Stand Strong, Stand up and Stand Together on International World Thinking Day 2021
Children around the world will contemplate Peacebuilding this year on 22 February 2021 for International World Thinking Day. This special day will be celebrated in 150 countries by 10 million Girl Guides and Scouts.
There are around 800 million girls in the world but only 10 million belong to the Girl Guides or Girl Scouts movements. World Thinking Day has been celebrated by them since 1926 and each year there has been a different theme. The aim is to provide an opportunity to raise awareness about issues that girls and young women face all over the world.
This year’s theme is Peacebuilding – “to Stand Strong, Stand Up and Stand Together”.
What is Peacebuilding?
Peacebuilding can take many forms and is not solely confined to matters of war. How it is defined varies from person to person. It may relate to resolving conflicts in a community, personal happiness or ending harmful or violent behaviour worldwide.
It’s also about understanding why people fight and encouraging them to resolve their conflicts without violence. Creating positive group and personal relationships across diverse cultures, races and beliefs is essential. Developing an understanding of why people are different helps us to live in harmony.
Domestic violence
According to a United Nations study on ‘Violence Against Children’ researchers found that an estimated 275 million children worldwide are currently exposed to domestic violence. This includes seeing adults in the home being violent toward each other as well as violence against the children themselves.
The UN states that since the Covid 19 pandemic domestic violence has increased by 20% internationally and has referred to it as a “shadow pandemic”.
As UK polygraph examiners we are acutely aware of the rise in domestic violence cases. It is reflected almost daily in our caseloads.
How domestic violence affects children
Many domestic abuse victims say that they stay with a violent partner “for the sake of the children”. So while our children are reflecting on Peacebuilding today, we adults should consider the damaging effects of domestic violence on them.
Countless studies have shown that:
- Pre-school children often display symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). These include, but are not limited to, nightmares and bed-wetting. These children are also more at risk than their peers of developing allergies, influenza, asthma, gastrointestinal conditions and headaches.
- Smoking, obesity, depression, coronary disease, cancer, smoking and unintended pregnancy are all more prevalent in children who have witnessed domestic violence during childhood.
- Anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and aggression are behaviours from which children are more at risk when their mothers have experienced prenatal, physical domestic abuse.
- Adolescent females are at significantly greater risk from dating violence when they have witnessed parental domestic violence in the home.
- Women who have been physically abused during childhood are twice as likely to suffer abuse by men as those who have not been.
Hence, staying with an abusive partner “for the sake of the children” isn’t something anyone should do.
Lie detector tests for domestic abuse
From London to the East and West Midlands or anywhere else in the UK, our highly trained and qualified specialist polygraph examiners can help you take the first step out of a domestic abusive situation.
We understand it’s not easy and often your family and friends don’t believe your ‘charming’ partner is abusive. But lie detector test results go a long way to garner their support. Use International World Thinking Day to resolve your issues.
We are offering a discount on all office based tests booked on International World Thinking Day – 22 February 2021. Usually you would pay £495 including VAT. But for office tests booked today you’ll pay £395 inclusive of VAT. It doesn’t have to be taken today, just booked and taken within one month of the reservation.
Call our Free Helpline on 07572 748364 to find out if we can help you as we have hundreds of others. Like the Girl Guides let’s “Stand Strong, Stand Up and Stand Together.”
