Children

Publisher:  Amnesty International Publications, Ottawa, Canada
Year Published:  1979  
Pages:  30pp  
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX2106

Abstract:  early lives have been scarred by the violation of some of their most fundamental human rights. Children from various countries have, according to AI, disappeared after arrest, been tortured, or killed; some have been forced to watch the torture of their parents or have been separated from one or both of their parents.

The publication reports on the finding of a team of medical doctors who have studies the problems of children who have been exposed to imprisonment and torture. A significant number of these children are very nervous, have difficulty falling asleep or have their sleep interrupted by nightmares. Bedwetting, introversion, depression, and aggression are other results. The findings of the medical group suggest that these children will have serious social and physical problems as a result of their trauma.

Amnesty International is working to get prisoners of conscience released from prison. It is conducting medical research in order to find out better ways of helping in the rehabilitation of victims of political imprisonment. And it is providing assistance to families when the breadwinner has been taken prisoner. The publication concludes with a plea for help with its work.