Children playing with a ball, Madagascar © Apprentis d’Auteuil
Children playing with a ball, Madagascar © Apprentis d’Auteuil

The right to leisure for children in street situations: a crucial issue for their development

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) guarantees all children inalienable rights, such as the right to education, protection, health, rest and leisure. States are responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of these rights. However, the reality is often different: many States fail to meet their obligations and neglect fundamental measures to guarantee the well-being and development of children, particularly those living in street situations. 

Article 31 of the CRC explicitly recognises the right of every child to rest, leisure, play and participate in recreational, cultural and artistic activities appropriate to his or her age. This right, which is often neglected, is not accessory but fundamental to children’s physical, mental and social development. It offers them a space to express their creativity, build social relationships and construct their identity. Yet for children in street situations, this right is rarely respected. Children in street situations rarely have access to their rights because the need to meet their basic needs, such as shelter and food, takes priority over everything else. Playing and taking part in activities would allow these children to grow and enjoy a space of free expression where they can simply be children, far from the constraints and pressures of daily survival. However, failure to respect this right aggravates their marginalisation and limits their chances of social reintegration. 

Despite the existence of international and national laws in favour of children’s rights, their application often remains deficient. The budgets allocated to child protection are insufficient, and children’s rights remain largely unknown. 

It is in this context that our local partners are redoubling their efforts to promote greater awareness and the effective implementation of children's rights, including the right to leisure. Through their initiatives, some children in street situations have the opportunity to experience a different environment where they are treated as equals and temporarily relieved of the concerns associated with their street situation.

REIPER recreational activities in Congo 

One of our partners, the Réseau des Intervenants sur le Phénomène des Enfants en Rupture (REIPER), a network of 23 organisations, provides a perfect illustration of the importance of the right to leisure for children in street situations, by developing recreational activities aimed at raising awareness and promoting the fundamental rights of girls and boys in street situations. Last July, REIPER, in partnership with other local associations, organised a holiday camp for 41 children in street situations or children in vulnerable situations from Brazzaville and Kingoué. The children travelled to the Bouenza region in the south of the Republic of Congo. For 11 days, 16 boys and 25 girls were taught about their rights so that they could build and implement a life project. All the children took part in recreational activities such as drawing workshops, film sessions, board games and an evening at the campfire with theatre and music. 

“I enjoyed the camp because it allowed me to meet new people, make friends and visit places I’d never seen before. I learnt a lot about children’s rights during this holiday camp” A child in street situations 

These children in street situations or in vulnerable situations left the holiday camp with a better understanding of their rights and new skills adapted to their specific needs. The camp was also an opportunity for them to exercise their right to rest, leisure and play, thus contributing to their personal and social development.