Published early July, ” a new opinion from the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) sounds the alarm about the alarming phenomenon of so-called “child-free” or “adults only” spaces “. If the intention is laudable, because, as the High Commissioner for Children Sarah El-Khairy says in a press release, children “ are not second class citizens “, the opinion of the CNCDH does not escape the rules of our times: condemnation “ disturbing adult dominance ”, the invisibility of children and a certain intolerance towards the youngest, the CNCDH shifts towards more targeted fighting. Indeed, the commission’s report explains, the phenomenon “ hits hard for disadvantaged children who depend on free public spaces, stigmatized youth of color, girls who are held back by gender stereotypes, and children with disabilities for whom accessibility remains a major barrier “
Respect for children’s rights…
On Monday, July 6, the CNCDH could issue advisory opinions aimed at giving children their rightful place in society, that is, not excluding them from certain public spaces or making them child kings to whom adults must obey. Indeed, the report explains: “ It was SNCF’s commercial proposal excluding children under 12 that prompted the High Commissioner for Children to contact the CNCDH to reflect on this phenomenon and its implications from a rights perspective. “. The appeal of the High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El-Khairy, to the CNCDH in February last year to carry out “ reflection on the so-called “No Children” phenomenon and its consequences for the place of the child in our society ” does not come out of nowhere, and the usefulness of such a report does not need to be demonstrated, especially at a time when France is trying to revive its birth rate. But if the intention is laudable, the CNCDH report multiplies ideological bias to such an extent that it loses all credibility.
Condemning adult dominance
This is explained in the report in its summary, since “ l’invisible ” children ” reflects a form of adult dominance, or “adultism”, in which the child is too often perceived as either a vulnerable being who needs to be controlled or as a source of trouble “, V ” presence in public space should be understood through the principle of equality “, or ” The right to non-discrimination based on age and the “right to the city” require that common spaces are not created exclusively by adults and for adults, but allow coexistence between generations “Oh! These things are said in gallant terms, aren’t they? An abstruse but modern vocabulary that says that not only should all generations share the street, but that it should also be seen from a child’s point of view. This is because, according to the CNCDH, if a child has disappeared from public space, it is because ” urban space (intended) primarily for cars to the detriment of pedestrians “, because of ” parents’ concerns about the safety of children, sometimes leading to excessive protection and the creation of “home children” “and finally, because of ” intolerance of part of the population towards children, who are increasingly perceived as a source of trouble “. So, condemning ” generational segregation “, CNCDH recommends placing the child in the city center.
Impossible balance between no children and the child king
In any case, this is what we can understand from the eighteen recommendations made by the CNCDH… and if it seems that the fourth is in line with common sense, calling for a ban on premises no childrenthe rest leave you speechless. Thus, it would be necessary, for example, ” reduce the space and speed of vehicular traffic in cities and towns to increase and ensure safe walking routes and promote soft mobility. “, ” develop and transform playgrounds to better integrate them into public space, and design them in consultation with children to give freedom to their creativity. “, but also that ” government authorities (organized) campaigns to raise awareness among the general public about the needs and characteristics of children in order to increase tolerance and cohabitation between generations “or even “directly involve children in the design of urban development projects” and ” develop systems that promote children’s autonomy in public places, in particular on “school streets”, but also outside “quiet streets” and “peaceful streets”, in free play spaces.
and measures to facilitate independent travel In short, it is about the transition from urban spaces designed for adults to cities at the height of children… But the CNCDH report is not limited to these planning recommendations, it goes much further.” recommend(ant) think about strengthening children’s citizenship and, in particular, about lowering the voting age ” and, in particular, recommending ” think about creating a full-fledged ministry dedicated to children and youth “Obviously, simply giving a child his rightful place is mission impossible!
Another task, equally impossible, is obviously to prepare a report without ideological support, since “ CNCDH recommends that public policies supporting gender equality include a specific component regarding girls’ appropriation of public space from a very early age. “…Will this report really benefit children? One thing is for sure: hell is paved with good intentions, and this report, in all its extremes, is no exception to the rule.