Ref. :  000035877
Date :  2013-10-03
Language :  English
Home Page / The whole website
fr / es / de / po / en

Helping youth associated with gangs create a better future for themselves – and their communities

Author :  UNICEF


Helping youth associated with gangs create a better future for themselves – and their communities



Poverty and unemployment leave youths in the Niger at risk of becoming involved with gangs known as 'palaces'. Moctar, 20, discusses his experiences as a palace member. Watch in RealPlayer


By Nathalie Prevost and Charlotte Arnaud

International Day of Non-Violence is 2 October.

UNICEF and partners are reaching out to the disoccupied youth in the poorest neighbourhoods of Zinder, the Niger, who are associated with violent gangs.

ZINDER, the Niger, 3 October 2013 – Moctar, 20, is an active member of a ‘palace’ in Zinder.

“The palaces are the name of the youth meeting points,” he explains, drinking tea. “If we had a job, we wouldn’t fight. But, because I am unemployed and without money, I easily get angry. If someone touches me, even if it’s my brother or an old man of the neighbourhood, I can easily get mad thinking they are being disrespectful. Then I can start a fight.

“Sometimes, we use knives,” he continues. “When we are being split up, everyone calls the member of his own palace. And then all palaces fight against each other’s. When the situation gets out of hand, we end up at the police station.”




Girls associated with gangs are at particular risk of experiencing physical or sexual abuse. Falmata*, 18, witnessed the mistreatment of girls when she spent time with members of a gang. Watch in RealPlayer

Palaces of Zinder

The palaces of Zinder, which is 1,000 km east of capital city Niamey, are, in fact, gangs of idle youth that are prone to violence. There are 320 such gangs in Zinder city. Each has 10 to 50 members. A study on these gangs was issued in 2012 with UNICEF support.

According to Aboubacar Souley, an independent researcher and author of the study, the causes of this violence are poverty and economic crisis, deficiency of the educational system and of youth policies – and a lack of parental responsibility. The palaces’ areas of influence are in the poorest neighbourhoods, particularly Kara Kara, a neighbourhood originally created to host people with disabilities and with leprosy.

“For every group, it’s the same routine,” writes Mr. Souley. “[T]he band lives mostly at night. The rules are made by the leader, which is named boss, president, shugaba. Every member has a nickname and solidarity is intense. Most of the time, the group has a headquarter: on the street, in somebody’s house or work place.”

According to the survey, most of those youth have lost contact with their family and have to provide for themselves. Simply finding daily meals is a problem for them. They are generally in trouble at school, and they use drugs and alcohol.

Girls associated with the palaces

Mr. Souley stresses that there are not many girls in palaces; 72 per cent of these groups are for men only. Girls associated with the gangs are generally the gang members’ girlfriends. Their situation is considered indecent, as the social norm in the Niger is that girls be married very young and stay at home.

Girls associated with the palaces face particular dangers.

Falmata*,18, was in a palace for two years. “I hung out with them because there is no job here. I sat down with the youth of the palace. I was preparing their meals. At night, we would wash up and go out in town. Girls who didn’t go out would go to their boyfriend’s room. Some of the girls would spend the night with them. Sometimes we would not come home before the morning,” she recalls.

“Some of the boys hit their girlfriends. The girls were ok with being hit. I was used to fighting. If I learned that my boyfriend was with another girl, I would find her to have a fight with her. If I could subdue her, I would hit her with my fist. Otherwise, I used weapons such as a razor blade.”

A way out

Some girls are exposed to palace violence as early as age 10. But, for these girls, there are not many other options. Access to education is extremely limited for girls in the Niger and varies considerably by region and by wealth – increasing their exposure to violence and abuse. And girls remain among the most exploited and vulnerable groups in West and Central Africa.

Falmata and her girlfriends in the palaces eventually parted ways, thanks to sensitization programmes supported by UNICEF and its partners. These programmes include associations that promote opportunities and strengthen equity. They work with youth and their families in Zinder, offering them counseling and training to facilitate their professional and community integration, for a better future.

*Name has been changed.

---
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/niger_70545.html


Continents : 
- Africa   

Rate this content
 
 
 
Average of 149 ratings 
Rating 2.62 / 4 MoyenMoyenMoyenMoyen
Same author:
 fleche3 in 5 babies not breastfed in the first hour of life

