trapped in conflicts and other emergencies around the world. They need protecting from violence as much as they need shelter, food and other basic necessities.

"Yet the UK government - a leading aid donor - spends a relatively small amount of its aid budget to protect them. Some countries where children are at the most vulnerable receive no funds for child protection."

In contrast to the UK, Sweden spent £75.9 million pounds last year - more than 20 per cent of its humanitarian budget.

A World Vision UK-commissioned investigation showed that the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Somalia were among some of the world's most dangerous countries that received no humanitarian funding to protect children in the past from the UK.

 

Omar Reid is a former victim of street violence in the UK and is supporting the campaign.

He was bullied for years in school, attempted to commit suicide as a result and indulged in a lifestyle that led to an addiction of sex, drugs and violence.

However, after he was stabbed aged 16, he decided to leave his violent past behind him.

"A faith-based youth centre helped to steer the change within me," he told Premier.

"Growing up, I didn't want to necessarily live life. I was angry and didn't know how to deal with that anger.

"They taught me to overcome a lot of inner issues and battles that I had and to use the power if faith to change my life...now I'm able to do the same for others.

Last year the United Nations documented almost 10,000 cases of children recruited into armies and militias around the world. However, it's feared the true number could be in the hundreds of thousands as the disruption of war makes it impossible to count every child soldier.

World Vision is aiming to get 50,000 signatures by next June to urge the International Development Secretary to boost humanitarian spending to end violence against children..

Listen to Omar Reid speaking with Premier's Eno Adeogun:

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