CHAMPIONING THE CHILDREN’S RIGHTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

​As human rights defenders the world over are on the frontlines of defending the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through their work, Samoa Victim Support Group celebrated the 70th anniversary of this extraordinary document with child vendors, making ends meet on the streets of Apia.
 
In partnership with the National Human Rights Institute of Samoa (NHRI), SVSG celebrated with child vendors in an activity titled: ‘Buddying up in the Child Vendor’s World of Work’, focusing on human rights and dignity.

The activity aimed at working on the child vendors self-esteem, that they can rise up from the challenges of the streets, to a much better environment such as the classroom, and for SVSG’s case, the Hot Soup Skill Building Training.  Each child vendor buddyed up with a youth member of the SVSG (Junior) for the whole day at the youth’s workplaces.
 
The rain did not dampen the spirit of the child vendors on this 10th day of December, as they dressed up in their best clothes, ready to experience life in the formal employment sector, away from their work places on the streets.  At the SVSG Office, the children put on their yellow t-shirts with ‘Human Rights’ boldly printed in the front as the team from the NHRI joined SVSG in greeting them.  The eagerness on their faces, the excitement in their voices and the many questions they asked say it all.  These are children, derived of their right to enjoy being children and to be educated as they worked on the street as vendors.
 
The first stop for the buddies was at the Ombudsman’s Office, where Tracey Mikaele and the team explained to the children in simple terms, what human right is.  They toured the office and met the staff of the NHRI.