Campaign aims ‘to stop the demonisation of children’

Barnardo’s, the campaigning children’s national charity, has launched a campaign to stop the casual demonisation of children by the general public. The campaign is alarmed at the fact that 54% of members of the public polled by Barnardo’s think that children – all children – are beginning to behave like animals.

A hard hitting campaign video portrays vigilantes carrying guns and ‘hunting’ children in the street. It reports that all the extreme comments used by the ‘hunters’ in the film are based on real views expressed by members of the public.

The campaign points out that:

“Most children are not troublesome. They attend school, take part in activities and many volunteer in their communities. Despite this, society has the perception that children are responsible for a significant amount of antisocial behaviour and crime and are becoming increasingly intolerant. Society is demonising its young people.”

As part of the campaign, 393 young people between the ages of 10 – 23 who work with Barnardo’s have responded to a survey on why they might get into trouble: This can be downloaded from Barnardo’s Children in Trouble Campaign where you can also find out more about the campaign and listen to the comments of Martin Narey, the Charity’s Chief Executive. The report is also available from BCN Scribd documents.

The campaign has certainly raised the issue in a very direct and dramatic manner which has caused some controversy in the National media. Barnardo’s themselves have said that the campaign video should not be viewed by children under 13 without parental consent.

What do you think about the campaign?