PAN Asia Pacific in collaboration with its regional networks and partners will commemorate International Children’s Day held annually on November 20th. The theme this year will be “Agroecology for our Children’s Future”.
Objective
1) The campaign will provide an opportunity to raise awareness on the interplay between the issues of pesticides, poverty and children. Growing children raised in poverty are more vulnerable to the impacts of pesticides. This is further compounded by the Covid 19 pandemic affecting all families worldwide.
2) To raise awareness on agroecology as a viable solution for children and environmental health should be further promoted this year.
Rationale
1) Pesticides are harmful to children. Pesticides have been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption, cancer, damage to the nervous system, breathing difficulties and adversely impact intellectual and behavioural development. Children in rural areas are exposed to pesticides in their homes, surrounding farms, schools and via their food, water and air they breathe.
2) The Covid 19 pandemic has further exposed the gross inequity in the region’s food system, and has made life worse for small food producers. The strict lockdown imposed by governments have further disrupted farming and their livelihoods. The pandemic has a significant impact on Asian agricultural families.
3) Children are further impacted by pesticides exposure as malnutrition can worsen pesticides effects. This is compounded by racial and ethnic discrimination and even casteism that are interlinked with increased inequality, ensuring that these communities are kept disempowered, poor, invisible, unable to address the problems that come with pesticides, and lacking resources to change their farming to organic or agroecology. The majority of child labourers exposed to HHPs come from these communities.
4) Agroecology is an economically viable and socially just approach to sustainable agriculture and food systems. By practicing agroecology; rural households, farms and schools will be a safer place for children, as there will be less exposure to toxic pesticides. Therefore, this year we would like to focus our efforts on intensifying and galvanizing support to raise awareness on agroecology.
How can you get involved in our campaign?
1) Organize events, call for actions virtually or in a safe environment to highlight the theme of the year “Agroecology for our children’s future”.
2) Share videos, photos, materials and publications with the hashtag #PesticidesFreeWorld #ChildrensDay #Agroecology4Future
3) Download our material books, memes, infographics, bookmarks, and stickers from https://panap.net/protect-our-children/.
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