Growing Social Violence in Mexico Undermines the Right of Children to Play Laura Poy Solano - La Jornada
go to original July 31, 2013

The high rates of crime in the cities, the violence, the unrest in communities and on the streets, as well as public spaces controlled by hostile adults or young people are some of the risk factors discovered by the Committee of the Rights of Children, which prevent minors from exercising their basic right to play and recreation.

Norma del Río, professor and researcher of the Metropolitan Autonomous University, and expert on child rights emphasized that among adults “there is much fear of the unknown and fear of the complexity of the modern world, especially in environments where the social structure has eroded.”

The paradox, she said, is that play is one of the ways to restore it. Play allows children to have more uncertainty in order to explore, without the risk of being punished for making a mistake: “play is how one learns to make decisions, be free, take risks, and above all think and reflect.”

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Chris Brown

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!