30.06.2010
Following on from a Council of Europe recommendation to ban the use of the ‘mosquito’, Members of Youth Parliament from across the country are promoting ‘Bite Back’, a campaign to ban the device. The mosquito device, a teenage deterrent designed to emit a high frequency sound to disperse young people, is believed to have been installed at about 3,500 sites around the UK and has been widely condemned by campaigners, young people, and politicians.
The report last week by the Council of Europe, which oversees the European Court of Human Rights, found the device contravened international law prohibiting torture and ‘inhuman and degrading treatment’ and called for an international ban.
Oliver Phillips, 17 years-old, commented,
“We are working with young people to put together a report which really highlights the issue to the Government and sends a clear message that this device is discriminatory, it does pose health risks and there is no option but to ban it."
Danny Lee, 18 years-old said,
“The mosquito device is both degrading and discriminatory. In a UK Youth Parliament survey of over 6000 young people we have found overwhelming support for a ban on the mosquito. Many shared their personal experiences and it was disheartening to hear that so many young people have had to keep away from certain places in their area where the mosquito is used simply to protect their well-being. We urge all young people to join our ‘Bite Back’ campaign to ensure the use of this highly immoral device is stopped permanently.”
ENDS
About Bite Back - Oliver Phillips, the UK Youth Parliament Representative for the West Midlands, founded the Bite Back campaign. Its ultimate objective is to get rid of harmful mosquito devices that deliberately target young people.
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