Happy Blog Action Day 2013 - Human Rights

Founded in 2007, Blog Action Day brings together bloggers from different countries, interests and languages to blog about one important global topic on the same day. 

My past topics have included Water in 2010, Climate Change in 2009, Poverty, Food in 2011 and the Power of We, with over 25,000 blogs taking part since 2007.

This year's topic is Human Rights.

There are different categories of Human Rights;  economic, political, civil, cultural, but I am going to concentrate on the social aspect of human rights as this is something incredibly close to my heart.  I'm going to share a shocking story about a wee boy called Clayton Moss.

A wee boy who was tortured by his own family and chained up like a dog for days on end in a 2ft x 2ft cupboard. 

Not for sensitive viewers.

 

The sad thing is that there are loads of Clayton's out there that are unable to fight for themselves.  Children who do not understand why they are being hurt and neglected or why they are being targeted.  

A child needs a safe place, someone to trust a warm embrace and when they do not receive these basic needs it can have serious long-term affects.

In my eyes its one of the worst crimes committed. 

Teachers and carers need to be trained and educated properly on how to read the signs of child abuse. These are the people that usually have the first "feeling" that something is not right with the child.  Even a "hunch" needs to be reported and investigated.  The institutions and government needs to take each case seriously and investigate properly.  These children need it, they deserve it and sometimes its their only hope of escaping the clutches of their abusers.

The government needs to increase the severity of sentences for child abusers.  Often these criminals will only get a few years and, with "good behaviour" these so-called-parents are released early.  Sometimes as early as only serving 18 months?  In the meantime, they are fed, clothed, housed and even educated by tax payers money.  Is this really fair? 

 If you know anyone or suspect anyone of child abuse, please contact Child Protection or phone 035 474 0710. You may be the one to save a child's life just like the office in Clayton's story.