World Vision Lebanon has launched a new national campaign to protect children from the violence they experience at home, in schools and institutions, at work and on the streets.

More than 40 representatives of non-governmental organisations and local media attended the launch of a new national campaign created by World Vision to raise awareness about violence against children in Lebanon Tuesday.

The event, entitled Protect Children from Violence Month, includes a seminar, a roundtable discussion and grassroots activities to raise awareness about the problem of violence that affects thousands of children in Lebanon and to mobilise public opinion to ensure policy makers at the highest level work to eradicate violence against children.

Three children from World Vision's programmes spoke at the launch to let the group know their expectations.

'No for beating children, no for neglect, and no for violating children's rights," said 12-year-old Tracey Hamzo. 'We want to stop the violence, and raise our voice and say 'stop'.'

Boys and girls in Lebanon experience high levels of physical violence in different settings such as the home, at school and in institutions, on the streets and at work. Corporal punishment is accepted and justified in Lebanon as means of discipline, and many teachers do not consider slapping children an act of violence. Cases of physical abuse are seldom reported and the authorities lack the power and the capacity to handles those cases, which are reported.

'The issue of violence crosses social, economic and religious boundaries, and usually affects children the most,' said Patricio Cuevas-Parra, Advocacy and Protection Manager. 'The law in Lebanon does almost nothing to protect children from violence, and they have asked us repeatedly to do something to make sure they are protected. World Vision hopes this campaign will bring Lebanon closer to meeting their needs, and protecting their rights.'

World Vision also launched two new awards it created for the campaign: the World Vision Best Practice Award for a local non-governmental organisation engaged in child protection work, and the World Vision Journalism Award for the journalist who has made a significant contribution to raise public awareness or prevent violence against children.

'The campaign we launch today has a simple message,' said Perry Mansfield, World Vision National Director. 'Violence against children is not ok. It is not ok at any level, from verbal abuse to violent assault.'

The campaign is part of World Vision's anti-corporal punishment project currently implemented to ban violence against children in Lebanon. The project is funded by World Vision Australia.

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