 flecheA global initiative on out-of-school children
 flecheFrom Syria to Libya: Stalked by war
 flecheSept années de guerre en Syrie et aucune amélioration en vue : les enfants handicapés menacés d’exclusion
 fleche5 ways you can help end violence against girls
 flecheLevels and Trends in Child Mortality, Report 2017
 flecheLevels and Trends in Child Mortality
 flecheThe State of the World’s Children 2016: A fair chance for every child
 flecheFive-fold increase in number of refugee and migrant children traveling alone since 2010
 flecheThirsting for a future : water and children in a changing climate
 flecheEnding child marriage. Progress and prospects
 flecheUNICEF 2016 Report - Uprooted: The growing crisis for refugee and migrant children
 flecheUNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2016
 flecheL’UNICEF lance un appel humanitaire de 2,8 milliards de dollars pour les enfants
 flecheOne in four children in conflict zones are out of school
 flecheMore than 16 million babies born into conflict this year: UNICEF
 flecheChild brides in Africa could more than double to 310 million by 2050 - UNICEF
 flecheL'impact du changement climatique sur les enfants
 flecheConflict drives 13 million children out of school in the Middle East and North Africa
 flecheMillions of children in Syria at high risk of disease amid water scarcity and summer heat
 flecheRéimaginer l’avenir
 fleche14 million children impacted by conflict in Syria and Iraq
 flecheMore brutal and intense conflicts leave children increasingly at risk of recruitment
 flecheAdolescents twice as likely to be out of school as children of primary school age, say UNESCO and UNICEF
 flecheConflict in Ukraine leaves almost 150 schools closed
 flecheWith 15 million children caught up in major conflicts, UNICEF declares 2014 a devastating year for children
 flecheA Malian refugee girl in Niger chooses school over marriage
 flecheInnovations in peacebuilding: How technology is changing the way we see the world and respond to violent conflict
 flecheUNICEF, UNFPA stand behind Africa’s biggest anti child marriage push
 flecheAlmost 3 million newborns could be saved each year – UNICEF
 flecheEvery child counts
 flecheBreaking down the data: new snapshots of water and sanitation in Asia Pacific
 flecheOne in three children under-five do not officially exist
 flecheChildren With Disabilities
 flecheOn Universal Children’s Day, put hidden violence and abuse in the spotlight, says UNICEF
 flecheInternational Day of the Girl Child
 flecheAdditional US$45 million contribution to Syria’s children, as EU becomes largest donor to UNICEF appeal
 flecheMillennium Development Goals a major focus, at United Nations General Assembly
 flecheMillennium Development Goal drinking water target met
 flecheUNICEF launches flagship report focusing on urban children
 flecheUNICEF: Investing in adolescents can break cycles of poverty and inequity
 flecheNew UNICEF study shows MDGs for children can be reached faster with focus on most disadvantaged
 fleche"The State of the World’s Children report 2009" - Special issue
 flecheUNICEF’s State of The World’s Children report commemorates 20 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
 flecheUNICEF ‘Progress for Children’ report advances child-protection goals
 flecheGlobal child mortality continues to drop
 fleche2009 Humanitarian Action Report focuses on conflict, climate and hunger
 flecheReleasing declining numbers for child mortality, UNICEF calls for increased efforts to save children’s lives
 flecheWorld Water Week 2008 focuses on sanitation, health and hygiene
 flecheIndia and China hold the key to world meeting MDGs, says UNICEF flagship report
 flecheWorld Breastfeeding Week: supporting mothers to breastfeed will improve children’s chances of survival, says UNICEF
 flecheFar too few using improved sanitation but more people use drinking-water from safe sources
 flecheLa gente celebra el día internacional de la lengua materna en América Latina y el Caribe
 flecheHumanitarian Action Report 2008
 flecheUNICEF issues annual appeal to meet needs of children and women in global emergencies
 flecheUN launches International Year of Sanitation to address global crisis
 flecheVeneman, Ann M.
 flecheReport on the State of the World’s Children 2007 : "Women and Children. The Double dividend of gender equality"
 flecheEmpower women to help children
 flecheUNICEF zum Welt-AIDS-Tag: AIDS-Gefahr vor unserer Haustür wächst
 flechePrevention efforts too little, too late; prosecution of traffickers not sole solution
 flecheThe State of the World's Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible
 flecheChildren: The Missing Face of AIDS
 flecheUNICEF to launch global campaign on children and AIDS
 flecheFood crisis in Malawi compounded by HIV/AIDS
 flecheNew global partnership calls for immediate action to help women and children Survive
 flecheWomen, Water and Hygiene Are Key to Change in Africa
 flecheSeven million children to be vaccinated as Aghanistan strives to eradicate polio
 flecheJapan announces US$ 5.16 million to improve children’s health
 flecheFood and vaccines saving children’s lives
 flecheFamine in Niger threatens 800,000 children
 flecheThe state of the World's children
 flecheUNICEF-supported projects open girls’ eyes to gender equality
 flecheEncuentro Iberoamericano sobre Derechos de la Niñez y Adolescencia Indígena
 flecheEncuentro Iberoamericano sobre Derechos de la Niñez y Adolescencia Indígena
 flecheScotland: UNICEF’s first-ever C8 Children’s Forum brings together young advocates from around the world
 flecheEl Foro de la Infancia C8: "Es hora de que la pobreza infantil pase a la historia"
 flecheUNICEF-Kinderkonferenz zum G-8-Gipfel in Schottland
 flecheOn the Day of the African Child: Africa’s chronic emergencies struggling for attention
 flecheChildren must be at the heart of development efforts
 flecheDes centaines de milliers de personnes manquent d'eau
 flecheRegional consultation in Buenos Aires on violence against children
 flecheUNICEF calls for action on Congo terror
 flecheUNICEF identifies key steps to save children of "Tsunami Generation"
 flecheBellamy, Carol
 flecheUNICEF calls for aid to tsunami-struck countries
 flecheConflict in eastern DR Congo has forced millions to flee homes
 flecheTodesursache: Mädchen
 flecheThe State of the World's Children 2005: childhood under threat
 flecheReligious and traditional leaders from across Africa rally for child survival
 flecheEastern Europe & Central Asia: Millions of children bypassed by economic progress
 flecheWorld facing silent emergency as billions struggle without clean water and basic sanitation
 flecheAfrica's Orphan Crisis: Worst Is Yet to Come
 flecheMaternal deaths disproportionately high in developing countries
 flecheUNICEF Chief urges UN General Assembly to focus on young people in deliberations on HIV/AIDS
 flecheChild abuse leads to 3,500 annual deaths in developed nations
 flecheSchools open again, but where are the children?
 flecheLa Directrice de l'UNICEF exhorte les dirigeants politiques a investir en faveur des enfants, qui détiennent les clés du développement mondial et de la stabilité
13
SEARCH
Keywords   go
in 
Translate this page Traduire par Google Translate
Share

Share on Facebook
FACEBOOK
Partager sur Twitter
TWITTER
Share on Google+Google + Share on LinkedInLinkedIn
Partager sur MessengerMessenger Partager sur BloggerBlogger
Other items
where is published this article: