Sample Letter: 19,250 Children trapped in Cambodia's Sex Industry

Dear Prime Minister Hue Sen,

Sub: 19,250 Children trapped in Cambodia's Sex Industry

I am writing to you to express my deep concern over the high number of children who are being forced into prostitution and the sex trade within Cambodia. a recent study by the UNICEF shows that there are currently at least 19,250 children involved in the sex industry which includes children as young as 6-years-old. The recent police raids in Svay Pak and the closing down of the brothels in this village is a commendable move by your government. However, this may only result in the shifting of trade locations unless all such prostitution houses are shut down and human traffickers and pimps prosecuted.

As a signatory of the UN Convention on Rights of the Child, I urge to adopt a national strategy to combat the growing number of children being trafficked into Cambodia for purposes of prostitution. Cambodia has today developed a reputation as a haven for pedophiles. I urge you to work towards erasing this reputation associated with Cambodia by developing a holistic, national policy that will effectively fight against this inhuman violation of children and allow them to live with the true spirit of 'Childhood'. 

Yours Sincerely,

Sample Letter: Torture of Two Young Boys

Dear Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,

Re: Torture of two young boys aged 15 and 17 in two separate incidents complaints against the officers of Wellawa police station and Matugama police station

I am so shocked to learn about the torture of Anuruddha Kusum Kumara (15), residing at the village by the name Thombuwa, Kumbukgate of the Wellawa police division of the Kurunegala District on Dec. 29, 2002 and another separate torture case of Bambarende Gamage Suraj Prasanna, residing in 'Amila', Katugahawatta, Owitigala, Matugama on Jan. 8, 2003.

Both incidents show a type of cruelty which so difficult to understand. During the last few months, I have also been informed of several other cases of torture against even children by Sri Lankan police.

Despite of so many complaints of torture, the practice of torture continues with impunity. Sri Lanka is a signatory of all human rights conventions including the "Declaration of the Rights of the Child (DRC)". Unfortunately, laws such as Act No 22 of 1994 in your country, which makes torture a crime punishable with serious consequences, remain only in the book. Merciless torture of the young for no reason at all makes a mockery of claim for rule of law.

I strongly urge you to take serious actions on these two cases as well as the whole issue of routine practice of torture at Sri Lankan police stations.

I look forward to hear of your intervention in these matters. 

Thank you.


Sincerely yours,

Sample Letter: Prioritizing Child Combatants in Peace Talks

Dear Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,

I am writing to you to express my deep concern over the continuing reports of recruitment of children as combatants by the LTTE. In spite of assurances and commitments given since 1998 to the United Nations and other international human rights organizations, the LTTE has consistently  recruited children and thereby gone back on all it's promises.

Considering this reality, it becomes a necessary that  your government place a greater priority on the use of child soldiers by the LTTE, during the current peace talks, in order to end this form of exploitation of children in Sri Lanka.

I urge you to make this a priority issue during the peace talks and hold the LTTE responsible for the commitments that it has made to the United Nations and international community. As a signatory of the ILO Convention 182 on Elimination on worst forms of child labour and the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child, it becomes binding on you to end the use of children as combatants within your country and compel the LTTE to stop this inhuman treatment of children. 

Yours Sincerely,

Sample Letter: 1,900 East Timor's 'Orphans' yet to Return Home

Your Excellency Megawati Sukarnoputri,

I am writing to you to express my deep concern over the 1900 East Timorese children who are being forced to live as orphans in various orphanages in Indonesia. It is known to the UNHCR and the Indonesian government that these children are being illegally kept in Indonesia denied their basic rights to live with their own family and learn their own culture.

The attitude of your government towards these children has not been very supportive in spite of the involvement of the UNHCR and the East Timorese government in reuniting the children with their families in East Timor. This is a gross and inhuman violation of children's rights and international human rights.

I urge you to take a more firm stand against those who are unlawfully detaining East Timorese children in Indonesia for their own selfish needs. It is binding in your government as a signatory of the UN Convention on Rights of the Child that you immediately stop this inhuman treatment of children. I urge you to instruct your government to cooperate with the UNHCR and the East Timorese government in putting an end to this form of child slavery and reuniting the children with their parents.

Yours Sincerely,

Letter Writing Guidelines: Glue sniffing on the rise among street children in Nepal

Recommendations by street Children to the government in a study conducted by the Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN). Please use these recommendations as the guidelines for your appeal letter to the Prime Minister of Nepal/

Government

• The Government should close down all factories which produce and sell dendrite and other such substances.
• The substance should not be sold to children or, if this occurs, the shops which do sell these substances to children should be asked to shut down.
• The government should make shopkeepers aware of the effects of dendrite so that they will not sell these substances to children.
• The government should provide the children who live on the streets with a safe home, good care and a nice playground. Some children even said that the government should provide them with good education facilities and better employment opportunities at their place of origin.
• The government should try to end the exploitation of children. This is one of the main causes of being a street child.
• Corrupt police officers should be punished, and in particular those who take bribes and release people who have been caught selling substances to children.

SAMPLE LETTER: 45,000 Bhutanese Refugee Children

Dear Prime Minister/Director Asia and Pacific, UNHCR

I am writing to you to express my concern over the continuing risks and uncertainty faced by Bhutanese refugees in Nepal and India as a result of ‘ethnic cleaning’ practiced by the Government of Bhutan. It is deplorable that while thousands of children and families suffer everyday as a result of this discriminatory policy the international community shows a cold shoulder to this suffering.

I urge you to make the suffering of thousands of Bhutanese refugees a priority issue and hasten the process of arriving at an acceptable solution for the refugee situation. It is shameful that such discrimination has been allowed to continue for almost a decade. It is imperative that this suffering end and Bhutanese citizens be allowed to return to their homeland with dignity and respect.  

Yours Sincerely

SAMPLE LETTER: 30 Children die in hospital in India due to Government Negligence

Dear Chief Minister / Dear Minister of Health,

I am writing to you with regards to the deaths of thirty children in a state run Hospital in Calcutta. It is evident from media and investigative reports that these deaths were a result of a lack of basic facilities in the hospital. This reflects a shameful negligence on the part of your government of not providing adequate equipment and staff in spite of being well aware of the conditions in the hospital.

It is also pitiful that neither the union nor the state health ministries have spoken about compensating the loss faced by poor families as a result of state negligence.

I urge you to not only take responsibility for the recent deaths of 30 children and compensate the families but also to improve the conditions in state run hospitals and prevent reoccurrences of this kind.

Yours sincerely

SAMPLE LETTER : 315 Child Prisoners Still on death Row in Pakistan

Dear President / Dear Minister,

I am writing to you because it has come to my knowledge that a high number of 315 child prisoners are yet to attain relief under the Juvenile Justice Systems Ordinance (JJSO) enacted in 2002.

I welcome the Government of Pakistan's passing of the JJSO and the commuting of the death sentences of 74 young offenders in Punjab. However, a larger number of children are still languishing under the threat of death penalty in Pakistan.

I urge you to make this landmark ordinance a reality for all children in Pakistan’s prisons with greater compassion and urgency by ensuring the effective and efficient functioning of medical boards, special juvenile justice courts and the police force.

Yours sincerely

SAMPLE LETTER: 13-year-old girl raped by her father in Sri Lanka

Dear Sir,

I draw your attention to rape case of a 13-year-old girl by her father, a matter that is now being investigated by the Manikhinna police. This shameless act calls for stern action.

First of all, it is essential to provide proper protection, security and counseling for the victim. The young girl, whose natural protector has become her rapist, is now in situation that if not properly helped may make her destitute. The mother who brought the matter to police too is in danger.  

The Sri Lankan government is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights covenants and conventions. I urge the government to honor these obligations and the basic duties owed to young children. I particularly urge that complete protection be given to the child and mother. 

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely