ED 480 649

AUTHOR

TITLE

INSTITUTIONISSN

PUB DATENOTE

AVAILABLE FROM

PUB TYPEEDRS PRICE

DESCRIPTORS

IDENTIFIERS

ABSTRACT

DOCUMENT RESUME

PS 031 522

Khan, Andrea, Ed.; Greenwood, Laura, Ed.

Child Rights Information Network Newsletter, 2000-2002.

Child Rights Information Network, London (England).ISSN-1475-83422002-00-00

176p.; Only 5 issues published from Mar. 2000-Oct. 2002.CRIN, Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD,United Kingdom. Tel: 44-(0)20-7716-2240; Fax: 44-(0)20-7793-7628; e-mail: info@crin.org; Web site: http://www.crin.org.Collected Works - General (020)EDRS Price MF01/PC08 Plus Postage.

Adolescents; Case Studies; Child Advocacy; Child Labor; ChildWelfare; *Children; *Childrens Rights; Citizen Participation;Developing Nations; Foreign Countries; Newsletters;Organizations (Groups); Program Descriptions; Stakeholders;*Well Being

*Child Rights Information Network; United Nations Conventionon Rights of the Child

These five newsletter issues communicate activities of theChild Rights Information Network (CRIN) and report on information resourcesand world-wide activities concerning children and child rights. The March2000 issue focuses on children's right to education, assessing the matterform a range of differing perspectives, at international and grassrootslevels; and highlighting the importance of the non-discrimination principlethe U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly for disabled andfor Roma and Traveller ("gypsy") children. The November 2000 issue exploresthe relationship between children's rights and macroeconomic analysis andpolicy and how children are likely to be effected by macroeconomic choices.The June 2001 issue highlights the U.N. Special Se5sion on Children, thepurpose of which was to review progress made for children since 1990specifically by returning to the achievement of the goals of the World Summitfor Children convened that year; and to assert a renewed commitment tochildren and develop a new global agenda for them in the forthcoming decade.The March 2002 issue considers how to take forward the"mainstreaming" ofchild rights and illustrates this process through a selection of case studiesfrom around the world. The October 2002 issue explores the issue ofparticipation in programs and projects, and reviews how far children andyoung people's participation has progressed, through a series of regionaloverviews and thematic case studies. The overviews present the state of theart in each region, examine key barriers to effective participation, andsuggest specific recommendations, based on experience, to improve futurepractice. The thematic case studies describe examples of children'sparticipation in a variety of contexts. Each issue also contains an annotatedbibliography of publications on children's rights and a calendar offorthcoming meetings related to children's rights. (HTH)

ENTIRE DOCUMENT:

POOR PRINT QUALITY

Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document.

I 4

Child Rights Informaiion NetworkNewsletter, 2000-2002.

Andrea Khan, EditorLaura Greenwood, Editor

CRIN/Child Rights Information Network% Save the Children

Mar. 2000 Oct. 2002U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

°nice of Educational Research rine improvementEDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION

CENTER (ERIC))(This document has been reproduced asreceived from the person or organizationoriginating it.

0 Minor changes have been made toimprove reproduction quality.

PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE ANDDISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS

BEEN GRANTED BY

ezay Piu'hvciC

Points of view or opinions stated in this TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESdocument do not necessarily represent INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)official OERI position or poficy.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

fa...v.-4111M

CRINCHILD RIGHTS INFORMATION NETWORK

. Issue No. 12 March 2000

Editorial - Children's Right to Education - a

matter for us all

This edition of the CRIN newsletter is devoted tothe issue ofchildren's right to education - one of thefundamental building blocks upon which a child'sdevelopment and fiiture opportunities in life depend.The benefits ofeducation are widely acknowledged.Yet, as you read this, throughout the world 125

million primary school age children are not in school.Just as disturbing is the fact that among those whodo go to school, many are receiving an education ofappalling quality. Even though pupils spend a largepart of their day there, few schools are able to offeran environment where children's rights, as set out inthe UN Convention, can be fully enjoyed by children.

Choosing education as our theme reflects theincreased interest and debate going on as weapproach the 10-year review of the Education forAll initiative. It is a debate that has seen an increasein active campaigning for children's right to educationto be fully implemented. This activity will culminatein the World Education Forum to be held in Dakar,Senegal from 26-28 April. However, as one of thearticles in this newsletter rightly asks, will thisconference actually generate renewed and realcommitments to deliver substantive change or will itsimply be another wasted opportunity?

The Dakar conference will review progress towardsthe goals set in the original Jomtien declaration 10years ago. Over the last few years governments,NGOs and other civil society organisations have allbeen involved in assessing the progress attained.These discussions have addressed the way toovercome the obstacles that still stand in the way ofachieving the widely-accepted goals and which insome countries are actually beginning to underminethe progress that has so far been achieved

The World Education Forum's conclusions will.thenfeed into the UN summit reviews, such as theBeijing+5 and Geneva 2000 events in June this year and

BEST COM/AVAILABLE

Contents

Editorial 1

The Global Campaign forEducation Takes Off 2

Education for All - GearingUp for the World EducationForum 3

Taking a Human Rights'Perspective on Education 5

Welcome to EENET 6

Education for All - Puttingan End to Invisibility 7Denied a Future - Roma,Gypsy and Traveller Children 9Citizen Education 10Peer Education among Streetand Urban Poor Children 12

New Publications 14Calendar ofEvents 17

the 10-year review ofthe World Summit for Childrenin September 2001. Undoubtedly all those whocare about children's rights will be hoping that theDakar Forum results in something tangible anduseful.

The following articles all look at the issue ofthe rightto education, assessing it from a range of differingperspectives. Some look at the international eventsdiscussed above while others reflect on achievementsat the grassroots level, the place where all changeultimately has to originate. Among the latter CRINis particularly pleased to feature an article oncitizenship education written by a 17 year old youngwoman from Venezuela. Three ofthe other articleshighlight the importance of the non-discriminationprinciple in the Convention. They consider theparticular difficulties faced firstly, by disabled childrenacross the world and, secondly, by Roma childrenin central and eastern Europe in accessing a decenteducation.

1 Continued overleaf

3

What is CRIN?

.CRIN- IS, a. globit.::betwoik.:'of:ChildieiV.s,:,:pghts,.to.:::::support:itheeffective.

exchangeofinforinatianahout childrerraii&their: rights,

CRIN isopentoiridividuaisnon-sovernmental.organisations.(NGOs),UNagencies..antheducationainstitutionsmhaareinvolvedirr-children rrights;-:committecttothe:UN.ConventionottheRightsOftheChildConventiorrof CRC); and want toshare.::information with:Others. Thenetworkhasthree-mairtaimsWhiChit seeks tomeetthroughspecificproject activities:andaninformationservicebasedat theCOOrdinatingUnit.

The network exists to:support and promote the implementation ofthe

UN Convention:on:the Rights ofthe Child;help to meet theinformation needs of

organisations and individuals working with and for.childreresrights;and:support:organisationstogather,:handle;:produce

,anddisserninatethildrights.information:throughtraiiiinCapacitytitiildingandthe develapment ofelectronic:and non-electronionetworkingtools.

. . :

:4fyouWanttOgOinithenetWork; find out.thore:::about CRINOr requestinformation on children' s-fightsissuespleasecontactThe Coordinator,CRIN s:

17GroV6Lane.LondonSE5::8RD.:UnitedKingdOrirtel +44:20-77161240:fax .+44:20:i7793:7626emailcriii@pro,-netco.uk .

:iyebsitehttpNWwwcrin. org

Above all, these articles share a profoundcommitment to making a reality ofchildren's right toeducation and a recognition that this will only comeabout if the effort is broad and engages on manylevels. Education is no longer solely the preserve ofeducationalists, but something that should be aconcern for all ofus working in the field of children'srights.

The articles on education in this issue ofthe newsletterwere all submitted by individual CRIN members inresponse to a request for contributions. In selectingthe articles for inclusion we have tried to ensure awide range of coverage, both thematic andgeographic. But the views expressed in the articlesare the views of the individual contributors ratherthan those of CR1N itself

Late News!

CRIN is delighted to announce the appointmentof the new CRIN Coordinator, Ms AndreaKhan. Ms Khan has recently worked withUNICEF's Innocenti Research Centre inFlorence and has a strong background incommunications and information work. She will

take up the post on 15th May.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2

The Global Campaign for Education takes

off

An international campaign involving organisations in180 countries has just been launched which aims tomake governments face up to their obligations andacknowledge their responsibility for the 125 millionchildren who are currently being denied a basiceducation.

The Global Campaign for Education has brought onboard such international networks as the aid agenciesActionAid and Oxfam International; EducationInternational, which represents over 23 millionteachers and education workers; the coalition GlobalMarch against Child Labour, a group committed tothe elimination of child labour; and various nationalcivil society networks working in the areas ofdevelopment or education.

In the light of the World Education Forum, takingplace in Dakar, the campaign believes this initiativeis an urgent priority, particularly in view of thedesperate situation in which several national

4

education systems now find themselves. In additionto the millions of children totally deprived ofschooling, another 150 million - mostly girls - receive

only mediocre and irregular education. The cost ofeducation extracts a very real price which manyfamilies cannot afford. Added to this is the fact thatone adult in every four worldwide, representing anadditional 870 million people, is illiterate.

These statistics contrast sharply with the promisemade by 155 countries at Jomtien, in Thailand 10years ago, that education would be made accessibleto all by the year 2000. Five years later, at the UNWorld Summit for Social Development held inCopenhagen in March 1995, all governMents andinternational organisations committed themselves toreducing discrimination against girls and women intheir access to primary and secondary education bythe year 2005. They also agreed to make primaryeducation universal by the year 2015. If the currentpace of change continues, their objectives will notbe attained. Furthermore it is also important tomention that along with the Jomtien and SocialSummit agreements, the commitments embodied inthe Convention on the Rights of the Child are notbeing met either.

The campaign has therefore adopted a missionstatement and an action plan (available on request),in a bid to end to the systematic violation of theuniversal right to education and the resultingwholesale waste of human resources that inevitablyensues. This violation represents one of the biggestobstacles to development. In a global economywhere knowledge assumes increasing importance,the absence or lack of education contributes to thegrowth in poverty and to inequality between citizensand between states.

A highlight ofthe campaign is a Global Action Weekfrom 3-9 April this year that will include activities atboth national and international levels. In addition, aseries ofjoint actions will take place during the DakarForum. We are very concerned that the forum maynot deliver any concrete plan for achieving the 2015goals. The first stage ofthe campaign will close withactions organised around the Geneva Social Summitreview to be held from 26-30 June this year.

3

Number 12, March 2000

It is high time governments and international financialinstitutions recognised that education is a fundamentalhuman right and that the responsibility for organisingquality education for children, young people, andadults lies with the states themselves. It seems clearto the participants in the Global Campaign forEducation that only worldwide mobilisation of civilsociety will force those responsible to act. And ouractive commitment is to achieve exactly that -mobilisation.

Richard LangloisCoordinatorGlobal Campaign for Educationc/o Education International155 Bd Emile Jacqmain1210 BrusselsBelgiumTel: +33 2 224 0611Fax: +33 2 224 0606Email : global. edu. campaign®ei-ie. orgWeb site: http://www.ei-ie.org

Education for All - gearing up for the World

Education Forum

In Jomtien, Thailand, a decade ago, world leadersand international donors set out a bold vision for the1990s as the Decade of Education for All. Theypromised to provide good quality basic educationfor all children by the year 2000, pledging to eradicate

discrimination and substantially improve the quality.

Now, only broken promises remain. Despite modestsuccesses in enrolment rates in some countries, thevision that was born in Jomtien has never beenmatched by the commitment essential ifthe rhetoricwas to be translated into actions.

Over the past year, a review of the Education forAll decade has sought to learn both from the progressthat has been made and the difficulties that arose.The aim has been to rekindle the momentum andcommitment necessary if we are to turn that initial

Continued Overleaf

hopeful vision into a fact of life over the next 15years. National reports on developments ineducation over the last decade have provided a basisfor discussion at regional review conferences, withthe aim of developing them into regional strategiesand action plans. These will all be brought togetherat the World Education Forum in Dakar.

The draft framework for action

The Education for All Steering Committee, led byUNESCO, developed a draft framework for action,which was intended to be the basis for the actionplans coming out of the World Education Forum.The regional review conferences were asked to buildon the draft framework, developing more concreteaction plans from it.

NGOs and government representatives stronglycriticised the original draft framework. A critiqueprepared for the UK government on behalf of 13NGOs condemned it on the grounds that the paper"represents more a prescription for inertia than aframework for action".

The charge could not be more serious.Fundamentally, the Education for All decade failedbecause bold statements of vision were nevermatched by concrete commitments to act, either bynational governments or by international donors. Themeans to achieve the vision were never put in place.The whole EFA review is in danger of repeatinganother expensive exercise in target-setting withoutbacking it up with commitments that will enable thosetargets to be met.

Regional EFA review conferences

The EFA Steering Committee has responded bytrying to redraft the original framework to give it astronger action focus. This should have happenedthrough reviews and developments within theregional review conferences. Unfortunately the waythese conferences have been run has made thisimpossible. Repeated presentations of issues ineducation, as well as round-table discussions thatlacked a focus on action and solutions, have left littleroom to take the existing framework and build instrong, specific commitments.

4

At the Bangkok review for Asia, for example, thesub-regional "action plan" presentations at the endof the conference outlined unstructured lists ofpossible interventions in education, without givingany sense of priorities or direction among them. Theyamounted to brainstorms, not coherent action plansthat could result in making children's rights ineducation a reality.

Some regional review discussions have even resistedbeing honest about the failures of the EFA decadean honesty which is the essential starting point if weare to answer the question: "What are we going todo differently over the next 15 years?"

Ways forward?

The agenda of the World Education Forum needsto be completely different from the regional reviewmeetings in order to have any chance of developingfurther specific commitments.

The original draft framework had a largely northernperspective. The EFA Steering Committee will needto bring southern civil society experience and moresouthern government representation into the process.This should at least specify what commitments areneeded from donors and governments to achievethe targets. They also need to define how best touse the time in Dakar to sign up governments anddonors to these commitments.

Ultimately success will depend on bold leadership.Almost all governments and donors seem to feel thatthey will be able to get away with defining targetswithout offering the resources or commitmentsneeded to achieve our goals. Who will be the firstto step out and confront this complacency,embarrass the apathetic by offering detailed pledges,and challenge others to follow their lead?

David NormanEducation Advocacy AdviserSave the Children17 Grove LaneLondon, SE5 8RDUnited KingdomTel: +44 20 7703 5400Fax: +44 20 7793 7630Email: d.norman@scfuk.org.ukWeb site: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk

Taking a human rights' perspective on

education

Members of the Geneva-based NGO Group forthe Convention on the Rights ofthe Child's sub-group

on education met recently to share information aboutadvocacy plans relating to a series of internationalmeetings and to explore possibilities for jointadvocacy. The first opportunity this year for jointaction is the Commission on Human Rights, whichis in session from 20 March until the end of April atthe Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Education, KatarinaTomasevski, is presenting her second report to theCommission and the group is highlighting it so thatthe maximum attention is paid to it. Seeing educationfrom a human rights' perspective provides achallenge to most governments, and to manyinternational organisations, which are used to viewingit only as a service delivery sector.

Since last year, the Special Rapporteur has madetwo country visits, one to Uganda and the other tothe UK. The reports (document number: E/CN.4/2000/6/Add.1 and Add.2) can be found on theOffice of the High Commissioner's web site:http:// www.unhchr.ch.

The Special Rapporteur's reports illustrate thedifferences that emerge when education is viewedfrom the human rights' angle. The Convention onthe Rights ofthe Child states that primary educationshould be made compulsory and free for all.However, the trend in educational financing over thepast decade has been towards an increase in feesand other school-related costs for parents and forchildren who need to work in order to pay for theirown or their siblings schooling. Given this situation,what can be done to enforce children's rights?

Another key area of interest from a human rights'perspective is discrimination. Who has access toeducational services? What is taught in schools?National education statistics may not include refugeechildren or other groups of children at risk, and thusgive an inaccurate picture of discrimination in acountry. Internally displaced children may not attend

5

Issue 12, March 2000

government schools as their families do not dare toregister. Gender or disability are often a basis forvarious forms of discrimination, as are race, ethnicorigin and religious conviction. What can be doneto make all these children who are discriminatedagainst visible?

The ideal school is not only open for all children, itis also sufficiently flexible to embrace them all,despite their differences, providing quality educationthat has Convention on the Rights ofthe Child builtinto it. The worst school is one where children aretaught to discriminate.

Article 29 of the Convention deals specifically withthe aims and contents of education and the UNCommittee on the Rights of the Child has recentlydecided to produce general comments on it. Onereason the Committee chose this article to be thefirst on which it elaborates such comments is a wishto contribute to the World Conference on Racism,Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and RelatedIntolerance in 2001.

The committee secretariat in the Office of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights has started workon the general comment and a first draft should beready by September this year. The secretariat invitesNGOs to e-mail any relevant information on aspectsof Article 29 to Maria Bustelo, as soon as possible.The e-mail address is: mbustelo.hchr@unog.ch

Helena GezeliusCo-convenor of the NGO Sub-group onEducation58 Rte de Frontenex1207 GenevaSwitzerlandEmail: helena.gezelius®rb.se

Continued Overleaf

Welcome to EENET

The Enabling Education Network (EENET) is aninformation-sharing network, which supports andpromotes the inclusion of marginalised groups ofchildren in education worldwide. Based at theUniversity of Manchester in the Centre forEducational Needs, it is independently funded byEuropean non-governmental organisations and hasan international steering group.

EENET was set up in April 1997 in response to theinformation needs of inclusive educationpractitioners, particularly in Africa and Asia. Sinceresearch and literature in this field tends to beculturally inappropriate to the needs of practitionersin the south, EENET aims to promote accessibleand relevant discussion documents and trainingmaterials. The documentation of innovative work inthe south is encouraged so that the lessons learnedcan contribute to practice and thinking internationally.This helps to promote the flow ofinformation south-south and south-north.

EENET's underlying values and principles

EENETbelieves in the equal rights and dignity ofchildren;

prioritises the needs of countries which havelimited access to basic information and/orfinancial resources;recognises that education is much broaderthan schooling;acknowledges diversity across cultures andbelieves that inclusive education shouldrespond to this diversity;seeks to develop partnerships in all parts ofthe world.

In conducting its work EENET:adheres to the principles of theSalamanca Statement, [The SalamancaStatement and Framework for Action onSpecial Needs Education states that"ordinary schools should accommodateall children, regardless of their physical,intellectual, emotional, social, linguistic

6

or other conditions".]believes that access to education is afimdamental right;recognises the intrinsic value ofindigenousforms of education

EENET is committed to:encouraging the effective participation ofkey stakeholdersin education;engaging with the difficulties caused bythe global imbalance of power;encouraging a critical and discerningresponse to all information and materialscirculated.

The majority of individuals and organisationscurrently on EENET's mailing list are involved ininclusive education from a disability perspective.However we are keen to include all issues ofdifference and marginalisation within the broadercontext of international moves towards educationfor all. Race, ethnicity, gender and poverty are issueswhich may also affect the lives of disabled children,but they tend to be tackled separately by manyinternational agencies. EENET recognises the dangerof separating the needs of disabled children fromthe needs of all children and believes that there is aneed to take a more comprehensive approach toissues of inclusion and exclusion. Exclusionarypractices exist in all societies. The cultural andpolitical context ofa country will determine the wayin which inclusive education is practised andinterpreted.

EENET'S definition of inclusive education can besummed up by the following:Inclusive education

acknowledges that all children can learn;acknowledges and respects differences inchildren, including: age, gender, ethnicity,language, disability, HIV and TB status etc;enables education structures, systems andmethodologies to meet the needs of allchildren;is part of a wider strategy to promote aninclusive society;is a dynamic process which is constantly

8

evolving;need not be restricted by large class sizesor a shortage of material resources.

[Definition developed for the IDDC seminar on IE, Agra,India 1998]

Enabling Education, EENET's free newsletter,provides an opportunity for practitioners to shareideas and experiences, analyse mistakes andcelebrate achievements. Its aim is to facilitateconversations and to encourage the sharing, ratherthan the dissemination, of information on inclusiveeducation.

EENET's long-term plan is to regionalise its activitiesin order to improve south-south networks and toencourage more practitioners to document theirwork and share their experiences. This year we arehoping to establish at least one regional partnership.Negotiations are currently underway with agenciesin China, South Asia and South America. Ifyou haveany ideas or suggestions about possible regionalpartnerships, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Documents and training materials are available freeof charge to south-based organisations and accessto EENET's web site is free to all users. For detailsof the documents and video material available fromEENET, and to be placed on our mailing list, pleasewrite to us at the following address:

Susie MilesEENETCentre for Educational NeedsSchool ofEducationUniversity ofManchesterOxford Road,Manchester M13 9PLTel: +44 161 275 3711/3510Fax: +44 161 275 3548Email: eenet@man.ac.ukWeb site: http://www.eenet.org.uk

issue 12, Mara' zUUU

Education for All - putting an end to

invisibility

A recent statement by the UNESCO DirectorGeneral Koichiro Matsuura reaffirms UNESCO'scommitment to "reach the unreached". Among themost marginalised are disabled children, who areoften segregated or ignored, and thus effectivelyrendered invisible. For this reason an internationalproject on Disabled Children's Rights and the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child has beendeveloped, with the clear aim of raising awarenessand promoting the rights of disabled children. [Fulldetthls can be found on http://www.eenet.org.uk orfrom the author.]

Concrete examples ofviolations and good practiceare being documented, with over 400 examplescollected so far. The largest group of examplesrelates to disabled children's right to education.

Violations

One aim ofthe project is to highlight violations that

until now have remained unrecorded.

Invisibility. Disabled children are often ignored inreports or statistics. In Vietnam, for example, whencalculating the school attendance rate, the numberof disabled children is first subtracted from the totalnumber ofchildren in a district. This perpetuates the

fiction that disabled children do not need education.

Disabled children may be hidden. In Russia, medicalprofessionals reportedly pressurise parents toabandon a disabled child at birth. It is sent to aninstitution, where his/her rights to education, medicalcare and individual development are likely to bedenied, as well as the opportunity to learn to read,write and even walk, with children sometimes being

classified as ineducable.

Rigid medical approach. Some countries usemedical diagnosis to determine whether a child isentitled to education and, if so, what kind. The wishesof the parents, and the actual needs and abilities ofthe child, are routinely overridden.

7

9 Continued Overleaf

In Japan, disabled children are segregated byeducation programmes according to the type anddegree of disability. School counselling activelypersuades parents and children to enter disabledclasses or schools, without fully hearing andrespecting their opinions.

Direct discrimination. Some countries havediscriminatory policies. In Austria, regular childrencan claim 16 years of education, pupils in specialschools 11 years and those with special needsattending regular schools may only claim eight years.The Israeli education system divides deaf childreninto those with verbal communication and those whosign. The second group is assumed to be of lowerability

Low level of resources. Where resources aregenerally inadequate, disabled children tend to bedisproportionately disadvantaged. In Kenya, 85 percent of children attend school, but only four per centof disabled ones go.

In Zimbabwe, a survey of two poor communitiesshowed that health and education services for thegeneral population are inadequate. Although a fewdisabled children attend school, teachers do not havethe skills to help many more. These children aredenied not only an education, but also the opportunityfor integration into society.

Improving practice

A second important purpose ofthe project is to showwhat is already being done to redress theseproblems, by providing concrete examples of goodpractice. Most of these are supported by NGOsand, although small, may provide, in the words ofUNESCO's Director General "the seeds for newapproaches". A common factor in many of theexamples of promoting good practice is the sharingof information, knowledge and skills.

Combating invisibility through exposure, throughmeeting disabled children and their families, or byraising their profile in the media, is also very important.

In Yemen, disabled children have been involved in aChildren's Day of Broadcasting. Thirty

8

disadvantaged children, including disabled children,were given support to produce a radio programmein which children expressed themselves to the publicabout their problems and feelings.

Learning by doing. The pilot approach toimplementation can provide both a vision ofwhat ispossible, and a learning opportunity for people tomake mistakes and develop ideas and skills. In AddisAbaba, Radda Barnen supports a pilot inclusiveeducation programme for children with learningdisabilities. The aims are to develop a workableprogramme, to share lessons learned, and topromote the children's rights. So far results havebeen positive. Regular students have been helpfulto their disabled classmates, and teachers,administrators and education officials are increasinglyenthusiastic.

Sharing information and knowledge. Supportnetworks, which pool ideas and examples of goodpractice are very important, especially in parts ofthe world plagued by lack of information. Parentmembers of the Lesotho Society for MentallyHandicapped Persons have become more awareof their children's needs, and are assisting andadvising teachers how to cope with their children atschool. They are invited to give talks and to sharetheir experience during teachers' seminars.

Conclusion

The CRC applies to all children without exception.But we cannot assume that improvements inchildren's rights automatically benefit the mostmarginalised children. By turning the spotlight ondisabled children, this project is highlighting violations

oftheir right to education, to ensure that 'Educationfor All' really does include disabled children.

For more information on this project developed bythe International Save the Children Alliance, or ifyou would like to contribute examples of good orpoor practice, please contact the author.

1 0

Hazel Jones41 Trafalgar StreetYork, Y023 1HXUnited KingdomEmail: Hazel.J@btintemet.com

Denied a future - Roma, Gypsy and

Traveller children

Since January 1999, the Denied a Future? projecthas actively engaged in promoting the right toeducation of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children.It aims to raise awareness ofthe fact that throughoutEurope children from these communities do not enjoyequal opportunities when it comes to education. Theproject also seeks to create a climate for positivechange by promoting good policy and practice andengaging the support ofinternational institutions.

The Denied a Future? project objectives include:.

- Gathering evidence from countries in Europe whereeducation policy and practice discriminate againstRoma, Gypsy and Traveller children and deny theirright to equality of opportunity in education;- demonstrating how this contravenes internationalor national legislation;- identifying and disseminating examples of goodpolicy and practice in order to promote theelimination of discriminatory practice from theeducation systems of Europe;- bringing this evidence to the attention of nationalgovernments and international and regionalinstitutions.

Central and Eastern Europe

Many Roma children throughout central and easternEurope continue to be denied the opportunity toreach their full potential. From an early age Romachildren receive powerful signals that they areregarded as second class citizens. Their firstencounter with discrimination, racism and negativestereotyping is often in kindergarten or elementary

Issue 12, March 2000

school.

As a rule, the education services and facilitiesavailable to Roma children are of a lower standardthan those offered to the majority populations. Inthe worst cases, entrenched racism on the part ofmany education professionals has fostered a beliefthat school exclusion, school refusal and under-achievement are the result of the 'inherent nature'of the Roma, rather than the beliefs and practices ofthe education system and the professionals employedwithin it.

An encouraging sign has been increased interest, atleast from some quarters, to discover more aboutthe rich experience of multicultural and equalopportunities practice that has been developed inmany countries in the post-war period. However,this same experience shows that these approachesare challenging to implement and invariably meet with

resistance. It also clearly indicates that there are noquick-fixes that can be imposed - if anything, theopposite is true and each community has differingneeds.

Although legislation has been passed to protect therights ofminorities in many central and east Europeanstates, the record on implementation is often poor.In many countries, there appears to be an absenceof political will to enforce policies that will enddiscrimination. Projects to bring Roma children backto school do however exist. But, where goodpractice has been developed, it has rarely beenutilised as a basis for improvement in policy andpractice at national or regional level. Thus, althoughmany pilot projects are successful, they remainmarginal efforts to overturn a systematic pattern ofexclusion and discrimination.

Western Europe

In the western Europe, the lack of recognition ofRoma and Traveller cultures continues to exist,fuelled by many teachers' lack of awareness andunderstanding and even hostility. In families whichhave traditionally been mobile, many childrencontinue to grow up in a world of regular eviction,and ofunhealthy and even dangerous stopping placeswhich have no access to basic facilities. Schoolattendance is difficult when movement is unplanned

91Continued Overleaf

and enforced. Such children rarely have access torelevant pre-school experiences with their peergroup. Schools are often reluctant to accept childrenwho have experienced intermittent education. Forsettled Roma children in western Europe, thesuccess ofeducation often depends on the sensitivityof individual teachers and the initiatives of a smallnumber of NGOs and local authorities seeking tointroduce culturally sensitive practices and teachingmaterials to in-service training and practice inschools. Prejudice and discrimination from themajority population continue to be the experienceof many Roma and Traveller children in westernEurope.

Recommendations

Equal access to education is a universal right andtherefore an absolute. Whatever the subjects of thisright are or were, do or have done remains irrelevant.Discriminatory policies violate children's right toeducation. They nin contraiy all international humanrights standards, such as: Article 26 of the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights, Article 13 of theInternational Covenant on Economic, Social andCultural Rights, Articles 28 and 29 ofthe Conventionon the Rights of the Child and Article 2 of the FirstProtocol to the European Convention on HumanRights.

Save the Children UK, which runs this project,recommends that all policies adopted by theauthorities responsible for education at national,regional and local level take into account ofthe needsand aspirations of all groups within society. Thisincludes Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children andshould ensure that all educational provisions beadopted in consultation with Roma, Gypsy andTraveller representatives. Governments and otherauthorities with responsibilities for education musttake specific measures to ensure that Roma, Gypsyand Traveller children do not suffer fromdiscrimination and benefit from true equality ofopportunity.

Should you wish to receive iirther information aboutthis project, please contact Maria Andruszkiewicz,Federica Donati or Martin Kovats at Save theChildren UK:

10

Save the Children17 Grove LaneLondonSE5 8RDUnited KingdomTel: + 44 20 7703 5400Fax: +44 20 7793 7612Email: m.andruszkiewicz@scfuk.org.uk,fdonati@scfuk.org.uk,m.kovats@scfiik.org.uk

Citizen education

Carlena Prince Castrillo, 17, from Venezuela

Every person under 18 years old is either a child oran adolescent. They have dreams, worries, greatenergy and a lot of potential. They are also smartand able to take on the challenges required by theworld. In Venezuela, they represent 50 per cent ofthe population:

Children and adolescents show that every day theybecome more worried about their environment, thatthey can and must make a commitment, as citizensof their country, to identify problems and offersolutions in order to contribute to the harmoniousdevelopment of the society they belong to. Theinclusion of children and adolescents in socialprocesses has been growing over a long period,thanks to actions taken by civil society.

Citizen education, human education

Every person under 18 years old has human rightsand also a group of rights by virtue of their beingchildren. These are contained in the UN Conventionfor Children's Rights. Venezuelan national legislationwas adapted to accommodate this Convention'sprinciples, and from 1 April this year, it will be inforce through the Organic Law for the Protection ofChildren and Adolescents (LOPNA).

12

Through Community Learning Centres(CECODAPs), the aim is to disseminate andpromote Children's Rights and the LOPNA. Theoverall goal is to foster an increased sense of socialresponsibility among all citizens and respect forchildren as individuals and as citizens with their own

rights and responsibilities.

It is very important that, from an early age, humanbeings receive education about citizenship, so thatthey identify themselves as part of a society, in whichthey play a certain role. They need to be aware oftheir own individual importance and theircontribution, and that without those the social systemwould not work. But just as they are expected tocontribute, so the society they enrich must respectand value them. This is why it is necessary for themto know the law that protects them, in order forthem to demand its fillfilment should it be necessary.By the same token, he / she will feel committed towhat is going on in her / his environment and beaware ofhis or her responsibilities. For these reasonshe/she will wish to contribute to its stable progress.

What really is important in this rights and citizenseducation process is achieving the child's recognitionthat he/she is an individual with abilities and limits.She/he needs to know about the environment, thecollectivity he/she is part of, within which he/shemakes exchanges and without which it is not possibleto live. It is definitely education which helps the childdefine its world, its freedom, and its capacity tochoose between good and bad.

The idea is to let the children and adolescentsparticipate, to feel responsible for what is going onin their own life history and in their countries, to letthem be the ones who diffuse and demand therespect for their rights. This is why CECODAP hasseveral programmes in children's rights education.

The programme, Rights To My Size, works withpre-school children. Give your Heart to theConvention works with children and adolescentsaged seven to 12, and This is The Way We Arescheme involves adolescents aged 12 to 17. Theyare taught to be leaders and promoters of their ownrights, as well as to be citizens.

Issue 12, March 2000

Young people have abilities, they just need a chanceto demonstrate them. Children and adolescents whohave the opportunity to participate in the mass mediaand in the social decision making, feel like citizensand act accordingly.

Little by little, a social conscience and an awarenessabout childhood and adolescence has been created.During the presidential elections in Venezuela,children took a document to the candidates whichhad been created with the participation of allVenezuelan children. The document was entitledThe Hope Agenda. Once the president was elected,they presented it in person and discussed theirproblems and the ways to solve them.

The Constitutional Movement, created in order toget a new written constitution, decided to make astand and developed the Children and YouthConstitutional Assembly. This involved writing adocument proposing that any matters that affectedchildren's rights had to be covered in the constitution.This was to guarantee the legality and protection ofthe new law, the LOPNA, which they also had ahand in.

Here we have a clear example what happens whenpeople feel part of a project. They get involved, theydefend it, they correct it and they work for its owngood. The progress and well-being that the world'ssociety has always desired, depends on a citizeneducation and on human values.

Centros Comunitarios de Aprendizaje(CECODAP)Av Orinoco Qta El PapagayoBello Monte NorteCaracasVenezuelaTel: +58 2951 4079/ 2952 7279Fax: +58 2951 5841Email: cecoaep@telcel.net.veWeb site: http://www.auyantepiu.com/cecodap/

11 13Continued Overleaf

Peer education among street and urban poor

children

As a result of the Asian economic crisis,unemployment has increasingly risen in thePhilippines. This has led to small children, some asyoung as seven or eight, taking to the streets to begor sell anything that can be sold to motorists or apassers-by - garlands, rags, newspaper, cigarettes,you name it. Others engage in some trade or other;usually these are the older ones, 12 to 13 year olds,who are very vulnerable to prostitution and othercrime syndicates. Seventy-five per cent of thesechildren still have families, but they would rather stayon the streets than become victims ofabuse at home.

ChildHope Asia Philippines is one of the NGOswith street children-based programmes and services.It too believes that the street is not the place in whichchildren should grow up. This is why its biggestproject component, the Education on the Streetsprogramme, has continuously employed 16 fiill-timestreet educators. These reach out to the children toassist them with their basic emotional and materialneeds, and to convince them to voluntarily enter ashelter or go back to their families, whenever it isdeemed safe for them to do so.

Sixteen street educators are not enough to covertheir respective areas of assignment. They needassistance in referring children to clinics, inconducting sessions, in counselling children, and inmotivating them to live in shelters. This is wherepeer education, otherwise known as the child-to-child approach, becomes relevant and useful.

The Street Education programme uses the child-to-child approach through what are !mown as juniorhealth workers (JEWs). The JHWs are a uniquefeature of the programme. At present, 30 J1-1Wsare being 're-trained under a World HealthOrganization-assisted project. This tackles the mainbarriers to existing health services that are availableto street and urban poor children and adolescents.

Choosing the JHWs

They are selected from among the older childrenwho are living on the streets or with their families,

12

since the street education programme covers onlystreet and community-based children. They shouldalso be between the ages of 10 and 18. This is theage when children are most likely to exhibit leadership

skills, an important characteristic to consider. It isalso important that the child is literate and canprepare simple reports. Boys and girls have equalopportunities to become JHWs. They should bepatient, talented, and must possess a strong senseofresponsibility. He/she must not show favouritismin dealing with their fellow children but should instead

manifest sensitivity and genuine concern for others.Lastly, he/she must be faithful/committed to their jobdespite the difficult circumstances surrounding it.

Requirements

It is not enough that the child possesses all the abovequalifications. There are also some basicrequirements that each child must meet. Streetchildren who wish to become JHWs, must haveattended two or three sessions on any of thefollowing topics: value clarification, child rights,primary health care, first aid, drug abuse preventioneducation, STD/HIV-AIDS, mental health, andhuman sexuality and family planning. They must alsomaintain regular contact with the street educators.

Training and improving skills

After the children have been selected, they undergoa four-day training workshop that focuses on thefollowing topics: team-building, selfawareness, theUN Convention on the Rights of the Child, what isa .111W?, health and sickness, common illnesses,existing resources, preparation of a plan of action.

The children also receive hands-on training byassisting their partner street educators in conductingsessions among the street children in their respectiveareas of assignment.

Roles and functions

The JHWs are required to attend regular monthly/quarterly meetings as well as the General AssemblyofJunior Health Workers. They must also improvetheir knowledge of values, first aid, and substanceabuse prevention by attending training sessionsconducted by staff of the Street Education

14

Programme. They help reach out to other streetchildren, go out on the streets to contact children inneed, administer first aid and simple home remedies,and accompany the children to the different referralservices, systematic follow-ups are an important part

of the job. They are also involved in the training ofnew JHWs, thereby putting to good use theprinciples ofthe child-to-child approach.

Job problems

During the above-mentioned monthly meetings, thechildren bring up immediate concerns regarding theirwork. Some of these include: replenishment of theirfirst-aid kit supplies/contents; difficulty in referringchildren to the hospitals since they occasionally, donot carry complete identification as JHWs, in theprocess, they are sometimes not taken seriously bythe hospital staff; balancing their lives/roles aschildren, students, family members, and incomeearners; frustration on the part of the child theyaccompany to hospitals at not being able to receivethe proper medical attention sought; managing thebehaviour ofthe children in group sessions; keepingmotivated and pro-active; transportation money;more regular support and training meetings; difficultyin approaching some children who are shy ormistrustful.

In response to these expressed needs, ChildHopeAsia Philippines and its sister agency, Families andChildren for Empowerment and Development(FCED), have started implementing the WHO-pilotproject that would help increase access to theprovision and utilization of health services by streetchildren. It is hoped that with the project's activitiesand interventions, ChildHope and FCED will be ableto effectively resolve some ofthe barriers and issues,and develop a friendlier environment for these child/youth volunteers.

When Dr John Howard, the WHO consultant fromMacquarie University, visited the Street EducationProgramme last year, he found the current batch ofJHWs very enthusiastic, impressive, committed, andvery eager to learn. They clearly understand issuesof confidentiality, how to solve problems, and theUN Convention the Rights of the Child. Theyrecognize substance use as an issue in theircommunities and among street children, and note

Issue 12, March 2000

an increase in injection drug use by older youthsand adults. Most importantly, they advocate amongtheir peers against early and unprotected sexualactivity and for regular check-ups for sexuallytransmitted diseases (STDs). Although these youngpeople are not problem-free, they are willing to helpothers and are generous with their scarce time.FCED, for its part, is also implementing a projectcalled Expanding Children's Participation in SocialReform (ECPSR), where children are recruited andtrained to advocate among other children on issuesthat concern them. For more information on thisproject contact ChildHope Asia.

The ability ofchildren to help other children, shouldnever be underestimated. Instead, organizationsworking with street and urban poor children shouldtry to develop their own unique ways of empoweringtheir clients to teach and help other children, usingthe child-to-child approach.

ChildHope Asia1210 Penafrancia Ext.Paco1007 ManilaPhilippinesTel: +63 2 563 4647Fax: +63 2 563 2242Email: chsea@vasia.com

13 15Continued Overleaf

New Publications

Child Domestic Work, Innocenti Digest, No.5UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre,Piazza SS Annunziata 12, 50122, Florence, Italytel: +39 55 20330fax: +39 55 244817email: orders@unicef-icdc.itInternational Children's Rights ThesaurusPrepared by Anne di LauroThe Thesaurus is trilingual with separate editions inEnglish, French and SpanishOrdering as above

Child Protagonism and the Convention of theRights of the Child at Municipal Levelin SpanishPRONICE, Guatemala,email: pronice@infovia.com.gtViolence Against Children in the Context ofWar and Impunityin Spanish.Ordering as above.

Child Soldiers in South AfricaEdited by Elizabeth Bennett, Final edit by SusanUnsworthInstitute for Security Studies, PO Box 4167,Halfway House 1685, South Africatel: +27 11 315 7096fax: +27 11 315 7099email: iss@iss.co.za

Child rearing in Hubai Village, ChinaZhou Yajun, Liao Yi, Susan ChampagneBernard van Leer Foundation, PO Box 823342508 EH The Hague, The Netherlandstel: +31 70 351 2040fax: +31 70 350 2373email: registry@bvleerfnlweb site: http://bernardvanleenorg

Children and Media: Image, Education,Participation.Yearbook 1999 from the UNESCOInternational Clearinghouse on Children andViolence on the Screen.Nordicom, Goteborg University, PO Box 713, SE405 30, Goteborg, Sweden

14

fax: +46 31 773 46 55email: ulla.bergstrom@nordicom.gu.se

Children, Economics and the EU - TowardsChild Friendly PoliciesSave the ChildrenRaddaBarnen, Torsgatan 4, S-107 88 Stockholm,Swedentel: +46 8 698 9000fax: +46 8 698 9014email: rbpublishing@rb.seweb site: http://childrightsbookshop.orgConvention on the Rights of the Child ImpactStudy: Study to Assess the Effect of the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child on theInstitutions and Actors who have theResponsibility and the Ability to AdvanceChildren's RightsLisa WollOrdering as aboveEveryone has the Right to Grow and Blossom:Learning about Children with Disabilities/Todos tenemos derecho a florecer: Materialde formacion sobre ninos con discapacidadfuncionalChristina HagnerOrdering as above

Children's Rights - The Future Starts HereAmnesty International Publications, 1 Easton Street,London WC1X ODWtel: +44 20 7413 5500fax: +44 20 7956 1157web site: http://www.amnesty.org

Choose With Care: a Recruitment Guide forOrganisations Working with Young ChildrenMeredith KiralyECPAT Australia and MacKillop Family ServicesPO Box 1725, Collingwood, Vic 3066, Australiatel: +61 3 9419 1844fax: +61 3 9419 9518email: ecpat@ecpat.org

Empty Desks, Empty Future - The Curse ofClassroom Gender GapsIDS Publications Office, Institute ofDevelopmentStudies,Brighton, BN1 9RE, United Kingdomtel: +44 1273 678269

16

fax: +44 1273 621202email: ids.books@sussex.ac.uk

Funding Guide for Child NGOs in Europe andAcross the WorldAvailable in French and EnglishEFCW, 53 Rue de la Concorde, B-I050 Brussels,Belgium

tel: +32 2 511 70 83fax: +32 2 511 72 98email: efcw@dproducts.beweb site: http://www.efcw.orgPrice, 600 BEF

Helping Not Hurting Children: An alternativeapproach to child labourDFID (Department for International Development)94 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5JL, UnitedKingdomtel: +44 20 7917 7000tel from Overseas: +44 1355 84 3132email: enquiry@dfid.gov.ukweb site: http://www.dfid.gov.uk

Implementation Handbook for the Conventionon the Rights of the ChildManuel d'Application de la ConventionRelative aux Droits de l'EnfantFrench version now availableUNICEF, 3 UN Plaza, H-9F, New York, NY10017, United States of Americafax: +1 212 326 7768email: pubdoc@unicef orghttp://wwwunicef org

Including Disabled Children in Everyday Life,a practical guideSave the Children UK, Publications,17 Grove Lane, London, SE5 8RD, United

Kingdomtel: +44 20 7703 5400fax: +44 20 7709 2508email: publications@scfuk.org.ukweb site: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk

Juvenile Justice in the West Bank and GazaStrip: Laws and LegislationDefence for Children International/Palestine SectionPO Box 55201, Jerusalem, Via Israeltel: +972 2 296 0751/2

Issue 12, March 2000

fax: +972 2 296 0750email: dcipal@palnet.corn

Political Participation of Youth Below VotingAgeEdited by Barbara Riepl and Helmut WmtersbergerEuropean Centre for Social Welfare Policy andResearchBergassa 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austriatel: +43 1 319 45 050fax: +43 1 319 45 0519email: ec@euro.centre.orgweb site: http://www.euro.centre.orWcausa/ec/

Prison Bound: The Denial ofJuvenile Justicein PakistanHuman Rights Watch350 5th Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10118-3299, United Stated of Americatel: +1 212 216 1237/1239fax: +1 212 736 1300email: hrwnyc@hrw.orgweb site: http://www.hrw.org

Psycho-Social Help to War Victims: WomenRefugees and Their Families - from Bosnia andHerzegovina and Croatia (rd.Revised Edition)Editors: Libby Tata Arcel, Vera Folnegovic-Smalc,Dragica Kozaric-Kovacic, Ma MarusicAvailable in English, Serbo-Croatian and RussianInternational Rehabilitation Council for TortureVictims, PO Box 2107, 1014 Copenhagen o,Denmarktel: +45 33 760600fax: +45 33 760500email: publications@irct.orgweb site: http://www.irct.orgWar Violence, Trauma and the Coping Process- Armed Conflict in Europe and SurvivorResponseEditor: Libby Tata ArcelOrdering as above.

So Close and Yet So Far AwayMilica KrstanovicYugoslav Children's Rights Centre, 11000 Beograd,Macvanska 8, Yugoslaviaemail: cpd@eunet.yu

1517Continued Overleaf

Standing Up for OurselvesECPAT IIYPPPemail: ecpatiyp@pworld.net.ph

State of Education in Tanzania, Crisis andOpportunityKuleana Centre for Children's Rights, PublicationsDepartmentPO Box 27, Mwanza, Tanzaniatel: +255 68 500 911fax: +255 68 500 486email: kuleana@raha.corn

The Child and the European Convention onHuman RightsUrsula KilkellyDartmouth Publishing Company Limited, AshgatePublishing Ltd, Gower House, Croft Road,Aldershot, Hants, GUI! 311R, United Kingdom(In the US) Ashgate Publishing Company, Old PostRoad, Brookfield, Vermont 05036, United Statesof Americatel: +44 1252 331551fax: +44 1252 317 707email: ashgate@cityscape.co.ukweb site: http://www.ashgate.comThe Human Right to EducationDouglas HodgsonOrdering as above

Trafficking in Child Domestic Workers, inparticular Girls in Domestic Service in Westand Central AfricaAvailable in French and EnglishUNICEF, Bureau Regional pour l'Afrique del'Ouest et du Centre, 04 BP 443, Abidjan, Coted'Ivoirefax: +225 227607

Untapped Potential: Adolescents Affected byArmed ConflictAllison Pillsbury, Women's Commission for RefugeeWomen and Childrentel: +1 212 551 3107fax: +1 212 551 3180email: allison@intrescom.org

16

Young Children's Rights. Exploring Beliefs,Principles and PracticePriscilla AldersonJessica Kingsley Publishers, 116 Pentonville Road,London, N1 9JB, United Kingdomtel: +44 20 7833 2307fax: +44 20 7837 2917email: post@jkp.comweb site: http://www.jkp.com

Youth in Development - A Trojan Horse?Niels Lund, Danish Youth CouncilScherfigsvej 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmarktel: +45 39 29 88 88fax: +45 39 29 83 82email: nl@duf.dkweb site: http://www.duf.dk

Calendar of Events

31 March - 2 April 2000First Assembly of the NGO Working Groupfrom the World Bank from ECA Region, Vilnius,LithuaniaRoberta Harperemail: ngowbwg@bankwatch.org

6-7 April 2000National Workshop on the Involvement ofNGOs in the Prevention of Sexual Abuse ofChildren, New Delhi, IndiaIndian Committee of Youth Organisations,F-13, South Extension - One, New Delhi 110 049,Indiatel: +91 11 462 4776fax: +91 11 464 1807email: icyogmame.com

10-11 April 2000Investing in our Children's Future, WorldBank, Washington DC, USAMary Eming Young, World Bank, HumanDevelopment Network, 1818 H Street, NW,

18

Washington DC 20433, Room G8 034, USAweb site: http://www.worldbank.org/children

19-21 April 2000International Conference on Street Childrenin East Africa, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaConference Secretariat, AFROCENTRE, Attn. Dr.Colletta Kibassa, PO Box 65395, Dar-Es-Salaam,Tanzaniatel: +255 51 151739fax: +255 51 152977

26-28 April 2000World Education Forum, Dakar, SenegalSvein Psttveit, EFA Forum Secretariat, 7, Place deFontenoy, 75352 Paris 07SP, Francetel: +33 1 4568 1524fax: +33 1 4568 5629email: efa@unesco.orgweb site: http://www2.unesco.org/we17

10-13 May 2000The Century of the Child, Changes in Viewson (residential) Child and Youth Care, TheNetherlandsOrganisation Secretariat, Conference AgencyLimburg, PO Box 1402, 6102 BK Maastrict, theNetherlandstel: +31 43 3619192/ +31 43 3619020/ 3560152email: ca1.conferenceagency@wxs.n1

13-17 May 2000Summit 2000 Children, Youth and the Media -Beyond the Millenium, Toronto, CanadaJoseph Pereira, Director, SUMIV1IT 2000, 60 St.Clair Avenue East, Suite 1003, Toronto, Ontario,Canada, M4T 1N5tel: +416 515 0466fax: +416 515 0467web site: http://www.summit2000.ne

Issue 12, March 2000

15 May - 2 June 200024th Session of the UN Committee on the Rightsof the Child, Geneva, SwitzerlandState Party Reports to be considered: Cambodia,Djibouti, Georgia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Malta,Norway, Suriname.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palaisdes Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerlandtel: +41 22 917 9301, fax: +41 22 917 9022email: pdavid.hchr@unog.chweb site: http://www.unhchr.chPre-Sessional Working Group (25th Session),Geneva, SwitzerlandNGO reports to be considered: Burundi, CentralAfrican Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Finland,Marshall Islands, Slovakia, Tajikistan, United King-dom - Isle of Man.NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights ofthe Child, PO Box 88, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzer-landtel: +41 22 734 0558fax: +41 22 740 1145

15-17 May 2000"Step by Step" Strategies for Child WelfareTomorrow, Salzburg, AustriaEuropean Forum for Child WelfareConference Secretariat, Pro Juventute Austria, A-5013 Salzburg, Postfach 200, Austriatel: +43 662 431355 63fax: +43 662 431355 32email: congress@projuventute.at

31 May - 6 June 2000Prix Jeunesse International, Munich, GermanyPrix Jeunesse International, do BayerischerRundfunk, 80300 Munchen, Germany,tel: +49 89 5900 2058fax: +49 89 5900 3053email: ks@prixjeunesse.deweb site: http://www.prixjeunesse.de

6-10 June 20002nd International Conference on Child andAdolescent Mental Health, Kuala Lumpur,MalaysiaSarah Wilkinson, Conference Secretariat, Elsevier

17

1 9 Continued Overleaf

Science Ltd., The Boulevard, Langford Lane,Kidlington, Oxford, 0X5 1GB, UKtel: +44 1865 843691fax: +44 1865 843958email: sm.wilkinson@elsevierco.ukweb site: http://www.elseviernl/locate/camh2000

18-24 June 2000Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children: ACriminal and Justice PerspectiveRobert Pinheiro, Promotions Manager, InternationalNetworking Events, The British Council, 1 Beau-mont Place, Oxford, OX1 2PJ, UKtel: +44 1865 302704fax: +1865 557368email: robert.pinheiro@britishcounclorgweb site: http://www.britishcouncil.org/networkevents

25-28 June 2000Victimization of Children and Youth: An Inter-national Research Conference, Durham, NewHampshire, USAMelissa Averill, Conference Facilitator, Universityof New Hampshire, 126 Horton Social ScienceCentre, Durham, NH 03824, USAtel: +1 603 862 0767fax: +1 603 862 1122email: maverill@hopperunh.edu

3-21 July 2000International Summer Institute 2000: MediaEducation, London, United KingdomDr David Buckingham, Reader in Education, Insti-tute ofEducation, University ofLondon, 20 BedfordWay, London, WC 1H OAL, UKfax: +44 20 7612 6177email: teemddb@mentor.ioe.ac.uk

9-14 July 2000AIDS 2000 - 13 International AIDS Confer-ence, Durban, South AfricaCongrex, The XIIIth International AIDS Confer-ence, PO Box 1620, Durban 4000, South Africatel: +27 31 301 0400fax: +27 31 301 0191

18

email: congrex@aids2000.com

24-28 July 2000International Special Education Congress 2000,Manchester, United KingdomISEC 2000 Programme Committee, CEN Schoolof Education, University of Manchester, OxfordRoad, Manchester, M13 9PL, UKtel: +44 161 275 3510/ 3511fax: +44 161 275 3548email: ISEC@man.ac.ukweb site: http://www.isec2000.org.uk

7-11 August 2000IFCW - Annual World Forum 2000, Sydney,Australia7-8 August 2000, Management and LeadershipInstitute

9-11 August 2000, Children First' ConferenceWorld Forum Convener, PO Box 4023, Pitt Town,NSW 2756, Australiatel: +61 2 4572 3079fax: +61 2 4572 3972email: sharyn@zeta.org.au

3-6 September 200013th International Congress on Child Abuseand Neglect, Durban, South AfricaKimberley Svevo, ISPCAN Executive Director,200 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 500, Chicago,Illinois, United States of Americatel: +1 312 578 1401fax: +1 312 578 1405email: ispcan@aol.com

15-20 October 2000Peace Education: Rising to the Challenge ofChildren's Rights, Buntingford, Hertfordshire,United KingdomInformation Manager, International NetworkingEvents, The British Council, 1 Beaumont Place,Oxford, OX1 2PJ, UKtel: +44 1865 302704fax: +1865 557368email: network.events@britishcounciorgweb site: http://www.britishcouncil.org/networkevents

2o

%.RINCHILD RIGHTS INFORMATION NETWORK

Name of organisation

Acronym/Abbreviation Date of establishment

Name of your director

Name of the CRIN contact in your organisation

Postal Address

Country

Tel (Include country codes):

Fax (Include country codes):

Email:

Web site: Do you use the Worldwide Web?

Number of staff

Languages used in your organisation:

Number of CRIN Newsletters in English, French or Spanish

Please give a short description ofyour organisation's aims and activities (please continue on a separatesheet, if necessary).

Which countries does your organisation work in? (please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary).

19

21 Continued Overleaf

How would you describe your organisation? (Please tick the appropriate box or boxes)

Non-governmental UN Agency Community-based

Research International Governmental

Does your organisation? (Please tick the appropriate box or boxes)

Work directly with children Lobbying governments and the UN

Work in partnership with other organisations Provide training on children's rights

Provide funding to other organisations Undertake research on children's rights

Work with the media and press Undertake legal casework on behalf of children

Which age group does your organisation target? (Please tick the appropriate box or boxes)

Children 0-4 Children 5-15 Children 16-18

Does your organisation have expertise in any ofthe following themes? (Please tick the appropriate boxor boxes)

Children in care, fostering and adoption Children living with HIV/AIDS

Child Labour and working children Individual cases of violations

Children in armed conflict Children in Conflict with the law

Reporting and monitoring on the CRC Children and the media

Children with disabilities Participation of children in decision making

Children and education Refugee and unaccompanied children

Environment and habitat Sexual exploitation of children

Children and health Children working and living on the street

CRIN is an open network of members and therefore holds no official status beyond that of its memberorganisations. CRIN is unable to accredit any member organisation or provide funding for its mem-bers, unless funding is directly related to one of CRIN's projects approved by CRIN's, managementteam.

Signature: Date:

Please return to:Coordinator of the Child Rights Information Network, 17 Grove Lane, London UK, SE5 8RD.tel +44 20 7716 2400, fax +44 20 7793 7626, email crin@pro-net.co.uk

Please enclose any relevant publications, newsletters, annual reports and brochures

20

22

QADMMOM ROW 0nform Mion Network Numbar 13 Novembar 2000

The Child Rights Information Network (GRIN) is a membership-driven organisationand network of over 1,000 child rights organisations around the world. It_strives toimprove the lives of children through the exchange of information about child rightsand the promotion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

BESTCOPYAVA1LABLE

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

2

The Child Rights Information Network (GRIN) is amembership-driven organisation and network of morethan 1,000 child rights organisations around the world.It strives to improve the lives of children through theexchange of information about child rights and thepromotion of the United Nations Convention on theRights of the Child. CRIN connects members throughthe following services:

A websiteUpdated daily, the website, which is a leading resourceon child rights issues, contains references to hundieds ofpublications, recent news and coming events, as well asdetails of organisations working worldwide for children.The site also includes reports submitted by NGOs to theUN Committee on the Rights of the Child. \

An email list serviceDistributed more than twice a week, CRINMAIL providesregular news bulletin about child rights issues, as well asinformation about new publications and coming events.

A newsletterPublished three times per year, the newsletter is athematic publication that examines a specific issueaffecting children. It also summarises news, eventsand campaigns, and publications.

Child Rights Information Networkcio Save the Children17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RDUnited KingdomTel +44 (0)20.7716.2240Fax +44(0)20.7793.7628Email info@crin.org

www.crin.orgBookmark CRIN's website to learn more, or email us tocontribute news orinformation.

CRIN is supported by Rädda Bamen (Save the ChildrenSweden), Save the Children UK, the InternationalSave the Children Alliance, and the United NationsChildren's Fund.

CRIN NewsletterEditor Andrea KhanEditorial adviser Bill BellManagement team Sven Winberg

Janet NelsonBill BellYoussef Hgar

Contributing editor Daniela RealeSub editor Maisha Frost

\ Translation SOL LanguageRosemary Underhay

Design Foundation 33

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

24

Table of Contents

5 Editorial

6 News round-up

8 Follow-up on education

8 Beyond the broken promises by David Norman

9 Campaign shines a light by Alam Rahman

- 11 Children and Macroeconomics

11 The big picture by Stefan de Vylder

13 Factfile: Macroeconomics and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

14 Figuring the case by John Micklewright

16 The rights way forward by Judith Ennew

17 Smart synergies by Santosh Mehrotra

18 Children first-the view from South Africa by Mastoera Sadan

20 Can child poverty be abolished in the UK? by Tim Marsh

21 Children in the European Union by Bill Bell

22 Factfile: European Union trade agreements and children

23 A bad business that fails to add up by Rita Bhatia and Caroline Harper

24 Factfile: Girls and macroeconomics

25 Banking on a joint action by Zafiris Tzannatos

26 Time to slow down financial globalisation by Jenina Joy Chavez-Malaluan

27 Zero interest for El Salvador's children by Raul Moreno

28 A clear case of relief by Tony Burdon

30 The debt we owe our children by Jan Vandemoortele

31 Factfile: Children and. poverty

32 International aid-what's in it for children? by Sheridan Bartlett

34 When children are the losers by Pham Thi Lan

35 Publications

35 Thematic publications-children and macroeconomics

36 New publications-child rights

37 Membership form

39 Calendar of events

3

0

Ci)(1,c==

Published November 2000. Child Rights Information Network. Printed by Greenhouse on 100% recycled paper. CRIN Newsletter is published three times a year in English, French,and Spanish

for the Child Rights Information Network (CRWO. Authors alone are responsible tor the opinions expressed In the CRIN Newsletter. Writer's suggestions for features are always welcome. For

non-commissioned pieces, please email the editor a 30-word outline in the first instance. In respect of all submissions, the editor's decision is final: No part of this newsletter may be republished

without the written permission of the editor and author. This publication is available free of charge and can also be downloaded from the Internet at vnvwcrIn.org. If you would like copies mailed to

you please contact CRIN cro Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 EIRD, UK or email infoOcrin.org

2 rBESTCOPYAVAILABLE

4

-4!)

4

,2 6

SESTCOPY AVAILABLE

Welcome to the Child Rights Information Network'snewsletter. There has been a relaunch this edition, with anew design and format. You will notice more space isdedicated to thematic features, so that we can respondto the diverse interests of our members around the world.And while the changes are significant, it is not at the.costof continuity. The CRIN tradition of providing informationto organisations or individuals interested in keepingabreast of child rights news, events, research, andpublications is steadfastly upheld. We would be pleasedto hear your views of the changes.

In other areas, CRIN's website is featuring theforthcoming United Nations General Assembly SpecialSession on Children scheduled for September 2001. It willbring together government leaders, heads of state,NGOs, children's advocates and young people to reviewprogress made since the World Summit on Children in1990 and to renew that commitment. Also, following theInternational Conference on War Affected Children inWinnipeg, Canada last month, CRIN has launched anemail list on Children and Armed Conflict.

This specially extended thirteenth edition of thenewsletter, explores an important yet largely unexaminedtopic: the relationship between children's rights andmacroeconomic analysis and policy. Our articles revealand clarify this often hidden link and explain how childrenare likely to be affected by macroeconomic Choices.

Stefan de Vylder and John Micklewright introduce theIssues of children and macroeconomics. De Vylderexplains how children bear most of the impact of fiscaland monetary policies, trade and exchange ratestrategies, as well as those relating to adjustment anddevelopment. Micklewright illustrates the importance ofgiving a child dimension to economic variables and ofintroducing measures of child well-being to the frameworkof analysis.

We draw on examples from around the world to illustratetheir.conclusions. In South Africa, Vietnam, thePhilippines, and the UK, authors analyse the impact onchildren of policies that aim to alleviate poverty. In ElSalvador, we examine how structural adjustmentprogrammes have increased poverty and social inequity.Other authors remind us that trade liberalisation,globalisation, and financial integration must placechildren ahead of economic prosperity. Two of ourauthors make strong statements In support of thecancellation of foreign debts.

The views of these authors provide an interestingcomplement to the challenge by citizens groups of aglobal economic process that they say Is controlled bytransnational corporations, the WTO and the BrettonWoods institutions. Following protests in Prague thisSeptember and Seattle last November, there is growingrecognition that structural adjustment programmes andlending policies are driving millions of people includingchildren around the world deeper into poverty andcausing environmental destruction. Some argue that poorcountries should be able to negotiate their own debtpayments, after providing health care, education andbasic services.

At the World Bank a new study of global poverty that wasreleased this September adds greater recognition to thefact that 'economic growth is crucial but often notsufficient to create conditions in which the world'spoorest people can improve their lives".

Human development objectives and the best interests ofthe child should permeate macroeconomic policies. Thismight ease further distress in continuing catastropheswhere NGOs, United Nations organisations and bilateraldonors are called upon to provide humanitarian and reliefassistance to victims of devastating macroeconomicpolicies. Further there is a greater need for corporationsto ensure greater social responsibility In their operationsand behaviour.

We hope that this issue of the CAIN Newsletter willcontribute to the advancement of a debate that has, fortoo long, been divorced from the concerns of families -

and children. Childhood is a particularly vulnerable stageof the life cycle and children are especially sensitive toeconomic shocks. Conversely, children and theirsuccessful health and educational development are thecornerstones of long-term economic prosperity.

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

2 -1

6

a

State violence against children discussed

The Committee on the Rights of the Child concluded itsthree week autumn session, issuing its final observationson reports submitted by Finland. Burundi, the UK (Isle ofMan), Tajikistan, Colombia, the Central African Republic,the Marshall tslands, Slovakia, and the Comoros.

The nine countries, in keeping with their obligations asstates parties to the Convention on the Rights.of the Child,presented the Committee with written reports on theirefforts to promote children's rights; and sent governmentdelegations to discuss the documents and answerquestions from the Committee's ten independent experts.

Over the course of its current session, the Committeeheld a day-long discussion on the subject of "stateviolence against children", in which governmentrepresentatives, inter- and non-governmentalorganisations and other international bodies participated.The Committee adopted recommendations calling for anin-depth study to be carried out on the issue Cif stateviolence against children, and for exploration of thedifferent types of violent treatment where children werevictims to identify their causes, the extent of suchviolence, and its impact on children. It urged statesparties, among other things, to repeal any legislation thatallowed the imposition of unacceptable sentences foroffences committed before the age of 18.

The Comrhittee's next session, its twenty sixth, will beheld from 8 to 26 January 2001 (see calendar of events inthis newsletter for more details).Source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Preparations underway for Children's Special Session

The First Substantive Session of the PreparatoryCommittee for the Special Session on Children was heldfrom 30 May to 2 June. It was one of three planningmeetings for the UN General Assembly Special Session .on Children which will be held In September 2001 tomark the tenth anniversary of the World Summit forChildren and review achievements.

International and national NGOs attended the session.A Child Rights Caucus was organised by the task groupon child rights of the NGO Committee for UNICEF andHuman Rights Watch. Operations of this caucus, whichis lead by a small and elected co-ordinating group arecontinuing between prepatory committees.

Three key outcomes for children were proposed toguide the work of the Special Session and to helpdevelop strategies for children for the next ten years andbeyond. They are (1) a goOd start in life, nurturing, caringand a safe environment, (2) the opportunity to complete agood, quality education, (3) the opportunity foradolescents to develop fully their individual capacities insafe and enabling environments.

At the World Summit in 1990 governments endorsed aglobal plan of action and adopted the World Declarationon the Survival, Protection and Development of Children.The Second Substantive session takes place from 29January to 2 February 2000 (see calender of events fordetails).Adapted from UNICEF and the Child Rights Caucus CRIN has launched a

theme desk for the Special Session at httpWwww.crin.orgifeaturesAingass

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Optional protocols to Convention open for signature

More than 63 countries have signed the two optionalprotocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Childrelating to children in armed conflict and the trafficking ofchildren. The first protoCol requires states to agree thatno one under the age of 18 take direct part in hostilitiesor be compulsorily recruited into armed forces. It alsorequires states to raise tbe minimum age and apply strictsafeguards to voluntary recruitment. The second protocolprohibits the sale of children, child prostitution and childpornography.

Canada, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have ratified theprotocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict;and 68-other states have signed it. Bangladesh hasratified the protocol on the sale of children, childprostitution and child pornography; and 63 others havesigned it.

The date of entry into force of the two separateprotocols has not yet been determined:The two separateprotocols shall enter into force three months after thedeposit of the tenth instrument of ratification oraccession; and for each state one month after the date ofthe deposit of its own instrument of ratification oraccession. The protocols were adopted by consensus bythe UN General Assembly on 25 May 2000.Sources: Office of the High CommiSsioner tor Human Rights and the

Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

Beijing +5 reviews progress for women and gids

There has been progress for girls and women in the lastfive years, but obstacles remain. This was the mainconclusion of the UN General Assembly Special Sessionfor Women in June after progress reports fromgovernments were heard.UNICEF and the NGO International Network for Ginsorganised a symposium on the topic of "girls as their ownadvocates". It allowed girls the opportunity to presenttestimonies on broad-ranging issues that affect themincluding armed conflict, child trafficking, communityparticipation, reproductive health, female genitalmutilation, and community participation. A paneldiscussion on the role of media in influencing and limitinggirls' choices also included direct participation from girls:

In 1995, governments had met in Beijing and adoptedthe Beijing Platform for Action. It details 12 criticalareas of concern that relate to the human rights ofwomen and girls.

Child labour treaty

The ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of ChildLabour enters into force on 19 November 2000. Thetreaty requires that states ban children from working indangerous jobs such as mining and in illegal occupationssuch as prostitution, pomography and drug trafficking.Signatories include United States of America, Canada,Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico. As of 4October 2000, 32 countries have ratified the treaty to banthe worst forms of child labour, which is the largestnumber of signatories for any labour agreement in asingle year. The ILO Convention was adopted in June1999.

28

African Charter on children's rights

The entry into force of the first regional treaty on therights of the child the African Charter on the Rights andWelfare of the Child (African Children's Charter) - isanother positive step towards securing the protection ofchildren's rights."The human rights of African children are violated everyday of their lives, with severe consequences whichextend well beyond their childhood," AmnestyInternational said.

The African Children's Charter codifies theresponsibilities of the state, community and individual inthe protection of the civil, cultural, economic, politicaland social rights of the child.

States parties will be required to submit reports to an11-member African Committee of Experts on the Rightsand Welfare of the Child (the Committee), who willmonitor compliance with the African Children's Charter.The Committee will be empowered to receive complaintsfrom any person, group or non-governmentalorganisation recognised by the OAU relating to anymatter covered by the treaty. It will also be able to resortto any appropriate method of investigating matters fallingwithin the ambit.of the treaty.The African Children's Charter was adopted by the

Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1990. However itwas not until 29 November 1999 that the fifteenthcountry ratified the Charter, thereby allowing the treaty toenter into force. Presently only 21 out of 53 states of theOAU have ratified the African Children Charter. Despitethe fact that the African Children Charter entered intoforce last year, African governments failed to establishthe Committee.at the last OAU summit in Lome. Togo inJuly 2000, due to the lack of candidates nominated bystates parties. Only Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritius,Senegal and Togo nominated a total of seven candidatesfor the election to the Committee of 11 members. Thenext OAU summit will take place in June 2001 in Lusaka,Zambia.Source: Amnesty International

International AIDS conference concludes In South Africa

At the closing ceremony of the thirteenth InternationalAIDS Conference in Durban, former South AfricanPresident Nelson Mandela called for urgent steps toprotect the country's children from the HIV/AIDSpandemic. He said that unless Vie spread of the diseaseis curbed, it will only get worse, and children will bear thebrunt of the impact. There are an estimated 500,000 to800,000 orphans in South Africa. By 2005, the figurecould reach 1.5 million."These are not cold statistics," Mandela said. "We aretalking about children looking to adults for help. Someare infected and have to learn to live with the disease ...others have to live with the death of family members and

.siblings."The AIDS conference took place in July 2000 and

brought together for the first time all key players in thepandemic from HIV-infected children to prostitutes,UN officials, world-renown immunologists and Nobellaureates. The next. international AIDS forum will be heldIn Spain in 2002.Source: UN Foundation

International conference on war affected children

The weeklong International Conference on War-AffectedChildren in Winnipeg, Canada, ended with an agreementto free abducted African children and a 14-point actionplan to safeguard the rights of war-affected children.Representatives from more than 120 nations attended theconference.

Sudan and Uganda agreed to cooperate in returning6,000 children kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army,a Sudanese rebel force. Canada and Egypt mediated thedeal. It remains to be seen whether these commitmentswill be fulfilled.

The "Agenda for War-Affected Children" adopted at theconference called for all states to implement measures toaid children affected by war, hold child-rights violatorsaccountable, assess the effects of sanctions on childrenand add child protection units to peacekeeping missions.The agenda was co-sponsored by UNICEF and Canadaand will be presented at the UN Special Session onChildren next September.

Graca Machel, author of a UN-commissioned report onthe plight of children in conflicts presented at theconference, criticised the ministerial action plan for notgoing far enough. Two separate reports from 50 youthdelegates and nongovernmental organisations (NG05),called for tough deadlines for the imposition ofinternational bans on using and abusing children inconflicts and stringent sanctions against any groups thatviolate the bans. The ministerial action plan did notInclude these items.Source: UN Foundation

Nepal conference for the Coalition to Stopthe Use of Child Soldiers

In May representatives of 24 governments, including16 from the Asia-Pacific region together with nearly 100NGOs, gathered in Kathmandu Nepal for the firstconference on the use of child soldiers in the region.

Drawing on research prepared by the Coalition to Stopthe Use of Child Soldiers, the conference explored thedimensions of the problem in the region, its root causesand effects. The conference also focussed on practicalstrategies for the prevention of child soldiering and theeffective demobilisation and rehabilitation of childrensubjected to this abuse. Lessons were learnt from otherregions and related fields ef child labour, trafficking andexploitation. The conference issued a declaration ofstrong support for the new Optional Protocol to theConvention on the Rights of the Child and ILOConvention 182. They also called on governments andarmed groups to demobilise and stop recruiting under18s, and urged tighter controls on small arms flowsincluding sanctions against suppliers.

The coalition is now oganising a middle East initiative,with a Regional conference planned for March 2001.

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

2 9

7

8 Beyond the broken promises

0

0cp

0

The World Education Forum In Dakar did not deliver but, as Save the Children UK's Dave Normanreports, organisations concerned with children's rights now have a chance they cannot let slip.

The World Education Forum was not judged a successby the majority of non-governmental organisations whoattended it this spring.

The three-day meeting in Dakar, Senegal, proved adisappointment for my organisation, Save the Children.Speech after speech in the plenary sessions turned theforum into a media event that obliterated constructivedialogue that would have led to effective action.

Even the limited opportunities afforded to delegates toshare their experiences with the drafting committeeended in dead-end discussions. The final DakarFramework for Action failed to incorporate the summariesof round-table debates by delegates or to reflect therichness of practical NGO experience.

Ironically the draft Framework for Action had includedsome of this richness in the run-up to Dakar. Yet it waslost there in a fog of disputes and failures to reachagreements. The Dakar Framework for Action has endedup as an executive summary, not an action'plan, outliningsix goals backed up by 12 brief "strategies". .

But all is far from lost. New opportunities have emergedfrom the Dakar process, with governments and donorscommitting themselves to goals that are stronger than .the original Jomtein targets drawn up in 1990. Primaryeducation, for example, must be completely free,compulsory and of good quality. Donors pledged that"no countries seriously committed to education for allwill be thwarted in their achievement of this goal by alack of resources".

There was also a broad recognition by speakers in Dakarthat the 1990s' emphasis on enrolments had often beenat the expense of quality. There is now much greaterinterest on the practical of finding such ways to makeeducation useful for children.

The challenge is now is to set up real mechanisms thatcan achieve these bold commitments. The door is openon two fronts. First, the international community willbe required to develop "with immediate effect" a globalinitiative aimed at developing the strategies andmobilising the resources needed to support nationalefforts. Advocacy efforts at international meetings, suchas the GB summit and annual meetings of the IMF andWorld Bank, will aim to move donors on from merelyendorsing the Dakar framework and to translating theirpledges into more meaningful proposals and strategies.

Most Importantly, though, civil society has been givena leading role for the first time. Governments in Dakaragreed to "develop.or strengthen existing national plansof action by 2002 at the latest... through more transparentand democratic processes invoMng stakeholders,especially people's representatives, community leaders,parents, learners, NGOs and civil society."

At Dakar, there emerged an enthusiasm to listen andlearn from the experienced civil society groups thatwere represented there; and the majority of governmentdelegations held detailed discussions with NGOrepresentatives from their countries. Undoubtedly thisoffers an unprecedented opportunity for organisationsconcerned with child rights to shape the direction ofgovernments' education programme as national actionplans are developed over the next two years.

David Norman is education advocacy advisor at Save the Children UK

(.3

3 0BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Campaign shines a light

What next after Dakar/ The Global Campaign for Education, says Alam Rahman, and no one will belet off its hook.

The World Education Forum marked the end of thedismal decade where the promise of Education forAll by the year 2000 came and went unrealised.

The numbers make familiar but unacceptable reading:880 million adults unable to read or write, more than 125million children never inside a classroom, 150 millionchildren dropping out of school in the first couple of years.

Determined to stop the pattern, the Global Campaignfor Education was launched before the star/ of the WorldEducation Forum to "mobilise public pressure ongovernments to fulfil their promises to provide free,quality education for all people, in particular children andwomen". The campaign, which is continuing, is led byOxfam International, Action Aid, Education International,the Global March Against Child Labour, and severalsouthern-based education networks.

In the months leading up to Dakar, one of the GlobalCampaign for Education's central demands was that moreresources be earmarked for education; by the time of theconference many key players had agreed to the principlethat no good national education plan should fail for lackof resources. An important demand was that civil societybe involved throughout the process; and mostgovernments accepted that people's participation mustnot be neglected. The World Bank announced a fast-trackprogramme of accelerated funding for countries with aserious commitment to education. The UNDP andUNICEF endorsed the campaign and lobbied for the samegoals. And in the background, the interests of civil societywere represented by the Global Campaign for Educationin bargaining over the final Dakar Framework of Action.

So what happened? Certainly not everything that onemight have hoped for, but on the whole not a bad result.The Dakar Framework for Action stron§ly reaffirmed thegoal of ensuring that by 2015 all children have access toand are able to complete free and compulsory primaryeducation of good quality. The director-general ofUNESCO will convene a high level meeting annually tokeep up the pressure. Governments have agreed toprepare comprehensive National Education For All plansby 2002 at the latest,, and to involve civil society in everystep of the process. The final text of the conferenceaffirms that "no country seriously committed to educationfor all will be thwarted in their achievement of this goalfor lack of resources". The Dakar Framework furtherstates that the international community will launch withimmediate effect "a global initiative aimed at developingthe strategies and mobilising the resources needed toprovide effective support to national efforts".

Still, the bottom line is that governments did not commit.The Global Campaign for Education had pushed for allgovernments to commit four per cent of GDP to basiceducation and demanded that donor governmentslargeteight per cent of their aid budgets to the same.Governments weren't ready to make that commitment,preferring instead to remain unaccountable. The newglobal initiative was given no structure or schedule, so noone can say what or when it will deliver. Withoutsignificant delegation of authority to southerngovernments, it could simply become just another forumfor.the same old donor politics.

Weak in some sections and strong in others, the text ofthe Dakar Framework can be considered a mixedsuccess. The ultimate test is what happens now. As oneparticipant put it, "the real difference between Dakar andthe last education forum in 1990 was the presence of civilsociety and a sense that the debate on Education for Allwas public rather than a private affair for government .

technocrats". The challenge is to organise and agitatenow, knowing that, without strong and sustained publicpressure, the promises made in Dakar will evaporate. AsTom Bediako of Education International (who helpedfound the campaign) said in his closing address, theGlobal Campaign for Education will "haunt governmentsand multilaterals and continue to hold them to account".

Alam Rahman works with the Global March Against Child Labour.

Information about the Global Campaign on Education is available on the

Oxfam website at www.oxfarn.org

BESTCOPYAVA1LABLE

31

1 0

da11.16.1.

N

sob

4111.,

e ''.54.j.

BESTCOPY AVAILABLE

The big picture 11

Macroeconomics have a direct impact on children's lives, but the links are only starting to be recognised.CRIN's guest writer Stefan de Vyider draws some disturbing connections and argues early action is the answer.

Macroeconomic policies are rarely discussed inconnection with children. This means that most peopleworking for the rights of the child regard macroeconomicswith indifference or suspicion; and most of the work ofeconomists is blind to children's needs.

Globally, young people under the age of 18 represent onethird of the world"s population, and in many developingcountries children constitute the majority. Still, economicdecisions very rarely take into account the interests of thechild, or the impact on them. Indeed children do not meriteven a mention in most major economic textbooks. Atbest, there is a paragraph or two:about !'human capital"and the importance of investing in education.

The children's own voices are neyer heard, despite thefact that many economic decisions directly or indirectlyaffect them.

There is no such thing as "child-neutral" economicpolicies. There is a need to make children more visiblein economic policy-making. There is also great scopefor better cooperation and understanding betweeneconomists and children, and between economistsand advocacy groups working on children's behalf. .

Economic analysis can be used to demonstrate that goodeconomic policies and the best interest of the child oftengo hand-in-hand, and that while the financial costs ofcreating a more child-friendly society are often small, thesocial and economic benefits of linking these Interests areenormous. To invest in children is a win-win strategy: theindividual child and society benefit as a whole.

To Illustrate the ways in which economic policies affectthe situation of children, Imagine a set of concentriccircleS moving outwards (see Figure 1). At the hub arepolicies and legislation that explicitly target childrenincluding public provision of primary health and education,and regulations against the exploitation of child labour.

Figure 1. The Child at the Centre.

cv,,oux. ivt,Aktr),

44- HF" 43

. es

C4 4, tje), V3 Iv

"<1. 4 0°inra 3'1'

07-9430

P

r4-cr

,Y 4

7

Source: de Vyklec 2000

In a second circle are policies and institutions that have astrong but less.directimpact. Here are traditional socialsecurity and :welfare policies, most redistributive tax andpublic expenditure policies, and in general, policies thatdirectly affect the family.

In a third circle are macrbeconomic policies in aconventional sense where the impact may be moreindirect, but still strong. This includes fiscal policies(policies related to taxes and government expenditure);monetary policies (which influence the interest, inflationand exchange rates), as well as trade policies, themanaging of external capital flows and the foreign debt.

In a final circle is the overall policy environment orframework, including the choice of development strategyand the globalisation process.

While the policies in the inner circle are usually discussedin connection with the rights of the child, policiesbelonging to the outer circles also affect children eitherdirectly or indirectly through their effect on the family'seconomic and social situation. There are examples wherethe links between macroeconomic policies and childrendemonstrate the direct impact the one has on the other.The relationship between trade liberalisation and childlabour in export industries is an obvious example.

The choice between intiation and unemploymentrepresents the classic dilemma of macroeconomicpolicies. Far from being child neutral, Inflation affectscountries, social classes and age groups in quite differentways. In high and medium-income countries withrelatively well-developed financial markets, young familieswith children tend to finance the purchase of new homeswith the help of credit from the formal credit market.Among low-income households, especially in poorcountries, money for a new house Is often raised on theinformal credit market, which includes relatives, friends orJocal moneylenders. Generally, debts are incurred byfamilies when children are small and repaid when thechildren have grown up.

For this reason, moderate inflationary policies tendto have a less negative impact on yoUng families withchildren, who are often indebted. The erosion of theirdebts through inflation may even be in their interest.On the other hand, austere monetary policies, whichreduce the rate of inflation while raising the real rateof interest, tend to be particularly harmful for youngparents with children.

Monetary policies leading to high real rates of interestcan thus be labelled child-hostile, since they havea direct bearing on the affordability of acceptabledwellings. Moreover, If there Is a choice between someinflation and unemployment, many young families wouldprobably prefer more employment, even if this were tomean a slightly higher inflation.

This would make sense since there is a wealth ofevidence that suggests that unemployment (especiallylong-term) is very harmful to children economically,socially, and psychologically.

33BESTCOPY AVAILABLE

12

In poor countries the effects of unemployment can bedramatic because economic margins are small or non-existent. The child's very right to survival may bethreatened by the parents' unemployment. In addition tosuffering severe economic loss, family disintegrationoften tends to follow. Clearly, these associated costs ofunemployment, which include family disintegration andpossibly increased child labour, rising drop-out rates andeven juvenile delinquencV due to parents unemployment,are not fully captured in conventional economic analyses.

An anti-poverty, child-friendly strategy must therefore paymuch attention to job creation without embarking onimprudent policies that lead to a high rate of inflation.Parents need employment in order to support theirchildren; and children and adolescents need to feel thateducation is a worthwile investment and that they will bewelcome in the labour market.

Fiscal policies, or policies related to taxes and governmentexpenditure, are at the core of macroeconomic policychoices. A state budget reflects the overall priorities ofthe government. It is essentially a political not a technicalinstrument as it translates policies and political platformsinto expenditures and taxes. The analysis of statebudgets is of paramount importance in order to assessthe links between macroeconomic policies and children.The choices behind state budgets have an impact onchildren's lives both directly and indirectly.

c.D 0

Children are affected indirectly by budget expendituresand revenues, which determine the development of fiscaldeficits or surpluses, the sources of finance, and theamount of foreign borrowing. These fiscal policiesinfluence Inflation, unemployment, income distribution,foreign debt obligations, taxes, and subsidies that affectthe families' social and economic situation andconsequently children.

State budgets can have a direct impact in areas ofconcern for Children such as: nutrition, child and maternalhealth, water and sanitation, early childhooddevelopment and basic education, social welfare, leisureand cultural activities, and child protection measures.

From a child's perspeclive, massive foreign indebtednessis exceedingly harmful. Foreign credit may appear acomfortable short-term option and, if the borrowedmoney is invested wisely, may have some positive long-terms effects. But taking up foreign loans today alsoimplies a mortgaging of the future and often boils downto theft from tomorrow's children and adolescents whowill have to repay the debts.

External economic policies such as trade policies, themanaging of external capital flows and of foreign debt,and, more broadly, the so-called process of globalisationfall into the definition of macroeconomics and do impactchildren. Structural adjustment programmes and foreigndebt are good examples of how macroeconomic policiescan neglect children's rights.

,

BEST COPY AVAILMLE 34

Many structural adjustment programmes have beendesigned in open contradiction to provisions in theConvention on the Rights of the Child. Article 28 of theConvention, for example, states In unequivocal terms thatgovernments have the obligation to "make primaryeducation compulSory and available free to all". Theintroduction of school fees, which has often accompaniedstructural adjustment, is simply incompatible with the CRC.

In a large number of other areas such as health and socialsecurity, structural adjustment Programrries.often neglectthe priority that children's rights should be given. Ingeneral, structural adjustment involves a change in relative"prices" between paid and unpaid work in favour of paidwork. Invisible work done by women is not counted and,when compared with production for the market, thereproductive and caretaking burdens normally shoulderedby women are devalued.

Therefore, for parents the com,bined additional costsof raising children and the need to generate additionalcash income provide strong incentives for children leavingschool and contributing to family income at an earlier agethan before. A common pattern sees thegirl child as the main loser when school fees areintroduced or when unemployment obliges the familyto take children out of school. .

In.order to safeguard the best interest of the child a 11

change in emphasis in macroeconomic policy-making is .needed. Child-friendly economic strategies and policies : . . .should be characterised by: .

emphasis on equity and policies that support aninclusive, broad-based and participatory pattern of growth; .

predictability and stability; - .

emphasis on human development and the accumulation - - * -

of social capital and trust, which includes great attention 9- ' - -to the needs of the reproductive and community spheres - . . 9

of the economy;emphasis on job creation, and job security; . . .cautious and sustainable foreign debt policies, including . - . .

a strong emphasis on avoidance of the debt trap; -a very long-term perspective. -II - - -

. - , .

- .

- -

. -

. - - -

. - a

-

AI - - . " II

- 0 - -- .- . . .

- -

. - . . -

- "II . ' a- ' 0 . 0

* - .- -

. - II 11

-

9 - II

..

9' - Il -

: 'a "II .

The point to stress here is that macroeconomic policiesare far from age- or gender-neutral. A perspective, which . -

recognises the rights of children and women, has to be 11 II III 11

. present while macroeconomic policies are being designed, II -not after they are finalised. The best interest.of the child 05 .should permeate macroeconomic policies, embracing fiscalpolicies, monetary policies, and exchange rate policies, aseady and as comprehensively as possible. It is not enough . - . . - - .to advocate that a larger share of public expenditure goes - -

to social sector development. Trade and exchange rate - . .polláles may have more of an impact on child.development ..than, for example, the relative size of the state budget .allocated to health and education.

It is imperative to avoid the situation where hard coreeconomic policies are decided in isolation from humandevelopment objectives while NGOs, United Nationsorganisations and bilateral donors are called upon tolook after humanitarian aspects and give relief assistanceto victims of devastating macroeconomic policies.

Dr Stefan de.Vylder is associate professor in development economics

and currently working as an independent consultant. He has written

Macroeconomic Policies end Childmn%, Rights (2000), Stockholm:

Radda Barnen.

35

BESTCOPYAVAILAKE

14 Figuring the case

1

Precise data about children's lives can help put their needs at the centre of macroeconomic debates.John Micklewright sums up.

World events constantly remind us of this simple truth:the real purpose of economic policy is to improvepeople's lives.

In the European Union, creating the single Europeancurrency stresses that the purpose of closer integration isto raise the standard of living and quality of life ofEurope's citizens. Similarly the goal of the formercommunist countries of Central and Eastern Europe andthe former Soviet Union is to raise the living standards ofmore than 400 million people and develop more humaneand democratic societies. Free markets and the reductionof the role of the state are two of the instruments toachieve those goals and are important aspects of thetransition process. But, they, in themselves, are not theultimate aims of what is taking place.

So, given economic policy is about improving the livesof people, the first step in linking macroeconomics andchildren is a simple one. Data can be harnessedeffectively to highlight the quantitative importance of thechild population. Children and young people under 18 arefar from being a group of marginal importance (see .Figure 1). Overall, 37 per cent of the world's populationare children. In Africa, children actually form the majorityof the population, while in Europe nearly 25 per cent ofthe people are children. They form a large fraction of thewodd's population. While figures of this kind may befamiliar to advocates and researchers working on behalfof children, my impression is that they are not well-knownto many of those responsible for economic policy.

Figure 2 shows the proportion of households in theEuropean Union that have a child aged 0-18. Theaverage figure for countries is one third, with Spain andIreland registering over 40 per cent. Demographic dataabout children are readily available and their various usesshould form a key part in any strategy aiming to raise theprofile of children in economic debate.

Economic statistics that form part of the macroeconomicdebate fall under various headings, including budgets,interest rates, prices, incomes and labour markets.

Government budgets can be broken down so thatestimates can be made regarding the proportion devotedto children. The figures will be sensitive to theassumptions made to attribute expenditures that areclearly Identified with children, but this does not meanthat this exercise should not be attempted. Nevertheless,it needs to be remembered that even expenditures whichare clearly aimed at adults often bring benefits tochildren.

Any discussion of government budgets and childrenneeds to recognise that in many countries expenditurerelevant to children is decentralised, especially wherehealth and education are concerned. A concern withchild well-being thus implies a strong interest in systemsof intergovernmental transfers that redistribute incomefrom richer regions to poorer regions or down to localgovernment.

Interest rates and prices are key macroeconomicvariables. In commenting in a recent UNICEF report onthe mechanisms required to trace the impact of monetaryunion in Europe on children, Oxford economist TonyAtkinson notes that measures are needed of the cost ofborrowing for families, just as they have been developedfor the cost of borrowing for businesses. Macroeconomic .models feature the interest rate, but anyone who needsto borrow money knows that the cost of credit may varyenormously. A price index for families with children willdiffer from one for pensioners due to the differences inexpenditure patterns. (Atkinson calls for a European price'index for families with children.)

40604-__

11417rrY.711lik

r

f-*

1

-4,

kit

.3 6BEST COPYAVAILABL P

National income per head is only a rough guide to theaverage income of families with children. The position ofhouseholds with children within the income distribution iskey. The USA has the highest GNP per capita of anylarge country, but despite this it ranks number 12 in agroup of 25 industrialised countries in terms of theproportion of its children living in absolute poverty.

The unemployment rate is a standard measure ofwhether a country's labour market is strong or weak. Butmore relevant for child well-being is the proportion ofchildren living in a household where no adult works.Changes in the overall unemployment rate may not be agood guide to this. In fact, in several European countriesthe jobless household rate has moved in a different wayto that of the unemployment one. In the UKunemployment fell by over three per cent from 1985-96,but the rate of households with children where no adultwas in work rose by over four per cent.

Also important are direct measures of the children thewell-being of children themselves. Information aboutliving standards at the household level, for examplehousehold income, is not enough if we wish to know howthe children within each household are faring. Policydirected towards children may involve targeting resourcesat mothers rather than fathers. Data supplying directmeasures of child well-being should not only allow theposition of children relative to adults to be assessed, butshould also show differences between children.Particularly important are the variations between boysand girls.

To assess the impact of any economic policy, aspects ofchild well-being that need to be measured includematerial well-being, survival and health, education anddevelopment, and social inclusion (especially foradolescents). Broadly speaking, these dimensions arecontained in the UNDP Human Development Index andits derivatives and they reflect the approach to humanwell-being of the 1998 Nobel Laureate in Economics,Amartya Sen who has placed emphasis on thecapabilities of people to function and thrive in life.

Figure 1.Children (aged 0-18) in the world's population (%)

60

50

40

% 30

20

10

0

39

123 129 i" 137 I

Source: UNICEF, State of the Wortd Children, 1998In UNICEF, Macroeconomic Clata and Children, 2000

Let's take one example, that of survival and health. Anumber'of indicators are relevant to this and UNICEF'sannual publication State of the World's Children rankscountries by their under-five mortality rate. Together withinfant and maternal mortality, this is of major importancein its own right, but is also correlated with otherdimensions of well-being for which data are lessavailable. Indeed, like demographic data, mortality dataoften have the attraction of being relatively abundant andup-to-date. Child mortality responds well to investment inbasic social services and to the raising of the incomes ofthe poor. Mortality data are of considerable help inthrowing light on countries' economic success or failure.Immunisation rates are another indicator of considerableuse and may have the advantage over mortality data ofresponding more quickly to economic adjustment.

Economic policy is about improving the lives of peopleand the most basic data of all, demographic, can beused to underline this fact. The key economia variableson which economic policy operates can all be given achild dimension. Add to this the use of direct measuresto assess various aspects of child well-being and youcan build a' powerful picture of the reality of children'slives and a persuasive method for influencingmacroeconomic policies.

John Micklewriaht is head of research at the UNICEF Innocenti Research

Centre. This article Is a summary of the paper titled "Macroeconomic Data

and Children' (2000) end has been published with the permission of the

UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

Figure 2.Proportion of households in EU countries with children(aged 0-18) (%)

50

40

30

20

10 -

Source: Labour Force Survey Resutts 1999. Eurostat In UNICEF, MacroeconomicData and Childnin, 2000

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

15

16 The rights way forward

Judith Ennew explains how rights can broaden our understanding of children's position within the economy.

The modern concept of childhood excludes children fromeconomic life by insisting they are economicallydependent on adults and that they confine their activitiesto the spheres of education and play.

This concept also decrees that they do no work, have nopolitical views and possess no money. Yet this constructof childhood bears little relation to the lives of mostchildren in most countries today. For example, childrenthroughout the world work and produce value, yet theirlabour is not counted when Gross Domestic Products.(GDP) are calculated. Children are also significantconsumers who make purchases with their own moneyaccording to their own tastes and also shop on behalf oftheir families. And while the work that children do inschool represents a significant contribution to futurewealth for themselves, their families and their nations,schooling appears only as a cost in national budgets asopposed to a gain.

04..

":'

.01t,,t

%-#

Economic rights are not generally thought of as rightsthat children exercise. One exception to this is childlabour and cases where child workers negotiate theirlevels of pay. Yet even here there are limitations. Childlabour campaigns tend to concentrate on protecting andrescuing children, rather than supporting their economicrights as workers. This reduces child workers to victimsand objects of concern, rather than valuing them asproducers of goods and as economic actors in their ownright.

Apart from studies of child labour, most economicresearch on children examines the social costs of'childhood although there is now an emerging body ofresearch on the economic ideas of children in the West.This research tends to follow conventional approachesderived from child development; and the advantage forplanners includes that it is possible to analyse andpredict trends in saving and consuming behaviour. Butthere arelimitations:to these approaches to children'seconomic rights. Like child labour debates, both arereductionist. Both genres (*research, examining thesocial cost of childhood and the economic ideas ofchildren, treat childhood as important only in terms ofthe adults that children will become.

However, a human rights framework permits otherperspectives of children'a economic rights, particularlyif the guiding principles of the UN Convention on theRights of the Child are taken seriously. Article 4, forexaMple, obliges governments to fulfil children's rights tothe maximum extent of their available resources, not justafter all other population groups have been provided forand not considering children as a cost tc; society. Thuseducation, health and protection are rights, rather thanprivileges or favours bestowed by adults. Also, underthe various CRC provisions for family life and adequatestandards of living, states must support parents andguardians.to ensure that children's rights are secured.

It follows from this that part of the proper business ofgovernance is to develop information bases for routine'children's budgets and audits' that demonstrate the wayin which fiscal decisions have an impact on children'slives at all levels. Information about the contributionchildren make to national income would be a normalcomponent of these data, as would their opinions onthe way national budgets affect their enjoyment of rights.

Judith Ennew is with the Centre for Family Research at the University

of Cambridge

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Smart synergies 17

Governments don't have to have booming economies before they can set up good quality basic socialservices for all their people. Santosh Mehrotra offers alternatives.

During the course of world summits and globalconferences in the 1990s, the international communitytook a significant step by declaring its commitment tomaking basic social services (BSS) universally available.

That pledge covered health (including reproductivehealth, low-cost water and sanitation) and basiceducation. While some progress has been made, thetruth remains that access is far from universal and theresults of inadequate and inferior services, especially forchildren in the developing countries, are there for all to see.

A UNICEF study of more than 30 developing countries inAsia, Africa and Latin America has just been completedand it reveals how much governments and donors arespending on basic services, the equity of that spending,and its efficiency and effectiveness.

Governments often make proud claims about how muchthey spend on health and education, when in fact not allsuch services benefit the poor. By denying citizensaccess to the basic services, governments often violatetheir citizens' human rights.

There is a synergy between these social interventions andincome poverty reduction, social development andeconomic growth. Interventions in any one of these willhave an impact on all the others. By utilising thesesynergies, many countries have achieved unusually goodresults in social development early in their developmentprocess relative to their level of income. These high-achievers demonstrate that it is possible to address thenon-income dimensions of poverty and improve socialindicators regardless of the level of economic growth.Approximately $206 to $216 billion (in 1995 prices) isneeded to provide basic social services to all, but only$136 billion is currently being spent. ExpenditUre fallsshort by about $70 to $80 billion per year.

The new doctrines of so-called small government andextreme fiscal austerity followed in many developingcountries flatly contradict the historical experience ofthe industrialised world. In order for developing countriesto grow, their governments will have to grow. However,the experience of developing countries over the last 50years shows that economic growth does not alwaysreduce poverty.

Ten steps are needed to close the gap between therhetoric about good quality basic social services andtheir universal availability:

1. Universal access to BSS is possible regardless of thelevel of per capita income that is the lesson for policymakers from the experience of the high-achievers.2. The historical experience of both industrialized andhigh-achieving developing countries demonstrates thatthe state must guarantee BSS for all.3. Relying on economic growth to eventually trickle downto the social sectors is inimical to the first call for children.4. Contrary to past practice, macro-economicstabilisation can be achieved while protecting the socialby inter-sectoral reallocations, and larger revenues.5. The synergies emanating from an integrated packageof BSS, focused on the whole child, can be sectors,especially the basic level.6. Most governments possess little information on publicspending on BSS, hampering policy decisions.7. Additibnal resources can be mobilized for BSS byintra-sectoral reallocation within the social seciors,tapped to increase efficiency and reduce costs.8. The relevant ministries of donor governments need toachieve consistency between aid policies on the onehand and trade policies on the other.9. There should be greater effort by donor countries,especially the largest donors, to increase ODA as well asits share to basic services.10. There should be greater effort by donor countries toend the burden of the debt on the HIPC countries torelease resources for basic services.

Santosh Mehrotra is senior economic adviser at the UNICEF Innocenti

Research Centre

3 9

s.

B EST COPY AVAOLABLE

18 Children first the view from South Africa

New research sheds valuable light on the importance given to alleviating child poverty and the obstacles tosuccess. Mastoera Sadan reports.

The South African government ratified the UN Conventionon the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1995, promising toplace children first in its efforts to alleviate poverty.

So now the government is obligated towards fulfilling theCRC commitment and to undertake measures to meetchildren's economic, social and cultural rights to themaximum extent of available fesources.

This pledge to children is clearly reflected in section 28 ofthe Bill of Rights which enshrines children's rights in theSouth African Constitution and in the government'sNational Programme of Action for Children in South Africa(NPA). The NPA provides a framework that promotes andaims to protect the rights of the child. This framework triesto ensure that children's needs remain a priority for policymakers and government officials responsible for resourceallocation and service delivery. Through the process of theNPA, the government aims to integrate children's needsinto all budgetary decisions thereby mainstreamingchildren in the government's poverty alleviation strategy.

Children make up over 47 per cent of South Africa'spopulation, yet still suffer from poor nutrition, inadequatehealth services, clean water, sanitation and basiceducation. The budget is the government's most importanteconomic tool as it translates political priorities andpolicies into expenditure and delivery of services.Budgetary programmes, specifically socio-economicexpenditures, affect the well-being and life opportUnities ofchildren directly. The South African government'scommitment to social service delivery for children in theface of many competing needs highlights the importanceof the government budget in alleviating child poverty.

The Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA)sChildren's Budget Project monitorS and evaluates the SouthAfrican government's implementation of the CRC throughits National Programme of Action. The projea undertakesresearch that tracks government spending on basic socialservice programmes targeted towards children in the keysocial sectors of health, welfare and education. Theresearch paints a national picture and provides baselinedata on children and budgets. In addition it revealsgovernment spending on children through the developmentof an indicator framework that monitors outlay.

Atthough the provision of many services needed by childreninvolves the collaboration of two or more sectors, researchis undertaken sector by sector. As budgets are drawn upalong departmental lines, this approach, while recognisingthe intersectoral nature of service provision to children,ensures the link between departmental responsibility andallocation of limited resdurces towards children.

4 0BESTCQPY AVAILABLE

The research:identifies sector policy priorities by evaluating current

service delivery to children through an historical and sectorsituation analysis;

collates and presents gfetailed department budgetary data;analyses the.extent to which departmental budgets at

the programme level reflect the shift in policy priorities;proposes opportunities for further reprioritisation;recommends improvements in service delivery towards

children;identifies specific indicators that may be used to monitor

shifts in government spending on children.

Most recently, the Children's Budget Project analysedgovernment commitment to child poverty alleviationexamining whether children are prioritised in policy,legislation, budgets and service delivery In the health,welfare, education and justice sectors

The research findings indicate that there is a plethora ofpolicies and legislation aimed at improving the well-beingof children that has been put in place since the firstdemocratic government was elected in 1994.

In budgetary allocations children are given priority to someextent, through transfers such'as the child Support grant inthe welfare sector, increases in expenditures in thedepartment of justice's services to fight against child sexabuse and gang crime in poor communities and increasesin the real value of the income of poor households relianton pension payment.

However, the main obstacle to children fully realising theirrights is the problems impeding service delivery. Theseinclude lack of access to services due to cost and distance,poor and differential quality of services, inadequateinfrastructure and limited human and material resources.

Children are the majority of both today's and tomorrow'spopulation in South Africa. Placing children at the centre ofthe economic process and monitoring the implementationof the CRC by examining resource allocation makes animportant contribution to the children's rights debate and.allows for sustainable socio-economic development for allpeoples in South Africa.

Mastoera Sedan is project manager of the Children's Budget Project at IDASA

1.9

41.BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Can child poverty be abolished in the UK?

Tim Marsh takes a hard look at a recent government pledge.

Article 27 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Childstates that every child has the right to "a standard ofliving adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual,moral and social well being".

Yet, according to a recent UNICEF report Child Povertyin Rich Nations the UK has the fourth largest incidenceof relative child poverty amongst industrialised nations.A fifth of the UK's children lived in poverty in the 1990s.Government figures indicated that in 1998/1999 therewere 4.5 million children living in poverty, contrastingwith 1.4 million in 1979. At the same time, child povertyin most industrialised countries has remained static or'fallen in the last 20 years.

Children who grow up in poverty have poorer attendancerecords at school and are less likely to continue intofurther education. They are more likely to have poorstandards of literacy and numeracy. These differencesare apparent from when they are 22 months old. As theygrow up they are also more likely to earn lower hourlywages, become unemployed, go to prison or becomesingle parents.

The scale of the problem in the UK was recognised bythe government in 1999. With increasing evidence thatpoverty passes on from generation to generation, thegovernment announced its "historic aim to end childpoverty in the UK bY 2020". Opportunity for All wasreleased in 1999. It is the first of what are to be annualreports on poverty and social exclusion. The report,which commits the government to ending poverty in20 years and halving it within 10, contained a range ofindicators of poverty including absolute and relativeincome, health, housing, crime, lone-parenthood, andeducational achievement.

But while a multi-dimensional approach to tacklingpoverty is necessary, the Child Poverty Action Group alsobelieves it is crucial that the government recognises theimportance of adequate income. A "minimum incomestandard" could be set at what the governmentconsidered to be a "minimum level of decent livingwithout major deprivations or exclusions and the incomelevel, which gives access to it". The statistical measure ofpoverty most commonly used byit is the "half of average incomes after housing .

costs"(Households Below Average Income) measure.While HBAI is a useful measure of inequality, it is nota measure of income adequacy.

The government has acknowledged the extra cost ofchildren and directed extra support to households withchildren. Child benefits which are payable to all familieshas risen by up to 36 per cent. The government hasintroduced Working Families Tax Credits, which are in-work benefits that guarantee a minimum income for .

households with children. The government estimatesthat by 2001 the extra spending Cn children will amountto £6 billion.

Achieving full employment has also been the main focusof the government's measures to end child poverty. Theintroduction of various schemes encourages variousgroups, particularly lone parents back into work,providing help and incentives to find work.

Although unemployment has fallen in the UK in recentyears, child poverty rates increased due to thedistribution of ernployment amongst different typesof family. In 1998/1999, one in three children lived infamilies where no one was in work. This number haddoubled since 1979 and is higher than any industrialisedcountry except Ireland. This is attributable to inequalityof earnings.

Opportunity for All said that different family types facedifferent risks of falling into poverty:

63 per cent of lone parent families.live In poverty.Couples with children account for the largest number of

people in poverty (4.7 million).36 per cent of children live in a family where no one is

in full time work.

Analysis of Government measures to tackle poverty havefound that measures announced in budgets since May1997 will reduce the number of children in poverty by800,000 by 2002. As many as 89 per cent of children inthe UK will benefit. The poverty expert David Piachaudconcludes that "this represents a most significant step onthe Prime Minister's 20-year mission to end childpoverty".

But more needs to be done. To achieve the goal for 2020requires acceleration in the future. If the current rate ofprogress were maintained, a very big 'if', only two-thirdsof child poverty would be abolished in 20 years. Withoutradical changes in taxation, current policies would onlyreduce poverty to 1979 levels.

Providing jobs for all those able to work will only reducechild poverty by half. More specific measures areneeded, such es a minimum income standard for allfamilies with children, whether they are.in work or not.Some people cannot work and more should be done toraise their benefit levels.

llm Marsh is with the Child Poverty Action Group. For more Information refer

to Setting a Governmental Minimum income Standard: the next steps, J. Veit

Wilson. 'Poverty' 105, (2000), London.

4 2

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

The price of union

The move to achieve economic and monetary union within the European Union Is a huge experiment.Bill Bell considers what it means for children.

For the new currency to be managed properly, policyinstruments such as the money supply and the settingof interest rates, will have to be centralised for all EUcountries who join the scheme. The exchange rate ofthe new currency on the international money marketswill also be part of this brief-which will be handledby the new, independent, European Central Bank (ECB)whose foremost task will be to keep prices stable andinflation low.

Economic and monetary union (EMU) remains for themoment a barely tested concept so any assessment ofits impact on children can only be speculation. However,it is possible by looking EMU% strengths andweaknesses to start the process.

EMU's fans trumpet its contribution to macroeconomicgrowth, stability and employment, benefits achievedby removing fluctuatiohs in exchange rates betweencountries trading within the EU. Then as a single capitalmarket develops, investments will be moved more easilyas currency risks are no longer a concern.

The saving that should result will also boost overalleconomic activity and the common currency pricingacross Europe will have a direct impact on competition.

Indirect benefits of monetary union are also likely toexist. It is argued that the Euro will help deliver low,stable inflation. This will lead to a sustained increasein economic activity, because previously high inflationeconomies can enjoy the benefits of long term lowinflation rates.

The dividends from economic growth will filter through toInvestors and workers M the form of higher returns, wageand salary increases, new jobs, improved public servicesand welfare benefits. Furthermore the competitivepressures will help drive down the cost of raisingchildren, aided by lower inflation rate.

But there are some clouds. There are definite risksassociated with monetary union, and like some of thebenefits, they are indirect and likely to filter down tochildren via factors associated with growth, stability,and employment.

The first risk is one associated with deflation, where thepush for price stability becomes detrimental to jobcreation and economic adjustment. Indeed families withdependent children might gain from moderate inflationand an emphasis on employment creation in economicpolicy-making.

Problems may also arise if the convergence of nationaleconomies goes less smoothly than hoped, withmonetary union favouring some member states morethan others. Other risks relate to the difficulties inmanaging the mix of fiscal and monetary policies atEuropean Union and member state levels. Monetaryunion takes away a government's control of its monetarypolicy, a.useful shock absorber when faced with achanging situation. This leaves only fiscal policy as a wayof stabilising demand and redistributing income.

s

However, when, in December 1996 member statesagreed to set a three per cent limit of GDP on the size oftheir budget deficits, they also restricted elements offiscal policy. These limits might prevent a smooth, rapidadjustment to economic fluctuations thus increasingcosts of such adjustments in the form of higherunemployment or cuts in public spending. Children areparticularly vulnerable to all these outcomes.

If monetary union succeeds in promoting low inflationand interest rates and steady economic growth,children's quality of life will improve. But certain signalsindicate that the process of unification may produce mildto severe destabilising effects. Unless the economicmanagement of the fiscal-monetary policy frameworkis successful, periodic economic shocks will occur inparticular countries and social sectors. For families andchildren that Will mean living In a world of greaterinstability haunted by threats of unemployment andpublic service cuts.

BM Bell is head of advocacy at Save.the Children IJK and a member

of the management team of the Child Rights Information Network. This

article Is a summary of Children, Economics and the EU towards Child

Friendly Policies. (2000), London: Save the Children.

cr

4 3

21

1 N4 .4 4 34. 43

;.:er n"

3

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

22 Factfile

BEST COPY AVAILABLE4 4

European Union trade agreements and children

Most European Union trade policy is blind to the effectson children: but trade agreements can have several kindsof impact. The most direct is on working children. A tradeagreement may direct a country's economy towards, oraway from, the production of goods that exploit childlabour. Trade policies may also have indirect effects onpoverty levels by affecting government revenues and theamount spent on schools. health and education.Additionally. trade policies can artificially keep goods outof the market, thereby affecting employment and parents'access to employment.

The Cotonou Agreement signed on 23 June containsvarious references to child rights. This agreement.which replaces the Lomé Convention is an aid andtrade agreement between the European Union and 71former colonies of Africa. the Caribbean and the Pacific.The Cotonou Agreement focuses on poverty reduction asits principal objective, which is to be achieved throughpolitical dialogue, development aid and closer economicand trade cooperation.

Whereas children appeared only once in the LoméConvention in Article 244, the Cotonou Agreementaddresses various cooperation strategies that willimprove basic social service, take accbunt of local needsand the needs of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.This includes improving education and training, improvinghealth systems and nutrition, and promoting the fightagainst HIV/AIDS.

But the most significant progress is contained in Article26 of the agreement, which states that "cooperationshalt also support the establishrnent of a coherent andcomprehensive policy for realising the potential of youthso that they are better integrated into society to achievetheir full potential." This includes policies, measuresand operations aimed at: (a) protecting the rights ofchildren and youth, especially those of girl children:(b) promoting the skills, energy, innovation and potentialof youth in order to enhance their economic.social andcultural opportunities and enlarge their employmentopportunities in the productive sector; (c) helpingcommunity-based institutions to give children theopportunity to develop their physical. psychological,social and economic potential: and (d) reintegratinginto society children in post-conflict situations throughrehabilitation programmes.

Furthermore. Article 50 of the agreement also reaffirmsa commitment to international labour standards definedby the ILO including the elimination of worst forms ofchild labour.

All trade agreements should contain references tochildren and child impact analyses must be undertakenbefore all trade agreements are struck.

A bad business that fails to add up 23

Globalisation makes the books look good at poor children's expense. We should change the trade rules,say Rita Bhatia and Caroline Harper.

It's the same story whether you take the findings ofacademics or the testimonies of those working inorganisations like Save the Children. The influence ofglobalisation on the lives of poor children and theirfamilies has been varied and profound.

Reduced welfare expenditure, increased incomeinequality between and within countries, as well as socialfragmentation and poverty can all in some measure betraced back to this. Trade liberalisation, for example,affects child welfare with factors such as the distributionof economic activity in a society and the effects ofemployment on income.

Globalisation, as articulated through trade or financialliberalisation, is a policy choice. However, economicglobalisation is now prescribed to countries in order "toliberalise national and global markets in the belief thatfree flows of trade, finance and information will producethe best outcome for growth and human welfare" (UNDPHuman Development Report, 1997). This prescription iscause for great concern as it applies to developingcountries irrespective of local circumstance, includingunfair trade terms, crippling debt burdens, andinsufficient participation in determining economic paths.

Children will be increasingly affected as the rules of theWorld Trade Organization (WTO) expand into more areasof domestic policy. Young people will feel the loss ofgovernment revenue as trade tariffs are reduced becausesocial service budgets will be axed to compensate forthe shortfall.

There are two essential questions that need to be askedand answered. What kind of global trade rules should wehave and how should global trade rules be balanced sothey do not adversely affect social, health and educationprovisions in poor countries?

The examjile of trade creep into health, which is relatedto trade agreements such as TRIPs and GATs, raisesimportant questions about the cost, provision andsustainability of health care both in the North and South.Any re-launching of a new round of trade talks has toconsider how trade Interacts with human development. .

Lundberg and Squire at the World Bank recognise thattrade liberalisation and greater openness benefits themajority, but harms the poorest. In The SimultaneousEvolution of Growth and Inequality (1999), they state thatthe poor are vulnerable to international price shifts and"this vulnerability is magnified by the country's opennessto trade".

Economic arguments have attempted to show thatincreased trade contributes to increased income for thehousehold, and that this reduces poverty. Thus it is arguedthat increased trade improves child welfare because thereis an increased demand for labour so wages increase andprices change favourably. This is backed up by the factthat in the past 50 years, average per capita income hasmore than tripled as global GDP increased nine-fold from$3 trillion to $30 trillion (UNDP 1999).

However, global poverty is more complex than that.Money-metric statistics and income indicators based onthe houiehold alone can not identify the range ofproblems that comprise poverty. It is now morecommonplace to observe that poverty and well-beingmust include social assets such as security,independence and self-respect.,

Many arguments for economic globaliaation anddiscussions on growth and inequality fail to address theimplications of inadequate poverty measures. Theseobscure the social costs of struggling to maintain incomelevels, and these social costs cari sometimes be huge asfamilies make sacrifiCes to maintain essential income.These costs Include removing children from school,reducing their nutritional intake, allowing or requiring themto labour inside and outside the home, reduced time tonurture and so on. As a result we sometimes see caseswhere child poverty increases as Incomes increase.

A focus on income and consumption measures in orderto alleviate poverty naturally promotes income 'as asolution. It does not recognise the costs of maintainingincome levels during times of financial crisis and theeffect of poverty on child nutrition, child work andwomen's time.

'Major targets and policy papers such as theinternationally agreed target to halve.the numbers wholive in extreme poverty by 2015 and the World Bankreport Growth is good for the Poor fail to account forthese social costs.

Just as the concept of globalisation has forced ustowards an understanding of global interconnectednessand multiple complex relationships, so should wedevelop a more complex Understanding of global poverty.

Rita Bhatla is a policy analyst for Save the Children UK. Caroline Harper is

the head of research at Save the Children UK.

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

45

24 Factfile

,

r

/'41

7't.oks"

4,4wa,.rt

-P7-

-r plAr511- 2,1-11" 001';-:rrok

1

t rttitt.

s

;1

411,w

. - I 11

e

'Pt ':11.#

.1

Girls and macroeconomics

Girls who are working constitute more than half of the250 million children (from five to 14 years old) who areworking. Nine out of 10 child domestics are girls, someas young as five years.

Girls who do not attend school account for more thanhalf of the 130 million children currently not in class. It is..estimated that 73 million girls are not receiving a schooleducation. Three in 10 girls do not attend schoolcompared to only one in 10 boys.

Most studies show that girls begin working at home at ayounger age than their brothers, and that girls work onaverage seven hours more than boys. The vast majorityof girls work at home work between four and 16 hours aday at home. Their work is invisible. isolated, unpaid andunrecognised.

NGOs working in rural areas have found that up to 75 percent of agricultural work is undertaken by women and girls.

About 500,000 girls are engaged as sex workers in India.Around 4,500 girls from Nepal are trafficked to India eachyear and a similar number from Bangladesh are traffickedto Pakistan.

An estimated two million children around the world willbe abused by adults through prostitution, trafficking andpornography. The majority of them will be girls.

Sources: Global March against Child Labour, UNICEF: International

Confederation ot Free Trade Unions: Atlas of South Asian Children and

Women

Banking on a joint action 25

Zafiris Tzannatos shares his personal views and explains that the problem of child labour is so complex only combined forces can tackle it.

Child labour is one of the most devastating consequencesof persistent poverty.

Premature and extensive engagement in work preventschildren from accumulating human capital and havinghigher earnings and higher welfare In later life. In manyinstances engaging child labour is the result of marketfailures and a coping mechanism for families whenhouseholds cannot afford education for their children andcannot borrow for this purpose. Efforts to eliminateharmful child labour make good development and goodeconomic sense.

It is generally agreed that child labour is the result ofwidespread poverty, which can be reduced and eliminatedover time through high and persistent economic growth.However, the reverse is also true: child labour can be asignificant cause of poverty if children are hurt by it.Children can be hurt directly or indirectly by child labour.They are hurt directly if they are hurt physically,emotionally, or socially; they can be hurt indirectly throughlack of opportunity to education, which deprives childrenof their chance to be productive adults. Many children,for example, work under harsh conditions that precludeschooling altogether and are harmful to their physicaland mental well-being and their social develoriment.

Given the complex nature of child labour, solutions areneeded to reach beyond conventional thinking andpractices. Research has shown that in many countries,the incidence of child labour declines (as does theproportion of children in the total labour force), when(1) there are increases in the per capita GDP and/or(2) when there is increased availability of, and accessto, education.

These findings are in line with the main approachesdeveloped to combat child labour. These include thereduction of poverty, creation of opportunities to highquality basic education and reduction of the costs ofeducation, provision of support services for workingchildren, public awareness, legislation and regulationof child labour, and the elimination of the most harmfulforms of child labour through the promotion ofinternational measures. Of course these approaches arenot mutually exclusive and should be adopted in variouscombinations in child labour reduction strategies.

The World Bank approach to helping to eliminate theworst forms of child labour recognises the leading roleof our partners especially the United Nations Children'sFund (with the emphasis on children) and theInternational Labour Organisation (with the emphasis onlabour). Along with them, other partners, governments,civil society and communities, the World Bank helps tomake access to quality education as widespread aspossible. It supports the poor in their efforts to Increasetheir incomes, to afford their children's education, and toafford the opportunity cost of not working.

Child labour cannot be solved by any single effort or byany single organisation. The responsibility for reducingchild labour falls on all of us.

Zafiris Tzannatos is leader at the World Bank Global Child Labour Program.

For more intonnation, rater to Peter Fallon and Zafiris Tzannatos Child Labor

Issues end Directions for the World Bank. World Bank, 1997.

4 7 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

26 Time to slow down financial globalisation

Children paid a heavy price for the drive for growth in Asia, reports Jenina Joy Chavez-Malaluan.

There was a time not so long ago when the liberalisationof the financial system was praised as the pillar of Asiangrowth. But integration into global finance exposed thecontinent to much vulnerability and deepened some of its.weaknesses. The 1997 crisis Asia hit children, the silentvictims of the crisis, hard.

Throughout the 1980s Asian growth was driven bycompetition for limited public resources and exportmarkets, and, through privatisation, liberalised tradingregimes were promoted. A decade later, finance capitalbecame the crucial factor of the economy. Between 1990and 1995, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesiaand the Philippines (as a group) posted an average GDPgrowth rate that was twice as high as the world averageGDP growth rate. Accumulated capital in the developedworld took advantage of substantial short-term pricedifferentials.

Growth enabled these countries to drastically reducepoverty and improve certain income and socialindicators. Suspicions about sustainability were sweptaside. But thee gaping current account deficits and.non-performing loans that were mounting sent investorsrunning. Thefesult was a reversal in private capital flows,especially short-term ones. In 1997 the crisis countries ofAsia experienced a 78 per cent drop in net private flows.

The reversal in private capital flows and steep currencydevaluation produced huge losses that wereaccompanied by increased lending rates and decreasesin consumption and investments. Governments werecompelled to cut back on services. Households wereforced to make painful adjustments. Impacts of the crisisin the Philippines were deepest in 1998. It exposed thegovernment's weaknesses and inadequateresponsewhen it made indiscriminate budgetary cuts.

The interest rate hike caused business initiatives to stall,production to slow and unemployment to rocket Since itis typical for Filipino families to. remit part of their incometo their extended family, those families relying onremittances from the capital Manila also experiencedincome loss.

Adjustments in household expenditures were mademostly on what households considered as 'non-essentials' like clothing, transportation, and even medicalexpenses. Basics like food were generally protected evenas food budgets were cut. This meant use of lowerquality foods and food substitutes. For households withpre-school children the cutback in expenditures wasmore alarming because of the type of items that werecut. More than one in four households with pre-schoolchildren reported having discontinued purchases of infantformula, while as many discontinued visits to healthfacilities or purchase of vitamin supplements in 1998.

The crisis had a strong impact on family relations andhousehold stress that manifested itself in strained maritaland parent-child relations. Drastic declines in incomestranslated into less incentive for children to study, andmore stress on female household members. There wassignificant correlation between reductions in child-specificexpenditures (such as-school allowance and spending onschool-related activities) and reductions in children'sinterest in studies and their overall physical well being..

Some of the older children had to take on compensatedand uncompensated work as a direct response to thecrisis, when the mother had to attend to informaleconomic activities.

Vulnerabilities brought about by this type of economicsituation create challenges for governments. Betterinternal regulatory mechanisms are needed, particularlyfor financial institutions, corpOrate indebtedness'andshort-term capital. Most importantly, there is great needto institutionalise appropriate safety nets regimes toprotect the vulnerable.

When children are the victims of a crisis, this is not justbecause of what is done to them but also because ofwhat is not being done for them. Economic growth isgood, but broad-based low growth rather than very highgrowth will always be preferable.

Janina Joy Chavez-Malaluan Is with Focus on the Ocilla! South in the

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

48

Zero interest for El Salvador's children

The figures may add up on paper, but ElSalvador's narrowty focussed economic policies spell doom forthe majority of its young, says Rail Moreno.

Ten years ago El Salvador ratified the Convention on theRights of the Child and also embarked on a structuraladjustment programme (SAP).

The progress made in growth and stabilisation remainsquestionable, as are the SAP's effects on society's mostvulnerable sectors. Although El Salvador's poverty hasstructural roots, there is cbmpelling evidence that theprogramme has deepened the inequity and socialinequality in the country.

The unequal distribution of income and assets withinEl Salvador's economy has had a direct impact on thedevelopment of many children. Structural adjustmentsimply added to that. Half of El Salvador's homes arepoor, and 234,000 households cannot cover their basicfood needs.

Most of the country's families experienced noimprovement during the last decade. The emphasis wasplaced on beating inflation, rather than job creation andrevitalising the economy. The result is a weakened socialfabric with an unprecedented level of crime, increasingdrug abuse and violence."

Monetary policy has kept up the real interest rate,affecting most economic sectors, especially housing, andthere is an acute and growing lack where homes for thepoor are concerned. Agriculture has faced a decade ofnegative policies, despite the long-standing importanceof the sector in generating added value, jobs and foreigncurrency. Lack of investment has led to an ailing healthsystem, further diminishing the chances of poor familiesto improve their living stendards.

The numbers of people with regular access to socialservices remains very limited. If the privatisation of healthservices and water distribution goes ahead, it will strikeanother blow against the poor for whom access willbecome even more uncertain.

Fiscal stability is positive,but with low tax revenue, lowand inefficient public spending and the regressive taxsysteM, the system does not favour poor families,especially children and adolescents who are moredependent on public resources than adults. Incontradiction of Article 4 of the Convention on the Rightsof the Child, children and adolescents do not figure as apriority in public resources allocations, nor are theirneeds reflected in state budgets or macro-economicpolicy design.

One of the pillars of the economic policy reform packageis making the labour market flexible. This has produced amarked increase in precarious and fragmentedemployment, while the Informal economy has expanded.To survive such uncertainty parents have resorted tosending their children to work.

The structural adjustment programmes have overlookedthe consequences of imbalance in the labour market.Rising labour costs are dealt with by containing theminimum wage, set according.to the cost of the basicfood basket. This however doeS not cover.the minimum.calorie requirement to guarantee household survival.

It has been acknowledged that the same sectors of thepopulation who haye bourne the cost of economicpolicies have weathered the main impact of thestructural adjustment ones. However beyond thisacknowledgement no progress has been made save theview that social investment funds be used for charity andassistance. No comprehensive and systematic policy todeal with the major social problems exists.

The SAP's have merely involved social policy geared tospecific aspects such as attention to vulnerable groups,the provision of basic services and the reduction ofpoverty. Social policies cannot continue to be used asinstruments to offset the effects of adjustment. The bestsocial policy is a good economic policy, and theConvention's belief in 'the best interest of the child' isalso the best interest of the country's future.

Until these factors are addressed, children will be forcedto engage in a struggle for survival along with othermembers their families. With little hope of a change intheir situation, the outlook is bleak indeed.

Rad Moreno is director of macroeconomics and development at the

El Salvador National Development Foundation (FUNDE) and chair of the

School of Economics at El Salvador University. This article is a summary

sit a research study conducted by José Angel Tolantino, Marfa Alicia

Ordenez, Stefan de Wider and Raid Moreno.

27

4 9BEST COPY AVAILABLE

28 A clear case for relief

The debt relief process is bogged down in red tape, but there is a way'of freeing governments and ensuringthe benefits go to those who need it most now. Tony Burdon explains.

"What more qualification is there for debt relief whenchildren are dying? Must we ignore the howling of ourchildren to pay debt?" Julius Nyerere, Butiama, April 1998.

Last year the 67 promised $100 billion in debt relief andpromised 25 countries that relief would start this year, butdespite these promises progress has been appallinglyslow. By August only nine out of 36 countries, which areeligible for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted PoorCountry (HIPC) initiative, had started to receive a trickleof relief. In the meantime government revenue in theseindebted countries has been diverted from essentialinvestments in health and education to repayments toforeign creditors, and excessive debt stocks havedeterred investors.

*And so, in spite of the fanfare, the debt crisis continuesunabated as it has done for two decades, underminingpoverty reduction and human development, and makinginternational development goals unattainable for manycountries. For example, Tanzania entered the HIPCframework early this year but will continue to pay twiceas much on debt as on primary education, therebyleaving two million children in Tanzania out of school.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child commitsstates to a range of obligations to child health, education,and the survival and development of the child. UnderArticle 4 of the Convention, states agreed to"...undertake such measures to the maximum extent oftheir available resources, and where needed, within theframework of international co-operation." While someprogress has been made, the majority of creditorgovernments and their institutions such as theInternational Monetary Fund and World Bank have failedto meet their obligations.

About half of the debt owed by 52 of the poorestcountries, which are in urgent need of debt cancellation, isowed,directly to individual governments-mainly in the 67,namely Japan, the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germanyand Italy. Most of the rest is multilateral debt, owed to theWorld Bank and the International Monetary Fund,organisations effectively run by the 67 governments.

Children bear the highest cost of the debt tragedy forthey are most vulnerable to the effects of debilitatedhealth services in indebted countries. In the educationsector, lack of investment consigns children, particularlygirls, to lives trapped by poverty.

HIPC countries suffer some of the worst levels ofdeprivation in the developing world. Here about 3.4million children (almost 20 per cent) will die before theyturn five. Life expectancy is 51 years, which is 26 yearsless than life expectancy in the industrialised countries.Around 47 million children are not in school, ang thesenumbers are growing, rather than declining. Based oncurrent trends, by 2015 HIPC countries will not meet theinternational development goal to reduce child mortalityby two thirds. In fact the gap between trend and targetrepresents two million additional child deaths.

The picture is similarly bleak in education. Oxfamestimates that, based on current trends, by 2015 over 75million children will remain out of school; and the majorityof these children will be in HIPC countries.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

The new debt relief framework, HIPC2, agreed to in June1999, links debt relief to the development of PovertyReduction Strategy Papers. These try to involve civilsociety in the process of debt cancellation. At the sametime, agreements reached by the IMF and World Bankhave re-defined their roles in HIPC countries. In futuretheir programmes are supposed to support nationallydeveloped strategies, placing poverty reduction at thecentre of IMF and World Bank programming. However,the debt relief process has now become bogged down inbureaucratic processes and strapped by wide-rangingconditions, furthermore there has been little change inIMF and World Bank practice. Debt relief for Honduras,for instance, was delayed due to negotiations overelectricity privatisation. HIPC is not delivering on itspromise to provide deeper and faster debt relief.

That is why Oxfam has proposed that HIPC and othercountries that are poor and indebted, such as Nigeriaand Haiti, should enter HIPC immediately if they meetone critical condition: that is they commit to placing debtrelief finance into a transparently-managed Poverty Fund.Interim poverty reduction strategies must directexpenditure towards areas that reduce poverty, such aseducation, health, rural roads, and employmentgeneration programmes. While these countries must takethe initiative to undertake long-term reforms to seriouslyreduce poverty, it must be recognised that thesecountries face major poverty reduction challenges, whichshouldn't have to wait for debt relief. This is a mechanismthat could provide relief now.

Tony Burdon is policy advisor at Oxfam.

29

5 1. BEST COPY AVAILABLE

30 The debt we owe our children

A brighter future for them depends on basic social services and debt relief, says Jan Vandemoortele.

At the World Summit for Children in 1990, the promisewas made that all children would be enrolled in primaryschool by the year 2000. Today however, it is estimatedthat more than 110 million remain out of school. And soit is a sorry distinction of today's world that at the dawnof the Information Age about one in three children failsto complete five years Of education-the minimum forbasic literacy.

Moreover, key social indicators suggest the pace ofprogress slowed down in the past decade whencompared to the 1970s and 1980s. Progress continuedduring the 1990s but has not kept pace with promisesmade. The average under-five mortality rate in developingCountries was to be reduced by 50 per cent by 2000, butpreliminary data show that the average rate declined by amere five per cent over the 1990s. Child malnutrition wasto be halved between 1990 and 2000, but preliminary,estimates indicate a reduction by only one-sixth.

Why have the promises not been fulfilled? Why are twoout of every five children in developing countries livingin poverty and struggling to survive on less than $1 perday when the global economy is experiencingunprecedented prosperity?

The simple answer is because virtually all countriesunder-invest in children. Governments in developingcountries spend less than 15 per cent of their nationalbudgets on basic social services. Rich countries spendabout 10 per cent of their aid budgets on basic educationand basic health combined. This Is much less than whatis needed. The 20/20 initiative called on poor countries toallocate 20 per cent of their national budgets to basicsocial services, and called on rich countries to direct 20per cent of their aid budget to the same services. Today,spending on basic social services by both poor and richcountries is falling short (by about $100 billion per year)of what is needed to achieve the 20/20 shares. This onlyrepresents about one third of one per cent of globalannual income and means that if the world were to investan extra 30 cents out of every $100, all children could behealthy,.well-nourished and in primary school.

If achieving the goals of the 20/20 initiative and deliveringbasic social services takes so little money, then why hasit not happened? The answer to this is more complex.Developing countries under-invest in basic social servicesbecause of the debt burden. About two-thirds ofdeveloping countries spend more on debt servicing thanon basic social services; and some countries spend threeto five times more on debt. Often debt servicing absorbsbetween one-third and one-half of the national budget.This makes the objective of macro-economic stabilityhard to achieve, if not impossible.

To spend more on external debt than on basic socialservices, when tens of millions of children lack accessto basic education, primary health, adequate food andsafe drinking water, is not only morally wrong, it is alsopoor economics.

52

There are attempts to cancel the debt of poor countries,but progress is too slow. The Jubilee 2000 campaignersbasically have it right: debt is a millstone around the neckof the poorest countries that has to be removed. Thetime for debt relief is not today, it was yesterday. Formillions of children, tomorrow will be too late. We mustsupport the Jubilee 2000 campaign of non-governmentalorganisations that call for the immediate cancellation andforgiveness of debt of the poorest countries, and seek toensure that the money is spent on genuine povertyreduction and also redirected to basic social services.

The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative,which is sponsored by the World Bank and InternationalMonetary Fund, remains the best hope for solving thedebt crisis. Yet its implementation has been painfully slowwith only Bolivia, Guyana, Mozambique and Ugandareceiving debt relief in the first three years of operations.Under the enhanced HIPC initiative launched in 1999,participating countries will be expected to give priority topoverty reduction. But again there are issues with thisenhanced initiative as developing countries have beenasked to invest time and efforts In processes anddocuments that may not result in tangible benefits.Preparing a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper absorbsscarce capacities and resources. Such documentaryrequirements can easily postpone practical solutions tothe debt problem and could result in unacceptably highopportunity costs for the poor.

Spending on health and education often by-passes thepoor. This happens when the advantages of publicspending are incorrectly targeted and end up going tothose who are better-off rather than to those who arepoor and need it most.

The most effective and cost-efficient way to reducepoverty is to ensure universal access to basic socialservices. These services can make an enormousdifference beyond their own sphere of operation. Debtrelief is also a key part of the solution, albeit that by itselfit will not be sufficient to eradicate human poverty.

,Some commentators suggest that there are manyreasons for delaying debt relief but we have only to lookat the example of Nelson Mandela for inspiration to thecontrary. When he was freed from prison, he realised thathe had to look to the future and forgive the past in orderto move South Africa forward and overcome the legacyof apartheid. Unfortunately at present the internationalcommunity is unwilling to do likewise and remove theyoke that shackles poor countries by relieving the legacyof bad loans.

Jan vandemoortele ks chief policy analyst at UNICEF in New York

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Factfile 31

Children and poverty

The causes of poverty include conflict, natural disasters,population growth. poor governance, limited employmentoppoilunities or access to land, failed economicstrategies and social inequality brought about bydisability, ethnicity or age. Children are as much, if notmore, affected than adults. How we understand both thenature and causes of poverty is fundamental to our abilityto find solutions.

Here are some key indicators on children and povertyIn many of the world's poorest counties, children under

the age of 15 make up over 40 per cent of thepopulation. The highest proportions are Palestine (52per cent), Uganda (50 per cent), Democratic Republicof Congo, Niger, Somalia and Yemen (each at 48 percent), and Burundi (47 per cent) The UK is 19 per cent,the US 21 per cent, Italy 14 per cent (Source UN StatisticsDivision. 19991

The situation of UK children has steadily deterioratedIn 1997/98 one in three children (about 4 4 million) livedin households with below half the average incomecompared with one in 10 in 1989 [Source Chdd Poverty ActionGroup. 20001

The International Labour Organisation estimates 120million children between the ages of five and 14 yearswork full time, and a further 130 million part time (Source"Statistics on working children and hazardous child Ilbour brief ILO 19981

The under-five child mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africais 173 deaths per 1000 live births In industrialisedcountries the rate is 6 deaths per 1000 live births(Source: -State of the World's Children", UMCEF 20001

In developing countries more than 130 million childrenout of a total of 625 million of primary school age aregrowing-up without access to basic educationiource: 'State of MC Workfs Children". UNICEF 19991

Poverty indicatorsLow income is still the most common way of measuringpoverty. Almost every country sets its own poverty line,usually with reference to international lines andmeasurement conventions. Income poverty is measuredin two ways-as absolute or relative poverty Relativepoverty is measured as households living on or belowhalf of the national average disposable incomeInternational absolute poverty lines me set, for peopleliving in the South as less than US$1 or US$2 per dayFor middle income countries it is less than USS4 per day

'oPti;

41

linen

ta

I

32 International aid - what's in it for children?

Would young people fair better if development projects were tested at the outset to see exactly what theirimpact is on children? Sheridan Bartlett thinks so.

For the past decade, the international community haspledged itself to helping the world's poor children.

The broad acceptance that children have rights and thefact that children's well-being is a telling indicator ofsocial health have been in large part responsible for thisstand. But donor funding priorities and strategies suggestthat grand declarations of this kind are often morerhetoric than a commitment to focused action.

But let's look at the aid situation and the chances of theinternational community delivering what it has promised.How much of aid goes to the basic needs that arefundamental in securing children's rights? And arechildren's priorities really taken into account in thesupport given to these basic needs?

:41/1ftr

,

r"mhette..'.; 7.

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Over the last decade there has been a dramatic declinein official assistance to low income countries. Loans andgrants from multilateral agencies rose over this period,but were more than offset by the decline in bilateralassistance. Between 1990 and 1997, as GNP grew byalmost $8,000 per person in donor countries, alddropped by $18 per person, and overall assistance to lowincome countries fell from US$32 billion to US $25 billion.

Since 1997 the rate of this decline has eased off.However increases in aid are largely related to rescuepackages in response to theAsian financial crisis, oftenat the eNpense of routine programmes for povertyreduction.

Overall bilateral assistance remains at about 33 per cent.of the amount supposedly targeted by donor countries, in1998 it reached not quite one quarter of per cent of GNP,a pitiful fraction of the amount spent each year ondefence. In spite of general prosperity, disparities andpoverty increase, with children affecteddisproportionatelY cOmpared to other age groups.

Basic human needs have never been a high priority fordevelopment assistance. Support for the interventionsessential to children's survival and development such asimproved housing, water and sanitation, nutrition, primaryhealth care and basic education represent a smallpercentage of overall aid.

There is increasing recognition that economic growthalone cannot eradicate poverty, and recently there hasbeen greater commitment in the development assistanceworld to targeting poverty more directly. The 20/20initiative, proposed at the 1995 Social Summit, sets as agoal that 20 per cent of both donor assistance anddeveloping country budgete be allocated to basic needs.Similarly the S21C (Shaping the 215t Century) strategyproposes a number of poverty eradication targets for theyear 2015.

But changing understandings and commitments have notresulted in altered allocations across the board. Somemultilateral agencies, notably the World Bank and theInter American Development Bank, have shifted prioritiestowards basic needs and away from more conventionaleconomic infrastructure projects. But among donorcountries the funds committed to basic social servicesremain limited.

Figures for 1998, reported by the Reality of Aid Project,show 6.6 per cent of combined bilateral developmentassistance funds going to water supply and sanitation.From the 17 countries that reported these figures, only1.44 per cent and 1.72 per cent were earmarked for basiceducation and primary health respectively. Only threecountries' aid Programmes were reported to have mettheir fair share of the targeted aid to basic needs in 1997.

The situation is further complicated by the overwhelmingdebt repayment schedules many countries face. These ..burdens continue to undermine the states' capacity tofund basic services, while projected debt relief plansproceed at a snail's pace.

5 4

Even when aid is allocated to the areas that mostprofoundly affect children, there is no guarantee that -

projects will actually reflect the priorities.of childrenand those who care for them. Attention to the needsof a community at large does not always trickle downso that children benefit, anymore than economicprosperity automatically improves the situation of thepoor.

Standards for adequate water provision, for instance,often fail to take into account the sheer volume of waterneeded within a household to ,ensure the health of youngchildren, or the burden of hauling that water from adistant standpipe. Sanitation solutions rarely reflect the .

difficulty for very young children of waiting in line, or theirfear of overly large pit openings. Projects to upgrade .existing community space seldom pay attention to childsafety. Schools are often built without an understandingof local resistance to girls going any distance from home.Attention to basic needs is not enough if it fails torecognise the realities of half the population.

Gender-aware development has.called for women'sconcerns to be considered in every aspect of decision-making. Simply tacking on extra programmes for womenis not enough. If international commitments to childrenare to be more than empty promises, the same principlesmust apply in their case. Not only should greater weightbe given to interventions that benefit children, but everystage of policy, planning and programming must bebased on a realistic understanding of how poor childrenand their carers live their lives and what day-to-daydifficulties they encounter. That means listening to whatthey have to say and taking on board their opinions.Only then will the commitments from the internationalcommunity truly bear fruit.

Sheridan Bartlett Ls research associate with the Children's Environments

Research Group, City University in New York.

33

_411111

13

I I III

.407.1

\

g

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

34 When children are the losers

Macroeconomic reforms can have a devastating impact on children's lives. Here Pham TN Lan examines whatyoung people in Vietnam are up against since the government adopted such policies.

The major macroeconomic reforms that Vietnamundertook from 1989 onwards have dramatically alteredthe prospects of children.

On the external front, the government liberalised tradelaws and harmonised exchange rates and legal reformsin a bid to attract foreign investment. Domestically italso introduced sweeping reforms. It dismantled pricerestrictions on goods and services, freed the bankingsystem from much of its bureaucratic red tape,implemented positive interest rates, cut back surplusesin state-owned enterprises, reduced state subsidiesand the state budget deficit.

The result was rapid economic growth, as GDP increased5.1 per cent in 1990 and 8.1 per cent in 1997. But theseare just the figures. The reality is that growth has beenextremely unbalanced. It has been capital-intensive ratherthan labour-intensive and &ban expansion has won overrural development.

Such radical changes have had four major consequencesfor children.

The economic reforms have, in the main, not consideredaccess to basic services, despite the crucial role theseplay in creating a successful and equitable transition toa market economy. Numerous analyses indicate thatbudget spending has been greater on higher education,a move that tends to benefit the better off. More fundshave also been devoted to hospitals and not commune'health centres-preferred by the poor because theyare easier to get to. Consequently, children from poorhouseholds are unlikely to benefit from the basicsocial services.

Market liberalisation has led to an increase In childlabour. As children have more chance to earn money,so greater numbers of them are dropping out of schoolor even failing to enrol in the first place in rural areas.And wherever they are, children who labour are exposedto greater risks of abuse and exploitation.

Social sector reforms have removed traditional safetynets and introduced user fees for basis social servicesincreasing the financial burden on poor households. Highhospital charges have created an additional obstacle forchildren from poor families receiving proper treatment.Ethnic minority areas, where poverty is greater than thenational average, are particularly affected.

Privatisation policies have lead to the closure of mostpre-schools run by cooperatives, with older children nowdevoting more time to looking after their siblings. Furtherknock-on effects have meant standards in childcare aredropping and child malnutrition increasing.

Pham Thi Lan Is senior project officer, children and economics with Save the

Children UK's Vietnam Pmgramme

56

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Publications

Thematic publications-children and macroeconomics

Atkinson A B (1998), EMU, Macroeconomics andChildren, Innocenti occasional Papers, No. EPS 68,Florence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre. Availablefrom Internet at www.unicef-icdc.org/pdf/eps68.pdf

Boyden J. Ling B, and W Myers (1998), What Works forWorking Children, Sweden, Rtidda Barnen and UNICEF

Boyden J and D Levison (1999) The Economic and SocialRoles of Children-Children as Actors and Beneficiaries inthe Development Process, Paper commissioned by theSwedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, draft

Bradbury B and M Jantti (1999), Child Poverty acrossIndustrialised Nations, Innocenti Occasional PapersFlorence: UNICEF. Available from Internet at www.unicef-icdc.org/odf/eos71.odf

De Vylder, S (2000), Macroeconomic Policies andChildren's Rights, Stockholm: Rädda Barnen

Department of Social Security (1999), Opportunity for All:Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion, London: HMSO

Dollar D and A Kraay (2000), Growth is Good for thePoor, Washington: World Bank. Available from Internet atwww.worldbank org/research

Fallon P and Z Tzanatos (1997), Child Labor:'Issues andDirection for the World Bank, World Bank

Foster J E and A Sen (1997) "On Economic Inequality:After a quarter of a Century" in Sen A, On EconomicInequality, 2r.° edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press

Harper C and R Marcus (1999), Child poverty inSub Saharan Africa, forthcoming Working Paper.London: Save the Children UK

HM Treasury (1999), Supporting Children throughthe Tax & Benefit System, London: HM Treasury

IDASA (2000), Are Children Put First: Child Poverty andthe Budget 2000, South Africa: IDASA

Immervoll H, Mitton L, O'Donnoghue C and H Sutherland(1999), Budgeting for Fairness? The Distributional Effectsof three Labour Budgets, Microsimulation Unit ResearchNote MU/RN/32, Cambridge: University of Cambridge

Lundberg M and Squire (1999), The SimultaneousEvolulion of Growth and Inequality, Washington:World Bank

Mehrotra S, Vandemoortele J, and E Delamonica (2000),Basic Services for All? Public Spending and the SocialDimension of Poverty, Florence, UNICEF InnocentiResearch Centre. Available from Internet at www.unicef-icdc.org/odf/basic.odf

Micklewright J (2000), Macroeconomics and Data onChildren, Florence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.Available from Internet at www.unicef-icdcSe91ixtf[iwo13.odf

Micklewright J and K Stewart (2000), Is Child WelfareConverging in the European Union?, EPS 69, Florence:UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

Oxfam, Violating the Rights of the Child: Debt and.Poverty in Africa, Oxford: Oxfam

Page S (1999), Globalisation: the Linkages to Poverty andto Children, London: Overseas Development Institute

Piachaud D and H Sutherland (2000) How Effective isthe British Government's Attempt to Reduce ChildPoverty?, CASE paper No. 38, London: London Schoolof Economics

Robinson S and M Sadan (1999), Where Poverty HitsHardest: Children and the Budget in South Africa.South Africa, IDASA

Save the Children (2000), Children, Economics and theEU - Towards Child Friendly Policies. Brussel:International Save the Children Alliance Europe Group

Save the Children Sweden (2000), Child-focused BudgetAnalysis in.Seven Countries, Stockholm: Save theChildren Sweden

Save the Children UK, Money Matters: UnderstandingMicrofinance, Working Paper 19, London: Save theChildren UK

Save the Children UK, Working Children's Futures: ChildLabour, Poverty, Education and Health, Working Paper22, London: Save the.Children UK

Seaman J, Clark P, Boudreau T and J Holt (2000), Savethe Children Development Manual No.6: the HousholdEconomy Approach, London: Save the Children

Sen A (1998), "Mortality as an Indicator of EconomicSuccess and Failure" in Economic Journal, Vol 108,No. 446: 1-26

Sutton D Children .and the EU Budget, Recommendationsfor Action. How much of the EU's financial resources aredirected at children? Brussels, International Save theChildren Alliance

UNDP (2000), Human Development Report 2000, NewYork: Oxford University Press

UNICEF (2000), Child Poverty in Rich Nations, Innocent]Report Card No.1. Florence: UNICEF Innocenti ResearchCentre. Available from Internet at www.unicef-icdc.org/odf/ooverty.odf

UNICEF (1998), Education for All, Regional MonitoringReports, No 5, Florence: UNICEF Innocenti ResearchCentre

UNICEF (1999), Women in Transition, RegionalMonitoring Reports, No 6. Florence: UNICEF InnocentiResearch Centre

Vandemoortele J (2000) Absorbing social shocks,protecting children and reducing poverty, the role of basicsocial services, New York: UNICEF

...';

35

oil

36

Veit-Wilson J (2000), "Setting a governmental minimumincome standard: the next steps" in Poverty No. 105,London: Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). Available onInternet atwww.cpag.org.uk/info/povertyarticleshome.htm

World Bank (1998), East Asia: The Road to Recovery, theInternational Bank for Reconstruction and Development

World Bank (2000) World Development Report2000/2001: Attacking Poverty, Washington: World Bank

New publications-child rights

DeLoache J, and Gottlieb A, (Eds) (2006), A World ofBabies: Imagined Childcare Guides for Seven Societies,Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Human Rights Watch (2000), Fingers to the Bone: UnitedStates Failure to Protect Farmworkers, New York: HuthanRights Watch. Available from Internet atwww.hrw.org/reports/2000/frmwrkr/

McCartney I (2000), Children in our Midst, Voices ofFamtworkers' Children, Zimbabwe: Save the Children UK

Mawson A, Dodd R, and Hillary J (2000), War Brought UsHere, London, Save the Children UK

Panter-Brick C, and Smith M T (2000), AbandonedChildren, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Save the Children UK (2000), Big Business, Small Hands:responsible approaches to child labour, London:Save the Children UK

UNICEF (2000), Growing Up Alone: HIV/AIDS a globalemergency. London, UK Committee for UNICEF.Available on Internet from www.unicef.org.uk/

UNICEF(2000), The Progress of the Nations 2000,UNICEF. Available on the Internet atwww.unicef.org/oon00/

Woll L (2000), The Convention on the Rights of the ChildImpact Study. Stockholm, Save the Children Sweden

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Please photocopy and return to CRIN

Name of organisation

Acronym/abbreviation Year established

English translatidn-ot name of organisation

Name of directdr

Name of main GRIN contact in your organisation

Postal address (include country)

Tel (include country codes) Fax (include country codes)

Email Website

Number of staff

Languages used

Does your organisation have capacity to receive email regularly?

Does your organisation have capacity to visit websites regularly?

Number of CRIN Newsletters required in English, French and/or Spanish

Plea;a give a short description of your organisation's alms and activities List countries In which your organisation Works

(please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary) (please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary)

Please tick the appropriate box

How do you describe your organisation?

O Non governmental organisation (NGO)

O United Nations agencyO Community based organisationO Research instituteO International organisationO Governmental organisation

Does your organisation?

O Work directly with childrenO Lobby governments and the United NationsO Work in partnership with other organisations

O Provide training on children's rights

O Provide tunding to other organisationsO Undertake research on children's rights

O Work with the medLa and press

O Undertake legal casework on behalf of children

Which age group does your organisation target?O Children 0-4 0 Children 5-15 0 Children 16-18

Does your organisation have expertise In any of the following themes?

O Children in care, fostering and adoptionO Children living with HIV/AIDSO Child tabour and working childrenO Individual cases of violationsO Children in armed conflicto Children in conflict with the lawO Reporting and monitoring on the CRCo Children and the mediao Chedren with disabilitiesO Participation of children in decision making

Children and education

O Refugee and unaccompanied childrenO Environment and habitatO Sexual exploitation of childreno Children and healthO Children working and living on the street

Signature Date

Please return this completed form along with any relevant publications, newsletters, annual reports and brochures to:

Child Rights Information Network, c/o Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD, UK

Tel +44.(0)20.7716.2400 Fax +4440)20.7793.7628 Emailinfo@crin.org

BESTCOPYAVA1LABLE

37

6S2pn IT 5 .0p gn531.g

g

c ° a 0 I

111'12

kg5.6 33,zg a :6420.sz.aRki-4P,g52a a t.

E

rik 23zaa*

sTga5.aptTi"3aalglgpta aFgag

,6:201B5g R3,g

g .rt-,e,g35Sz3' 5

38

November 2 to 3, 2000Spend, Spend, Spend? Children, Young Peopleand MoneyHilton Dunblane Hydro, ScotlandLeanne Mabberley, Children in Scotland, Princes House,5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, EH2 4RG.T +44.(0)131.222.2410E Imabberley@childreninscotland.org.uk

November 2 to 4, 2000International Conference on the Humanizationof ChildbirthFortaleza - Ceara, BrazilEventual! Promogoes & Assessoria; Rua Dr. GilbertoStudart, 369 Papicu - 60190-750, Fortaleza-CE-BrazilT +55.85.265.4022 F+55.85.265.4009E childbirth@eventuall.com.brhttp://www.humanization.org

November 10 to 11, 2000Children, Social Exclusion and Citizenship: Policy andPractice for Children who are Socially Excluded inDenmark and the UKSue Cottam, University of Sunderland, School ofHumanities and Social Sciences, Priestman Building,Green Terrace, Sunderland, SR1 3PZ, UKT +44.191.515.3621 F +44.191.515.2229E susan.cottam@sunderland.ac.uk

November 14 to 17, 2000Future Perspectives of Young Women and Girls whoLive on the StreetsBerlin, GermanyDr Dolly Conto Obregon, Director, InternationalesStrassenkinder Archly, Weinbergsweg 23,10119 Berlin, GermanyT +49.30.44.02.46.56E conto@strassekinder-archive.de

November 19, 2000World Day for the Prevention of Child AbuseElly Pradervand - Founding Director, Women's WorldSummit Foundation / Fondation Sommet Mondial desFemmes, P.O. Box 2001, 1211 Geneva 1, SwitzerlandT +41.22.738.6619 F +41.22.738.8248E wwsf@iprolink.chhttp:/www.woman.ch

November 27 to 29, 2000Children at the Dawn of a New MilleniumNicosia, CyprusMaisoun JABAL!, Directorate General III, Social Cohesion,Programme for Children, Council of Europe,F-67076 Strasbourg Cedex, FranceT +33.3.90.21.47.98 F +33.3.88.41.37.65E maisoun.jabali@coe.inthttp://www.coe.int

November 30 to December 2; 2000Youth Care - Youth PunishmentLuxembourgInternationale Gesellschaft fuer erzieherische Hilfen(FICE-Germany), Schaumainkai 101-103, 0-60596,Frankfurt am Main, GermanyT +49.69.63398611 F +49.69.63398625E tagungen@igfh.de

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

December 5 to 6, 2000Conference 2000: Findings on Reproductive Health ofRefugees and Displaced PopulationsWashington D.C., USASara Casey, E sec42@columbia.eduhttp://www.rhrc.org

December 7 to 9, 2000First World Symposium on Reading and Writing andthe International Conference on Early ChildhoodEducation "Early Childhood in the Third Millenium"Valencia, SpainWorld Association of Early Childhood Educators,Averroes 3, Colonia del Retiro, 28007 Madrid, SpainT +34.91.501.87.54 F +34.91.501.87.46E info@waece.comhttp://www.waece.com

December 8 to 15, 2000.The International Interdisciplinary Course onChildren's RightsGhent, BelgiumThe Children's Rights Centre, University of Ghent, HepriDunantlaan 2 B-9000 Gent, BelgiumT +32.9.264.6281 F +32.9.264.6493E Kathleen.Vlieghe@rug.ac.behttp://www.allserv.rug:ac.be/-fspiessc/

January 8 to 26, 200126th Session of the UN Committee on the Rightsof the ChildGeneVa, SwitzerlandState party reports being considered: DominicanRepublic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Palau and Saudi ArabiaUN High Commissioner for Human Rights,Palais Des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland1.+41.22.917.9301 F +41.22.917.9022E pdavid.hchr@unog.chhttp://www.unhchr.ch

January 29 to February 2, 2001Pre-Sessional Working Group to the 27th Sessionof the UN Committee on the Rights of the ChildGeneva, Switzerland .

NGO reports to be considered: Bhutan, C6te d'Ivoire,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Guatemala,Monaco, Oman, Turkey, United Republic of TanzaniaNGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of theChild, c/o DCI, PO Box 88, 1211 Geneva 20, SwitzerlandT +41.22.734.0558 F +41.22.740.1145E dci-ngo.group@pingnet.ch

January 29 to February 2, 2001Second Substantive Preparatory Committeefor the UN Special Session on ChildrenNew York, USAFor non-governmental issues (NGO issues), contactthe NGO Participation Team, UNICEF House H-8A,3 UN Plaza, New York NY 10017, USAF +1.212.824.6466 or +1.212.824.6486For intergovernmental Issues, contact Secretariatfor the Special Session on Children UNICEF House,3 UN Plaza, New York NY 10017, USA

6 0

Spring 2001Children, Economics and the EU - Towards ChildFriendly PoliciesKa Ile Elofsson, Save the Children Europe Group,c/o Radda Barnen, Torsgatan 4, 5-107 88Stockholm, Sweden

+46.8.698.9000 F +46.8.698.9010E kalle.elofsson@rb.se

March 11 to 15, 2001Third World Summit on Media for ChildrenEuropean Children's Television Centre, 20 AnalipseosStreet, Athens 152 35, Greece

+301.68.51.258 F +301.68.17.987E ectc@otenet.grhttp://www.childrens-media.org

June 11 to 15, 2001Third Substantive Preparatory Committee for the UNSpecial Session on ChildrenNew York, USAFor contact details, see Second Substantive PreparatoryCommittee above

61BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

39

4

Child Right's Infamakatil Nekwasik Number 14 / June 2C41

C IActi.

0,4* P, frs$

p

1,

4

I -

a

af.

41

1

tr,:a

Ars

.114

(3 1

jet

S.

The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) is a rnembership-driven*ganisation and network of over

1,100 child rights organisations around the world It strives to improve the lives of children through the

exchange of inforkmation about child rights and the promotion of the United Nations_ Convention on the

Rights of the ChildQV 0 ' : 4 .)

;

cTin news0effev

CRIN Newsletter

EditorCo-editor

Editorial adviser

Management team

Sub-editor

rench translationSpanish translation

Design

Andrea KhanLaura Greenwood

Bill Bell

Sven WinbergJanet NelsonBill BellYouseff Hajlar

Maisha Frost

Isabelle Fernindez, SOL languageFrancisco Ariza, Planet Translations

Greenhouse

2 'CRON NEWSLETTERst;-,

ivb0e o coaTients.

CR1N Newsletter Number 14The Special Session on Children

5 Editorial

6 News round-up

9 Follow-up on macroeconomics

9 Figuring out the true picture by Ka Ile Elofsson, Kenneth Me lin, and Sven Winberg

12 Poor excuses for child poverty by Marie Wernham

I 5 The Special Session on Children

15 The Special Session - so good so far by Per Miljeteig

17 Factfile: Resolution 54/93 - Special Session of the General Assembly in 2001 for follow-up to the World

Summit for Children

19 A critical review of the Special Session by Philip Veerman

21 Factfile:What has happened in the ten years since the World Summit for Children?

23 Say Yes for Children by UNICEF

24 Spotlight on child rights by Jo Becker

26 Conflict and small arms - keeping up the pressure by Christina Torsein

28 'Making an arab world fit for children' by the Arab Resource Collective

29 Preparations of Central and Eastern Europe the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent

States for the UN Special Session on Children

31 Breaking down the barriers by Graeme Thompson

32 A decade fit for adolescents by Jessica Nott

34 Listening to young voices by Clare Feinstein

36 Publications

36 Key documents relating to the UN Special Session on Children

38 Membership form

39 Calendar of events

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Published June 2001. Child Rights Information Network. Printed by Greenhouse on 100% recycled papenThe CRIN Newsletter is published three times a year in English, French, and

Spanish. Authors alone are responsible for the opinions expressed in the CRIN Newsletter.Writers' suggestions for features are always welcome. For non-commissioned pieces,

please email the editor a 30-word outline in the first instance. In respect of all submissions, the editor's decision is final. No part of thisnewsletter may be republished without the

written permission of the editor and authorThis publication is available free of charge and can also be downloaded from the Internet at www.crin.org. If you would like coples mailed

to you please contact CRIN cio Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, Lcindon SES 8RD, UK or email info@crin.org

64CRON NEWSLETTER 3

'4\()N editovid,k L)

r''.":0'4

,f` \, :,of

4;,," )

)

its

4L*jI II

)

'

4 CRON NEWSLETTER 65

4

....111111.1111a

BEST COPYAVAII 9LE

earhNia0

Editorial

Within months, the United Nations will call a meeting that isthe first real opportunity in ten years to movethe humanrights of children to the top of the world agenda.The SpecialSession on Children will be convened bythe UN GeneralAssembly in New York from 19-21 September 2001. It willbring together Governments, Heads of States, UN agencies,non-governmental organisations (NG0s) and other relevantactors.This edition of the CR1N Newsletter focuses on thatmeeting and the preparations that lead to it.

The purpose of the Special Session on Children'is two-fold:(1) to review progress made for children since 1990specifica4 by returning to the achievements of the goals ofthe World Summit for Children; and, (2) to assert a renewedcommitment to children and develop a new global agenda forthem in the forthcoming decade.

CRIN is an information network that supports the needs ofthe Child rights community and the Special Session onChildren provides an important focus of vialk for many of ourmembers.To date, national, regional and internationalpreparatory events have taken place so that the final plan ofaction from the Special Session can take into account viewsand perspectives of many different actors. In this changingclimate, the importance of being able to access and effectivelyexchange information within the child rights communitycannot be over-emphasised.

CRIN has developed a virtual theme desk on its website and aregular email service for the Special Session. Both provideregional updates, as well as the latest news, events anddocumentation regarding this important eventAll informationfrom the Child Rights Caucus is available on CR1N's website.At the preparatory meetings themselves, CRIN provides dailycoverage by email and in printed format.

In this issue Per Miljeteig opens the suite of articles on theSpecial Session with a considered yet optimistic reflection onthe benefits of involvement 'in the Special Session process.However, Philip Veerman introduces a note of cautionregarding the process and questions whether the wide scaleparticipation in the Special Session will actually do anything topromote child rights at all.Will it bring about increasedgovernment commitment and resulting.shifts in economicpolicy to invest in children's well-being nationally.

This warning is to be taken seriously.With the second draft ofthe Outcome Document 'A World Fit for Children',recommendations to bave a more rights-based approach wereignored.There were improvements in the third draft butMember States failed to agree on a final Outcome Document.

An article from the Child Rights Caucus outlines how thisgroup (on behalf of hundreds of NGOs) has formulated a'Children's Rights Agenda for the Coming Decade'.This group

is advocating for an Outcome Document that is in effect anaction plan for the full implementation of the Convention onthe Rights of the Child.

In addition, we bring together a wide range of diverse views toillustrate the multifarious activities, different agendas andvoices that all connect to the Special Session in some way.There are regional case studies and another author remindsus that many issues need to be addressed before there ismeaningful participation of children and young people ininternational events.We also look at the Global Movement forChildren an initiative spearheaded by six large organisationsand Nelson Mandela abc1 Grata Machel.And one author urgesthe child rights and the small arms communities to redoubletheir efforts, and calls on them to bridge the gap between tworelated UN meetings: the Special Session on Children and theUN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms.and LightWeapons in all its Aspects.

The Special Session will focus on a number of clear goals andtargets. One of these goals infant and under-five mortalityseems likely to reiterate.the promise made in 1990. But threeof the goals (malnutrition, maternal mortality and access tosafe drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities) actuallyretreat from 1990 promises.

The end-decade review of follow-up to the World Summit forChildren is expected to announce that some progress wasmade since 1990, but that actual achievement of its targetswas less than impressive. Infant and under-five mortality onlydeclined by I4.percent (rather than the goal of 33 percent),malnutrition declined by 17 percent (rather than 50 percent),there was little redUction in maternal mortality (rather than a50 reduction) and universal access to safe drinking water andhygienic sanitation facilities is far from a reality.

Government commitment to a global agenda for childrenmust be measured, first, by actual achievements of the goals ofthe World Summit for Children.Tempered with this sense ofrealism the second litmus test should cpmpare goals of theSpecial Session on Children withpromises made at the WorldSummit for Children.

If the world community, the UN General Assembly andMember States are truly to renew this commitment tochildren then they should not retreat from the 1990 goals.

The real challenge to NGOs, young people and other parts ofcivil society will be to ensure that the UN General Assemblyand Member States make a commitment to real action thatcan, and will, be monitored, measured and implemented.Theirpromise to the world's children must build on.promises of thepast ai articulated both by the World Summit on Children andthe Convention on the Rights of the Child.

66 CRON NEWSLETTER 5

news Tound-up

News round-up

New Global Initiative to end all corporal punishmentof children

A new Global Initiative has been launched to speed up theprohibition of all corporal punishment of children.internationally. Its key message is that children have the samehuman right as adults to be protected from any form ofviolence, which includes being hit and humiliated.In most States world-wide, many children, including babies,continue to be subjected to corporal punishment, significantnumbers of whom suffer serious-injury as a result. In manycountries outside Europe, teachers continue to have authorityto beat pupils and in at least 50 countries, whipping ofjuveniles is still used as a ,sentence of the courts or aspunishment in penal.institutions.Through its work, the Global Initiative aims to:

launch a wide information and education campaign topromote proper caring for, and eliminate violence against,children;forge an international alliance of human rights agencies, keyindividuals and international and national non-governmental organisations to unite against corporalpunishment;make corporal punishment of children visible by building aglobal map of its prevalence and legal status, ensuring thatchildren's views are heard, and charting progress towardsending it;lobby governments to systematically ban all forms ofviolence including corporal punishment and to developpublic education programmes; and,provide technical assistance to support states with thesereforms.

This initiative was launched during the Human RightsCommission session in Geneva in April 2001 and is alreadysupported by the High Commissioner for Human Rightsamongst others. Further information is available from thefollowing website: www.endcorporalpunishment.org. TheGlobal Initiative is now asking NGOs to sign up to itsstatement of aims. Further information about this can beobtained by emailing: info@endcorporalpunishmentorg

Source: info@endcorporaIpunishment:org

Macedonian mayors commit to children

The recently formed Mayor's Association, comprising mayorsfrom each of Macedonia's 123 municipalities, and young peoplefrom UNICEF supported Babylon youth centres, attended thelaunch of Macedonia's 'Say YES for Children' campaign as partof national level activities relating to the Global Movement forChildren on April 26 2001. Amongst the many activities whichtook place at tht launch was the adoption of 'The Declarationof an Agenda for Children' and an announcement of the'Mayor's Alliance for Children'. Delegates at the launchcommitted themselves to following the principles enshrined in,

6 CRON NEWSLETTER

the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the five-yearstrategy plan of the Mayor's Association, which will be co-ordinated with the nation's Ombudsperson for Children.TheMayor's Alliance for Children includes commitments to furtherthe welfare and rights of the country's children.These includereviewing and including goals for children in the Association'sstrategy; providing training in child rights; development of localaction plans with children; using the Mayor's Alliance to'establish child-friendly cities and including young people incitizens' meetings or on the boards of decision-makingcouncils. For further information, contact Monique Thormann.(mthormann@unicef.org)

Source: UNICEF

'The Berlin Commitment - pledging to create anenvironment fit for children

The Conference on Children in Europe and Central Asia,hosted by the' Foreign Ministries of Germany and Bosnia and .

Herzegovina with the support of UNICEF, (May 16 18 2001)served as a regional prelude to the first ever UN GeneralAssembly Special Session on Children. Delegates from over SIcountries across Europe and Central Asia and the Holy Seemade a special pledge known as 'The Berlin Commitment' tocreate an environment fit for children in the region.The 'Berlin Commitment' outlines goals for furtherdevelopment of child-friendly policies in the different Statesover the next 10 years.The conference is the culmination of aseries of consultations between governments, civil societies,NGOs, young people, UNICEF, other UN agencies, the EU, theCouncil of Europe, OSCE and other regional bodies,.alldedicated to improving the lives of children. Continueddiscussions in Berlin, in addition to the 'Berlin Commitment',will also result in a detailed report outlining strategies andrecommendations for action.This is the first time thatgovernments from Europe and Central Asia have cometogether and jointly committed themselves to further theefforts of implementing the Convention on the Rights of theChild.In brief, the 'Berlin Commitment' r'ecognises that children:

are citizens in their own right;must be consulted and involved in issues concerning them;and thatinvesting in their development is the key to building apeaceful and prosperous society.

Furthermore, it focuses on the importance of:adjusting national legislation;providing the necessary funding;monitoring progress; and,taking other action necessary to realise the rights ofchildren.

The 'Berlin Commitment' comprises a 20-point plan whichlists key undertakings to combat and address poverty andsocial exclusion, violence and abuse, the severe impact of

67

news vound-up(Az

transition in many countries, health and environmentalquestions, inter-generational justice, the state of education andthe importance of on-going participation of children andyoung people in decisions that affect their lives.

Source: UNICEF www.uniceforenewslineJ0lor47.htm

United Nations General Assembly Special Session onHIV/AIDS

Alarmed by the accelerating epidemic and its global impact,the United Nations General Assembly has decided to convenea Special Session on HIV/AIDS at the highest.political level.Tobe held from 25 to 27 June 2001 in New York, the SpecialSession aims to intensify international action to fight theepidemic and to mobilise the required resources.At theSpecial Session, high-level national delegations will discusswhich action plans have proven most effective in addressingthe AIDS situation in their own countries and what next stepsare needed. Interactive round-tables will bring togethergovernment leaders,AIDS activists and experts and privatesector partners to focus on key issues. Given the urgency ofthe epidemic, governments at the Special Session are expectedto agree on a Declaration of.Commitment that will outlinepriority areas where stronger action must be taken.These arelikely to include prevention, improved access to care andtreatment, care of children orphaned by AIDS, expandedpublic/private sector partnerships, the needfor an acceleratedmulti-sectoral response to the epidemic end for'resourcescommensurate with the crisis. In addition, it is expected thatthe Special Session will set a number of new concrete targetsfor action to fight HIV/AIDS, building on goals adopted atprevious United Nations fora.These include the target agreedby some 150 heads of State and Government at the UNMillennium Summit in September 2000, to halt and begin toreverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

Source: UNAIDS www.un.orgiga/aids/

The situation of children in Sudan

In a report issued on 16 May 2001, Save the Children (UK), aleading international children's charity, said that time is runningout to prevent a major disaster in west Sudan. In the worstaffected areas, one in three children are already suffering frommalnutrition. Despite repeated warnings to the UKGovernment and the international commuhity, children aredying due to lack of food, water and emergency medicaltreatment.Almost one million people are directly affected by atwo-year drought in Darfur in west Sudan.The nutritionalstatus of children is now at alarming levels with no prospectfor improvement unless immediate action is taken. It will besix months before any harvest is due and all copingmechanisms are now breaking down. Over 400,000 people arecritically short of water. More and more people are moving

WM' COPY AVAILABLE

into the towns in search of food to survive. It is expected thatrates of malnutrition, destitution and mortality will continueto rise over the next few months.

Source: Save the Children Press Office,Tel: +44 (0)20 7716 2280: Email:

press@scfultorg.uk

Cete d'Ivoire focuses on integrating Liberian childrenin education

Many Liberians sought refuge in COte d'Ivoire during the1990s as civil war tore their country apart.Thd end of thewar made voluntary repatriations possible, and these began in1997, organised by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees'(UNHCR). However, about 120,000 Liberians opted to remainin COte d'Ivoire. For the past 10 years, UNHCR and otheragencies have been paying for the refugee children to go toschools administered by the Adventist Relief Aid Agency(ADRA) and run acco'rding to the Liberian education system.However since the Liberians' situation is no longer an'emergency', UNHCR proposed that the lvorian governmenttake over their schooling.The proposed integration of thesechildren into schools prompted a recent meeting of officials ofthe Ivorian Ministries of Education and Defence and CivilProtecticin, Liberian and other education specialists andrepresentatives of UN agencies and international NGOs. Côted'Ivoire's authorities hope to integrate some 20,000 Li6erianchildren into the education system in the next school year,which starts in October but has misgivings about how thisproject can be fully supported. In addition, participants at thismeeting (Yamoussoukro, 15 May 2001) noted that, for thesuccessful and complete integration of Liberian children in theIvoirian education system, a number of hurdles must beovercome.The meeting enabled participants to examine thetechhical and socio-psychological obstacles facing theproposed project. Participants suggested a series ofrecommendations to ensure the successful implementation ofthis project.

Source: UN's IRIN Humanitarian Information Unit. Email: IRIN-WA(girin.ci - 15 May 2001

SADG moves to eliminate child labour in South Africa

The quest to stop the most abusive forms of childexploitation has entered a new era with the implementationof the International Convention to Eliminate Child Labourafter a speedy ratification by more than 40 countries, seven ofthem Southern African Development Community (SADC)member states.These SADC members, Botswana, Malawi,Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa and Zimbabwe,ratified the convention by 16 January. SADC ExecutiveSecretary, Prega Ramsamy said the region was committed tothe elimination of all forms of child labour."Our, member

are continuing to take various measures, including

CRON NEWSLETTER 7

news round-up

ratification of relevant conventions and the establishment ofdata banks to address the matter". According to.the ILO, 250million children between the ages of five and 14 work indeveloping countries and about 80 million of these are inAfrica.

Source: Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SADC)

www.sardc.nededitorial/sanf/2001/Iss6/Nf 1. html

Egyptian Parliament partially approves AfricanChildren's Charter

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal el-Shazli announcedthat Egypt's Parliament has recently approved most of theAfrican Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child(African Children's Charter). However, some parts have beenrejected as they are contrary to Islamic law and Egyptiantradition.The Organization of African Unity (0AU)-sponsoredcharter, which has been in force since Niwember 1999, aimsto protect children from economic exploitation, child abuseand substance abuse. EI-Shazli cited certain clauses as being .

objectionable such as for example, clauses permittingadoption, setting the minimum marriage age for girls at 18 andoutlawing death sentences for pregnant and nursing women.He said Islam forbids adoption and that Egypt allows bothmarriage at 16 years of age and executions of women as earlyas two months after childbirth. Further information about theAfrican Children's Rights Charter can be viewed atwww.unhcr.ch/refworld/legal/instruments/children/afr_e.htm.

Source: UN Foundation. i I May 2001 (Reuters/CNN.com, 6 May)

http://wwWenn.com/20017WORLD/meast/OS/06/rights.eceptchildren.reutlindex.html

Jordan conference calls for the end to recruitment.ofchild soldiers

A conference on child soldiers in Ammandordan, concludedwith a call to end the recruitment of children, including girls,as soldiers and for the protection of children living underoccupation.The three-day meeting Was organised by UNICEF,the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and theJordanian Institute of Diplomacy. Its final declaration called onstates to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention on theRights of the Child that deals with the use of child soldiersbefore the UN General Assembly Special Session on Childrentakes place in September 200I.The conference's finaldeclaration noted the correlation between child'soldiers andthe supply of small arms and also called on governments toprevent companies from promoting the use of children inconflict situations. However, with the case of Palestine,participants concluded that Palestinian children had not beensystematically recruited to fight but had been caught up inviolence in the region (Barbara Plea, BBC Online, 10 Apr)."Itis fair to say the situation in Palestine has cast a long shadow

8 CRON NEWSLETTER 4

over this conference," said Rory Mungoven, Coordinator ofthe child soldiers coalition."But at the same time, we areconcerned for children everywhere. Children are fighting anddying in every region of the world and we owe it to all ofthem:' With more than 300, 000 child soldiers fighting inarmed conflicts worldwide, it is hoped that this call for puttinga stop to the further recruitment of child soldiers will besuccessful.

Source: UN Foundation www.unfoundation.org

A gift to the children of the 2Ist century - globalcampaign to eradicate polio

As we enter a new millennium, the world has an historicopportunity to take concerted global action on behalf of theworld's children'and their future. Polio is caused by a virusthat attacks the nervous system, resulting in paralysis andsometimes death.Throughout history, polio has crippledmillions of people, mostly very young children from all socialclasses, both rich and poor.Today, between 10 and 20 millionpeople of all ages are living with polio paralysis, which isalmost always irreversible.And while thousands of new casesoccur each year, more than 150 nations are now polio-free,and the disease has been eradicated in 90 percent of theworld.The global polio eradication effort, co-ordinated by theWorld Health Organization (WHO), is a collaboration of

, many public and private partners, including the United NationsChildren's Fund (UNICEF), which provides the oral poliovaccine; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control'and Prevention,which offers technical expertise; and the service OrganisationRotary International, whose 1.2 million members in 159countries have made polio eradication the main focus of theirfund-raising and volunteering.There are five steps which mustbe.taken to eradicate polio: routine immunisation, massimmunisation, establishment of a surveillance system (toreport suspected Cases early on),'mop-up' campaigns to keepthe virus at bay, and finally, certification.

Source:The UN Foundation. www.unfoundadon.org/spodight/polio.cfrn

69

BESTCOPY AVAILABLE

f0000w-up on macroeconomks

Figuring out the true pictureNew studies of national budgets have shed fresh light on just how much is being done for children.Kalle Elofsson, Kenneth Melin, and Sven Winberg report.

Save the Children Sweden has been involved in the area ofmacroeconomics and children for some years.As independentconsultant Stefan de Vylder points out in his article The BigPicture (CRIN Newsletter 13, November 2000), each area ofmacroeconomics has an impact on children. Here we look atthe role of fiscal policies, an area of growing interest and oneclosely linked to Article 4 of the Convention on the Rights ofthe Child.

Embedded in national and regional budgets are the answers asto how States parties 'to the maximum extent of theiravailable resources and, where needed, within the frameworkof international co-operation' (Article 4 tif the CRC) translatetheir commitments to children into actual resources.

Ten years on from the Convention's signing, questions arebeing raised on just how much is being done for children andhow policies are reflected in budget allocations.

To provide more much-needed information about this, Savethe Children Sweden launched the International Child-focusedBudget Study Project supporting initiatives in seven countries(Ethiopia, El Salvador, Palestine, Perti, South Africa, Sweden andVietnam) to undertake analyses of state budgets. For all theparticipants in the study (exeept South Africa) it is a first steptowards understanding how state budgets are built up and

.uge.010. ,At

how children figure in policies and especially budgetexpenditure.

Some initial findings from the study show the following.

Generally, the intentions from the states favour theimplementation of child rights. Many have increased spendingtowards fulfilling the rights of children, but in most cases, theincreases are insufficient or insignificant. Most of the budgetslack detail on how big a share of the budget is directed atchildren in the health and social welfare sectors.

In Ethiopia, where an ambitious National Progi-amme of Actionfor Children and Women was developed, it was found that thisprogramme was not used at all by implementing agencies andthe Government in terms of budget allocations and activities.

In South Africa, children in general and poor children inparticular have been given attention, both in terms of policiesand in actual budgeting. Education expenditure favourschildren and has been redirected to the poorer segments ofthe society.Thirty percent of the health budget is directed toservices for children, a share that is set to increase. Howeverthis is not enough. Service delivery towards children's rights inhealth, nutrition and education is still poor compared with .

other countries with similar income levels.

o 0 C

L

IMINAAPC.Ik;

1,010,4,Mi2sIMS___1

. t3

-al

ii+

7 0

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

CRON IMEWSLETrER 9

folOow-up on macroeconomOcs

In Palestine, a National Plan of Action for children was backedby the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Expenditure on basiceducation has increased dramatically as a result andparticipation in basic education rose by 43 percent. However,social welfare spending has decreased and only recently havechildren been seen as a priority.

In Vietnam, a National Plan of Action for children was adoptedin 1991 with four top objectives including education for allchildren. Spending on education grew from 12 to 15 percentof the state budget between 1990 and 1997 - a dramaticincrease in real terms; the country's gross domestic product(GDP) went up by 75 percent during this period.Theincreased spending also resulted in more school pupils beingenrolled; from 89 percent in 1992 to 97 percent in 1997.However, those vulnerable poor children remain excluded.

In Sweden, a country that is considered one of the bettercountries in terms of child rights, children were still adverselyaffected by welfare cuts resulting from the financial crisis inthe early 1990s. It was children in particular, who felt theeffects of this crisis, which is not in line with the Convention.

The lack of detail about how children are targeted in thebudgets makes it hard to estimate to what extent increasedspending on social services actually benefits children. It isgenerally assumed that such spending does benefit them. Poorspecification also makes it harder to see the links betweenwhat was actually spent at the local levels on childrencompared with national policies.The studies revealed the poordata concerning children. Not only was it difficult to see howmuch was actually spent, but it was even harder to see towhat extent spending adequately addressed children's needsand secured their rights.

In several of the countries decentralisation is going ahead,something positive for children, as it means that decisionsabout who gets what would be at a local level and closer tothose it concerns.

In Sweden, where decentralisation has developed further, thestudy pinpointed certain problems with this process.While theresponsibility for the budget priorities moves down to locallevels, it is still the State that has signed the Convention. Localauthorities have their own agendas and priorities and, in thiscontext, it becomes increasingly difficult for the State toguarantee a quality education for all.

10 CRON NEWSLETTER 71

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

loillow-up macroscortomks

It requires competence and effort to get an overview and.understanding of the complicated state budget and its process.Aggregated data, several ministries sharing responsibilities,foreign development assistance with programmes,targeted atchildren and domestic prOgrammes outside the regular budgetall make understanding this process even more complicated.However, it is worth the effort, since some of the studies fromthe project indicate openings and possibilities as to how thebudget process can be influenced. Helping politiciansunderstand the implications can shift attention in children'sfavour.

The ratification of the Convention in the countriesparticipating in the study (except for Palestine) put a focus onchildren's rights at both the policy and planning levels.Spending has increased in some areas that affect children,most notably that of education (although not Sweden).However, it seems likely that increased spending still fails toreach a country's poorest and most vulnerable young people.

The next step

Economists in the field of children's rights have introducednew ideas about identifying and understanding the structuralmechanisms that violate children's rights. Progress is beingmade but much work remains to be done. Informal networksbetween all those involved in children's rights work have to betightened and multidisciplinary approaches must be developed.Precise data regarding children's lives can help put their needsat the centre of the macroeconomic debate, but this requirescontributions from different sources.

Ka Ile Elofsson and Kenneth Me lin are programme officers at Ridda Barnen. SvenWinberg is a senior advisor at Radda Barnen.

Issue 13 of the CRIN Newsletter on 'Children and Macroeconomics can be downloadedIn electronic format from www.crin.oreclocs/resources/publications/CRINvol I 4e.pdf.Hard copies available from CRIN (see address on back cover or email us atinfo@crin.org).

RESTCOPYAVAILABLE

.4. CRON NEWSLETTER 11

di\ follow-up on mocroeconomks

Poor, excuses for child povertyMarie Wernham introduces the International A'ction Against Child Poverty Initiative.

A major conference on child poverty held in London on 26February 2001 sparked a series of questions and led to anunusually broad spectrum of NGOs and faith groups joiningtogether in an on-going attempt to answer them.Actionagainst child poverty is urgent, complicated and largely ignoredor misunderstood in macroeconomics.Targets have been setand the justification for immediate action based on the bestinterests of the child is clear.

The conference in London was convened by the UKChancellor, Gordon Brown, and the UK Secretary of State forInternational Development, Clare Short and therebyacknowledged the trend to integrate development and financepolicy. It was also attended by the leaders of the World Bank,the IMEthe United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) andthe United Nations Development Programrne(UNDP) as wellas representatives from developed and developing countries,NGOs and faith groups.

/

12 CRON NEWSLETTER4:*

An informal coalition of 16 NGOs and faith groups joinedtogether to produce a comprehensive discu'ssion paper for theconference entitled 'A Six Point Plan for Eliminating ChildPoverty' based around the International Development Targets(IDTs).This contained a framework of action and adopts achild-centred approach which addresses the following areasholistically and coherently: macroeconomics (including moresustainable and predictable expenditure, untying aid, increaseddebt cancellation); education; health; HIV/AIDS; trade andinvestment; and the root causes of conflict and violence.

Discussions included specific proposals for a global purchasefund to provide cheap vaccines againsfchildhood diseases; taxincentives to accelerate research into affordable drugs andvaccines for the poor; tax credits on donations of drugs andvaccines from the pharmaceutical industry; and new funds foruniversal primary education by the UK and Italiangovernments.

The NGOs and faith groups greeted these developments withcautious optimism.The widespread acknowledgement of thecentrality of children to poverty reduction and thecommitments made by different groups of actors on the daywere strongly supported. However, in response, the grouprequested greater specificity on the health and educationinitiatives, especially on Trade Related aspects of IntellectualProperty rights (TR1Ps), delivery systems, the integration ofthe new funds with nationally-owned education strategies andthe need for quality, appropriate and accessible education.Theissues of monitoring progress, the need to internationalise theinitiative and concern at the omission of environmental andarms control issues were also raised.

Some key questions which the NGOs and faith groups arespecifically interested in are:

Who bears responsibility for the achievement of the 2015IDTs especially those relating to child poverty?How can actors ai diverse as the World Bank, the IMF, theUN, governments from developed and developingcountries, NGOs, faith groups, the research communityand the private sector work together to end childpoverty?Is such collaboration feasible?Is it possible or even desirable to run a global campaign onchild poverty ? Child poverty is an extremely complexissue which cuts across a range of processes andmacroeconomics themes, including Poverty ReductionStrategy Papers (PRSPs), debt, trade and aid and theirimpacts on education, health, livelihoods and conflict.Can we recreate 'Jubilee 2000' - a global movementagainst child poverty or are we in new campaigningterritory?

73

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

LoxplikmfoOlow-up on trnacvoeconomics

However, despite the fear that this would prove to be yetanother case of 'business as usual' once the players left theroom, it was apparent that this conference offered somethingdifferent.This could be seen from the sheer diversity of actorsinvolved and the presence of so many 'heavyweights' from theinternational financial sector.This inspired NGOs and faithgroups to form an official coalition, International ActionAgainst Child Poverty on 24 April.This coalition intends tomove the initiative forward, maintaining pressure on the actorspresent at the February conference. It will work towards theachievement of the IDTs, but also aims to influence the way inwhich these processes take place, in order to ensure themainstreaming of children into decision-making at all levelsand the meaningful participation of those affected by suchdecisions.

In order to help manage the coalition, sub-groups will help thegroup move forward in terms of structure, funding anddefining its relationship to the Global Movement for Children(GMC) They will also look at an action-oriented programmeof work which is linked to forthcoming events, such as theanntial meetings of the World Bank and IMF, the G8 meeting inGenoa in July and of course, the UN Special Session on.Children in September.The coalition seeks to use existingframeworks, such as these meetings, to monitor progress. Itwill campaign for child-centred, holistic approaches to povei-tyreduction to be included in all meetings of the financial sector.

A strategy of consultation to facilitate ownership of theinitiative by southern civil society, children and young peoplethemselves is being developed.

One thing that is becoming increasingly clear amid thequestions and complexities is that unless all the processes andthemes of poverty reduction are treated more holistically, withthe rights of the child mainstreamed during policy makingdecisions, then it is likely that 2015 will come and go with apredictable, if shameful, lack of cause for celebration.International Action Against Child Poverty is committed toensuring that this will not be the case in the belief that thereis no excuse for child poverty in the twenty-first century.

Marie Wernham Is the advocacy officer at the Consortium for Street Children, a group of

over 30 NGOs that supports projects for street-living and street.working children and

children at risk of taking to street life In Africa,Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

The Consortium for Street Children Is a member of the International Action Against

Child Poverty coalition.

B t.WFo y AVAILABLE 74GRIN NEWSLETTER 13

;,

1,7:411111111111,

0

""

P lat'a H

oward D

avies / Save the C

hildren

.;

' -4611W4

11111kJ-

oi\ special session on children

The Special Session - so good so farPer Miljeteig is closely involved in the preparations for September and here offers an insider's view of theprocess

The UN Gene;a1Assembly Special Session on Children is a high

profile meeting of Heads of States, Governments, UN bodies 'and

other agencies including non-governmental organisations (NG0s)that will take place in September 2001 in New York. this meetinghas been convened to review and evaluate the progress achievedfor children since the World Summit for Children in 1990 whichtook place less than one year after the UN Convention on theRights of the Child (CRC) was adopted. Such a momentous eventcannot be prepared for overnight and indeed, since the SpecialSession was convened in 1999 (Resolution 54/93), manypreparations at national, regional and international level have takenplace, the results of which will feed into the Special Session itselfThe process is particularly interesting since participation from awide range of stakeholders is encouraged, resulting in theinvolvement of NGOs (at both international and grassroots levels),faith gmups, youth groups, alliances and coalitions of organisations

as well as the more traditional involvement of Governments andrelevant UN agencies.

Safely returned from New York, the epicentre of distortedproportions, it is time to reflect and bring things back to theirright place.What felt like a big and boisterous fair when I wasstill in the middle of the second Preparatory Committeemeeting for the Special Session gradually takes on differentmeanings.There are three Preparatory Committee meetings inadvance of the Special Session itself, which took place 30 Mayto 2 June 2000, 29 January to 2 February 2001 and II to 15June 2001.

The most potent image is that of.the magic that happenswhen you bring together different people of all ages from allparts of the world.After a week of wall-to-wall meetings inthe stuffy and not-so-glamorous basement suite of conferencerooms in the United Nations building, a lot of energy isgenerated.There are endless meetings with heatednegotiations and arguments over linguistic details.And thenthere is the noble art of reading accreditation passes thatenable participants to see where in the hierarchy they havebeen placed arid which doors they might open. Some of the

' energy that is created during this process evaporates butsome is highly positive and communicates itself to others.

One could wonder what the point of getting involved in theUN hype is. It is worth spending the time and energy on suchthings that are so far removed from the daily reality that mostof us face? This question remains to be resolved, as we havenot come to the end of the Special Session process yet.

Being over half way through the process, my feeling is that it isworth being involved. It makes sense to invest energy in thisprocess and to participate in it. NGOs in particular have aspecial responsibility to be even more alert and energetic inthe subsequent rounds.There are several reasons for this andI will mention some below.

First, this is one of the rare times when the UN is invaded byhordes of real people, including children, who shake up theusual diplomatic patronage.The Special Session process isunique because it is open to, and encourages the participationof, grassroots NGOs that would otherwise never get close tothe UN.The enormous and diverse body of expertise thatthese people represent together adds a much broaderperspective to the discussions than are normally seen at UNconferences.

Second, those who came to the second PreparatoryCommittee meeting were all highly committed representinglarge constituencies.That means that they are not onlyspeaking for themselves, but for millions of others.They alsohave a lot of people to work with on their return from NewYork. In that way, the Special Session and its preparations. havea ripple effect with an impact on a large number of people.Equally a very large number of people, through theirrepresentatives, have a big effect on what is going on in NewYork, at these representative come, not only from the big,international NGOs, but also from small, grassrootsorganisations or national coalitions of NGOs.

n

A !.

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

CRIN NEWSLETTER 15

speciai session on chiicken

I am convinced that, despite its chaotic appearance, child rightsNGOs have never operated in so orderly and focusecramanner at a UN meeting before.There is a long tradition ofconstructive collaboration between NGOs to promotechildren's rights and to join forces to influence governmentsand the UN.The Convention on the Rights of the Child hasbecome our guiding tool and provides a framework for thework that we do.This is demonstrated effectively with theexample of the Child Rights Caucus, an alliance comprising alarge number of NGOs which now appears with a 'nocompromise' agenda aiming to give children's rights thehighest and sharpest possible profile in the Special Session.However, on several occasions recently, some groups withextreme views tried to take over this agenda, yet they failedbecause they promoted views that were against the spirit ofthe CRC.They also failed because they underestimated the

16 CRON NEWSLETTER

coherence among the other NGOs even when tliey tried toovertly influence the process.Whilst they generated a lot ofannoyance and created unpleasant situations, they did notmanage to have the impact they expected.

The Child Rights Caucus is an excellent example of whatNGOs can achieve if they work together. It has already had asignificant impact on the draft Outcome Document and therevised versions of this draft. This Plan of Action 'A World Fitfor Children', will outline a renewed commitment and pledgefor specific actions for children for the coming decade.TheChild Rights Caucus has managed to establish a position vis-A-vis UNICEF and the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee,which means that their views are carefully listened to.Thealmost endless work of a small Caucus drafting committeethroughout the week might seem like a waste of time andenergy, yet the fact is that this work greatly helped the officialdrafting committee, because it gathered and put in placecomments and suggested amendments to the original text,paragraph by paragraph.These comments respond directly tothe weaker parts of the draft, and are framed in language thatpromotes and strengthens the principles of the Convention.

Finally, I am hopeful because of the commitment thatgovernments seem to have to this process. Large numbers ofexperts from the world's cities filled many of the delegations'seats.They listened attentively. Of course, there was a lot ofritual UN speak, but this enormous mobilisation shows thatgovernments feel compelled to take the Special Session and itspreparations seriously. Despite the many, and sometimescompletely unrelated, agendas that might inspire governments'engagement, the NGO community should interpret this as apositive development. Our role in the rest of the process, andits follow-up, will be to serve as constant reminders of thecommitments that the Special Session will finally formalise thisSeptember: commitments that speak to all of us governmentand non-government alike, at both the global and local level.

Per Miljeteig is leader of the Forum for Barnekonvenslonen -The Norwegian NGO

coalition for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

For more information about the Special Session. visit UNICEFs website at

www.uniceforespecialsession or CRIN's website at wwwtrin.org/specialsession

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

special session on children

Factfi le.Resolthion 54/93 - Special SesIon of the Genet al Asseunbh in 2001 foi follow-up lo the Woad Summit lom

Children

The General Assembly, the highest policy-making body of the

United Nations. issued Resolution 54/93 on 7 December 1999

to convene a Special Session on Children to be held on 19-21

September 2001 in New York, USA

The resolution comprises 22 paragraphs that outline theSpecial Session and the process i unning up CO It

Why have a Special Session on Children?

The resolution states that the purpose of the Special Session

is to review the achievement of the goals of the WorldSummit for Children. Furthermoi e, it calls foi a renewedcommitment for future action for children in the next decade,

in the light of the resulting review of progress achieved since

the World Summit for Children It invites the participation of

Heads of State and Governments in the Special Session

How? What is the Process?

The resolution emphasises the importance of establishing aparticipatory process at national, regional and internationallevels and encourages par tnet ships between a wide range of

stakeholders, including children and young people. so thatmomentum required co take forwar d childi en's rights andneeds will be achieved It also sets up the process of an open-ended Preparatory Committee comprising member staterepresentatives. so chat organisational issues can be addressed

(including the participation of a broad range of actors, agendasetting and preparing for the outcome of the Special Session

itself)

Who should Participate?

The resolution encourages the full participation of memberstates and furthermore, invites Heads of States and

Governments to assign personal representatives to thePreparatory Committee

It requests that the Secretary-General with support horn

UNICEF, provides regular and substantive input to thepreparatory process as well as at the Special Session itself

This includes the preparation of a report outlining emergingissues for consideration at the first Preparatory Committee

meeting

78

ato

Avigentte

1111

f

CRIN NEWSLETTER

BESTCOPYAVA1LABLE

17

11/, ...,..i special session on children

By this resolution, other organisations and bodies of theUnited Nations system are invited to actively participate inthe preparations for the Special Session and it requests that aco-ordinated response resulting from this wider participationis provided to the Special Session. Furthermore, it invites theCommittee on the Rights of the Child to provide its input tothe preparatory process and at the Special Session itself.

In addition, the resolution also invites other relevant expertsto participate in the preparatory process, such as the SpecialRepresentative for Children and Armed Conflict and otherrelevant actors in the implementation of the Plan of Action,including non-governmental organisations (NG05).This isparticularly important from the NGO perspective, as theimportance of their active involvement in the preparatoryprocess is formally emphasised.

How to Participate in the Special Session

The resolution broadly outlines key ways in whichstakeholders can participate in the Special Session and thepreparatory process.This includes the following.Governments and other relevant organisations, particularlyUNICEF, are invited to undertake progress reviews since theWorld Summit for Children and are encouraged to developpreparatory activities at national, regional and internationallevels.This will contribute to the preparations for the SpecialSession and will also facilitate partnerships for and withchildren.The resolution reiterates its request for the Secretary-General to submit a review of the implementation and resultsof the World Declaration and Plan of Action.This shouldemphasise best practice and problems encountered during theimplementation phase.To ensure an even broader range ofstakeholders involved in the process. States members ofspecialised agencies that are not members of the UN areinvited to participate in the Special Session process asobservers.

Equality in Participation

The importance of full participation of least developedcountries in the Special Session process was recognised and inorder to support the attendance of such countries, it wasrecommended that Governments be invited to makecontributions to a trust fund with this purpose in mind.

Assistance in Implementation

The resolution requests that the Secretary-General assistsnational Governments in their assessment of. and reportingon, the implementation of the World Summit for Children Planof Action, if they request such support.

Information and Communications/Documentation

The Secretary-General is also requested to work closely withUNICEF to mount a public information campaign so thatawareness of children's needs and rights and the SpecialSession itself are heightened. Governments are encouraged todo this on a national basis.

Adapted from: Special Session of the General Assembly in 2001 for follow-up to the

World Summit for Children. Resolution 54/93. adopted by the General Assembly on 7

December 1999. [A/RES/54/93. dated 17 December 1999]

(Source: www,unicef.org/specialsession/docurnent.hung

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

\\\ spec600 sessi n on chiOdren

A critical review of the Special SessionWhat's the ioint of attending the Special Session? Philip Veerman poses some searching questions.

Nearly 200 world leaders and a staggering 3,683 non-governmental organisations (NG0s) are invited to participatein New York in the United Nations Special Session of theGeneral Assembly on Children in September. The purpose isto reconfirm a global commitment to children at the onset ofthe new millennium. However, whilst the Special Sessionmight bring together Heads of State and NGOs and willundoubtedly be accompanied by a storm of publicity andphoto opportunities, the question is, what will it actually do topromote children's rights?

Will it bring about the 'momentous shift in nationalinvestments for child survival and development' called for byUNICEF's Executive Director, Carol Bellamy? Will it bringabout more commitments by governments and reconfirmationof previous yet unmet commitments and put children higheron the political agenda?

It doesn't look like either will happen.

The political will seems to be lacking to use this GeneralAssembly Special Session to change course and to announcemajor commitments.This might include rich countries givingdebt relief to poor countries. Jan Vandemoortele, formerly achief policy analyst of UNICEF, now working for UNDP, wrotethat 'if the world were to invest an extra 30 cents out of

every $100, then all children could be healthy, well-nourishedand in primary school' (CRIN Newsletter 13, pp 30,November 2000 ).

By the end of.May flurries of preparatory meetings hadresulted in a second revised draft Outcome Document for theSeptember meeting.The document, ambitiously titled 'A WorldFit for Children', which is now being presented to diplomatsand NGOs, is full of nice words but makes little mention ofgovernment responsibility.The document states, for example,that 'access to education is a human right' but does notmention a commitment to public education.This therebyprovides an escape clause for governments.And it is worthnoting that 113 million children (most of them girls) are.currently out of school.

The document also calls upon the nations of the world to 'putchildren first' and states that "In all undertakings, the bestinterests of the child shall.always be our primaryconsideration".

An. \

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

5,

`v, yifik

'10(' 4T 1 ,

4, .

so CRIN NEWSLETTER 19

speciai session on chiOdven

My organisation, Defence for Children International, activelyparticipated in the drafting of the UN Convention on theRights of the Child. Since it was adopted in 1989, this humanrights treaty on children has been ratified by all countries inthe world except Somalia, which lacked a central.governmentto do so, and the United States. During the drafting process(and for good reason) we never asked to 'put children first'but simply that the rights of the child be taken no lessseriously than those of other human beings.

The Convention took ten years to finalise and the individualsthat drafted it succeeded in establishing a human rightsapproach for children and marked the end of a mainly charity-based approach to children's issues.

The second revised draft Outcome Document, which wasreleased 17 May, is a weak text that hardly mentions the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child. In fact, in some ways itis weaker than its previous version because the number ofreferences to the Convention on the Rights of the Child hasactually been reduced.The rights perspective has not beenstrengthened; and it is expected that many members of theChild Rights Caucus will be disappointed with this version ofthe document.

Furthermore, the second revised draft Outcome Documentalmost completely bypasses a very urgent problem: thenumber of children in prisons, reform schools and remandhomes is growing at an appalling rate and the pendulum hasswung back to a!punishment' approach, not the neededrehabilitation approach.

There are reasons to worry that the Special Session will notmeet its mark In May the government of the United Statesdiscussed the document with UNICEF.This seems to be anembarrassing attempt to weaken the text even further.

The second revised draft Outcome Document is elaboratelydecorated with well-turned phrases, but lacks substance.

Twelve years after the Convention on the Rights of the Childwas adopted, we live in a.world where:. 30 million infants receive no immunisation and 11 million

die annually from.preventable causes;200 million children are malnourished;250 million children (between five and 14) are'economically active'; and,50-60 million children are engaged in intolerable forms ofchildlabour (300,000 of them being child-soldiers).

20 CRIN NEWSLETTER

This late in the game, can things still be corrected? Can theoutcome from the Special Session on Children be improved?The Third Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committeeheld in June is the last preparatory meeting before the worldleaders finally meet in New York in September. NGOs willcontinue to push for a more rights-basecf approach at thesemeetings, but to date most of the alternative text for therevised Outcome Document seems to be ignored.

All of this raises one critical question that we must askourselves:why be involved in such a costly event when theoutcome seems scandalously low?

Dr. Philip Veerman is the president of Defence for Children International (DC1), an

independent INIGO set up during the International Year of the Child (1979) to ensure on-

going, practical, systematic and concerted international action particularly directed

towards promoting and protecting the.rights of the child.

81

special session on children

Factfi I eWhat has happened il7 the ten .years since the World Su,iiinii jiir Children?

"'

C-

,lasmrs11104:4=,', Ink

In the Declaration and Plan of Action of the World Summit forChildren (WSC) 1990, targets to improve the well being ofchildren worldwide were established.The question to considernow is whether the last decade has seen significant progressin the achievement of these goals.

Some progress has certainly been made, although there is alsoevidence of significant shortfalls. Generally speaking, followingboth the WSC and the adoption of Convention on the Rightsof the Child (1989), children are now higher than ever beforeon public and political agendas.After the World Summit, forexample, 155 countries developed national programmes ofaction (NPAs) aimed at implementing the Summit goals.Therehas been significant follow-up that has been comprehensivelymonitored by a variety of agencies, including UNICEF.

Furthermore, there is increased awareness and commitmentto child rights with the success of the Convention.This hasincluded significant new international standards in such areasas child labour, children in armed conflict and the commercialsexual exploitation of children.The work of the Committeeon the Rights of the Child in promoting implementation of theConvention must also be noted.

In more specific terms the following progress has been made.Peri-natal mortality has significantly decreasedTwo-thirds of neo-tetanus deaths have been preventedPolio has been almost completely eradicatedUse of Oral Rehydration Therapy is now wide-spreadThe use of Vitamin A supplements and salt iodisation hasincreased

However, during the last decade, various factors haveworsened the situation for children.These have included theHIV/AIDS pandemic. political instability and armed conflict,debt, social exclusion and insufficient development assistance.The persistence of poverty in particular is a major barrier tothe achievement of the World Summit goals.The statistics aredaunting: only one-third of low-income countries achieved themajor goals of the World Declaration and Plan of Action forChildren.A summary of gains and unfinished business inachieving the major goals is shown in Box I.

With the Special Session for Children in September 2001comes an opportunity for the international child rightscommunity: an opportunity not only to review progressachieved since the 1990 World Summit, but also to make arenewed commitment to the.children of the world.

Issues previously excluded from the agenda, such as the rightof the child to participate, will need co be supported. Issuesrequiring a clearer mandate, such as child protection and therights of children in difficult circumstances, will be betterarticulated.

The process will benefit from the recognition of the need forclearer targets that will address all situations children enduretoday. Building on past experience, the UN Special Session forChildren should commit itself to developing a new globalagenda for children, supported by renewed vigour andcommitment from the international community to protect andnurture the children of the world.

GRIN NEWSLETTER 21

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

special session on children

Box 1: Meeting the seven major goals adopted by the World Summit for Children balance sheet

Goal

Infant and under-five mortality:reduction by one third in infant mortality andU5MR

Malnutrition: reduction of severe andmoderate malnutrition among under-5children by half

Maternal mortality: reduction between1990 and the year 2000 of the maternalmortality ratio (MMR) by holf

Water: universal access to safe drinkingwater

Universal access to basic education:achievement of primary education by at least80 percent of primary-school-age children

Gains

More than 60 countries achieved thegoal of USMR.

At the global level U5MR declined by14 percent.

Malnutrition declined by 17 percent indeveloping countries. South Americaachieved the goal with a 60 percentreduction in underweight prevalenceover the decade.

There has been heightened awareness ofcauses leading to high MMR. but littletangible progress.

816 million additional people obtainedaccess to improved water supplies overthe decade.

Net primary school enrolment hasincreased in all regions and reached82 percent globally.

Adult literacy: reduction of adult illiteracy Adult illiteracy has declined fromrate to at least half its 1990 rate, with special 25 percent to 21 percent.emphasis on female literacy

Unfinished business

USMR rates increased in 14 countries(9 of them in sub-Saharan Africa) andwere unchanged in 11 others.Serious disparities remain in USMRwithin countries: by income level, urbanvs. rural, and among minority groups.

149 million children are stillmalnourished, two thirds of them inAsia.The absolute number ofmalnourished children has increased inAfrica.

There is no evidence that maternaldeath rates have declined significantlyover the last decade.515,000 women still die every year asa result of pregnancy and childbirth.Awoman in sub-Saharan Africa faces a 1

in 13 chance of dying during pregnancyand childbirth.

Some 1.1 billion people still lack access.Global coverage increased by only 3percent, to 82 percent.Water quality problems have grownmore severe in a number of countriesduring the decade.Coverage in low-income areas remainslow, especially in informal settlements.

Over 100 million children of primaryschool age remain out of school.especially working children, childrenaffected by HIV/AIDS, conflict anddisability, children of the poor orethnic minorities and rural children.

Absolute number of illiterate adults hasremained at about 880 million over thelast decade worldwide, with numbersof illiterates increasing in most regions.Illiteracy is increasingly concentratedamong women, especially in South Asiaand sub-Saharan Africa.

Adapted from:

'We the Children': End-decade review of follow-up co the World Summit for Children.

Report of the Secretary-General (advance unedited copy)

Presentation by Dr. Lincoln Chen. Deputy Executive Director of the Rockefeller

Foundation - First Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Special

Session of the General Assembly for Follow-Up to the World Summit for Children in

2001.30 May 2000. Summaries of Panel discussions a; the First Substantive Session -

excerpt from the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the

ib 4 General Assembly in 2001 for the Follow-up co the World Summit for Children on its

First Substantive Session (A/S5/431(Part II)) Source: www.unicetorespecialsession

BESTCOPY AVAILABLE22 CRIN NEWSLETTER

\1\ special session on children

'Say Yes for Children'UNICEF reports on the launch of the Global Movement for Children

'Say Yes for Children' was the theme of rallies, parades,concerts and street theatre,TV and radio spots in April andMay of this year, as local and national campaigns in more than70 countries kicked off the Global Movement for Children.This is an international collaboration of governments,organisations and individuals committed to improving the livesof.children everywhere.

This movement is represented by two international championsof human rights, Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel, who arereaching out to all leaders and sectors of society woi-ldwide. It-is the initiative of six organisations: the Bangladesh RuralAdvancement Committee (BRAC). Netaid.org Foundation,PLAN International, Save the Children, the United NationsChildren Fund (UNICEF) and World Vision.

The slogan,'Say Yes for Children' was emblazoned on T-shirtsand buttons as well as being printed in newspapers and onleaflets, all for the purpose of expanding and strengthening thecircle of those who would change the way the world viewsand treats children.Activities are planned in at least two dozenother countries leading up to September's Special Session onChildren in New York and will bring attention not only to themeeting but also to the conditions facing children and theirfamilies world-wide and to the ways they can be bettered.

With the 'Say Yes for Children' campaign, hundreds ofthousands of people are signing pledge forms or voting insupport of a child's rights to grow in health, peace and dignity.Voting takes place on the Movement's website (www.gmfc.org)where presidents and queens, government officials andcelebrities, NGO leaders and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs),parents, teachers, children and adolescents themselves arevoting or signing pledge forms.

The pledge for children includes a list of ten imperatives orobligations to children, which are:

Leave no child out;Put children first;Care for every child;Fight HIV/AIDS;Stop harming and exploiting children;Listen to children;Educate.very child;

tr.

- .1 tv,

'f

" -41111... -' .0p '0114

Protect children from war;Protect the earth for 'children; and, .

Fight poverty by investing in children.

'Say Yes for Children' campaign has already had a significantimpact and brought people from around the world together.In Mozambique in early April, film crews taped NelsonMandela, Graca Machel and Kamo Masilo, a 12 year old SouthAfrican boy, cast their pledge on the Global Movement forChildren's website.This was a prelude to the official launch inLondon later that month. In Turkey, Mrs. Nane Annan, wife ofUnited Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, heard childrepresentatives from 41 countries from Central and EasternEurope, the Commonwealth of Independent States and BalticStates challenge countries to go beyond words and make theprotection of children their number one priority. Mrs.Annanthen signed the first pledge for that region. In Mexico City,thousands of children, young people and adults gathered at thelargest children's museum to make their pledge, while inChina,'Say Yes to Children' was launched at a banquet inBeijing's Great Hall of the People.

SayYes and the Special Session on Children

The 'Say Yes for Children' campaign is directly related to whathappens in September at the Special Session for Children.Theten imperatives for action are core to the declaration ofcommitment found in 'A World Fit For Children', thedocument prepared for the Special Session through a series ofregional consultations and preparatory committees.The tallyof the 'Say Yes for Children' pledges, which come in throughthe website and on the printed forms will be presented to thedelegates gathered at the Special Session. Since those signingthe pledge also identify three issues that are most pressing intheir country, the disaggregation of these opinions can providea picture of public aspirations and will serve to informdecisions about policies and programmes.

Beyond the Special Session

But both the lay Yes for Children' campaign and the UNSpecial Session on Children are only the most immediate andmost obvious aspects of the nein, Global Movement forChildren.With its roots in the Convention on the Rights ofthe Child, this new Movement has taken on the challenge oftransforming the world into a place where children arenurtured and protected and where each child is allowed toenjoy the fullness of their rights.While the Global Movementfor Children is the initiative of six organisations, its collectiveforce is a function of the work of.hundreds of NGOs andother international organisations and thousands of individuals,all of whom are driven by their commitment to the rights ofchildren.

UNICEF.

For further Information on the Global Movement for Children, please visit www.gmfc.orgor www.unketorlor contact cwoods@unIcef.org.

8.4

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

.CRIN NEWSLETTER 23

specioD session on chikken

Spotlight on child rightsThe Child Rights Caucus is advocating for a child rights focus at the Special Session but, as Jo Beckerreports, they can't afford to take the pressure off

The Child Rights Caucus involves hundreds of national andinternational non-governmental organisations (NG0s) aroundthe world that are committed to protecting and promotingthe rights of children.The primary goal of the Caucus is topromote full implementation and compliance with theConvention on the Rights of the Child and to ensure thatchild rights are given priority during the Special Session onChildren and its preparatory process.

Recognising that the 1990 World Summit on Children focusedparticularly on issues of survival and development, a focus ofthe Caucus has been to advocate on behalf of the full range ofchildren's rights as expressed in the Convention. As part ofthis effort, one of the first activities of the Caucus was toformulate a 'Children's Rights Agenda for the Coming Decade'.This agenda was developed based on intensive discussionsduring the First Substantive Session of the PreparatoryCommittee and e-mail consultations with organisations allaround the world.The document puts forward key issues forpriority consideration at the Special Session, together withspecific recommendations for action. It was circulated prior tothe Second Substantive Session of the PreparatoryCommittee, having been formally endorsed by more than sixty

g ?

rU69

international and national organisations. Between the first andthe second Preparatory Committee meetings, the Child RightsCaucus used this document and the basis for it, in discussionswith UNICEF and government on the outcome being plannedfrom the Special Session.

During the second Preparatory Committee meeting in early.2001, the Caucus wrote a position paper to provide a general'comment on the first draft of the Outcome Document beingconsidered by governments as the plan of action for childrenfor the next decade.The position paper stressed that theOutcome Document should represent an action plan for thefull implementation of the CRC and.put forward a set ofcriteria for the document. It emphasised the need for anaction focus, a restructured document, strengthenedmonitoring mechanisms and also identified significant gaps inthe current text.The paper was the basis for an oralstatement during a plenary.and was distributed to governmentdelegations.

The Caucus, in consultation with other caucuses, prepared analternative Outcome Document text, in the form of a line-by-line edit of the draft Outcome Document.This text was

.4W-).44>

Ofk

,

(r

24 CRIN NEWSLETTER

:raga.

55

7-

skew

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

74:4:a specio0 sess5on on chiOdcren

intended to provide specific and detailed text in order tostrengthen the final Outcome Document. It contrasts withthe more general comments of the position paper.

The alternative text incorporated inputs from nearly everyNGO caucus meeting during the second PreparatoryCommittee meeting (both.thematic as well as regionalcaucuses) and more than seventy-five individual organisations.It expanded the goals of the document substantially, andidentified five main priorities:

eradication of child poverty;education;health and HIV/AIDS;protection from violence; and,participation.

It added text on issues that had not been adequatelyaddressed by the initial draft and proposed language tostrengthen monitoring mechanisms arid stress the importanceof linking the monitoring of Special Session commitments withthe monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Members of the Caucus also formed a lobbying sub-group toidentify NG0111t) delegates on government delegations, identifyand reach od to sympathetic delegations and shareinformation about government positions and governmentstatements.

Every evening during the second Preparatory Committeemeeting, the Child Rights Caucusconvened a Linkage Caucus,offering an opportunity for thematic and regional caucuses toshare information with each other and present inputs to theAlternative Text. During the last few days of the PreparatoryCommittee meeting, youth delegates also used the LinkageCaucus to share conflicts and difficulties that had emetedwithin this group.

In the lead-up to the Third Preparatory Committee meeting(11-15 June 2001), the Caucus collected comments from itsmembers on the revised draft.Outcome.Document issued bythe Bureau of the Preparatory Committee in mid-March.These were used to produce a'new position paper andalternative text, which were circulated to governments duringthe informal consultations held in New York from 1-3 May.TheCaucus also held a briefing on the two documents forgovernment missions to the UN on 15 May.

During the Third Substantive Session of the PreparatoryCommittee, the Caucus further revised its alternative text andcontinued to coordinate the Linkage Caucus, so as to enablevarious caucuses to share information and strategies with eachother. It also continued lobbying in favour of an outcome forthe Special Session that will be firmly rooted in the.Convention on the Rights of the Child and which will facilitateits full implementation.

Jo Becker is a member of the co-ordinating group for the Child Rights Caucus and the

advocacy director of the Children's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch.

The Caucus is Currently coordinated by a co-ordinating group elected at the second

Preparatory Committee meeting, which includes representatives from each region and

two youth members. Its members are MingViado from Plan International (Asia): Benjy

Francis.Africa Cultural Center (Africa); Horacio Lagarraga,Argentinian Society of

Pediatrics (Latin America and the Caribbean);Youssef Hajjar.Arab Resource Collective

(Middle East/North Africa);Tom Burke (youth); Sabrina Bandall. (youth); Jo Becker, Human

Rights Watch; and Bill Bell, Save the Children UK.

All Caucus documents mentioned are available on the CRIN Website at

www.crIn.orgispecialsession

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

86CRIN NEWSLETTER 25

ct.' special session on childven,

Child rights and small arms - keeping up the pressureChristina Torsein discusses the opportunity offered by the UN Special Session on Children and the UNConference on the illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects' to bridge the gapbetween the child rights and the small arms community.

"During the 1990s, more than two million children died as a resuhof armed conflict, more than three times that number werepermanently disobled or seriously injured and some twenty millionwere displaced or became refugees" (Article 34,'A World Fit forChildren'. Revised draft text submitted by the Bureau of thePreparatory Committee for the Special Session of the GeneralAssembly on Chi1dren,A/AC2.56ICRP.6/Rev. I ).

The impact of small arms proliferation is clear: childrenaround the world are suffering devastating consequencesbecause of conflict in their communities.This year-, two specificevents will address the impact of small arms proliferation ohchildren. In July, the United Nations will be hosting aconference on the 'Illicit Trade in Small Arms and LightWeapons ih all its Aspects' and then, in September, the UNwill host the Special Session on Children.The UN 2001conference, as the small arms conference is commonlyreferred to, will focus on the proliferation of small arms byaddressing the issues of arms brokering and weapon marking,tracing and collection. In a similar light, the Special Session onChildren, while discussing issues ranging from education,HIV/AIDS and violence against children also discusses war-affected children.

Both confei-ences mark a turning point in the areas ofchildren's rights and small arms, as they present anopportunity for states to mOve forward with concrete actionon these issues. Action is needed at every level whether itis local programmes for children and their families, or regionalor national legislation. In addition, the adoption ofinternational agreements and conventions is fundamentallyimportant to the protection of children.The past decade hasseen significant advances in this area, such as the adoption ofthe .UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the WorldSummit on Children; the publication of Graca Machel'sgroundbreaking study on the impact of armed conflict onchildren; and the development of the Optional Protocol to theConvention on the Involvement of Children in ArmedConflict, which has yet to be ratified. .

26 CRON NEWSLETTER 87 BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

speciai session on chiidren

There is now increased recognition that children sufferdevastating consequences during war.The issue of childsoldiers has also been the subject of much focus over the pastfew years. In recognition of this, the Canadian governmenthosted an International Conference on War-Affected Childrenin September 2000. Despite all the work that is being done onthese issues, there still remains a lack of dialogue between thesmall arms and children's rights communities. Furthermore,governments themselves are only just'starting to make thelink between small arms and their impact on children.Governments and inter-governmental organisations are keyactors, since they draw up legislation and implement policiesaffecting children, in addition to providing humanitarian anddevelopment aid.

The two UN conferences provide a forum for discussion forboth government delegates and NG0s.They should be seenas the start of a process, rather than the end. Both haveinvolved Preparatory Committee meetings in the run.up totheir main conferences and both have Programme of Actiondocuments (the working documents produced in thepreparations to the main conference).Yet it remains to beseen what the final outcome of both processes will be. Somethink that the Special Session is not focusing enough attentionon war-affected children. Others within the small armscommunity feel that the humanitarian impact of small arms isnot being adequately addressed during their discussions.

'A World Fit for Children', thi working document of theSpecial Session on Children, recognises the need to protectchildren from violence and conflict. It states that children havethe right to be protected and that societies must ensure thatrio.form of violence against children is ever consideredacceptable. In addition, measures should be taken to protectchildren from violence as well as from the impact of armedconflict and forced displacement, whilst ensuring compliancewith 'international humanitarian law. It argues that all countriesshould adopt legislation to protect children from violence,including eliminating the use of child soldiers and threatsposed by war materials, (e.g. land mines) and curbing the illicitfloy of small arms which victimise children.This calls for stateaction and recognises state responsibility in the protection ofchildren.

Similarly, the UN 2001 Conference Programme of Actiondocument discusses the humanitarian impact caused by theproliferation and misuse of small arms. During the thirdPreparatory Committee meeting, a number of states called forthe preamble of the working document to recognise theimpact of the proliferation of small arms on %%omen andchildren and the threat this ciuses to human security. Bothdocuments also call for respect of international humanitarianlaw.

NGOs have been involved in both processes, participating inthe Preparatory Committee meetings, lobbying andcampaigning, as well as preparing background papers fordelegates. Civil society organisations have a recognised role toplay in the conference processes as they set a progressiveagenda and hold governments accountable to anycommitments made. However, the documents that are agreedto at the conferences are not legally binding mechanisms thusraising questions surrounding states' commitments to the finaldocuments.

Regardless of the conference outcomes, it is crucial that bothgovernments and NGOs work together to bridge the gap inthe work surrounding the UN 2001 Conference and theSpecial Session. Follow-up and implementation are key to bothprocesses.The conferences themselves should be seen as thebeginning of new dialogue and as an opportunity for furtherpolicymaking and agenda setting.

There are review conferences planned for both processes.'With this regard, it is key that states keep the issues of war-affected children and the impact of small arms proliferation onchildren high on their policy agendas.

Christina Torsein Is an analyst at the British American Security Information Council

(BASIC). For further Information on the UN 2001 Conference please visit the 1ANSA

website at www.iansa.org. BASIC, in collaboration with international Alert and

Saferworld, is producing a series of briefing papers for the UN 2001 Conference

known as the 'Biting the Bullet' project. See www.basicincorg. One of these briefings, to

be published In July for the UN 2001 Conference, is on building a framework for

international action to address the impact of small arms on children.

BESTCOPY AVAILABLE

88

CRON NEWSLETTER 27

specksO sesskon on chikken

Regional preparations for the UN Special Session'Making an arab world fit for children' - The Arab Resource Collective presents regional preparations forthe Middle East and North Africa region for the Special Session.

A requirement of the United Nations Special Session onChildren, as stated by the General Assembly (Resolution54/93) is that regional reviews regarding progress made forchildren since the World Summit for Children are prepared. Inaccordance with this, the Arab world, along with other regionsworld wide, has held a series of regional preparatory events aspart of the Special Session process.

The first of such regional events was a 'Youth Forum on 21 stCentury Issues', Ammaniordan, 29 October w 1 November 2000.This forum brought together over 120 young people from theMiddle East and North Africa (MENA) region to participate indiscussions concerning the Global Movement for Children.From this, a 'Call for Action' on youth issues in the region wasprepared.

This was followed by the 'Civil Society Organizations' Forum on

Childhood; Rabat, 12 to 16 February 2001. The main objectivesof this event were to:I. take stock of the Arab/MENA region's achievements for

children during the 1990s;2. .examine issues related to children's development;3. develop frameworks, set priorities and identify mechanisms

for improving the state of children in Arab countries; andto,

4. expand the circle of partners invol'ved in children's issuesand develop a framework for future cooperation.

The outcomes from this meeting were 'The RabatDeclaration' and the Rabat Forum Recommendations,outlining how to improve the rights and well being of childrenin the Arab World.

At the following 'Regional Symposium on Childhood', Beirut,Lebanon, 24 to 27April 2001, a 'formal gathering' of ArabGovernments and the NGO sector met and produced theOutcome Document 'Trends Towards an Arab World Fit forChildren' and 'The Beirut Recommendations'.These will formpart of the regional recommendations from the Arab Worldand will be discussed and revised in a 'High Level ArabConference' in Cairo in July 2001.The outcomes from thisevent will then feed directly into the Special Session meetingin September 2001.

To the Arab child rights community and, indeed, to the SpecialSession process itself, it is very important that preparatoryactivities occurring at the regional level are linked to those atthe international level.This is primarily because oE

the effect to date of the Arab discourse on Children'srights;

the active participation of the Arab World in thisinternational process; and,the Arab contribution to developing a future agenda forchildren.

28 CRON NEWSLETTER

The Arab Resource Collective (ARC) has been particularlyactive linking preparatory activities at the regional andinte'rnitional levels.ARC held a regional workshop from May31 and June 3, 2001 the objective of which was to increasecollaboration with partners in childhood programmes and tocontribute to the establishment of the new global agenda forchildren, particularly its manifestations in the Arab region.

Participants at the ARC Workshop discussed the followingdocuments: the revised draft Outcome Document for theSpecial Session on Children; the alternative text prepared bythe Child Rights Caucus; the Rabat Recommendations and theBeirut Recommendations. In addition,ARC draftedrecommendations, to be taken to the third PreparatoryCommittee meeting in New York.The participants of thisworkshop came from five Arab countries, Lebanon, Egypt,Palestine, Jordan, and Yemen. Many of these will have alreadyparticipated in the previOus two Preparatory Committeemeetings'as well as the Rabat Forum and the BeirutSymposium.

In addition to the opportunity provided by the Special Sessionto contribute to a reaffirmed commitment to children, manynew partnerships and alliances can be formed, as child rightsorganisations world wide come out in force. For example, ontheir return from the second Preparatory Committee meeting(February 2001), participants from Palestine decided to formthe Palestine Child Rights Coalition.This alliance of NGOs hasnow invited other NGOs, which are active in advocacy andsupport the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to join the .coalition. Furthermore, on a regional level, through itsparticipation in regional fora, the Arab World has been able toarticulate the needs and requirements of children andsocieties in its region, which will be fed into the SpecialSession and the development of a new global agenda forchildren.

The Arab Resource Collective (ARC) is an NGO supporting children In the Arab World.

For further information on the Palestine.Child Rights Coalition, please contact Ms.Assia

Habash at arnanlkmi@p-ol.com

69

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

-1-7A spaded session on children

Regional preparations for the UN Special SessionPreparations of Central and Eastern Eumpe the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent Statesfor the UN Special Session on Children.

In the run-up to the UN Special Session on Children, all sortsof preparations are taking place at national, regional andinternational levels. Child-rights focused organisationsthroughout the world are finalising regional statements,commenting on the draft Outcome Document,'A World Fitfor Children' and attending conferences and meetings inpreparation for this key global event.

In Central.and Eastern Europe (CEE), the Baltics and theCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS), civil society hasparticipated in a series of NGO consultations.At the nationallevel, the reports from the 'Civil Society To Russia's Children'conference and the National Civil Society Conference 'Changethe World with Children' in Ukraine both list a series ofaction points for the improvement of the welfare of childrenin the region. lt,is hoped that these national civil societyexperiences will contribute to the new Global Agenda forChildren, to be adopted by the UN General Assembly SpecialSession on Children in September 2001.

At the regional level, several key events have taken place tosupport consultations between different Civil Society actors.These are as follows.

The Regional Consultation of Civil Society Organisations -Bucharest, Romania, 8 to 10 April 2001. At this event, a newagenda for children and key documents were drafted, including

a regional vision paper,'A Region Fit for Children' and an openletter, which was later presented to the delegates of the inter-governmental conference in Berlin.'A Region Fit for Children'is a clear call to action in a number of key areas, arguing thatthe rights of more than 120 million children and young peopleare fundamental to the future development of these new andemerging democracies.The Open Letter to Berlin representsthe call of civil society to the government leaders meeting inBerlin, providing a concise overview of the most urgentpriorities for children in the region.

Towords a Young People's Agenda for Europe and Central Asia

Budapest, Hungary, 13 to 29 April 2001. This conference ofyoung people from all over Europe and Central Asiadeveloped a new agenda, successfully fostered solidarityamongst the young people and prepared recommendations tosubmit to the Berlin Intergovernmental Conference.Also inthe form of an open letter, this added the perspectives of theyoung participants to the process.

Children's Day Celebration lstanbutTurkey, 2 April 2001. Thisevent brought children frdm 41 countries together to discusschild rights and priorities for action over the next decade.With Mrs. Nane Annan, wife of the UN General Secretary inattendance, it also acted as the regional launch of the 'Say Yesfor Children' campaign, mobilising the Global Movement forChildren in this region.

0 0CRIN NEWSLETTER 29

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

spedal ses©o on children

Conference of CIS Member States on the preparation for the UNGeneral Assembly Special Session on Children, Minsk, 26 to 27 April2001. The conference outputi include the ConcludingDocument of the Conference of CIS Member States, whichforrnalised participants' areas of key focus for the well being ofchildren in their region.

Conference on Children in Europe and Central Asia, Berlin,Germany, 16 to 18 May 2001.. Participants discussed summariesof the End-Decade Reviews of progress for children in theregion as well as new challenges for children in the nextdecade. It also considered proposals from NGOs and youngpeople.The Statement of Berlin and a new agenda for childrenwere developed, which will feed into the Special Session.

Generation in Jeopardy conference Stockholm, Sweden, 18 to 20June 2001. This conference reviewed trends and issues facingchildren in the region and strengthened alliances concernedwith the situation of children. It produced The StockholmStatement foe the UN Special Session.

Finally, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europehas given their approval to a political statement for the SpecialSession.This statement reaffirms the commitment of thegovernments to the principles agreed to at the World Summit

:I I4 111

30 GRIN NEWSLETTER

S.

for Children on September 30,1990 and, recognises theimportance of the standards enshrined in the UN Conventionon the Rights of the Child. Furthermore, it recommits them tocomply with its implementation.The statement outlines howthey will work for the protection and well being of childrenthrough focusing on protecting the rights of the child,promoting a child-friendly society, promoting the status of thechild in the actions of the future Council of Europe andthrough the development of a common agenda for children.

The importance of regional preparations for the forthcomingUN Special Session on Children cannot be over-emphasised. Itis only through these that the perspectives and voices of allrepresentatives will be heard and taken into account andultimately, be incorporated in the new global agenda forchildren in the next decade.

CRIN would like to acknowledge contribution and support from Robert Cohen.communications officer for UNICEF CEE/CIS and the Baltic Slates Region.

1.

s BEST COPY AVAILABLE

sed©O session on children

Breaking down the barriers.There are a lot of benefits involved in preparing for the Special Session. Graeme Thompson discusses thelearning curve experienced by PLAN International

PLAN International recognises the responsibility of. NGOs andcivil society to get involved in the Special Session on Childi'enso as to support practical and urgent commitments toimprovements in the lives of children and young people world-wide. Since most of PLAN's programmes directly toil& onissues outlined in the World Summit Goals from 1990, PLANhas a keen and vested interest to participate in globaldecision-making that will affect children in the future.

As a grassroots organisation working in 100,000 communitiesin 58 countries around the world, PLAN's objectives for thepreparatory meetings leading up to the Special Session are tobring the voices of children and their communities to theglobal forum. In so doing, PLAN hopes to ensure thatimportant issues at the field level are taken into account bygovernments at the Special Session. PLAN also wants toinfluence the Outcome Document of the Special Session 'AWorld Fit for Children', which will inform children'sdevelopment at national, regional and global levels in thecoming decade.

PLAN believes that the participation of NGOs and childrenthemselves in national, regional and global meetings is animportant step forward in promoting better policies andprogrammes for children.The process behind the forthcomingSpecial Session has led the way in this respect. PLAN's

. involvement in the Special Session has been three-fold.

I. Representative participation at significant fora, includinginteraction through the Internet

2. Promotion of field-level experience at the global level anddissemination of global policy back to the field

3. Networking with partners and lobbying governments athome to. influence child-focused development

PLAN is participating and facilitating NGO and civil societyparticipation in a number of events related to the SpecialSession.To date these include two meetings of thePreparatory Committee of the Special Session and a range ofregional meetings in Jamaica,Thailand, China, Kenya, Cairo, andLusaka.

As previously mentioned, PLAN made a conscious decision tobring field-level staff and NGO partners, as well as children, tothese meetings'so that global policy work in New York wouldbe taken back to the field. Children's participation wasfacilitated by both the Internet and their physical attendanceat regional meetings.This is an important aspect of PLAN'swork regarding.the Special Session, since it aims to promotechildren's participation in development decision-making andchildren's self-expression, this being a key value of.theorganisation.

PLAN produced promotional materials built around theconcept 'If I tell you, will you listen?' in order to bringchildren's perspectives and experiences of development intothe process. Additionally, PLAN has also promised to shareinformation and experiences from global fora with the fieldlevel.To date, PLAN has distributed materials from all thePreparatory Committee meetings, the latest including CDs inthree languages'with video-bites of government interventionsand information about the Global Movement for Children, forchildren to listen to and act on.

Partnership has been another key to PLAN's successfulexperience at the Preparatory Committee meetings so far.Bringing field staff and NGO partners from all regions of theworld to New York has strengthened relationships withpartners, governments and other agencies in the field. Startingwith its network of countries, and partner organisations,PLAN has supported colleague-organisations and localplatforms.to widen the Civil Society base and in so doing, hasincreased the commitment to children's rights and the GlobalMovement for Children. In addition, PLAN has proved itsworth to other child-focused organisations as a committedlohg-term promoter of children's well-being, bringing ideasbased on practical experiences at the grassroots level to theinternational debate on child rights.

PLAN has greatly benefited from participation in the Caucusmeetings at the Preparatory Committee meetings, which wereof particularly value to PLAN's regional representatives. PLANhas also been able to strengthen partnerships with manyinternational agencies in Latin America,Asia and Africa.

In conclusion, it seems clear that while NGOs are playingincreasing roles in community-based development, there arestill many governments which do not recognise them as equalpartners. Drawing from PL4N's experience, it would seemthat the Special Session process has gone some way tobreaking down these barriers, at least in Asia and CentralAmerica. However, much still remains to be done to bringgovernments and civil society actors together to forge abetter future for the world's children.

Graeme Thompson is the public relations and communications co-ordinator at PLAN

International for the Caribbean and Central America region.

92

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

CRON NEWSLETTER 31

speciai session on chiOdven

A decade fit for adolescentsJessica Nott outlines the work of the International Planned Parenthood Federation to encourage greaterattention on the sexual and reproductive health rights of children and young people in the Special Session.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is theworld's largest voluntary organisation in the field of sexual andreproductive health and rights. IPPF works globally to ensurethat the sexual and reproductive health, choices and rights ofmen, women and young people are firmly placed on theinternational agenda.We are doing this through activeinvolvement in preparations for the Special Session onChildren and the Special Session on HIV/AIDS to be held inJune 2001.

IPPF has also been involved in a number of other UnitedNations conferences including the International Conferenceon Population and Development and the Fourth WorldConference on Women in Beijing and their 5 year reviews.

For the Special Session on Children, IPPF is working hard tolobby for young people's sexual and reproductive health to beincluded in the final Outcome Document to be endorsed byheads of state in September.As supporters and implementersof the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child we areactive members of the Child Rights Caucus and will beinputting recommendations on sexual and reproductive healthand rights through this body. IPPF colleagues participated atthe second Preparatory Committee meeting for the SpecialSession in January 2001 and will continue to be part of thisprocess. Many of our 139 member Family PlanningAssociations (FPAs) and our regional offices are involved inpreparations for the Special Session. IPPF has been focusing onthree main concerns.

I. Highlighting the sexual and reproductive health and rightsissues affecting children and young people

2. Campaigning for greater recognition of adolescents in theOutcome Document

3. Ensuring the active participation of children in theconsultative process

32 CRIN NEWSLETTER BEST COPY AVAILABLED3

sec©O session on chiithren

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

It is essential that the sexual and reproductive rights of .

children and young people, including their access to educationand information, are recognised and acknowledged. IPPF,together with a coalition of other sexual and reproductiverights organisations, is campaigning to ensure that sexual andreproductive health issues are given due consideration in theOutcome Document.

IPPF calls on the Special Session .to recognise the rights of allyoung people to:I. comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information

and education to enable them to make informed choices;2. accessible, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health

services, including contraceptives;.3. participate in identifying their sexual and reproductive

health needs, in making decisions and in influencingprocesses that affect their lives.

Adolescent Campaign

IPPF is spearheading a campaign to ensure that the needs ofadolescents are not overlooked in the Outcome Documentand discussions.at the Special Session on Children.Unfortunately, the current version of the Outcome Document'A World Fit for Children' for the Special Session does not dojustice to the situation of more than one billion adolescentsaround the world.

Particularly worrying is the lack of an explicit goal focusing onadolescent development and health.Therefore there is nothingin the document that provides vision and legitimacy for overallpolicies and programmes with and for adolescents and youngpeople.

The Participation of Children and Young People

IPPF's positive philosophy aims to empower young people andit is essential that children and young people are given thespace, opportunities and support to enable them toparticipate in key dedision-making. Since 1999,20 percent ofthe members of IPPF's highest decision-making body, theGoverning Council, have been young people under the age of25 years. IPPF has created the impetus for a dynamic networkof young people, working on sexual and reproductive healthissues at the grassroots, to feed their views into policydecisions at the family planning association, regional andinternational level.

aiming to undermine the gains made at United NationsConferences in the 1990s.Their objective was not only toattack the child rights agenda but also to discredit the processof children's participation in the meeting. It is crucial that IPPFtogether with key partners continues its efforts to ensure thatchildren are able to meaningfully participate in the SpecialSession processes.

Nyantara Kakshapati is an active member of the familyplanning association of Nepal's youth group and is on 1PPF'sSouth Asia Regional Council as well as its Governing Council.As a member of the UNICEF Youth Advisory Group she hadthis to say about youth participation:

"It was encouraging to see children and young people millingthe halls at the UN building and taking part in the on-goingactivities of the second Preparatory Committee meeting forthe Special Session on Children.A handful of governmentdelegations had children and young people on board - aninspiring beginning... Hopefully more ( and eventually all!)governments will allow children and young people toparticipate as official delegates...Youthful idealism maybe, butwhat will become of this world without some hope?!"

Now we are working with partners including UNICEF, Savethe Children,World Vision and Peace Child International toensure that effective children's participation is not only a keyconsideration in the Outcome Document but is also put intopractice at the Special Session as it was at the thirdPreparatory Committee meeting in June.As well as consultingwith our wide network of FPAs working jn ther 180countries, we will be facilitating a consultation with youngpeople on our interactive 'youth .shakers' website managed by'young people.

Jessica Nott is the assistant technical officer for Youth at the International Planned

Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

For further informailon visit www.IpPiorg where you can sign up to support the IPPF

youth manifesto (see www.Ipptorg/youth/manifesto) and www.youthshakers.org

At the second Preparatory Committee meeting for the SpecialSession, IPPF were involved in facilitating the participation ofchildren. Sadly, at that meeting the youth caucus became thebattleground for extreme conservative and religious groups

9 4

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

CRAM NEWSLETTER 33

spaded session on chiidven

Listening to young voicesClare Feinstein discusses how the participation of children and young people is shaping the SpecialSession on Children.

"We make up 50 percent of the world's population and wedeserye to be heard".This was the exhortation made bychildren and young people attending a preparatory workshopheld in New York on 26 to 27 January 2001 before the secondPreparatory Committee meeting for the Special Session onChildren. Part of a wider message to the world community, iturges adults to listen to meaningful ideas from children abouthow to address children's rights.

This is a plea for a greater insight and acceptance of the vitalrole children and young people can (and do) play in shapingtheir futures and those of their communities and nations. Itwill undoubtedly be echoed in countries and regions aroundthe world in the run-up to the Special Session.

In resolution 54/93 of the General Assembly, the participationof children and adolescents was recognised as being essentialto the process leading up to the Special Session. UNICEF iscurrently working with a wide range of partners, includingNGOs and young people, to identify the most effective andmeaningful way for children and young people to participate inthe process leading up to, and beyond, the Special Session.Theemphasis is on the national and regional levels, which, arecloser to children and young people's everyday realityGovernments and NGOs are being encouraged to involvechildren and young people both in their review of theimplementation of the goals of the World Summit for Childrenand as members of their delegations.

To ensure that the voices of children and young people are anintegral part of both preparations for the Special Session andthe conference itself, a diverse assortment of initiatives areplanned at national, regional and international levels world-wide.These are directly linked to a continual process topromote children and young people's participation and anawareness of their rights around the world.The hope is thatthe Special Session will provide an impetus to long-termefforts to promote children's participation in decision-makingprocesses and will.make progress towards respecting childrenas equal citizens. Some of these consultations with childrenand young people are mapped out below.

A high-level regional meeting, hosted by the government ofNepal, was recently held between children and young people,corporate leaders and governments of South Asia.'ChangeMakers for South Asia' focused on children andmacroeconomics and engaged children's representatives fromeight South Asian countries in a dialogue on investment inchildren with corporate leaders and Government FinancePlanners.

In Zimbabwe. a Special Session report, based on researchcarried out by a group of children aged between 11-18 years,is being published to reflect the opinions of a wide variety ofchildren from different backgrounds. It emphasises giving voiceto more marginalised children who seldom have theopportunity to discuss issues that concern them.

34 CRON NEWSLETTER

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

special session on chiithren

In Canada, a nationwide consultation with children and youngpeople is being organised via youth-led discussion groups, theresults of which will be presented at the Special Session bythe Canadian government.Again, this emphasises reaching outto marginal groups, such as minority children, children withdisabilities, recent immigrants and children in care.

In Serbia, a series of complementary activities involvingchildren and young people to identify their key issues isplanned, including inter-city exchanges between secondaryschools, workshops and a Children's Rights Festival 'Listen toUs!' which incorporates children's rights messages as definedby children and young people themselves.

In Nicaragua, extensive consultations have been held withadults, children and adolescents around the revised OutcomeDocument,'A World Fit for Children'.Around 1,800 childrenand adolescents will have been involved in this consultation,which will culminate in national-level discussions to develop anatiorial consensus regarding the Special Session on Children.

In Vietnam, children are engaging with decision-makers toenable them to develop a better understanding of thesituation of nation's children.

At the international level, children and young people gatheredin New York for the second Preparatory Committee meeting.Most were members of NGO delegations and they were anotable presence in the meeting.Their voices were heard inthe formal proceedings and through participation in NGOcaucuses and other events.They also had responsibilities asmembers of their NGO and government delegations.

However, the second Preparatory Committee meetingpresented challenges regarding children and young people'sparticipation and there are still many issues to address.Therefore, the following conditions are required to ensure themeaningful participation of children and young people atinternational events. It is important to:

provide a comprehensive briefing of the issues forconsideration in preparation for the situation children andyoung people are about to enter;provide information in a reader and child-friendly format;make translation available at all times;provide financial and practical support to facilitate theirattendance at meetings; and,create space where children and young people can shareand exchange experiences and information.

tr. _

At international meetings, the adult participants should accordchild and youth delegates the same status and respect theyexpect themselves.Adults play a key role in both informingyoung delegates how to participate and ensuring that theirparticipation is fully supported.

The importance of children's participation the fact that theirperspectives are a valuable resource that enriches discussionsand decision-making at all levels is by no means universallyaccepted. Only when it is finally recognised that children andyoung people are valuable partners in our common search foraction-oriented goals, will our shared commitment to makinga real, positive and lasting impact on the lives of childrenbecome a reality.

Clare Feinstein is the participation co-ordinator for the Special Session at the .

International Save the Children Alliance.

OG

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

CI:UN NEWSLETTER 35

011 put-0)nmNonsLPublicationsFurther documents and resources relating to the Special Session can be found at:wwwcrin.org/specialsession and wwwuniceforespecialsession

Key Documents for the UN Special Session onChildren

UNICEF (May 200I),'We the Children' - end-decade review offollow-up to the World Summit for Children - UneditedAdvance Copy, UNICEFFrom the Internet wwwuniceforg/specialsession/review.htm

UNICEF (May 2001) Second Revised Draft OutcomeDocument 'A World Fit for Children' UNICEF. From theInternet: www.unicef.org/specialsession/draftoutcome-rev2-16may.pdf

The Child Rights Caucus (May 2001) 'A World Fit forChildren' Alternative Text prepared by the Child RightsCaucus for Third Substantive Session of The Preparatory .

Committee for The Special Session UN General Assembly onChildren 11-15 June 2001 (May 2001), Child Rights Caucus.From the Internet:www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/Alt_oct_May22_0I.pdf

The Child Rights Caucui ( October 2000) 'Child RightsAgenda for the Coming Decade' Statement of the Child RightsCaucus for the 2001 United Nations General Assembly SpecialSession on Children.

-From the Internetwww.crin.org/docs/resources/publicationslchild_rights_agenda.pdf

Save the Children UK (April 2001) 'A World Fit for Children' -Child-friendly Version of Revised Draft OutcomeDocumentFrom the Internet:wvfw.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/mayl7cfd.pdf

Regional Consultation Documents for the UN SpecialSession on Children

A Region Fit for Children. Civil society organisations' visionfor children in Central and Eastern Europe, theCommonwealth of Independent States and the Baltics Region.Global Movement for Children text from the RegionalConsultation of Civil Society Organisations held in Bucharest,Romania, 8-10 April 2001. From the Internet:www.crin.org/resources/infoDetailasp?1D=1667

'A World Fit for and by Children' - Our point of view asAfrican working children,African Movement of WorkingChildren and Youth (AMWCY).From the Internet *www.enda.sn/eja/amwcyonungass.htm

NGOs comments on the Issues Paper 'A Region Fit ForChildren' Vision of the Movement in the Interests ofChildren. Save the Children Tajikistan and UNICEF Tajikistan(2001)

36 CRIN NEWSLETTER

Documento de Kingston - documento elaborado por losadolescentes y jovenes participantes de la V Reuni6n

Ministerial en Kingston Latin America and Caribbean Caucusfor the 2001 UN General Assembly Special Session onChildren (2001)From the Internet:www.crin.org/resou rces/infoDetai I.asp? ID =1584

Posicien del Caucus Regional de America Latina y El Caribe enrelaciOn al documento final provisionel. Un mundo apropiadopara la Infancia. (Febrero 2001). Latin America and CaribbeanCaucus for the 2001 UN General Assembly SpecialFrom the Internetwww.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/document delcaucus.pdf

Propuesta de las organizaciones no gubernamentales a laagenda futura en el marco de la V reunion ministerial sobrenifias y politica social en las americas (2001)Latin America and Caribbean Caucus for the .2001 UNGeneral Assembly Special Session on Children. From theInternetwww.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/propuesta_ONGS.pdf

Background Documents to the UN Special Session onChildren

Statement at the Second Substantive Session of thePreparatory Committee of the UN Genth-al Assembly SpecialSession on Children (30th January 2001): presented by Dr.Paulinus L.N.Sikosana, Head of Delegation for ZimbabweFrom the Internetvoww.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/session2 _Zimbabwe.pdf

Statement at the Second Substantive Session of thePreparatory Committee of the UN General Assembly SpecialSession on Children (30th January 2001) presented'by MrsVeena S. Rao, Joint Secretary, Department of Women andChild Development, Government of India.From the Internetwww.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/session2India.pdf

Statement at the Second Substantive Session of thePreparatory Committee of the UN General Assembly SpecialSession on Children (30th Jarivary 2001). Intervention by thePakistan Delegation.From the Internetwww.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/session2_Pakistan.pdi

UNICEF (April 2001) Newsletter on the UN Special Sessionon ChildrenFrom the Internet:www.unicef.org/specialsession/Newsletter_No I_ENGL.pdf

9 7

KM-COPY AVAILABLE

publkations

Children and Armed Conflict Caucus (January 2001) OralStatement at Second Prep Com from Children and ArmedConflict CaucusFrom the Internetwww.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/children_armed_conflict_statementpdf

Background Documents available fromwww.unicef.org/specialsession

Convention on the Rights of the Child - Resolution 44/25adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20September 1989 (A/RES/44/25)

World Declaration on the Survival, Protection andDevelopment of Children and Plan of Action:World Summitfor Children, 30 September 1990

Special Session of the General Assembly in 2001 for follow-upto the World Summit for Children, Resolution 54/93 adoptedby the General Assembly on 7 December 1999 (A/RES/54/93,dated 17 December 1999)

Optional Protocols to the convention on the Rights of theChild adopted by the General Assembly on 25 May 2000, inResolution 54/263: Optional Protocol on the involvement ofchildren in armed conflict Optional Protocol on the sale ofchildren, child prostitution and child pornography

98

. CRON NEWSLETTER 37

mernbevsMp fonvt

Membership form

Please photocopy and return to CRIN

Name of organisation

Acronym/abbreviation Year established

English translation of name of organisation

Name of director

Name of main CRIN contatt in your organisation

Postal address (include country)

Tel (include country codes) Fax (include country codes)

Email Website

Number of staff

Languages used

Does your organisation have capacity to receive email regularly?

Does your organisation have capacity to visit websites regularly?

Number of CRIN Newsletters required in English, French and/or Spanish

Please glve a short description of your organisation's elms and activities List countries In which your organisation works(please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary) (please continue on a separate sheet, If necessary)

Please tick the appropriate box

How do you describe your organisation?O Non governmental organisation (NGO)

O United Nations agencyO Community based organisationO Research instituteO International organisationO Governmental organisation

Does your organisation?

O Work directly with childrenO Lobby governments and the United NationsO Work in partnership with other organisationsO Provide training on children's rightsO Provide funding to other organisations

O Undertake research on children's rightsO Work with the media and press

O Undertake legal casework on behalf of children

Which age group does your organisation target?

O Children 0-4 0 Children 5-15 0 Children 16-113

Does your organisation have expertise in any of the following themes?O Children in care, fostering and adoption

Children living with HIV/AIDS

O Child labour and working childrenO Individual caseS of vidationsO Children in armed conflictO Children in conflict with the lawO Reporting and monitoring on the CRC

O Children and the mediaO Children with disabilitiesO Participation of children in decision makingo Children and educationO Refugee and unaccompanied childrenO Environment and habitatO Sexual exploitation of children

o Children and healthO Children working and living on the street

Signature Date

Please return this completed form along with any relevant publications, newsletters, annual reports and brochures to:

Child Rights Information Network, c/o Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD, UKTel +44.(0)20.7716.2400 Fax 4-4440)20.7793.7628 Email info@crin.org

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE 9938 CRON NEWSLETTER

cdendev of evenis

Ca lender of EventsEvents for June December 2001

June 20 to 24, 20016th International Conference for Health andHuman Rights

Cavtat, CroatiaKsen6 Kontak, Organising Committee, Societyfor Psychological Assistance. Prilaz Gjure

Dezelica 27.1000 Zagreb, CroatiaT +385 1 48 26 111/ 112 F +385 I 48 26 113E organiz@ishhr-conf-2001.org

June 25 to 27, 2001UN Special Session on HIV/AIDS

New York, USAUNA1DS, 20 Avenue Appia, Switzerland

T +41 22 791 4461 F +41 22 791 4165E pascale@un.org

June 28 to 30, 2001IV Child and Family Polirt Conference -Children and Young People:Their EnvironmentsDundedin, New ZealandChildren's Issues Centre, University of Otago,PO Box 56, Dunedin, New ZealandT +64 3479 5038 F +64 3479 5039E cic@otago.ac.nz orkaren.nairn@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

July 15 to 20, 2001OAU Summit - Children in Arnned ConflictLusaka. Zambia

T +1 212 326 7000 E netmaster@uniceforgW www.uniceforg

August 1 to 2, 2001National Meeting with Children andGovernment DelegatesVietnam

Save the Children Sweden -Vietnam Office, 6Ton That Theip,Vietnam

T +84 4 8232393/4112 F +84 4 8232394E rbhänoi@netnam.org.vn

August 18 to 22, 2001Second International Conference on Children'sRights in Education:Creating a Culture ofHuman Rights, Democracy and Peace in the

New MillenniumVictoria, CanadaNatasha Blanchet-Cohen: Coordinator, Child

Rights Education - International, Centre forGlobal Studies. University of Victoria, B.C.Canada,V8W 2Y2T +1 317 274 6805 F +1 317 274 6864E credind@iupui.edu

August 24 to 27, 20011SPCAN VIII European Regional Conference onChild Abuse and NeglectIstanbul, Tu rkey

The Turldsh Society for the Prevention of ChildAbuse and Neglect

Contact Professor Dr. Esin Konanc,Chairperson, Local Organising Committee

T +90 212 230 00 00 F +90 212 248 40 30E magister_pco@turk.netW www.ispcan2001-istanbul.com

Or contactInternational Society for Prevention of ChildAbuse and Neglect

Suite 500,200 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL

6060I,USAT +1 312 578 1401 F + I 312 578 1404E ispcan@aol.com W www.ispcan.org

August 31 to 7 September 200.1The World Conference against Racism. Racial

Discrimination. Xenophobia and RelatedIntolerance

South Africa

Office of the High Commissioner for HumanRights, OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix,

1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

T +41-22 917-9000 F +41-22 917-9016W www.unhchr.ch

September 19 to 21, 200 IUnited Nation; General Assembly Special

Session on Children

New York, USA

Secretariat for the Special Session on Children,

UNICEF House, 3 UN Plaza, New York, NY

10017, USA

T + 212-963-4475 F 212-963-0071E inquiries@un.org W www.un.org orwww.unicef.org/specialsession

24 September to 12 October 200128th Session of the UN Committee on theRights of the Child,Geneva, Switzerland

State party reports being considered:Cameroon,Cape Verde, Gambia, Kenya,.Mauritania, Qatar,

Paraguay, Portugal, Uzbekistan.

Secretariat for the UN Committee on the Rightsof the Child, UN High Commissioner for HumanRights, Palais Des Nations, 121 1 Geneva 10,

Swirzerland

T +41 22 917 9301;F + 41 22 917 9022E pdavid.hchr@unog.ch

W www.unhchrch

28 September 2001Day of General Discussion:Violence against

Children in the Family and in SchoolsUN Office of the High Commissioner forHuman Rights - Committee on the Rights of the

Child. OHCHR-UNOG,8- 14 Avenue de la Paix,

1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

T +41-22 917-9000 F +41-22 917-9016W www.unhchrch/html.menu.2/6/crcdodl.htm

100

October 1 to 2, 2001Second World Conference on FaMily Violence,National Council for Child Abuse and 'FamilyViolence

Prague, Czech Republic

National Council on Child Abuse & FamilyViolence (NCCAFV), 1155 Connecticut AvenueNW, Fourth Floor,Washington, DC 20036, USAT +1 202 429 6696 F +1 831 655 3930E nccafv@aol.com

October 5 to 10, 20016th International Congress on AIDS in Asia andthe Pacific,

Melbourne,Australia

Contact Secretariat, do 1CMS Pty Ltd, 84Queensbriclge Street, Southbank,Victoria 3006,

AustraliaT +61 3 9682 0244 F +61 1 3 9682 0288E 6icaap@icms.com.au

W www.icms.com.au/6icaap

October 23 to 25, 2001Second Annual TACR RMT, UNICEFPanama

UNICEF, UNICEF House, 3 United NationsPlaza, New York, NY 10017,USA

T +1 212 326 7000E netmaster@uniceforg W www.uniceforg

October 23 to 25, 2001Child Labour in South Asia,Jawaharial Nehru University, New DelhiEvent,Organiser: lndo-Dutch Programme onAlternatives in Development and AmsterdamFoundation for International Research onWorking ChildrenContactAnthr-Soc Centre, University ofAmsterdam. Oudezijdsachterburgwal 185, 1012DK Amsterdam,The Netherlands

November 21 to 24 2001XIth lbero-Arnerican Summit of Presidents andHeads of State

UNICEF, UNICEF House, 3 United NationsPlaza, New York, NY I0017,USAT +I 212 326 7000E netmaster@uniceforg W www.uniceforg

December 17- 20 2001Second World Congress against the CommercialSexual Exploitation of ChildrenYokohama, Japan

UNICEF:The NGO Group for the Conventionon the Rights of the Child and ECPAT.

Contact NGO Forum for Combating SexualExploitationE info@focalpointngo.org or

ecpatbkk@ksc I 5th.comW wwwfocalpointngo.org/Global/Englishriwc.htm

SEST COPY Ark II An?

CRUM EN EINSLETTFR .20

Information Previous issuesThe Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) is amembership-driven organisation and network of more than1,100 child rights organisations around the world. It strives toimprove the lives of children through the exchange ofinformation about child rights and the promotion of theUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A websiteUpdated regularly, the website, which is a leading resource onchild rights issues, contains references to hundreds ofpublications, recent news and forthcoming events as well asdetails of organisations working worldwide for children.Thesite also includes reports submitted by NGOs to the UNCommittee on the Rights of the Child.

An email serviceDistributed more than twice a week, CR1NNIAIL providesregular news bulletins about child rights issues, as well asinformation about new publications and forthcoming events.

A newsletterPublished three times per year, the newsletter is a thematicpublication that examines a specific issue affecting children. Italso sumrnarises news, events, campaigns and publications.

Child Rights Information Networkdo Save the Children17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RDUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0) 20 7716 2240Fax: +44 (0) 20 7793 7628Email: info@crin.org

www.crin.orgBookmark CR1N's website to learn more, or email us tocontribute news or information.

CRIN is supported by Rädda Barnen (Save the ChildrenSweden), Save the Children UK, the International Save theChildren Alliance and the United Nations Children's Fund.

CRIN Newsletter 13, November 2000:Children and Macroeconomics

101

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

C I, Child Rights Information Network Number 15 / March 2002

FerriMainstmamingrc riguts

4

,ks.k A

§*'41

/41

1

;.

,.. fro. 4 . 15., , rittonr," j" : 1

ga,..,...w, .4 :Tat,.. 4i I

.%;,:;

10i , 1 *"

,kPr r c

-'.'''''4L,:e_ ..--

, ,

:4",,,,

,'

, ...,,i..' le" I .4'7; *,.

4,14_, 1.74.."

q

.-, 1 < \ '' '' /I- 1 ' il

4- -

A .

^ 40.

"R01111111111r .44' A.

),

14114-0.A'_

4.

Centre of attention Marta Santos Pais on/the children's rights agenda

NGOs and Special Rapporteurs Jean-Nicolas ,Eleu* On niutualSppport,

Doing the business for children's rights Fairoui El7Torp on Cornrilerce's role

,

The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) is a membership-driven organisation and network of over1,200 child rights organisations around the world. It strives to improve the lives of children through the '

exchange of information about child rights and the promotion of the United Nations Convention on the I12ights of the Child

,,

CRIN Newsletter

Managing editor

Editor

Editorial adviser

Sub-editor

Proof-reader

Management team

French translationSpanish translation

Design

Andrea Khan

Laura Greenwood

Bill Bell

Maisha Frost

Paula McDiarmid

Sven Winberg, Save the Children SwedenKatharina Borchardt, UNICEFBill Bell, Save the Children UKYoussef Hajjar,Arab Resource Collective

Isabelle Fernandez, SOL languageFrancisco Ariza, Planet Translations

Greenhouse

0 3

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN)

CRIN Newsletter Number 15Mainstreaming Child Rights

3 Editorial

4 News round-up

6 Follow-up on the Special Session on Children

6 On a learning curve at the UN interview with a young participant, Krishna Thapa

7 Raising the profile of Latin America's young people by Jorge Freire

9 Mainstreaming Child Rights

9 Centre of attention by Marta Santos Pais

13 Factfile: Definitions of mainstreaming

14 Rapporteurs reach out to children by Jean-Nicolas Beuze

16. View from the front line by Kathy Vandergrift

18 Making headway in the mainstream by Denise Allen

20 Closer contacts.offer a golden campaigning opportunity by Ahmed Motala

22 Tackling violence against children by Helena Gezelius, Melanie Gow and Roberta Cecchetti

24 Doing the business for children's rights by Fairouz EVIbm

25 Factfile:The Child Rights Advocacy Project

26 Bringing the Charter to Africa's children by Warnbui Njuguna

.28 Publications

28 Thematic publications mainstreaming child rights

29 New publicadons child rightS

30 Membership form

31 Calendar of events

BESTCOPY AVAILABLE

Published March 2002. Child Rights Information Network, ISSN 1475-8342.0 The Save the Children Fund, Registered Charity No. 213890. Printed lit

Greenhouse on 100% recycled paper.The CRIN Newsletter is published three times a year In English, French and Spanish.Authors alone are responsible for

the opinions expressed in the CRIN Newsletter.Writers suggestions for features are always welcome. For non-commissioned pieces, please email the editor

a 30-word outline in the first instance. In respect of all submissions, the editor:i decision is final. No part of this newsletter may be republishedwithout thewritten permission of the editor and author.This publication Is available tree of charge and can also be downloaded from the Internet at www.crin.org. If you

would like copies mailed to you, please contact CR1N do Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, London SES 8RD. UK or email info@crIn.org

1 04

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

CRIN Newsletter

- ori

Child Rights Information Nelwork (CRIN)105

2]

IN

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Editorial

This edition of the CRIN Newsletter considers howto take forward the 'mainstreaming' of child rightsand illustrates this process thr'ough a selection ofcase studies.This covers the ways in which childrights issues are integrated into the work not only ofchild focused bodies (such as the UN Committee onthe Rights of the Child), but of a much wider range ofinstitutions such as the United Nations Commissionon Human Rights), the UN Security Council,corporate businesses and other bodies.

Although there are many definitions of'mainstreaming', generally mainstreaming child rightshas been used recently to describe a ranke ofactivities and a process that are aimed at bringingchild rights in from the margins and into the

. mainstream.

A good example of such mainstreaming is the workcarried out at the United Nations Commission onHuman Rights (CHR) in Geneva. The mandate of thisbody includes monitoring compliance with existinginternational standards, developing new standards andinvestigating violations.The NGO child rightscommunity has invested much effort in this annualmeeting in recent years through organising aChildren's Rights Caucus, lobbying on the text of theOmnibus Resolution on the Rights of the Child andmainstreaming child rights within other resolutions ofthe CHR.CRIN is working to support this workthrough informatiOn sharing on the work of. thiscaucus.

Marta Santos Pais opens the thematic articles on thisissue by offering her view of mainstreaming as an'incremental process'. She outlines two majbrchallenges critical to success in moving the childrights agenda forward:'promoting the rights of thechild as a distinct and relevant concern; and ensuringthe steady operationalisation of child rights at thenational and international levels, in human rightsactivities and in the agendas for development,humanitarian aid, peace and security.'

The process of mainstreaming child rights, Pais says,pre-dates the United Nations Convention on theRights of the Child. Her overview weaves together apicture that includes key moments in child rights,such as the International Year of the Child, theMachel Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict onChildren, as well as clear changes to theorganisational mandate of UNICEF and the UNSecretary General's Programme of Reform.

Two authors then look at child rights within theCommission on Human Rights and its special extra-conventional mechanisms.Ahmed Motala shows howadvocacy on children's rights at the CHR will standto be improved now that a children's rights caucushas year-round support from NG0s. Jean-NicolasBeuze outlines how the new Special Rapporteur OnTorture (who took over in December 2001) willcontinue to monitor situations on children andwelcomes the support of child rights NG0s.

Others go on to look at the larger UN system.Within the Security Council three resolutions onchildren and armed conflict have cleared the way foran ongoing debate linking international peace andsecurity to child rights.

Lobbying in order to ensure monitoring andimplementation of existing international human rightsstandards can also ensure a mainstreaming process.We examine the NGO Group for the Convention onthe Rights of the Child, an NGO alliance, which hasworked since 1983 to organise advocacy work on theUNCRC both nationally and internationally. In Africaa similar effort has started to supportimplementation of the African Charter on the Rightsand Welfare of the Child and information on this isfeatured in a short article on this subject.

Another of our contributors then goes on to ask: caninternational human rights law be applied not only tostates but also to private bodies? How can businesshelp to fulfil children's rights?

This issue closes with consideration of the issue ofviolence against children.The UN General Assemblyhas now agreed to a recommendation from the UNCommittee on the Rights of the Child that thereshould be an in-depth international study on violenceagainst children.

Changing circumstances since I I September havemeant that there are now greater challenges toensuring the rights of children are respected.TheUnited Nations General Assembly Special Session onChildren to be held in May and its outcomedocument,'A World Fit for Children', must ensurethat children enjoy their right to education, healthand protection and live in an environment of globalstability and peace. Mainstreaming children's rightsinto the activities and priorities of many other bodieshowever will also be a key part of this process.

Andrea Khan.

[ 3 ] 106BEST COPY AVAILABLE

CRIN Newsletter

News round-up

Yokohama Congress on Commercial SexualExploitation of Children

The Second World Congress on Commercial SexualExploitation of Children drew to a close on20 December 2001. Governments, inter-governmentaland non-governmental organisations, young peopleand others engaged in combating the global trade inchild sex came together to share experiences, learnfrom each other and plan future actions.The SecondWorld Congress concluded with the YokohamaGlobal Commitment, reaffirming and reinforcingpromises made at the first World Congress held inStockholm in 1996.

Reflecting on the outcomes of six regionalpreparatory meetings, over 3,000 participants inYokohama declared "the protection and promotion ofthe interests and rights of the child to be protectedfrom all forms of sexual exploitation" to be theirprimary consideration.This paved the way forreinforced action against such rights violations astrafficking, genital mutilation, early marriage, sexualabuse as a weapon of war, and abuse in the home.The Yokohama Global Commitment calls for earlyratification of international instruments that relate tothe sexual exploitation of children and for areinforcement of efforts to address the root causesthat put children at risk of exploitation, includingpoverty, inequality, discrimination, persecution,violence, armed conflict, HIV/AIDS; dysfunctionalfamilies and criminality.

Source:Adapted from the closing press release from UNICEF, ECPAT

International and the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of theChild,Yokohama Japan, 17 December 2001

Small arms conference adopts actionprogramme

The UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Armsand Light Weapons in All Its AsFiects, which tookplace in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001, concludedwith the universal adoption of a programme of actionto prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit armstrade. Its measures include particular reference toaddressing the special needs of children affected byarmed conflict and recognition of the fundamentalright of people, particularly women and children, notto be gunned down in cold blood by weapons used inthe world's battlefields.As for follow-up to theconference, it was recommended that the GeneralAssembly convene a meeting to review progreis in

Child Rights Information Network ICRINI

the implementation of the Programme of Action nolater than 2006.The date and venue will be decidedat the 58th session of the General Assembly.

Source: United Nations, press release DC12795, 21 July 2001

www.un.org/News/Pressidocs/2001/DC2795.dochtm

United Nations General Assembly SpecialSession on HIV/AIDS

A Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, GlobalCrisis Global Action, was adopted at the conclusionof the UN General Assembly Special Session on'HIV/AIDS (June 2001 ).The declaration noted thatpeople in developing countries are the most affected,particularly women, young adults and children,especially girls.The declaration's provisions includethe implementation of strategies to strengthencommunity-based care and healthcare systems andthe proirision of increased support to those affectedby HIV/AIDS. Particular focus was put on reducingthe vulnerability of children and young people byensuring their access to primary and secondaryeducation, expanding good quality youth-friendlyinformation and strengthening r:eproductive andsexual health programmes.The declaration madespecific commitments to the many orphans who havelost their families through HIV/AIDS.

Source: Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS 'Global Crisis GlobalAction'www.un.org/ga/aids/coverage/FInalDeclarationHIVAIDS.html

World Summit on Sustainable Development'

The international community has moved one stepcloser towards engaging governments, business andcivil society in delivering action to promote economicgrowth and social, development while protecting theenvironment. Key topics to be addressed at the worldsummit include poverty eradication, unsustainablepatterns of consumption and production, sustainable .management of natural resources and the need tomake globalisation promote sustainable developiment.The summit, taking place in Johannesburg, SouthAfrica from 26 August to 4 September 2002,encourages broad participation, regarding this ascentral to sustainable development-All sectors ofsociety have a role to play to protect globalresources and the conference will see activeparticipation by representatives from business andindustry, children and youth, farmers, indigenouspeople, local authorities, non-governmental

[ 4 ] fri-f.a.vBESTCOPYAVAILABLE

organisations, scientific and technologicalcommunities, women and workers and trade unions,in addition to government.

Source: United Nations. www.johannesburgsurnmicorg

SAARC conventions for children

On 5 January 2002, two important conventions onthe trafficking of women and children and childwelfare were sikned by seven South Asian nations.Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,The Maldives, Nepal,Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed the conventions at asummit in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The SAARC Convention on Regional Arrangementsfor the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asiareaffirms adherence by Member States to theDeclaration of the World Summit for Children andtheir commitment to the UN Convention on theRights of the Child. It recognises the efforts ofSAARC towards building a regional consensus onpriorities, strategies and approaches to meet thechanging needs of children, as embodied in theRawalpindi Resolution on Children of South Asia1996, and notes the significant progress already madeby the Member States in the field of child survivaland welfare. It also takes into account the declarationof the years 2001-2010 as the 'SAARC Decade ofthe Rights of the Child'.

The Convention on Preventing and Combating theTrafficking in Women and Children for Prostitutionpromotes co-operation among Member States toeffectively deal with various aspects of prevention,interdiction and suppression of trafficking in womenand children; repatriation and rehabilitation of victimsof trafficking and preventing the use of women andchildren in-international prostitution networks,particulirly where the SAARC member countries arethe countries of origin, transit and destination.

Source:Save the Children UK Nepal Office, SAARC and CRIN

Spotlight on the private sector

The private sector as service provider and its role inimplementing child rights is the theme for the nextgeneral discussion day of the UN Committee on theRights of the Child.This will take place on 20September 2002 during the 3Ist session of theCommittee at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

The focus is on the impact of the increasingparticipation of private sector actors in the provisionand funding of traditional state functions, and also tooutline issues that arise from the privatisation ofservices. Different types of partnerships will beexamined in order to assess positive and negativeimpacts on the realisation of children's rights.Thelegal obligations of States Parties in the context ofprivatisation needs to be explored, and this includesensuring equal access that is affordable, and qualityservices that are sustainable. Governance issues(including accountability, transparency andindependence) that arise from the involvement of theprivate sector in service provision will also beassessed. Finally, the Committee would like to look atbest practices and to identify possible models forStates Parties.

The purpose of such general discussions is to foster adeeper understanding of the contents and implicationsof the UNCRC in relation to specific topics.Thediscussions are public. Government representatives,United Nations human rights mechanisms, as well asUnited Nations bodies and specialised agencies, non-governmental organisations and individual experts areinvited to take part. NGOs are invited to submitwritten contributions to the Office of the HighCommissioner is soon as possible, and before 28June 2002. Please direct enquiries to the NGOGroup (NGO-CRC@tiscalineti.ch).

Source: NGO 'Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, andOffice of the High Commissioner of Human Rights.www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crcdod4.htm

Optional protocols come into force

The two Optional Protocols to the UN Conventionon the Rights of the Child came into force early in2002.The Optional Protocol on the sale of children,child prostitution and child pornography did so on18 January 2002, while the Optional Protocol on theinvolvement of children in armed conflict came intoeffect on 12 February 2002. Both mark importantcommitments by states for further protection ofchildren's rights in these areas. .

The status of ratifications on both bptionalProtocols can be viewed on the Office of the HighCommissioner on Human Rights' website.

Source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, www.unchr.ch

103(5) CRIN Newsletter

On a learning curve at the UNIn a follow-Up to the last GRIN Newsletter on the Special Session on Children, we talk to16 year-old Krishna, a youth participant at the Third PrepCom of the Special Session.

Krishna Thapa, 16, from Nepal attended his firstUnited Nations meeting in June 2001, taking part inthe Third PrepCom for the UN General AssemblySpecial Session on Children. Krishna was elected toattend by other young people in' his country, all ofwhom were part of the Change Makers' Initiative.This scheme brought together children and youngpeople with key corporate leaders and governmentplanners in South Asia so the two sides could discusswhat should be done for the region's children overthe next decade. In an interview by Save the ChildrenNepal, Krishna describes what it was like for him tobe at the UN and how it measured up to hisexpectations.

Anil:As someone closely involved in theChange Makers' Initiative, what was the mostimportant thing to come out of the ThirdPrepCom?

Krishna: I learned about issues that the ChangeMakers should be aware of, as well as what hasactually been done for children at the moment.Knowing these facts will help us when we lobby thegovernment to do more for children's welfare.What Ilearned at the conference will help all of us in thescheme to teach other children and their parentsabout rights.We will also be able to go to businessesand tell them about young people's rights and whythey need to get involved too so that children canachieve their rights.

Anil: Do you think that the Third PrepComand the Special Session process will helpcreate a better world for children?

Krishna-.Yes, they will help develop an agenda for allchildren and the ways we go about making thathappen.The best interests of children were discussedthroughout. the Third PrepCom. Most importantly forme, many provisions concerning the best interests ofNepali children ones that had been left out earlier

have now been included in our submission to thePrepCom.

In.Nepal young people are taking an active part in theSay Yes for Children campaign. Both the ThirdPrepCom and the Special Session process willdefinitely help provide a proper agenda for children inNepal.

Anil:What were your expectations of theThird PrepCom process and were theyrealised?

Child Rights Information Network (CRINI

Krishna: I expected to learn about problemsinvolving children in other countries, as well as howchildren could be a part of solving those problems. Ialso expected to learn about ways to improvechildren's welfare in the future. Some of my.expectations were met, btit not all.

Anil:What was the most exciting event thereand why?

Krishna: On the second day I spoke during a groupsession. I suggested collective action was the bestway to get results and both separate and thatspecialist groups working on children's welfare shouldco-operate. My suggestion went to the top of the listof recommendations that emerged from the session.

Anil:What is the most useful thing that youlearned from your visit?

Krishna: Before going I thought that all theprogrammes meant for children would be interestingand that children would be encouraged to share theirthoughts. I realised when I got there that was notgoing to be the case.

Although the programmes were meant for children,only the adults spoke:There were times when itseemed as if the children were only there asornamental exhibits.,

Anil: Having experienced a session, how do youthink it can be improved?

Krishna: Several ways come to mind. More than twoyoung people from each country should be allowedto attend.When children can't express themselvesclearly, they should be supported so they can do so,which will help them to get their points across.Atthe moment if they can't express themselves clearlythey risk their views being rejected outright. Inprogrammes that are especially convened forchildren, the situation should be made child-friendlyso ihey feel relaxed and confident.And opportunitiesfor them to have a proper say and be truly involvedin the proceedings should be in place.

Krishna was interviewed by Anil Raghuvanshi, Co-ordinator of the GlobalMovement for Children and UNGASS. Save the Children UK, Jawalakehl,GPO Box 992, Kathmandu, Nepal. He also translated the article and can becontacted by email at a.raghuvanshi@sc-uk.org.np or telephone:00 977 I535159.

For further Information on child and youth participation in the SpecialSession process, please visit the following websites:Global Movement for Children Nepal: vAvw.gmc.org.np orUNICEF: wwwunicef.org/specialsession/unden. I 8.

[ 6 ]109 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Raising the profile of Latin America's young peopleThe Latin American and Caribbean-Caucus for the UN Special Session on Children hasopened up new ways of working, forge Freyre explain&

As part of the build-up to the United Nations GeneralAssembly Special Session on Children, a variety ofregional and thematic groups emerged at preparatorymeetings in New York.These groups or caucuses .comprised alliances of organisations from civil societyworking together to advocate for a common cause:the recognition and full implementation of children'shuman rights as outfined in the UN Convention on'the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).The Latin Americanand Caribbean Caucus was established to ensure thatthe realities faced by the children of the region wouldbe taken into account in the negotiations, and thatprovisions for them would be included in the finaloutcome document of the Special Session entitled AWorld Fit for Children.

From the outset:, one of the major challenges for thisregional caucus was establishing clear methods ofcommunication so that national and regional levelactivities could be co-ordinated across the region.

The Special Session process supported thedevelopment of new relationships and ways ofworking. Historically, NGOs have not engaged withgovernmental organisations at a regional level and theSpecial Session negotiations were the first suchinteraction.This new relationship saw civil society .

developing its capacity to promote children's issuesto governments directly, while at the same time,government officials recognised the importantcontribution of NGOs' work with children.Theyrecognised that NGOs could play an important roleregarding both the analysis of children's needs andthe provision of information, which had importantimplications for regional and internationalgovernment documentation.

This led to various national-level activities taking.placewithin the region for children, and in turn to a series ofregional meetings to exchange information and developa combined regional position for the Special Session.

Through these meetings, civil society actors and youngpeople were able to contribute ideas and issues,prepared in a single regional outcome document whichwas then presented in negotiations with other regions..

The regular exchange of experiences helped toidentify a focus for the work of the Latin AmericanCaucus, which then was better placed to follow theprogress made regarding their input and submissionsto the outcome,A World Fit for Children.Themeetings of the Preparatory Committee for theSpecial Session were important, and attending enabledthe caucus to develop a close relationship with otherregional and thematic caucuses established for theSpecial Session (for example, the Child Rights Caucus,

[ 7

the Linkage Caucus).Through this,governmentalnegotiations on A World Fit for Children were closelyfollowed and a clear position was developed betweenthe NG0s.Their participation in the Child RightsCaucus, an active alliance of NGOs advocating forincreased reference to the UNCRC and child rights inthe final text of A World Fit for Children, provided animportant link to others advocating for child rightsacross several sectors, contexts and areas. It alsoclarified the regional responsibility of the LatinAmerican Caucus with regards to ensuring that theneeds of the children in its region were representedin the process. Involvement in regional preparationsand attending the meetings of the PreparatoryCommittee of the Special Session has helped the LatinAmerican Caucus develop common criteria and defineregional prioriti8 for children, with the UNCRC asthe framework for all activities relating to children.

The process has been innovative in that it hasdeveloped a model of active participation from a broadrange of actors, be they from government or civilsociety, or children and young adults themselves, inorder to assure the success of the goals of the caucus.Despite the tragic events of I I September which ledto the Special Session being postponed to May 2002,the Latin American Caucus continued to support inputfrom the region through a variety of activities includingnational and regional events, support for youthparticipation and spreading the message about childrights and the importance of the Special Session acrossthe region. It is hoped that this experience will havetruly placed the rights of the children Of Latin Americaand the Caribbean on the international agenda.

Jorge Freyre is director of Gurises Unidos, co-ordinator of the LatinAmerican and Caribbean Caucus and Uruguayan NGO National Net'sdelegate for the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children.

11.0CRIN Newsletter

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Photo: Tint Hetherington/NeViork photographers

_

t

4,44

rs"h",. 4".1.' 4

_

ejk;i

-

?. 4:11.

'

ke

4

.,,,.(.. ? , -.. 4.`Tc:-k-..,

lk

-,...t.c-- --c--1-- ':i...4._-_.-.;1.

1 ....- .t .--i,i..... . ...-_,--__-.: .:. ,; :--a 1,,i :

Centre of attentionMarta Santos Pais describes how children's rights have moved up the international agenda.

The process of child rights mainstreaming has cometo the fore in recent years, creating a uniqueopportunity to place children's rights at the heart ofnational and international agendas.The process hasalso made a strong contribution to the growingrecognition of human rights worldwide, as thefoundation (or social progress, peace and security.

The adoption of the United Nations Convention onthe Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has been a crucialturning point. Its near-universal ratification and itssteady implementation has stimulated reflection,dialogue and action on children's rights by anincreasing number of institutions and mechanisms,within and beyond the UN system and its humanrights machinery.A tangible process of change hastaken place within countries a unique illustration ofthe translation of a normative framework intoconcrete policies and.actions, and of bridging humanrights standards with operational activities.

But the process of mainstreaming child rights pre-dates even the UNCRC.The International Year of theChild, 1979, was instrumental in giving visibility tochildren's issues and in calling on national institutionsto prioritise and strategise on these issues.

The momentum gathered around the InternationalYear of the Child and the social mobilisation forchildren that it created led to the drafting of theUNCRC.The process itself was innovative anddiffered from every previous process to set aninternational standard. Governmental experts from awide range of sectors took part, together withrepresentatives from United Nations agencies andnon-governmental organisations.

Reaffirming the indivisibility of human rights andcalling for a holistic approach to the child as a subjectof rights, the multidisciplinary nature of the UNCRCbecame apparent very rapidly. Key requirements forthe successful realisation of the rights of the childhave evolved.These include the need for concertedaction both across government departments and inassociation with national institutions; including theparliament and judiciary; the genuine participation ofcivil society; and, the support of relevant, internationalorganisations, particularly within the UN system.The1990 World Summitfor Children, held just after theUNCRC's entry into force, followed a similarapproach and identified progress for children as a keygoal of overall national development and an integralpart of the broader international developmentstrategy.

Even at this early stage of UNCRC implementation,child rights mainstreaming was perceived asinstrumental.And two major challenges.wereidentified.

The human rights of children are relevant to manysectors, going beyond the traditional areas of childwelfare.All of these sectors need to be engaged forchild rights.Safeguarding these rights will only be a reality whenall relevant actors are involved, both governmental .

and non-governmental, at national and internationallevels.

There have been many achievements in the nationalimplementation process of the UNCRC since theearly 1990s.The mobilisation around children's rightshas generated legislative reform processes andinformed constitutional reviews in many countries.

National action plans have been developed to ensurethat children's concerns were included in the nationalpolitical and development agenda. Co-ordinatingmechanisms have been created, sometimes with widerepresentation of public authorities and non-governmental organisationi.

An increasing number of independent institutions toprotect children's i'ights have been developed (eg,Ombudsoffices for children). National and regionalcoalitions of NGOs have been foimed, gathering themost relevant groups that are active in the mostrelevant children's areas in a converging campaign .

behind the UNCRC. In some cases, parliaments haveestablished committees to consider their mandates inthe light of children's rights including the adoptionof legislation and approval of the budget. Professionalassociations have reflected the principles of theUNCRC in their own codes of conduct as a,reference for their work.

Moreover, the call made by Article 45 of the UNCRCfor a process of international co-operation andsolidarity to advance the cause of children's rightsmoved this process further forward. From an earlystage, UN organisations were associated with thework of the Committee on the Rights of the Childand encouraged to follow-up its recommendations tofoster UNCRC implementation at the national level.This, in turn, led UNICEF to commit to therealisation of the rights of the child in its missionstatement and to promote the operationalisation ofthe UNCRC throughout its activities.The missionstatement was approved by the UNICEF Executive

91 1 1 2 CRIN Newsletter

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Board in 1996, the guidelines for human rightsprogramming were approved in 1998 and theprogramme policy and procedure manual was issuedin 2000.

Within other UN organisations, the process led to agrowing consideration for children's rights in theirinternal agendas as illustrated so clearly by theInternational Labour Organisation standards in thearea of child labour and the UNHCR guidelines forrefugee children.A similar process took place in thenon-governmental world, which was, from the verybeginning, actively engaged in the implementation ofthe UNCRC and involved in its monitoring process.

As the mainstreaming process widens, so the rightsof children gain more attention in the nationalagenda.This is vital because, despite the undeniableachievements made for children over the last decade,much remains to be done.The weak impact of therights of the child.on budgetary processes js just oneexample of how far we still have to go beforechildren's rights are recognised as a distinct andimportant concern. Children's rights remain, in manycases, an afterthought, or are seen as.a parallel, ratherthan central, issues.They aee seen as ethical valuesthat are difficult to put into practice or, worst of all,as simply irrelevant.This is certainly an indication ofhow crucial it is to pursue and consolidate theprocess made so far.

This initial phase of the implementation of theUNCRC coincided with the reinforcement of thehuman rights machinery in the area of children'srights.The Committee on the Rights of the Child wasestablished by the UNCRC itself to monitor progresson its implementation.A Special Rapporteur on thesale of children, child prostitution and childRornography was created by the Commission onHuman Rights in 1990, to promote respect forrelevant international standards and prevent theviolation of children's rights in areas covered by itsmandate. Meanwhile, the Working Group onContemporary Forms of Slavery of the Sub-Commission, presently known.as the Sub-Commissionon the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,generated two important programmes of action to-prevent the sale of children; child prostitution andpornography, and for the elimination of theexploitation of child labour.These had a clear impacton the agenda of the Commission on Human Rightsand the resolutions adopted.

Child Rights tnformation Network KRIM

The timely convergence of these mechanisms werecritical to promote the consideration of children'srights as a clear and distinct area of work and tomove the child rights agenda forward. But at thattime, the rights of the child were perceived as ofrelevance chiefly to these mechanisms and were notenvisaged as a cross-cutting theme that others shouldalso take on board.

Human rights treaties and treaty-based bodies

BeYond the UNCRC, every human rights treaty isrelevant to children. In some cases, they includespecific provisions on the human rights of children, asin the two Covenants on human rights.Therefore, themandates of the Committees established to monitorimplementation of such conventions (often referredto as 'treaty-based mechanisms' or 'treaty-monitoringbodies') also include the rights of the child. GeneralComments adopted .by treaty bodies to interprettreaty provisions are important illustrations of thisapproach.To enhance the mainstreaming of children'srights in the work of treaty monitoring bodies, aclose collaboration was established between theCoMmittee on the Rights of the Child and othercommittees and pursued in the framework of theannual meeting of chairpersons of treaty bodies.

World conferences

Beyond the World Summit for Children, the first tofocus solely on children, every UN Conference in thelast decade has addressed the situation of childrenand expressed a strong commitment to child rights inits deliberations. In some cases, as in the Platform forAction agreed at the Fourth World Conference onWomen in Beijing, a special section was included onthe specific realities faced by children. In thismainstreaming effort, the World Conference onHuman Rights, held in Vienna in 1993, was animportant moment. On the one hand, the conferencecalled on all States to integrate the UNCRC into theirNational Action Plans. On the other, it made a strongcall for the promotion of children's rights within theUN system, recognising that the human rights ofchildren constitute a priority for system-wide actionby the UN. It recommended that matters relating tohuman rights and the situation of children be regularlyreviewed and monitored by all relevant organs andmechanisms of the UN system and by the supervisorybodies of the specialised agencies in accordance withtheir mandates.

113L [WI

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Human rights mechanisms

The relevance of child rights gained increasingvisibility over the decade within the UN human rightssystem.The human rights mechanisms set up by theCommission on Human Rights (CHR), for example,Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives andworking groups, both with country or thematicmandates, paid increasing attention to the protectionof children's rights in the context of their mandatesand reports.This included, for example, the SpecialRapporteur on violence against women and theSpecial Rapporteur on the situation of human rightsin the former Yugoslavia. Moreovdr, as a result of theMachel Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict onChildren, a Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflict wasappointed in 1997.

This trend in the work of the CHR has grown inrecent years, as indicated by the Omnibus Resolutionof the CHR on the Rights of the Child and recentreports of Special Rappprteurs (for example, thecountry rapporteurs on Cambodia and theDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and thematicRapporteurs son the Right to Housing and the Rightto Edutation). But in other parts of the UNmachinery, child rights mainstreaming remains a lessvisible process. In 1998 the 50th anniversary of theUniversal Declaration on Human Rights togetherwith the five-year review of the Vienna Conferenceon Human Rights brought some attention to thepromotion of the rights of the child.Yet, despite this,child rights remained peripheral to the UN agendaand essentially confined *to child rights mechanisms.The Resolution adopted in 2001 by the CHR is anexpression of this state of affairs, calling on all UNmechanisms and relevant organs to include a childrights perspective in the fulfilment of their mandates(paragraph 6, CHR Resolution 2001/75).

Secretary General's Programme for Reform

The UN Secretary General's Programme for Reform,presented in 1997, gave a new dimension to theproCess of mainstreaming, calling for the integrationof human rights across a broad range of UNactivities.As a cross-cutting issue, human rightsshould inform the development and humanitarianagendas, guide the debate on peace and security andbe enhanced by human rights programming andactivities. Since then, the process of mainstreaminghuman rights and children's rights has been one andthe same.The Millennium Declaration further

stressed the focus on human rights as a cross-cuttingissue that relates to all development goals and calledon leaders to focus their efforts on the poorest andmost disadvantaged.

The ccinsideration of human rights, including therights of the child, has gained a clear relevance indevelopment co-operation. Set in motion by theUnited Nations Development Group, the.CCA/UNDAF process is a prime example. CommonCountry Assessment (CCA) is designed to achieve adeeper knowledge of key development challenges atthe country level, based on a common assessment,analysis and understanding of the country's situation.The United Nations Development AssistanceFramework (UNDAF) is a strategic planningframework for development work at the countrylevel promoted by the UN family and its majorpartners.This unique strategy to promote theoperationalisation of human rights throughdevelopment efforts follows an agenda shaped by themajor UN conferences and the treaties in force atnational level and is guided by assessment of thereality on the ground.The critical role of treatymonitoring bodies and the concluding observationson. States Parties reports, together with relevantreports by Special Rapporteurs and other humanrights mechanisms, has been highlighted as a keycomponent of this process and has been reflected inrelevant guidelines adopted to this effect, includingthe Guidelines on Human Rights for ResidentCoordinators.The fact that the UNCRC is in force invirtually every country has certainly been a majorfactor in ensuring that children's rights receive properattention in this UN process.

Strenuous mainstreaming efforts on human rights,with a particular focus on children's rights, have beenset in motion by other actors in development,particularly NGOs (eg, International Save theChildren Alliance) and bilateral development agencies(in countries such as Sweden, Norway, Canada,Ireland and the UK).

Equally, the Secretary General's call for themainstreaming of human rights has had a majorimpact on the peace and security agenda.Thediscussions held by the Security Council on childrenin armed conflict in the last few years stand as astrong illustration of this trend. Children's concernshave become a component in thematic discussionsand country-focused debates, for example, on theprotection of civilians, in relation to the situation inSierra Leone,Angola or the ORC. In addition, the

CRIN Newsletter

Special Rapporteurs of the CHR have been engagedin discussions as an important reference to thedebate, such as when the Special Rapporteur on theDRC addressed the Security Council to shareinformation on his mandate and address the plight ofchild soldiers. Peacekeeping and peace-buildingactivities now incorporate the protection ofchildren's rights; in some cases, child protectionadvisers have been included in peacekeeping missionsto generate awareness of the rights of the child,promote child-centred action in the mission andencourage relevant collaboration between partners.Capacity-building activities for peacekeepingpersonnel include child rights issues.

In an unprecedented move, the President of theSecurity Council addressed the Executive Board ofUNICEF on the work of the Council on children'sconcerns and the importance of a close collaborationbetween the Council and the Board (14 December2001).This, the first-ever dialogue with an operationalagency, opens avenues for the promotion of decision-making that is complementary and for theenhancement of existing co-operation.Above all, it isa critical step towards achieving greater coherencewithin the UN system and moving the mainstreamingof children's rights still further forward.

11 5

Child Rights information Network ICR1N)

This brief overview gives an outline'of theincremental process of child rights mainstreaming.Important efforts have been made in a wide range ofareas to make children's rights a central and integralconcern. Strategic opportunities have been sought toconsolidate this process as the most recent UNconferences on AIDS, Racism and Small Arms andLight Weapons clearly confirm. Children's rights havebeen further strengthened and mainstreamed throughstandard-setting activities, both within the humanrights area a process confirmed by the OptionalProtocols to the Convention on the Rights of theChild that came into force earlier this year andbeyond, as demonstrated by the Statute of theInternational Criminal Court.

But there is so much left to do.We must address twomajor challenges: promoting the rights of the child asa distinct and relevant concern; and ensuring thesteady operationalisation of child rights at nationaland international levels, in human rights activities, andin the agendas for development, humanitarian aid,peace and security. Only by bridging the gap betweena commitment to the rights of the child and itstranslation into tangible policies and practice will 'webe successful in moving the child rights agendaforward.

Marta Santos Pais is director of UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

[ 12 ]

Factfi I ei/ mains/Ira/nth g

Mainstreaming child rights

Mainstreaming means bringing something from themargin into the mainstream, thereby making itacceptable to the majority. Mainstreaming [childrights] means turning child rights from a fringe issueto one that is at the centre of public attention anddebate. It means getting institutions which have so farignored children's rights to incorporate child rightsinto their agendas (Save the Children UK, 1996).

Mainstreaming human rights

Mainstreaming human rights refers to the concept ofenhancing the human rights programme andintegrating it into the broad range of United Nationsactivities, and into the areas of development andhumanitarian action (Office of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights.www.unhchrch/developrnent/mainstreaming.html).

Mainstreaming

For UNDR mainstreaming involves bringing theoutcomes of socio-economic and policy analysis intothe core decision-making processes of anorganisation.The skills required for mainstrearningare therefore analytic skills, advocacy skills anddecision-making skills, in various combinations.Thisdefinition refers to the mainstreaming of all human-

centred themes, not only of gender considerations.The skills required are therefore relevant across theboard of development activity (The Gender inDevelopment Programme, UNDRwww.sdnp.undp.orglgender/capacity/cb_programme_description.html).

Mainstreaming gender

Gender mainstreaming is a term that came intowidespread use after the 1995 Fourth UN WorldConference on Women and refers to the approachadopted by most governments, donor agencies andNGOs to ensure greater equality of opportunity.Each sectoral component of the Beijing Platform forAction includes the following 'mainstreamingparagraph':

'governments and other actors should promote anactive and visible policy of mainstreaming a genderperspective in all policies and programmes so that,before decisions are taken, an analysis is made of theeffects on women and men, respectively'.

(ODI Key Sheet 4. Gender Mainstreaming, Key Sheetsfor Sustainable Livelihoods.Available on the Internetat: www.undp.org/fwcw/plat.htm for summary).

1 13 ] CRIN Newslet;er

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Rapporteurs reach out to childrenThe work of Human Rights Special Rapporteurs has won widespread respect for itsindependence, so it is vital that children figure large in their concerns. But the rapporteursneed all the help they can get and NGOs have a role here, says Jean-Nicolas Beuze.

t

,

N ro4ig,

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hasestablished a number of special procedures over thelast 20 years monitoring human rights, eitheraccording to country or theme.Thanks to theirimpartiality, these processes, such as thoseundertaken by the Special Rapporteurs, are highlyrespected by governments and NGOs alike and carryconsiderable weight regarding the promotion and .

protection of children's rights.Their observations arelikely to be taken seriously by those responsible fortheir protection at home or internationally.

Given this situation, the Rapporteurs and the specialpeocedures in general are also well placed to improvedebate about children's rights within the UN systemas a whole.To see how this potential formainstreaming children's rights works in practice, letus cake the case of the Special Rapporteur ontorture.

Since 1995, the CHR has requested this SpecialRapporteur "to examine questions concerningtorture directed primarily against.., children andconditions conducive to such torture,and to makeappropriate recommendations concerning theprevention of... the torture of children" (Resolution1995/36, para.5). Since then, all resolutions regardingthis mandate have requested the holder to payparticular attention to.this aspect. In response, theSpecial Rapporteur has sOcifically addressed thisquestion on two occasions.

Sir Nigel Rodley, the previous Special Rapporteur ontorture, noted in his first report that a seRrate

comment on the issue of children and torture shouldbe made.This was despite the lack of specificevidence to suggest that children were tortured orill-treated more often than adults.

Sir Nigel noted that as children are one of the mostvulnerable groups in society and require specialprotection, they may suffer graver consequencesthrOugh torture than similarly ill-treated adults.Theyare also particularly vulnerable to being tortured or .ill-treated in a surrogate capacity, where the intendedtarget is in fact the child's parents, other relatives orfriends. Here the motive for tortueing the child maybe to force an individual connected to the child toconfess or provide information, or to inflictpunishment upon that person.

Specific concerns of the Special Rapporteur havecentred on penal situations, where young people aredetained for a long time before any trial takes place,often in overcrowded detention centres with adultprisoners.The Special Rapporteur has also noted thatother children vulnerable to torture or ill-treatmentare those on the streets, living in care especiallydisabled children or children with learning difficulties

and children caught up in armed conflict. Seriousconcerns remain about the failure of some States toprotect children in conflict reports of violationsinclude severe torture and ill-treatment meted out tochild civilians and those recruited into armed forces.

Child Rights Information Network KRINI [ 14 ]

117

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

The current Special Rapporteur,.Theo van Boven, whotook over in December 2001, will continue tomonitor situations involving children that fall withinhis mandate.With children said to be at risk he willsend urgent appeals to the governments ii question,requesting them to take the necessary measures toprevent a violation. For children that are allegedlyvictims of such treatment, he will send letters togovernments listing the allegations and requestingthem to bring the perpetrators to justice.

NGOs are very important in these processes, as theinformation they submit gives a Special Rapporteurspecific targets to focus on. For example, if NGOshave reported that children are suffering from asystematic pattern of violations falling within hismandate, the Special Rapporteur could use a fact-finding visit to go to detention centres and take agood look at the juvenile justice system. He couldthen feed back his evidence, including individual cases,and if necessary, make specific recommendations tothe relevant authorities.All activities of the SpecialRapporteur on torture are published in annualreports to the CHR and the General Assembly.Thesereceive plenty of attention from governments, theUN and other international agencies, as well as fromNGOs and the media.

NGOs' information may form the basis of any SpecialRapporteur's activities.The evidence NGOs providewill help make specific recommendations aimed atpromoting child-related human rights to relevant

authorities. It is therefore essential that NGOsfocusing on children's issues provide reliable anddetailed information, not only on individual cases, butalso on.patterns of violations primarily affecting theyoung. Such information, which may consist of either .

communications specifically addressed to a SpecialRapporteur, or regular NGO activities reports, shouldbe sent to the relevant special procedure at theaddress at the end of this feature.

The special procedures of the Commission onHuman Rights have significant potential for theprotection and promotion of child rights andtherefore welcome more information from NGOsregarding violations. Issues of conceen can then beproperly highlighted in reports to the CHR and theGeneral Assembly. However, resources for follow-upactivities are scarce. So NGOs' other lobbyingactivities are central if the battle to bring theobservations and recommendations of UN humanrights experts to a wider audience is to be won forgood and all.

Jean-Nicolas Beuze is assistant to the Special Rapporteur on torture.

The Special Rapporteur on torture can be contacted at the UN Offke ofthe High Commissionsfor Human Rights. OHCHRUNOG. Palais desNations. CH-1211, Geneva 10. Switzerland.

For further details, see reports of the Special Rapporteur of theCommission on Human Rights on torture: E/CN.4/1996135 (pans 9-17) andA155/290 (pans 10-15).All the annual reports, mission reports. resolutionsetc.. of the thematic and country rapporteurs. including the SpecialRapporteur on torture, can be found on the OHCHR website(www.unhchr.ch).

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

118[ 15 ) CRIN Newsletter

View from the front lineKathy Vandergrift argues that putting children at the centre of the Security Council's workhelps safeguard their rights. But the battle is far from over

-r'LP

-"

L In.

^

fS.?t... az .

Imagine a child in the middle of the room during aSecurity Council debate.What a difference it wouldmake if security for children, instead of nationalpolitical interest, was the top priority on the mind ofevery member for every conflict in the world.

Children and war do not fit together. But the realityis that children have become deliberate targets andcombatants, as well as victims, in contemporaryconflicts. In 1996, the Machel Study on the Impact ofArmed Conflict on Children documented theproblem and proposed a plan of action.

A first step was getting the Security Council torecognise that violations of the security and rights ofchildren are a threat to international peace andsecurity and therefore, a matter for their attention.Resolution 1261 achieved that goal and called forregular reporting.As a result of the first report, forwhich NGOs submitted recommendations and metwith council members, the subsequent Resolution1314, called for more specific action, such as stoppingthe flow of small arms to forces that target children,continuing education as much as possible and payingattention to girls.

Achievement of the goal was bolstered at the firstInternational Conference for War-Affected Childrenin 2000, where 138 countries, hosted by Canada,

f. i. 1 9[ 16)Child Rights Information Network KRIM

:

agreed to take action for child protection. Much oftheir action plan is now being incorporated into theoutcome of the UN Special Session on Children,AWorld Fit for Children and hopefully will continue inthe national action plans to follow.

Although the 2001 Special Session for Children wasdelayed, in November that year a former child soldieraddressed a special session of the Security Council.Listening to a child did focus the minds of memberson the urgency of this issub.The third resolution,Resolution 1379, is even stronger. It calls for a list ofspecific armed groups who misuse children, and asksmembers to take action against private sector actorswho support armed forces that abuse the rights ofchildren.

With strong general commitments from the SecurityCouncil in place, the next major challenge is totranslate these pledges into action in specificsituations.A recent NGO report pointed out that, inspite of council directions, many country reports saynothing about known violations of the security andrights of children.Yet, when children have beenincluded in Security Council peace processes, theappointment of child protection officers and othermeasures has resulted in improved protection forchildren.

The lack of consistent monitoring, reporting andfollow-up action remains a major hurdle. Constantvigilance will be needed from child advocates toensure that these three Security Council resolutionsmake a genuine difference for the lives of children inspecific situations.

In support of this new opportunity to protectchildren through the auspices of the Security Council,several child advocacy groups have now bandedtogether to form the Watch list for Children andArmed Conflict as a new lever for joint action.TheWatch list will pool information on violations of thesecurity and rights of children in a specific situation,prepare a report with recommendations and use it asa lever to get action.The first Watchlist onAfghanistan was well-used and work is underway onAngola, Congo, Burundi and Sudan.

Putting children on the Security Council agenda hasadditional benefits. It has cleared the way forinformation from NGOs to inform council debates.It has also resulted in a call for action to stopcompanies who contribute to conflicts, one of thecauses of war that developed countries are reluctantto acknowledge.

Progress is slow, but experience shows that puttingchildren at the centre of Security Council*debatescan make a difference for them and for the cause ofpeace.Yet, the battle is not yet won and keeping afocus on children will require determined andsustained attention by all child rights advocates.

Kathy Vandergrift Is senior policy analyst,Worid Vision Canada and co-chairof the Watchlist for Children and Armed Conflict, an international NGOpartnership. She is also co-chair of the Children and Armed Conflict Caucusfor the UN Special Session for Children and chair of the Canadian Childrenand Armed Conflict Working Group

For more Information about the Watchlistgo tovoNvwcrin.org/resourcestintoDetail.aspflD=22.20

The Security Resolutions are available on the Internet.Security Council Resolution 1261 (1999) on Children and armed conflict atwww.un.org/Docs/scres/ I 999/99sc1261.htmSecurity Council Resolution 1379 (2001) on Children and armed conflict atwww.un.org/Docs/scres12001/res1379e.pdf

Security Council Resolution 1314 (2000) on Children and armed conflict atwwwyn.org/Docs/screst2000/res1314e.pdf

BESTCOPY AVAILABLE

120[ 17 j CRIN Newsletter

Making headway in the mainstreamNot everyone is on board where children's rights are concerned. So how can you get yourmessage out in the mainstream?An active coalition group can certainly help, says DeniseAllen.

Advocacy through the NGO Group for theConvention on the Rights of the Child is proving aneffective way of getting organisations to take onchildren's rights issues, particularly organisationswhich have given little or no attention to thembefore.

This mainstreaming, as it is sometimes described, is .

no easy undertaking, but the coalition has become aforce to be reckoned with, especially where sexualexploitation is concerned.

The group, a network.of international non-governmental organisations, formed itself into a .

coalition in 1983 in order to take part in the draftingprocess of the UNCRC.Today membership hasswelled to 52 NGOs and the group is notable forcollaboration and advocacy. In fact it is the onlyindependent, international NGO network that isexplicitly committed to the promotion andimplementation of the UNCRC.

The NGO Group has targeted this goal both in andoutside the United Nations. Its Liaison Unit plays akey role in helping NGOs get involved in the

reporting process to the ComMittee on the Rights ofthe Child, the official monitoring body of theUNCRC.The unit also follows the work of nationalchild rights coalitions worldwide, giving it anauthoritative overview of child rights workinternationally.That helps processes get moving,identifying sectors suitable for a children's rights'agenda.

NGO Gro.up members form subgroups andtaskforces to work on themes related to specificarticles of the UNCRC.These thematic areas includechildren in armed conflict and displacement, childlabour, sexual exploitation and the Commission onHuman Rights.These subgroups form an integral partof the NGO Group's work to ensure that children'srights are actively advanced within the UN system, aswell as elsewhere.Through these, members have aplatform for debate and action and a mechanism foruniting members to promote specific child rights. Forexample, the Subgroup on Children in ArmedConflict and Displacement has worked hard.to bringhome the question of how children are affected bywar to organisations previously indifferent to this .

"issue.

Child.Rights Information Network (CRIN) ""121

This subgroup's work of mainstreaming child rightshas taken place in four main areas.

First, it joined in the Machel Study on the.Impact ofArmed Conflict on Children and helped link theglobal NGO community with the research process.Second, the subgroup played a role in creating anadvocacy focal point within the context of children inarmed conflict, in the form of the Coalition to Stopthe Use of Child Soldiers.Third, the subgroup hassteadily pushed to become a credible focal point forUN agencies working on refugee-related issues, suchas the UN High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR).The subgroup is known to keydepartments within the UNHCR, which now paysgreater attention to children's rights a legitimatepoint, since the organisation's main dealings are withasylum-seekers, displaced people and refugees.Fourth, the subgroup continues to moniior the workof the UN Security Council and contributes its views,most recently towards implementation of SecurityCouncil resolutions 1261, 1314 and 1379 that refer..to children and armed conflict,

The NGO Group has also been at the forefront ofinternational organisations highlighting thecommercial sexual exploitation of children. On thisthey have been outspoken and rigorous, targeting asmany different audiences as possible to get theirmessage across.

An excellent opportunity to do this came up whenthe group helped organise the First World CongressAgainst the Commercial Sexual Exploitation ofChildren in Stockholm, Sweden in I 996.This meetingprovided a head-to-head with governments, one ofthe best chances of getting real change.Aninternational plan of action, the Stockholm Agendafor Action was the result.The plan demanded that allparticipating governments would take action on thecommerciarsexual exploitation of children.This movemarked real progress since no such focus had existedbefore.The Stockholm Agenda for Action identifiedthe need for an international information co-ordination and monitoring mechanism.This led to theNGO Group Focal Point on Sexual Exploitation ofChildren, a five-year project leading to the SecondWorld Congress..

The Focal Point has provided information on childsexual exploitation to a range of organisations,including the Committee on the Rights of the Child.And it has kept up the pressure, organisingconsultations and regional workshops to examineprogress since Stockholm, as well as pinpointing thechallenges and taking on new issues as ihey emerge.

The largest consultation that.the Focal Point hasbeen involved in was for the Second World CongressAgainst Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children(CSEC), held in Yokohama, Japan, in December 2001.Not allowing the issue to drop off the agenda for amoment has been crucial to the Focal Point's success.It has kept it in the forefront of people's minds, bothwithin the development community, and moreimportantly in the world beyond, especially in thosesectors which have never sat up and.taken noticebefore. However, despite the unquestionable gains,new challenges have emerged.The major one is theInternet, which.has created a virtual market forexploiting children.

The NGO Group is also actively promoting childrights within the larger human rights system. Its mostrecent subgroup is concentrating on the Commission.on Human Rights (CHR) and will be pressing forchildren's rights to be a central consideration whendecisions are made in all branches of the UnitedNations.

These experiences illustrate how an active NGOcoalition can be a very useful way of reachingdifferent sectors and new audiences. Real actionimproving children's lives is the heartening result.

Denise Allen is liaison officer (monitoring) at the LlalsorrUnit of the NGOGroup for the CRC. .

For further information on the NGO Group, please refer towww.crin.org/NGOGroupforCRC.

NGO Alternative Reports to the Committee on the rights of the Child canbe viewed at: www.crin.org/docsiresources/treaties/crc.25/annex-vi-crin.htm

BESTCOPYAVA1LABLE

122.( 19 ) CRIN Newsletter

Closer contacts offer a golden campaigningopportunityA new group will give NGOs their best chance yet to get child rights a bigger and wideraudience within the Commission on Human Rights.Ahmed Motala explains why this is suchgood news.

Campaigning for child rights has been given apowerful boost with a new body at the heart of theUnited Nations that can lobby throughout the yearon behalf of young people and their needs.

The creation of the Subgroup on the Commission onHuman Rights (CHR), part of the NGO Group for.the Convention on the Rights of the Child, is a highlysignificant move. It extends both the scope and scaleof NGOs' power when campaigning for child rightsto be at the centre of decision-making by the CHR,one of the main policy bodies of the United Nations.

The CHR, established in June 1946, has 53 members.Its mandate includes monitoring compliance withexisting international standards, developing andrecommending the adoption of new internationalhuman rights standards and investigating violations. Itmeets for six weeks once a year during March andApril and over the years has established a range ofspecial mechanisms to monitor and investigate humanrights violations.These include Special Rapporteurs,Working Groups, Independent Experts and SpecialRepresentatives, all of which, operate around aspkific thematic or country mandate.

Until now the structure and process of cHR sessionshave limited NGOs' opportunities to lo6by about

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN)

children's rights in relation to how the Commissionitself operates. Because the CHR only meets for afew weeks once a year, all its activity has beenconfined to just that period, taking place throughChildren's Rights Caucus.

In previous years, the temporary establishment of aChildren's Rights Caucus enabled NGOs to gettogether, talk about their work and co-ordinate theircampaigning activities during the sessions. It hasalways been seen as a key opportunity for gettingacross child rights issues and their central messagesto a broad range of audiences, but there was neverenough time to be really effective. Given that theCommission is the main policy-making body of theUnited Nations dealing with human rights, this once-a-year arrangement was clearly inadequate, as anywork done was never properly developed.

But the presence of this new subgroup, co-ordinatedby the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT),will end this `stop-go' pattern as the work can nowcontinue outside the sessions of the Commission.This synergy is further'enhanced as OMCT is alsoco-ordinating the Children's Rights Caucus.

This set-up means the annual session of the CHR canboth define the work of, and provide a focus for, the

[20] 123BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

subgroup. For example, at the 58th Session of theCHR (18 March to 26 April 2002), the followingactivities were prepared:

lobbying on the text of the Omnibus Resolution onthe Rights of the Child, a resolution whichconsolidates the many-initiatives on child rightswithin the CHR;lobbying for the mainstreaming of child rights withinother resolutions (eg, on juvenile justice, education,torture, etc.); and,organisation of two side events during the sessionson Violence Against Children' and 'Mainstreaming ofChildren's Rights'.

The subgroup began life after the 2001 CHR session.Its brief was to ensure that any advocacy onchildren's rights was organised in good time beforethe start of the next session.This emphasis on beingbetter prepared, acknowledged the necessity of givinggreater attention and higher profile to children'sissues within the CHR itself and the work it'wasdoing. .

NGOs carry a big responsibility in making sure childrights are integrated into the workings of all aspectsof the CHR. But to do this they have to .have theright channels in place.Alliances, partnerships andcollaborative working, as demonstrated by thesubgroup and the Children's Rights Caucus, are allpart of this vital network. Once the processes arethere, undoubtedly NGOs are immensely effective instrengthening a common position..

But what exactly are the benefits of suchcollaboration? The first and immediate pay-off is thata broader range of children's rights can be lobbied forand then pursued at the sessions of the CHR, sincemore NGOs can cover issues They consider to be apriority or which fall within their mandate.Thismakes the most of child rights advocacy and gettingthe message across to other audiences who do nothave children at the centre of their thinking. In short,backed by the right preparations, people's eyes can beopened perhaps for the first time and in'ways theywill not readily forget.

Although the CHR's decisions are not legally bindingon states, almost every government, howeverdismissive it may be of the UN, is extremely sensitiveto criticism of its human rights record by the CHRor its special mechanisms.The CHR, therefore,provides a framework with considerable potential formainstreaming child rights and significantopportunities for NG0s.during the annual sessions

not only to campaign but also to monitor thatgovernments are doing what they promised.

However, there is still much to be done.Although theCHR adopts a resolution on the rights of the child ingeneral at each session, known as the OmnibusResolution, and in addition to those that do exist (eg,trafficking of women and girls), its other resolutionsoften have little or no reference to children's issues.

Apart from those mechanisms that do dealspecifically,with children, such as the .SpecialRapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitutionand child pornography, most special mechanisms ofthe CHR fail to give suffident attention to violationsagainst young people. Given this situation, many childrights organisations resort to.raising child rightsissues under any relevant agenda item at the sessions.

The annual sessions of the CHR are the mostimportant events in the human rights calendar, so thenew subgroup presents an unmissable opportunityfor NGOs to achieve concerted and comprehensiveaction iii promoting child rights to bigger and morevaried audiences.An improved platform for jointcampaigning is now a distinct possibility.

Ahmed Motala is human rights officer at Save the Children UK.

For further information on the Commission on Human Rights pleasecontactThe Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. OHCHRUNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Palx. 1211 Geneva 10. Swicterland.Tel: 00 41 22917-9000; Fax: 00 41 22 917 9016;Website:www.unhchr.chfhtml/menu2/2/chrhtm

For further Information on the Subgroup on the Commission on HumanRights, please contact Roberta Cecchetti.Subgroup on the Commission onHuman Rights. do OMCT. 8 rue du Vieux-Billard, P.O. Box 21,CH-1211Geneva 8, Switzerland. Tel:00 41 22 809 49 39; Fax: 0041 22 809 49 29;Email: rc@omct.orv Website: www.crin.org/NGOGroupforCRC. From 25March to 19 April. email the ChIldren's Rights Caucus atchildrensrthucaucus2002(kahoo.com

BESTCOPY AVAILABLE

124

CRIN Newsletter

Tackling violence against childrenImpunity and lack of attention, as well as gaps in existing human rights mechanisms, allowviolence of children to continue.Time for a global study on violence to sort this out, sayHelena Gezelius, Melanie Gow and Roberta Cecchetti.

The issue of violence against children is about toreceive long-overdue attention following a decision bythe UN General Assembly to request the Secretary-General to conduct an in-depth international study onthis topic. Child rights NGOs and the Committee onthe Rights of the Child welcome the study and view itas a good opportunity to expose the extent of theproblem and identify safeguards that would betterensure protection to children from violence.

The UN study on violence against children wouldinclude all forms of physical or mental violence, injuryor abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, includingsexual abuse, bullying in schools and corporalpunishment and should also pay attention the impactof discrimination.This would cover violence within thefamily and home, in schobls and care or residentialinstitutions both State and private, in work situationsand in the streets, in detention facilities and prisons,violence by police and the use of capital and physicalpunishment.

Many millions of children are violently abused.Experience by child rights NGOs has shown that casesof torture and ill treatment of children are neithersporadic nor isolited acts rather they are part of asystemic phenomenon.Violence against children iswidespread and violent behaviour all too much thenorm within the family, community and stateinstitutions. Legislation giving children equal protectionunder laws on assault only exists in ten countries. In atleast 50 States juveniles are still sentenced to whippingorsflogging by courts and in more than a third of statesworldwide corporal punishment (ritualised beatingwith sticks or belts) is still in use in schools.

.NGOs including EPOCH-worldwide, Human RightsWatch, the Global Initiative to End All Corporalpunishment of Children, Save the Children,WorldOrganisation Against Torture (OMCT) and WorldVision International have Worked on the topic.Theyhave carried out advocacy and liaison work on whichfuture action will be built.

OMCT alone has documented and acted on over3,600 cases, in 62 countries, of child victims of torture,summary executions, forced disappearances, arbitraryarrests and.other more subtle forms of violence.

Human Rights Watch has also conducted investigationsin nearly 20 countries, which relate to violence againstchildren.These have examined police abuse againststreet children, police torture during interrogations,abuse in orphanages and detention centres, employer

violence against working children, and violence in theschools (including sexual violence against schoolgirls,the use of corporal punishment, and violence andharassment against gay, lesbian and bisexual students)..Last year, Human Rights Watch published a summaryreport entitled:'Easy Targets:Violence Against ChildrenWorldwide'.The report found that children are at riskof violence in nearly every aspect of their lives in

school, on the street, at work and in institutions:'

World Vision over the past two years has analysed theextent of child abuse, violence and neglect in a numberof countries and commtinities. From this research theorganisation has developed a series of concreterecommendations for addressing various forms ofviolence against children.Aimed at policy makers, therecommendations call for strong and enforced laws,for the participation of children in their ownprotection and for access to strong communityresources such as help lines. Other work by WorldVision has now moved into the development ofpractioners' tools for preventing violence againstchildren, protecting children and assisting children whoare survivors.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child has alsogiven considerable attention to the issue of violence

1 f)Child Rights Information Netwott ICRINI ( 22 ] "t- AV 0.1

against children. In September 2000 at the twenty-fifthsession of the Committee, one day was devoted to ageneral discussion of state violence against children.Then in September 2001 at the twenty-eighth session,the Committee examined the theme of violenceagainst children in the family and in schools.

Following the 2000 and 2001 days of generaldiscussions the Committee on the Rights of the Child,supported by several NGOs, first recommended tothe General Assembly that an in-depth internationalstudy on violence agairist children be conducted.TheCommittee called for a study that should be 'asthorough and influential as the Machel Study. on theImpact of Armed Conflict on Children', and outlinedthe scope of the proposed study.

The decision of the UN General Asiembly inDecember 2001 now means that the GeneralAssembly will discuss the UN study in more detail atthe fifty-seventh session under the item entitled'Promotion and protection of the rights of children.Already the General Assembly has decided that thestudy will take into account the outcome of theSpecial Session of the General Assembly on Children,and 'put forward recommendations for considerationby Member States for appropriate action, includingeffective remedies and preventive and rehabilitativemeasures:

Many child rights NGOs welcome this study andbelieve it has the potential to bring about some realimprovements in the ways children are treated. ManyNGOs wish for a person of similar standing as GracaMachel to lead the study - and that she or he besupported by a secretariat of its own. So far, hoWever,little has been decided about how the study will becarried out. Participation in the study by civil society isanother important aspect that remains to bedetermined.

Save the Children has said that the involvement of civilsociety will be critical to the siiccess of this secondUN study and hopes that child rights NGOs will beinvited to participate from the start. Directconsultation with, and participation of children isanother important aspect and should be formally builtinto the study. Save the Children contributed.substantially to the Machel Study by participating in thestudy on recruitment of child soldiers and otherthematic papers prepared by NGOs, as well thetechnical advisory group, for the study and regionalconsultations.

But while there is much support for the UN studysome feel that shortcomings of existing human rightsmechanisms must be.addressed right away.

OMCT is currently arguing for the appointment of aSpecial Rapporteur on violence against children, yet italso support the UN study.Their argument is laid outin a study entitled 'Violence against Children and UNmechanism: a new procedure to address children'srights?'.This study documents cases of violence againstchildren and shows that these account for only a smallpercentage of the total cases presented to specialmechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights,OMCT argues that loopholes exist so that cases gounreported; cases of violence against children are notadequately dealt with by existing human rightsmechanisms; and the mandate of the Committee onthe Rights of the Child is too limited to tackle theissue.

While OMCT recognises that mandates of somespecial rapporteurs, working groups, independentexperts and special representadve address issues thatpertain to violence against children, none sufficientlyintegrate children's rights within their activities.Thereis no clear allocation of responsibility for child rights,and consequently accountability is lost.As an exampleof some of the loopholes that exist with currenthuman right mechanisms, the OMCT study shows thatin 2000 the Working Group on Arbitrary Detentiondid not consider one single case that concerned achild.This finding is disturbing given the high frequencyof cases wherein children are deprived of their liberty.Children can spend long periods awaiting trials andthey are at high risk of torture or ill treatment inthese situations.

Helena Gezellus is representative to the International Save the ChildrenAlliance in Geneva. Melanie Gisw is senior policy advisor, child rights at WorldVision and Roberta Cecchetd is children's rights programme manager atWorld Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

For more information about a joint NGO statement on violence againstchildren. contact Helena.Gezelius at helena@savethechildren.ch

For more information about the Committee on the Rights of the Childgeneral days of discussions on Violence Against Children (2000 and 2001).go

to http://www.crin.org/themestviewTheme.asp?lD= I S&name.Violence+against+Children.This includes links to the report and recommendations fromthe Committee and contributions by participants.

Go to the website of the Gltibal Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment ofChildren at wwwendcorporalpunishmentorg for details of human rights, lawand corporal punishment, as well as global progress and research on this topic.

128'*e [ 23 1

BESTCOPYAVA1LABLE

CRIN Newsletter

Doing the business for children's rightsThe business world faces mounting pressure to tvspect human rights, especially the rights ofchildren. Progress will be made by strengthening international laws, declares Fairouz El-Tom.

Respecting human rights used to be of marginalconcern to corporations and private companies. Butglobal concern about abuse and injustice fromshareholder, NGO and the media means business canno longer ignore its own responsibilities with regardto human rights.

The spotlight used to be trained almost exclusivelyon the conduct of governments, but the pendulum ofconcern is now swinging the way of privateorganisations, of which businesses make up a largepart. Civil society is- increasing the pressure oncompanies to be both accountable for, and mindful of,children's human rights in their business practice.

The role of law is central to this debate, specificallythe extent to which international legislation appliesto companies with regard to how human rights aredefined or enforced.Though the idea of human rightsencompasses much more than narrow legaldefinitions, international standards such as theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) andthe UN COnvention on the Rights of the Child(UNCRC) are basic reference points, and serve as afirst base for discussions about business practice.

However, governments and companies have shown adistinct preference for limiting the debate tovoluntary standards and self-regulation.They havetreated documents such as the UDHR and UNCRC

as useful references for inspiration and guidancerather than sources of legal obligations.This can beseen in the case of the guidelines for multinationals,as negotiated at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Other codes ofconduct look specifically at child rights, eg, the SialkotCode of Conduct, which aims to eliminate childlabour from football production.

The question then arises: can international humanrights law be applied not only to states but also toprivate bodies?

Looking at children's rights, the UNCRC has provideda common language for addressing and defining theissue of children's rights. Considering aspects relatingto business operations, for instance,Article 32describes the typei of work from Which childrenshould be protected.

Another human rights instrument which identifiesunacceptable forms of child labour is ILO Convention182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.Thisconvention prohibits and calls for the elimination ofall forms of slavery, forcible recruitment for armedconflict, the use, procuring or offering of a child forprostitution or illicit activities, and work which islikely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.The Convention requires ratifying states to designand implement programmes of action to eliminate

Child Rights Information Network 1CRINI [24] 12 7

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

the worst forms of child labour and establish ordesignate appropriate mechanisms to monitor theConvention's implementation.

ILO Convention 138 on the Minimum Age forAdmission to Employment, stipulates that no childyounger than 15 should be employed. Countrieswhose economy and educational facilities areinsufficiently developed may allow employment ofchildren from the age of I4.The Convention alsoprohibits children under the age of 18 to engage inhazardous work.

Though primarily concerned with state obligations,these instruments provide a basis for extendinginternational legal obligations to companies in twoways:

States have a duty to protect human rights and inconsequence must ensure that private actors,including companies, do not abuse them.This dutyon states gives rise to indirect obligations oncompanies.International law can place direct legal obligationson companies which might.be enforcedinternationally when states are unable or unwillingto take action themselves.

It is increasingly clear that voluntary codes andunofficial means of monitoring compliance should.becomplemented by legal rules and legal accountability.This is not to say that legal or voluntary approachesshould substitute each other, but rather that there isspace for both.Voluntary codes will make bindingregulation more likely to succeed because they havestarted to build consensus, or at least understanding,around some core rights. However, serious attentionneeds to be given to the role international law canplay in ensuring companies' accountability in relationto human rights.

In a world where business is increasingly global, onlyinternational law can provide a framework of legalaccountability, for it offers an objective and coherentbenchmark by which to measure whether businessrespects fundamental human rights. Furthermore, it isthe only internationally agreed expression of theminimum conditions that everyone should enjoy ifthey are to live with dignity as human beings.

Fairoaz El-Tom is research assistant at the International Council on Human

Rights Policy In Geneva, Swicterland.This paper was written based on theInternational Councirs forthcoming publication, Beyond Voluntarism: Human

rights and the developing Internotional legal obligations of companies. Seewww.Internadonal-councikorg.

128[25)

Factfi I eMe (WM lagbis Advocacy Profecl

Children have a wide range of human rights, whichare not only elaborated in the Convention on theRights of the Child, but also are protected anddefined by many other human rights instruments andmechanisms established by the United NatiOns andby regional organisations such as the Organization ofAfrican Unity (OAU) and the Organization ofAmerican States (OAS). Children's rights andinterests could be promoted and protected moreeffectively by making use of all available avenues,rather than focusing exclusively on the Convention ofthe Rights of the Child.

The Child Rights Advocacy Project aims to provide acomprehensive toolkit for the use of human rightsinstruments and mechanisms for children other thanthe Convention on the Rights of the Child, in orderto complement the work done with the Conventionon the Rights of the Child and its committee.Thiswebsite deals with the five other core treaties ofinternational human rights law, and their respectivesupervisory mechanisms. It also covers the non-treaty-based mechanisms (such as the work of theIndependent Experts of the Commission on HumanRights), which are applicable to all UN membersindependent of their accession to, or ratification of,human rights treaties. Guidance is also offered inorder to provide the user with some indications asto the most effective way to use these mechanisms,and the treaty-based bodies.

This online resource is available at the followingwebsite address:www.savethechildren.org.uk/mcdinclex.htm

For more information, contact:The Child RightsAdvocacy Project,Advocacy Unit, Save the ChildrenFund UK, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD, UK.Tel:00 44 (0) 20 7703 5400, Email:s.odonoghue@scfuk.org.uk

CRIN NewMeller

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Bringing the charter to Africa's childrenAfrica's special perspective on children's rights is now established, but the impact is yet to beseen.Wambui Njuguna reports on how the continent's nations got together to make theConvention its own.

Few African countries were involved in theConvention on the Rights of the Child when it wasbeing drafted in Geneva and, while the convention'sgeneral comprehensiveness was acknowledged, itsfailure to take account of the situation of children inspecific regions was highlighted.

This issue came to the fore during the Children inSituations of Armed Conflict in Africa Conference(Kenya, 1987) organised by the African.Network forthe Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuseand Neglect (ANPPCAN) and supported by UNICEF

It was here that the idea of developing an AfricanCharter on the Rights and Welfare of the Childemerged.The conference recommended a regionalmeeting to examine the draft convention from theAfrican perspective taking account of issues particularto Africa, such as children living under apartheid (aswas the case at the time) or those whose mothershad been imprisoned.

A working group was established by the Organisationof African Unity (OAU) in collaboration withANPPCAN to work on the charter, preparing a drafton children's rights and welfare for Africangovernments to consider. In July 1990 the draftAfrican Charter was adopted at the Heads of StateSummit in Ethiopia.

But, despite the rapid initial progress, by July 1997only seven countries of the 15 required had ratifiedit.This low rate especially concerned the ContinentalConference on Children in Situations of ArmedCbnflict (1997) as did the failure to implement therecommendations from the 1987 conference tenyears previously.

As a result, an.OAU Special Committee on Children.in Situations of Armed Conflict was set up to ensurethat conference recommendations were acted on.This committee, whose members came fromgovernments, relevant UN agencies and NGOsoperating in Africa, took the ratification of the AfricanCharter very seriously and set a deadline of 2000 forthe charier to come into force.

The Special Committee pus.hed for ratificationthrough lobby missions (special visits to identifiedAfrican countries) and during various regionalmeetings such as the Conference on Refugees andInternally Displaced Persons in I998.An informationkit about the African Charter further supportekl suchmoves and members of the.special committee also

Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)

wrote letters of appeal to different countries,encouraging them to ratify the charter. Copies of thetext of the charter were also produced anddistributed widely.

These efforts paid off with the required number ofratifications being obtained and the African Chartercoming into force in November I999.This was quicklyfollowed by the need for further promotion acrossAfrica, both to raise awareness of its regional powersand to encourage its implementation.The SpecialCommittee realised that there were many avenuesthat could be used to both promote the charter andaddress other issues relating to children in Africa.As aresult, it encouraged its members to organise regionaland sub-regional meetings, which led to thedevelopment of the Inter-Agency Thematic Group.

This group then held its first meeting in November2000 to consider how the African Chanel- could be ,

promoted and benefit from the many networks andcontatts of its different members.ANPPCAN has .played a particularly pivotarrole in the effectivedissemination of the charter through its training andadvocacy activities.The Regional Office has now

[ 26 ] 1 2 9BEST COPY AVAILABLE

incorporated the African Charter as a keycomponent in its training for professional groups andcommunity leaders, while all participants inANPPCAN training.courses also receive copies of it.Related activities are planned as the Inter-AgencyThematic Group intends to develop training andadvocacy materials specifically related to the charter.

The results of this work have led to its extensivedistribution to varied institutions, organisaticins andgovernments in Africa, encouraging thein to share,implethent and integrate elements of the AfricanCharter into their national documents.Schools,colleges and rights awareness clubs have also acted asdistribution points, and child welfare agencies haveused elements of the charter as a lobbying tool.

In terms of international standards, the AfricanCharter is relatively young. However, as with the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child, it has aprovision for monitoring its irnplementation.Acommittee was elected to do this in June 2001 andwill take over from the Special Committee in Marchthis year. One of the key interests of this body is'expected to be the role NGOs can play in thereporting process regarding the implementation ofthe African Charter, which is a vital step in itsintroduction to broader audiences.

Through the establishment of the Inter-AgencyThematic Group, a wider network of organisationsworking to promote the African Charter throughoutthe continent has been established.Through thiscollaboration, the members of the group have beenable to share resources and disseminate informationabout the charter to far more people than anorganisation working alone would have been able todo.

This example illustrates the promotion anddissemination of a new regional mechanism tosupport child rights in the African context.Whatremains to be seen, however, is the irepact of thistreaty on the lives of African children and the extentto which it can be used to promote child rights as acentral consideration in all policy and planningdecisions. But make no mistake, this continuing effortto protect and uphold their rights marks animportant start.

Wambui Njuguna is director of programmes of the ANPPCAN RegionalOffice in Kenya.

Membership of the inter-Agency Thematic Group is fluid, but particularlyactive members Include UNICEF ESARO. UNHCR. Save the ChildrenSweden, Save the Children UK. ICRC, the OAU and ANPPCAN. For the fulltext of the Charter, go to:http://www.crin.org/docsiresourceskreadesiafricancharterhon

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

130

( 271 CRIN Newsletter

PublicationsThematic publications - mainstreaming child rights

Byrne, 1 (1998) The Human Rights of Street andWorking Children:A practical manual for advocates,London, Intermediate Technology Publications

De Vylder, S (2000) Macroeconomic Policies and

Children's Rights, Stockholm, Radda Barnen.Availablein Arabic.

Man, N (2000) Children,Torture and Power, Geneva,OMCT and Save the Children.Available in French

Smale, J (series ed) (2001) Convention on the Rights ofthe Child and Young Children, Early Childhood MattersNo.98,The Hague, Bernard Van Leer Foundation

Sommarin, C (1999) Advocating Children's Rights in theHuman Rights System of the United Nations, Stockholm,Save the Children Sweden

Theis, J (2002) Tools for Child Rights ProgrammingLondon, International Save the Children Alliance(forthcoming)

Wazir, R & van Oudenhoven, N (1997) Partnership: aDevelopment Strategy for Children: Learning from ReddBarna's experience in Asia, Asian Dialogue no. 5, ReddBarna -Asia

Willow, C (1995) Hear! Plear! Promoting Children andYoung People's Democratic Participation in Local

Government, London, National Children's Bureau

Amnesty Internaiional (2000) Human Rights - Is it anyof your business?Amnesty International and Prince ofWales Business Leaders Forum

CRIN (2000) Children and Macroeconomics, CRINNewsletter 13, London

CRIN (2001) The Special Session oh Children, CR1NNewsletter 14, London

DF1D (2000) Realising Human Rights for Poor People -Strategies for Achieving the International DevelopmentTargets, London .

International Council on Human Rights Policy (2002)Beyond Voluntarism: Human Rights and the DevelopingInternational Legal Obligations of Companies, Geneva

International Save the Children Alliance (2001)Children's Rights: a Second Chance, London

OHCHR website on Mainstreaming Human Rightsin Developmentwww.unhchr.ch/development/mainstreaming.html

Child Rights Information Nehvork (CRIN)

OMCT (2001) A New Procedure to Address Children'sRights? OMCT Study on the Need for a UN SpecialRapporteur on Violence Against Children, Geneva

Save the Children Sweden/UNICEF (2000) Children'sRights:Tuming principles into practice, Stockholm

Save the Children Sweden (2002) Children's HumanRights and the Special Rapporteurs of the UNCommission on Human Rights, Stockholm,(forthcoming)

Save che Children UK (2001) An Introduction tO ChildRights Programming: Concept and application, London

Save the Children UK, Child Rights Advocacy Project,London. Online Internet Resource:Www.savethechildren.org.uk/mcr/index.htm

United Nations (1996) Impact of Armed Conflict onChildren, UN Document A/51/306

UNDP (2000) Human Rights and Human DevelopmentHuman Development Report 2000,Available on theInternet www.undp.org/hdr2000/

UNHCR (2001) Actidn for the Rights of Children:Criticalissues child soldiers, Geneva. Available from theInternet at www.unhcr.ch

UNICEF (1999) A Human Rights Conceptual Frameworkfor UNICEF Innocenti Essays no. 9, Florence, UNICEFInnocenti Research Centre

UNICEF (1999) Human Rights for Children and Women:How UNICEF helps make them a reality. Available inEnglish, French and Spanish. Available on the Internetat www.unicef.org/pubsgen/humanrights-children/humanrightseng.pdf

UNICEF (2001) Independent Institutions ProtectingChildren's Rights, UNICEF Innocenti Digest no. 8,Florence, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

UNICEF (1998) Implementation Handbook for theConvention on the Rights of the Child. Available inArabic, Chinese English, French, Russian and Spanish

UNICEF (1997) Ombudswork for Children, UNICEFInnocenti Digest no. I , Florence; UNICEF InnocentiResearch Centre.Available in English, Italian andSpanish

UNICEF (2000) Poverty Reduction Begins with Children

UNICEF (2000) Programming for the Realization of*Children's Rights: Lessons learned from Brazil, Costa Ricaand Venezuela, Bogota

[ 28 ]

131

111111111rr

PublicationsNew publications - child rights

Ageros, B (ed) (1997) Partnership:A developmentstrategy for children, Redd Barna Asia.

Alfredson, L (2001) Sexual Exploitation of Child Soldiers:An exploration and analysis of global dimensions andtrends, London, Coalition to Stop the.Use of ChildSoldiers

Cassiem, S & Streak, J (2001) Budgeting for Child Socio-Economic Rights. Government Obligations and the Child'sRight to Social Security and Education, Cape Town, Idasa

Jones, H (2001) Disabled Children's RightsA Practical Guide, Stockholm, Save the ChildrenSweden

McMenamin, B and Martyn, E (2001) The Child SexTrade Exposed, Child Wise, ECPAT Australia

Lieten, K & White, B (eds) (2001) Child Labour, PolicyOptions, Amsterdam, Aksant Academic Publishers

Van Bueren, G (1998) The International Law on theRights of the Child, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers

Verhellen, E (ed) (2000) Understanding Children'iRights, Ghent Papers on Children's Rights No. 6,Ghent, University of Ghent

von Fellitzen,C & Bucht,C (2001) Outlooks OnChildren and Media:Yearbook 2001, Nordicom,Goteborg University, UNESCO InternationalClearinghouse on Children and Violence on theScreen .

Centre for Legal Research & Resource Development(2001) Condemned to Exploitation:Trafficking of womenand girls in Nepal, Nepal

Child Rights Foundation (2001) Cambodia After TheFirst World Congress Against Commercial Sexual

Exploitation of Children, Cambodia

Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (2000)Far Away From Home, Nepal

Defence for Children International/InternationalNetwork on Juvenile Justice (2001) Juvenile Justice: theUnwanted Child of State Responsibilities, Geneva

ECPAT International (2001) Five Years After Stockholm,Thailand. Available in Arabic, English, Frenchdapanese,Russian and Spanish

Forum on Marriage and the Rights of Women andGirls (2001) Early Marriage, Sexual Exploitation and theHuman Rights of Girls, Save the Children UK

Human Rights Watch (2001) Rwanda: Observing theRules ofWar?, New York

Human Rights Watch (2001) Second Class:Discrimination against Palestinian Arab children in

Israel's schools, New York

IIED (2001), Children's Participation, EvaluatingEffectiveness, PLA Notes 42, London

NCCR (2001) Community Perceptions of Male ChildSexual Abuse in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan,

Save the Children UK (2001), Children Not Soldiers,London

UNICEF (2001) A Reference Kit on Violence AgainstWomen and Girls in South Asia, UNICEF RegionalOffice for South Asia

Women's Commission for Refugee Women andChildren (2001) Rights, Reconstruction and EnduringPeace:Afghan women and children after the Talibon,New York

[ 29 ]

132CRIN Newsletter

Membership Form

Name of organisation

Acronym/abbreviation Year.established

English translation of name of organisation

Name of director

Name of main GRIN contact in your organisation

Postal address (include country)

Tel (include country codes) Fax (include country codes)

Email Website

Number of staff

Languages used

Does your organisation have capacity to receive email regularly?

Does your organisation have capacity to visit websites regularly?

Number of CRIN.Newsletters required in English, French and/or Spanish

Please give a short description of your organisation's aims and activities Ust countries In which your organisation works(please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary) (please continue on a separate sheet, if necessary)

Please tick the appropriate box

How do you describe your organisation?O Non-governmental organisation (NGO)O United Nations agencyO Community-based organisationO Research instituteO International organisationEl Governmental organisation

Does your organisation?

00000000

Work directly with children

Lobby governments and the United Nations

Work In partnership with other organisations

Provide training on children's rights

Provide funding to other organisations

Undertake research on children's rights

Wak with the media and pressUndertake legal casework on behalf of children

Which age group does your organisation target?0 Children '0 Children 5-15 0 Children 16-18

Does your organisation have expertise In any of the following themes?

0

00

Children In care, fostering and adoption

Children living with'HIWAIDS

Child labour and workinO children

Individual cases of violations

Children in armed conflict

Children In conflict with the law

Reporting and monitoring on the CRC

Children and the media

Children with disabilities

Participation of children In decision making

Children and education

Refugee and unaccompanied childrenEnvironment and habitat

Sexual exploitation of children

Children and health

Children working and living on the street

Signature Date

Please photocopy and return this completed form along with any relevant publications, newsletters, annual reportsand brochures to:

Child Rights Information Network, c/o Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, London SE5 8RD, UK

Tel +44 (0)20 7716 2400 FaX +44 (0)20 7793 7628 Email info@crin.org

Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)

6

.133BEST C PY AVAILABLE

[ 30 ]

Ca lender of eventsEvents for April - September 2002

April3-20 April, Cape Town, South Africa

International Human Rights Academy(IHRA)Law Faculty of the Western Cape

Private Bag x17, Bellville 7535, South Africa

W www.uwc.ac.za/law/

I 1-13 April, Ohio, USA

A conference on HIV/AIDS and theAfrican Child:Health Challenges, EducationalPossibilitiesInstitute of the Afiican Child

Mr. Abdul Gamin

Burson House, Ohio University, Athens,

OH 45701, USA

E lamin@ohio.eduW www.ohiou.edu/toguna/

I 1-14 April, Lebanon, Cypi-us

Early Childhood Education andDevelopment Programme:Regional Consultative WorkshopLaunching a new Arabic ECD TrainingManualArab Resource Collective

PO Box 13-5916, Beirut, Lebanon1 +9611 742 075; F +9611 742 077;E ecd@mawared.m.W www.mawared.org

15-17 April, Karachi, Pakistan

Trafficking in Women and Childrenwithin South Asia ConferenceLawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid

D-1, First Floor, Court View Appartments,

Court Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan

T +9221 5674031; F +9221 5685938;E Ihrla@fascom.comW www.Ihrla.org

16-17 April, Melbourne, Australia

Workshop on Using Rights. to AdvanceChild Centred DevelopmentPLAN Australia

PO Box 2818AA, Melbourne, VIC, 3001,

Australia

T +61 3 9296 3722;E anna.parle@plan.org.auW www.plan.org.au

I 7-28 April,The Hague,The Netherlands

Post Graduate Diploma in Childrenand DevelopmentInstitute of Social Studies

P.O. Box 29776, 2502 LT The.Hague,

Netherlands

T +31.70 4260 460; F +31 70 4260 799;

E student.office@iss.n1

W www.iss.n1

United Nations General Assembly Special Sessionon Children

8-10 May, New York, USA

UN General Assembly Special Session on ChildrenUNICEF, UNICEF House. 3 UN Plaza. New York NY10017, USA

For intergovernmental related issues:

Secretariat for the Special Session on ChildrenF +1 212 303 7992

For non-governmental organisations related issues:The NGO Participation TeamT +1 212 326 771 I; F +1 212 303 7990; E'nyhq.ngo©unicef.orgW www.unicef.org/specialsession/ngo/index.html

For communication and media related issues:

Division of Communication. Special Session on Childrenfocal poincsE press unicef.org (for media only)

The process for the accreditation of new NGOs has been closed.

31

6-7 May, New York, USA

Children's ForumUNICEF, UNICEF House, 3 UN Plaza, New York NY10017, USA

For more information, contact:Child Participation Unit.T + 1 212 326 7195; F + 1 212 824 6470E jwijnants@unicef.org orjrajasegera@unicef.orgW www.unicef.org/specialsessionlunder- I 8/index.html

A maximum of two children per government- or NGO delegationwill attend the Forum. Because of limited space and the largenumber of children expected to enrol at the Forum, UNICEF cannotaccommodate any new nominations from NGOs who did notalready pre-register children in September 2001.

1CRIN Newsletter

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

May16-19 May, Lebanon, Cyprus

Children's Rights Programme:Regional Consultative WorkshopFoHow-up.of the Special Session onChildren by Arab NGOsArab Resource Collective

PO Box 13-5916, Beirut, Lebanon

.1 +9611 742 075; F +9611 742 077;E ecd@mawared.orgW www.mawared.org

21 May 7 June, Geneva, Swiaerland

30th Session of the UN Committee onthe Rights of the Child,Secretariat for the UN Committee 6n the

Rights of the Child

Office of the High Commissioner for Human

Rights, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix

1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

T +41 22 917 9000; F +41 22 917 9016;E pdavid.hchr@unog.chW www.unhchr.ch

21-25 May,Victoria, Canada

International Children's Conference onthe EnvironmentUnited Nations Environment Program(UNEP)

Kathryn Molloy.

International Children's Conference on the

Environment Canada 2002

576 Niagara St, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8V 1H7

T +1 250 995.0225; F +1 250 995 0206;E kathryn@iccCanada2002.orgW www.iccCanada2002.org

June4-20 June, Geneva, Switzerland

90th Session of the International.Labour Conference (ILO)International Labour Organization

Official Relations Branch, 4 Route des

Morillons, CH1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland

T +41 22 799 7732;F +41 22 799 8944; E RELOFF@Ilo.org

W wwwilo.org

July7-10 July, Denver, USA

14th International Congress on ChildAbuse and NeglectInternational Society for the Prevention of

Child Abuse and Neglect

and The Kempe Children's Foundation:

International Society for Prevention of ChildAbuse and Neglect

25 W. 560 Geneva Rd, Suite L2C, Carol

Stream, IL 60188,USA.

T +1 630 221 1331; F +1 630 221 1313;E ispcan@aol.comW www.ispcan.org

7-12 July, Barcelona, Spain

XIV International Aids ConferenceInternational Aids SocietyP.O. Box 4249, 102 65 Stockholm, SwedenT +46 8 556 970 50; F +46 8 556 970 59;E secretariat@ias.seW www.ias.se

13-30 July,Yogyakarta & Semarang,Indonesia

The International Trainings onMaternal and Child HealthCentre for Indonesian Medical StudentsActivities (CIMSA)

Berlian Idriansyah IdrisFaculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia,

Students' Council

JI. Salemba Raya No.6, Jakarta Pusat 10430,IndonesiaT +62 21 391 3063; F +62 21 314 8706;E b.idris@rnch-training.orgW http://mch-training.org

August8-11 August,Tampere, Finland

The International Foster CareOrganisation European Conference (IFC0)Central Union for Child Welfare

Armfeltintie 1, Fin 00150 Helsinki, Finland

T +358 9 3296 0204; F +358 9 3296 0299;E meria.launis@lskl.fiW wwwperhehoitoliitto.fi/ifc62002/

ChM Rights Information Nelwork (CR1h1)

135[32]

September16 September 4 October, Geneva,Switzerland

31st Session of the UN Committee onthe Rights of the ChildSecretariat, Committee on the Rights of the

Child .

Office of the High Commissioner for Human

Rights, OHCHR-UNOG

CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

'1 +41 22 917 9000; F +41 22 917 9016;E pdavid.hchr@unog.ch

W www.unhchr.ch

20 September, Geneva, Switzerland

The Private Sector as a ServiceProvider and its Role in ImplementingChild Rights Day of GeneralDiscussion by the CommitteeSecretariat, Committee on the Rights of theChild

Office of the High Commissioner for Human

Rights, OHCHR-UNOG

CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

T +41 22 917 9000; F +41 22 917 9016;E pdavid.hchr@unog.chW www.unhchr.ch/htmlimenu2/6/

crcdod4.htm

23-27 September,Arusha,Tanzania

Nurturing the Future: Challenges forBreast Feeding in the 21st CenturyWorld Alliance for Breast Feeding Action

Global Forum 2

P 0 Box 1200,10850, Penang, MalaysiaT +60 4 658 4816; F +60 4 657 2655;E secr@waba.po.myW www.waba.org.br

InformationThe Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) is amembership-driven organisation and network of more than1,200 child rights organisations around the world. It strives toimprove the lives of children through the exchange ofinformation about child rights and the promotion of theUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A websiteUpdated regularly, the website, which is a leading resource onchild rights issues, contains references to hundreds ofpublications, recent news and forthcoming events as well asdetails of organisations working worldwide for children.Thesite also includes reports submitted by NGOs to the UNCommittee on the Rights of the Child.

An email serviceDistributed twice a week, CRINMAIL provides regular newsbulletins about child rights issues, as well as information aboutnew publications and forthcoming events.

A newsletterPublished three times per year, the newsletter is a thematicpublication that examines a specific issue affecting children. Italso summarises news, events, campaigns and publications.

Child Rights Information Networkdo Save the Children17 Grove Lane, London, SE5 8RDUnited Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7716 2240Fax: +44 (0) 20 7793 7628Email: info@crin.org

www.crin.orgBookmark CRIN's website to learn more, or email us tocontribute news or information.

CRIN is supported by Save the Children Sweden, Save theChildren UK, the International Save the Children Alliance andthe United Nations Children's Fund.

Previous issues

CRIN Newsletter 12, March 2000:Education

CRIN Newsletter 13, November 2000:Children and Macroeconomics

CRIN Newsletter 14, June 2001:The Special Session on Children

13BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

riICI Rights Information Network Number 161 October 2002

0410E4 4Lniialiren angypung peopci

artIclpati,on,

7=111.

-.A e

4 _.

es8K

a,.T.

1-a

hanging world opens door to children Roger'Hart and GeriOn' Lonsdown chart participation's progress

he view from here: reports from Africa, Asia,Latin America, the Arab world and Europem Henk van Beers, Claire O'Kane and Ravi Karkarajulia Ekstede and Blanca Nomura, Nizar Rammal

nd Raia SekulovidS.

nowing rights from wrong child workers learn to fight back by Uchengamma, 4-year-oldresident of working children's union Bhima Sangho

,

1.;The Child Rights Information Network (CR1N) is a membership-driven organisation and network of over",rr Fit

[1; li.295 child rights organisations around the world It strives to improve the lives of childreVhrough theexchange of information about child rights and the promotion of the United Nations Convention oh therRights of the Child.

,u4eL Ant n__71111

ar

CRON Newsletter - can for papers

The editorial team of the CRIN Newsletter wouldlike to receive accounts of current projects, initiativesand latest developments from child rightspractitioners working to support and promote therights of children.

From community-based programmes addressing childrights implementation to lobbying for child rightsinternationally, the editorial team is keen to capturethese diverse experiences and local stories to furtherthe development and support the institutionalisationof child rights on a global scale.Through this, CRINseeks to both empower the child rights communityand accelerate the implementation of the UNCRC.

Published since 1996, the aim of the CRINNewsletter is to present information about keythematic areas relevant to the child rights communityworldwide. Specifically, it aims to share experiences,challenges and critical issues pertinent to thoseworking in the field of child rights in addition toproviding resource updates in terms of news, eventsand publications.

Strategically, CRIN aims to democratise informationon child rights and encourage information-sharingbetween different parts of the world and differentactors regarding the implementation of the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child.

Each issue of the CRIN Newsletter takes a thematicfocus: for example, issue 13 Macroeconomics;issue 14 Special Session on Children; issue 1 SMainstreaming Child Rights; issue 16 Childrenand Young People's Participation. It is producedin English, French and Spanish, three times a year, inMarch, July and November. Distribution per edition isover 5,500 copies plus approximately 15,000 inelectronic format.

New: To further encourage information-sharing fromaround the world, with particular focus onorganisations based in the South, CRIN is dedicatingan annual edition to examine developments in childrights at local and national levels.This specific issuewill not be thematic, but rather, will present a rangeof articles relating to concerns and challenges ofpromoting and supporting child rights at these levels.This issue will be entitled 'Voices from the Regions'[working title], the first of which is forthcoming inDecember 2003.

Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)

A full list of future thematic and regional issues of theCRIN Newsletter can be found below.

17 Private Sector, deadline 15 November 200218 Voices from the Regions, deadline I December 200219 HIV/AIDS, deadline I April 200320 Children and Armed Conflict deadline I August 200321 Voices from the Regions, deadline I December 200322 Child Labour, deadline I April 200423 Sexual Exploitation, deadline I August 200424 Voices from the Regions, deadline 1 December 2004

Each article should be between 650 and 850 wordsand the editor's decision is final.Articles forconsideration should be written in English andsubmitted by email or post to the editor, notingwhich issue the article relates to.The editorial teamreserves the right to edit and amend articles forpublication in the CRIN Newsletter.

Please send all enquiries and submissions to:

The Editor, CRIN NewsletterChild Rights Information Networkdo Save the Children17 Grove LaneLondon SES 8RDUnited KingdomPhone: +44 (0)20 7716 2240Fax: +44 (0)20 7793 7628Email: editor@crin.org

138

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

CRIN Newsletter Number 16Children and Young People's Participation

3 Editorial

4 News round-up

6 Letters to the editor

9 Children and Young People's Participation

9 Changing world opens door to children by Roger Hart and Gerison Lansdown

12 A world fit for us, a message from the Children's Forum to UNGASS

13 Young citizens for a new era in South and Central Asia by Ravi Karkara and Claire O'Kane

15 A place at the top table in South America by Julia Ekstedt and Blanca Nomura

17 Why sharing matters when you are young and powerless in the Arab world by Nizar Rammal

19 Pushing the participation agenda experiences from Africa by Henk van Beers

21 A long road ahead for children in South Eastern Europe by Raia SekuloviE

23 Factfile: Guide to participatory research

24 Young Ugandans use participation to cope with the aftermath of war by Allison Anderson Pillsbury and

Ake llo Betty Openy

26 Stepping stone to a healthy and happier future by Alice We !bourn

28 Hard lessons from Zimbabwe's children's parliament by Chris Mc Ivor

30 Factfi le: Guide to creating the right environment for children and young people's participation

31 Knowing rights from wrong in India by Uchengamma, president of Bhima Sangha State Committee

33 Telling it like it is:young disabled people join forces by Carolyne Willow and Bill Badham

35 Publications

35 Thematic publications children and young people's participation

36 New publications child rights

37 Calendar of events

CRIN Newsletter editorial team:Andrea Khan, managing editor; Laura Greenwood. editor; Bill Bell, editorial adviser; Gerison Lansdown. guest editorial

adviser; Maisha Frost. sub-editor; Elizabeth Snyder, research assistant Paula McDiarmid, proof-reader; management team: Sven Winberg.Save the Children

Sweden; Katharina Borchardt, UNICEF; Bill Bell, Save the Children UK; and Youssef Maijar,Arab Resource Collective.Transbted into French by IsabelleFernandez, SOL language and Spanish by Francisco Arita, Planet Translations. Design by Greenhouse.

Published October 2002. Child Rights Information Network. ISSN 1475-8342, ©The Save the Children Fund, Registered Charity No. 213890. Printed by

Greenhouse on 100% recycled paper.The CR1N Newsletter is published three times a year in English. French and Spanish.Authors alone are responsible for

the opinions expressed in the CRIN Newsletter.Writers' suggestions for features are always welcome. In respect of all submissions, the editor's decision is

final. No part of this newsletter may be republished without the written permission of the editor and author.This publication is available free of charge and

can also be downloaded from die Internet at www.crin.org/aboutinewsletter.asp. If you would like copies mailed to you, please contact CR1N, do Save the

Children, 17 Grove Lane. London SES 8R0, UK or email infoacrin.org.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE [ 139 CRIN Newsletter

'fl

-vNtk,

OitightsWwWWWA0W W 0

13EST COPY AVAILABLE

Editorial

The term 'participation' suggests certaincharacteristics: inclusion, transparency, democracy,communication, equality and empowerment. It meanseliciting views, listening and working together, andproviding access to decision-makers and information.However, it also proposes inherent challenges totraditional power structures and ways societies areorganised. Its adoption may result in completelydifferent ways of behaviour.

Evidence collected during the last 30 years provesthat projects and programmes have greater impact ifthey enable the full participation of all stakeholders,including children and young people. Participation isnow part of the fabric both of development andother organisations across the world.

Global recognition of participation has triggered aflood of material and debate, out of which emerges anew need: to make sense of what participationactually means in particular contexts, especially forchildren and young people.What lessons can thehistory of children and young people's participationteach us? This is particularly pertinent where goodexamples of children truly engaging in a process sitalongside ones where their contributions are justtokenistic.

As Roger Hart and Gerison Lansdown observe intheir article (page 9), the only role young people hadat the World Summit for Children in 1990 wasmerely to usher delegates to their seats.What acontrast, then, with the positive experience of theUnited Nations General Assembly Special Session onChildren (UNGASS) in May 2002, which saw childrenand young people attending as part of governmentand NGO delegations, and participating in multiplefora to get their views, and those of their peers,heard by heads of states and governments.

Children's rights to participate are clearly articulatedin the United Nations Convention on the Rights ofthe Child (UNCRC), and specifically, in Article 12,which states that the child has rights "to express anopinion and to have that opinion taken into account,in any matter or procedure affecting the child".Further articles state that it is the child's right toobtain and make known information, and to expresshis or her views (Article 13); the child has the rightto freedom of thought, conscience and religion(Article 14); and he/she has the right to meet withothers and to join or set up associations (Article 15).

This issue of the CRIN Newsletter reviews how farchildren and young people's participation hasprogressed, through a series of regional overviewsand thematic case studies.The overviews present thestate of the art in each region, examine key barriersto effective participation and suggest specificrecommendations, based on experience, to improvefuture practice.The thematic case studies describeexamples of children's participation in a variety ofcontexts.

It is vital that we learn from past experiencesinvolving children and young people's participation,particularly as there is now a call for theirinvolvement in the implementation and follow-up ofthe outcomes of the Special Session through itsaction plan, A World Fit for Children.

Children and young people themselves are reinforcingthis call with their statement entitled A World Fit forUs, presented by the Children's Forum to theUNGASS. In this, they state that they see the activeparticipation of children as involving:

raised awareness and respect among people of allages about every child's right to full and meaningfulparticipation, in the spirit of the Convention on theRights of the Child

children actively involved in decision-making at alllevels and in planning, implementing, monitoring andevaluating all matters affecting the rights of the child.

Given this call for their increased participation inprocesses and decisions which impact upon theirlives, children and young people should now berecognised as having a key role in the development ofmore inclusive, responsive and just societies in today'sworld.

Andrea Khan

[ 31

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

141CRIN Newsletter

News round-up

East Timor signals adoption of children's rightstreaty

East Timorese officials have told a United Nationsmeeting on children that the new nation will soonsign the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child(UNCRC).The announcement was made at a briefingby the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on TheProtection of East Timorese Children and the Convention

on the Rights of the Child,The event in the capital, Dili,brought together a wide range of government andUN officials, civil society groups and journalists. EastTimorese Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri told thebriefing that the Convention is currently beingconsidered by parliament, which he expects will soonendorse East Timor's adoption of the measure.ThePrime Minister also said he hoped that the currentgeneration of East Timor's children, who have beenraised in a climate of violence, will now be able toenjoy the country's newly achieved stability.

Source: United Nations. 19 July 2002

Millions still caught in child labour trap

Millions of children are still forced to labour indreadful conditions, a new study reveals. In alandmark global survey the International LabourOrganization (ILO) shows that despite significantprogress to abolish child labour, an alarming numberof children are trapped in its worst forms.Thereport.A Future Without Child Labour, comes ten yearsafter the ILO launched an international campaignagainst the practice and is its most comprehensivestudy on the subject.While its key finding is deeplydisturbing, the report does note that there has beena worldwide response to calls for abolishing childlabour, especially in its worst forms, through directaction at local, national and international levels.

Among the startling new figures, the report says thatone in every eight children in the world some 179million children aged five to 17 is still exposed tothe worst forms of child labour, endangering physical,mental or moral wellbeing. Child labour continues tobe a global phenomenon and a wide range of crises,including natural disasters, sharp economic-downturns, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and armedconflicts, are growing in importance as reasons whythe young are drawn into debilitating labour, includingillegal activities such as prostitution, drug traffickingand pornography.

Source: International Labour Organization.

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN)

Special Session sets new targets

The United Nations concluded its Special Session onChildren with unanimous agreement on a new agendafor the world's children.Twenty-one specific goals andtargets were set for child health, education andprotection over the next decade.The UN GeneralAssembly Special Session on Children (8-10 May2002) ended after a week of negotiations, and at theclose of the session, representatives from some 180nations adopted the conference outcome document,A World Fit For Children. More than 18 months ofconsensus-building resulted in a strong future agendafocused on four key priorities: promoting healthylives; providing quality education for all; protectingchildren against abuse, exploitation and violence; andcombating HIV/AIDS.

The official text of the outcome document, A WorldFit for Children, is available in English,Arabic, Chinese,Russian, French and Spanish in pdf format onUNICEF's websites.

Source:UNICEF 10 May 2002

AIDS conference puts children first

Major research prepared for the XIV InternationalAIDS Conference (7-12 July 2002, Barcelona, Spain)focused on children and young people in the globalbattle against HIV/AIDS.

The UNAIDS report on the global HIV/AIDSepidemic states that while young people areparticularly vulnerable to HIV infection, they offer thegreatest hope for fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.Thefindings from Children on the Brink (USAID, UNAIDSand UNICEF) show that more than 13.4 millionchildren have lost one or both parents to theepidemic in the three regions studied.This figure islikely to increase to 25 million by 2010, with theresult that the global orphan crisis will get worse asincreasing numbers of adults with children die fromAIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Young Peopleand HIV/AIDS Opportunity in Crisis (UNICEF,UNA1DS and WHO) sees young people as the key tohalting the spread of HIV/AIDS, but also revealsalarming news that the vast majority of the world'syoung people have no idea how HIV/AIDS istransmitted or how to protect themselves from thedisease.The reports can be viewed on the UNA1DSwebsite.

Save the Children UK's report, HIV and ConflictAdouble emergency, also launched at the conference,

142

looks at how armed conflict makes the epidemicworse, with the two making a lethal combination thatthreatens the lives of young people, especially girls.The report calls on governments, donors andhumanitarian agencies to uphold children's rights andto channel resources to prevent a double emergency.

Source: UNAIDS and Save the Children UK.

New High Commissioner on Human Rightsapproved

The UN General Assembly approved its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan's, proposal and appointed SergioVieira de Mello as the next High Commissioner onHuman Rights. He succeeds Mary Robinson, beginninghis four-year term in the organisation's top humanrights post on 12 September 2002. Until May thisyear,Vieira de Mello headed the UN TransitionalAdministration in East Timor (UNTAET), beforewhich he was briefly Kofi Annan's SpecialRepresentative for Kosovo after working at UNHeadquarters in New York as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. Since 1969, the bulkof Vieira de Mello's career has been with the Officeof the UN High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), where he gathered considerable fieldexperience.The High Commissioner for HumanRights is the UN official with principal responsibilityfor human rights activities, under the direction andauthority of the Secretary-General.

Source: United Nations

New Rapporteur on health

The April session of the Commission on HumanRights (CHR) made headway appointing a SpecialRapporteur on the right to health and setting up twoworking groups looking at outcomes from the WorldConference Against Racism held in Durban, SouthAfrica, last year.

The text of a draft optional protocol to theConvention on Torture was also adopted after tenyears of negotiation. In the omnibus resolution on therights of the child, the Commission welcomed theSecretary-General's request to conduct an in-depthstudy on violence against children and suggested theappointment of an independent expert to direct thiswork, in collaboration with the Office of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNICEFand the World Health Organization (VVH0).Theresolution urges states to take measures to eliminate

the use of corporal punishment in schools.The CHRalso called upon states to abolish the death penaltyfor under-I8-year-olds.

Source:The International Save the Children Alliance

New member for Rights of the ChildCommittee

Following the resignation of Amina Hamza El Guindiof Egypt earlier this year, the Egyptian Governmentnominated Moushira Khattab. The Committeeapproved her nomination in May and she will serveout the remainder of her term until the end ofFebruary 2003.

Source: NGO Group for the CRC and OHCHR. Geneva 21 May 2002

CRIN website features Optional Protocolsreporting guidelines

Guidelines regarding Initial Reports to the OptionalProtocols to the Convention on the Rights of theChild on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitutionand Child Pornography (CRC/OP/SA/I) and on theInvolvement of Children in Armed Conflict(CRC/OP/AC/I) are available in the six UNlanguages on CR1N's website (www.crin.org).Theseguidelines inform states on how to provideinformation on State Party measures regarding therights articulated in the Optional Protocols and theprogress made on putting them into practice.

The Optional Protocols to the UNCRC on the Saleof Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography(CRC/OP/SA/l) and on the Involvement of Childrenin Armed Conflict CRC/OP/AC/I entered into forceon 18 January and 12 February 2002 respectively.

Source: OHCHR

I. 4 35 ) CRIN Newsletter

Letters to the Editor

Welcome to our new Letters to the Editor page a

forum for readers to share their views, criticise andexchange experiences, drawing on their own workas well as responding to key issues raised inprevious issues of the CRIN Newsletter.

This is your opportunity to:say which issues in the CRIN Newsletter you

found interestingreply to previous articles that are relevant to

your workshare your experiences of child rights work with

other newsletter readers.

We hope you will find others' feedback in this issueinteresting and look forward to hearing from you inthe future.

On Mainstreaming Child Rights

Dear Editor

In response to your previous newsletterMainstreaming Child Rights (March 2002) we wouldlike to tell you about a side-event held during the UNGeneral Assembly Special Session on Children.

A high-level panel discussion called Women andchildren: from international law to national realities washeld in May at the UN in New York, as a supportingevent to the 27th Special Session.

The panel underlined the importance of theinternational rule of law and gave concrete examplesof its application at national level for advancing theenjoyment of human rights by women and children. Italso highlighted the complementary application of theConvention on the Elimination of All Forms ofDiscrimination against Women (CEDAW) and theConvention on the Rights of the Child, and theirOptional Protocols, and urged their ratification.

Ms Angela King, UN Assistant Secretary-General andSpecial Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancementof Women, moderated the panel discussion. Panellistsincluded Hans Corell, UN legal counsel; Jaap Doek,chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of theChild and Regina Tavares da Silva, Committee on theElimination of Discrimination against Women,established under the Convention on the Eliminationof All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The panel flagged up the important link betweenwomen's and children's rights and the significance of

Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)

the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Courtin relation to women and children. One member,Unity Dow, justice, High Court of Botswana, staged apresentation, Dow v The Attorney-General ofBotswana, based on a groundbreaking court case inwhich Botswana's discriminatory nationality law wassuccessfully challenged. One of the outcomes of thiscase was the passage of legislation entitling women topass on their nationality to their children on thesame basis as men. Country-specific examples of theapplication of international human rights treaties,particularly those relating to women and children indomestic legal systems, were also demonstrated.A full report on this side event is available on ourwebsite at www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/panel-children/index.html

Dino Del-Vuto. United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women,New York, IJSA. Email: del-vasto©un.org

Dear Editor

A paper called 'Implementing children's rights inBritish Columbia using the population healthframework' has been published in The InternationalJournal of Children's Rights (8: 333-349).The paper isbased on a two-year Canadian research projectinvolving a public education campaign that took as itsstarting point Article 42 of the UNCRC, looking at itspecifically from a heakh promotion perspective. Oneof the results of this undertaking was a grassrootspolicy review involving the UNCRC with a group ofyoung people the first of its kind in Canada.Themodel of good practice that emerged has been takenup nationally with organisations including HealthCanada, Canadian Institute for Child Health, and theFroost Foundation.

Richard C Mitchell, University of Schling. Stirling, UK. Email:r.c.mitchell@stinac.uk

Dear Editor

The International Federation of Business andProfessional Women (BPW International) presented aBill of Girls' Rights at our 1997 European Congress inReykjavik (Iceland). Our Bill was approved by all thedelegates and participants attending the congress andit was then circulated throughout Europe and otherregions. Mainstreaming activities of a nationalnetwork F1DAPA Clubs (Italian Federation ofBusiness and Professional Women) have taken place asa result of this bill.All the clubs in the network havedeveloped interesting programmes, such as conducting

[6, 144

BESTCOPY AVM API.r

surveys and research and organising seminars andconferences all over the country. Some are even usingthe bill as a working tool to achieve this.

Mara Mona, FIDAPA Nadonal Co-ordinator of the Working Group on the'Girls' Bill of Rights'. Corso Mediterraneo, 140, 10129 Torino. Italy

Dear Editor

We write to acknowledge receipt of the CRINNewsletter I5/March 2002.The informationcontained therein is a useful addition to ourorganisation's resource centre and we hope that theissue of children's rights will take first priority, notonly in child-focused bodies, but also in governmentsaround the world as they plan policy, so that A WorldFit for Children becomes a reality.

Evelynn Ogwang'-Omware,AfrIcan Network for the Prevention andProtection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Kenya Chapter.

Nairobi, Kenya. Email: anppcankenya@yotamkenya.com

On Mainstreaming Children's Participation

Dear Editor

The experience of our Concerned for WorkingChildren group in Bangalore, India, has severalexamples where children's testimonies have beentaken into account, especially regarding the issue ofguardianship. In these cases, the magistrates werevery considerate and made extra efforts to makechildren comfortable.They actually made theirdecisions based on the children's testimonies.Also, inthe field of education we have had sustained supportfrom the Government of Karnataka and over theyears have been able to create spaces for children'sformal input into the formal education system. In thePanchayats where we work, children are part of theschool's operations and monitoring mechanism, andhold direct discussions with teachers, headmastersand school officials on a regular basis. It took severalyears for us to establish the mechanisms for this, butnow they are in place and are working.This work asbeen largely possible because we have set up TaskForces at the Panchayat and the Taluk level, wherechildren and the representatives of governmentdepartments, among others, hold discussions on allmatters concerning children.

Concerned for Working Children, Bangalore, India. Email: cwcblr@vsnl.com;Website: www.workIngchild.org

General feedback

Dear Editor

We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of youresteemed periodical. It is a valuable addition to ourreading room.A large number of readers, particularlystudents, teachers, doctors, engineers, journalists andresearch scholars benefit from its in-depth coverageof the field of child rights.

Hussain Amin Muhammad Bin Qassim Library. Sulawal, Pakistan. Email:nbalinfo@yahoo.com

Letters to the Editor should respond to issues raised inthe CRIN Newsletter and other relevant issuesrelating to child rights.They should be around 100words in length. Please include your name, yourorganisation, town, country and email address.We areunable to acknowledge receipt of letters but willpublish interesting feedback and comments. Publishedletters may be edited. Please send all letters (by postor email) to:

The Editor, CRIN NewsletterChild Rights Information Network (CRIN)do Save the Children17 Grove LaneLondon SE5 8RDUKTel: +44 (0) 20 7716 2240; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7793 7628;Email: editor@crin.org;

145( 1 CRIN Newsletter

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

-

t "or,

jiltr:. re.

t

P

1,

111.1111111..."

I"16.

*NW tic_11s Intormo Nem tRINI

*10

a.

Changing world opens door to childrenRoger Hart and Gerison Lansdown detail the progress that has been made in children'sparticipation over the past decade and idenhfy the next targets for conversion.

Children at the World Summit in 1990 had only onerole: nicely dressed in national costume, they ushereddelegates to their seats.

How different it is 12 years on, at the United NationsGeneral Assembly Special Session on Children(UNGASS), 8-10 May 2002, where several hundredchildren not only held their own three-day forum, butalso participated throughout the full event asmembers of government and NGO delegations,chairpersons, speakers and contributors from thefloor.

The world has definitely changed.As thecontributions to this newsletter confirm, the conceptof children's participation has now taken a firm holdin many countries throughout the world.Theaccumulated experience gained from the manythousands of initiatives developed over the pastdecade to respect children's active roles asparticipants in their own lives, enables us now toobserve the important changes and trends emergingfrom practice and identify key challenges for thefuture.

Main trends

A move from individual projects showing howchildren's participation can work, to more sustainableprogrammes is taking place. NGOs are nownoticeably more interested in programmes ratherthan one-off participatory projects, whichundoubtedly reflects their realisation that singleprojects are time-limited and that sustained ways foryoung people to be involved in their communitiesneed to be found. One of the greatest problems ofrelying on projects as a means of fostering children'sparticipation was that adults were creating activitiesfor children.While this may be appropriate in certaincircumstances, it prevents children fromdemonstrating both to themselves and to others howmuch further they can go as change agents.Whenchildren are part of ongoing participatoryorganisations, it becomes natural for them to initiateprojects themselves.

Broader Inclusion of childrenThe past decade has.seen broader inclusion ofchildren in participatory initiatives. In 1990, street andworking children were the main group of childrenreceiving attention in highly participatory ways.Increasingly, however, agencies have begun to workwith children from a wider range of environments.Aswe learn from Willow and Badham (page 34),activities are being designed with disabled children to

encourage opportunities for them to influence whathappens to them. Unfortunately, however, thisexample continues to be the exception.We need agreater commitment to including disabled children inmainstream participatory programmes, as well as inthose dedicated to addressing their particularexperiences and priorities.And children in manyother settings have received too little attention.Thedialogue on young people's participation must nowextend to different domains and with all relevantprofessional groups: schoolteachers, juveniledetention professionals, hospital and health centrestaff and youth workers in residential homes.

From specific goals to respecting human rightsAs more children join sustained opportunities forparticipation in clubs and other programmes, theirinvolvement leads to a deeper understanding ofhuman rights. Save the Children sees this as theevolution of citizenship, which is focused oncommunity activity and is only possible whenparticipatory processes exist. Essentially citizenshipmeans the exercising of one's rights for the bestinterest of oneself and others. Children'sorganisations have proven to be excellent settings forlearning participatory skills and practising non-discrimination.We learn from Karkara and O'Kane(page 14) that clubs and other types of children'sorganisations are now flourishing in many parts ofSouth Asia, offering the opportunity for children tolearn about rights in the only effective way by

practising them.The rights enshrined in the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child form the coreorganising principles of these organisations and theidea that rights and citizenship apply to all children islearned through their own discussions ofmembership, organisation and how they appear tothe outside world.The best way to learn aboutgender discrimination is to face it in the daily runningof your organisation.The same is true for issues ofclass, caste and disability

Principles not blueprintsIt has become increasingly clear that there are noblueprints for developing participatory practice. Norindeed should there be.The imposition of pre-definedmethodologies denies the opportunity for children todevelop approaches best suited to their uniquesituations and concerns.What is vital is acommitment to working.according to sharedprinciples which are rooted in respect for children'scapacities and ability to take part and a willingness torecognise them as partners.

[9]14 7

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

CRI14 Newsietter

Adult controlMany projects are initiated and controlled by adults,offering more in the way of kudos for the organisersthan for empowerment for children.The ZimbabweChildren's Parliament (Mc Ivor, page 29) is typical oflarge international NGO events where theparticipation of children seems more a matter ofimage than of substance.The participants are chosenby adults and do not represent any constituency ofchildren.There are a variety of reasons why childrenare selected rather than elected: in particular, adultsthink children lack capacity to elect their ownrepresentatives and choose appropriate individuals.Amore disturbing observation, however, is that theorganisers often want to control the kinds ofchildren who will attend as well as their contribution.The good news is that as NGOs put more emphasison building the self-organising capacities of children'sgroups, these token events will become more rare.One of the reasons that UNGASS was so muchbetter than most international children's conferenceswas that most of the children came as truerepresentatives of children's organisations.

Future challenges

Adults remain the major barrier to effectiveparticipation by children, and NGOs must take someresponsibility for this.There is a general tendency topromote children's participatory rights only throughchildren without talking to parents.At a minimum,this means that the chance to involve those who havethe greatest impact on children's daily lives is lost. Butit can have the more damaging impact of creating astruggle of values at home, leading to a backlashagainst children's rights because parents do notunderstand them. Sometimes, children even sufferpunishment for their involvement.

We lack written accounts of these struggles, but weall have anecdotes to share. Many factors contributeto the failure or refusal of adults to recognise thevalue of a more democratic relationship with children

presumptions of children's incompetence and theinvalidity of their experience, traditions of adultpower over children, fears of losing status or control,fears that children will lack respect and indeed evadenecessary adult protection can all play a part.And, of-course, for adults who themselves have never feltempowered, it is hard to accept the importance ofempowering children.Yet, as van Beers' article (page20) shows, when adults are exposed to effectiveparticipatory practice, they invariably recognise thatmany of their concerns are based on misconceptions.

Child Rights Information Network ICRINI

It is vital, therefore, to invest time in working withadults as well as children, to overcome these barriers.

Putting down rootsChildren's participation has become fashionable. Butfashions change.There is a need to institutionalisedemocratic systems that allow children an activevoice in their lives, if the gains made over the pastdecade are not to be lost. In some cases, this mightbe achieved through legal reforms, for example, bylegislating to give children a right to developdemocratic structures in their schools. Or byintroducing formal mechanisms for political dialoguebetween national and local government and children.There is also a powerful case for lowering the age ofvoting to 16, to extend formal political rights tochildren, and for the introduction of training onparticipation for all professionals working withchildren ranging from teachers, doctors and nursesto magistrates, staff in penal and residentialinstitutions, police, social workers and nursery staff.

Need for evaluationTo date, there has been little independent evaluationof children's participation, whether in terms of directimpact on the participating children or impact onsuch diverse phenomena as legal or policy reforms,public awareness of children's rights, communityimprovements or services for children. One obviousimprovement would be to build monitoringmechanisms into all children's participationprogrammes.This is necessary for any programmethat calls itself participatory but many do not maketheir monitoring processes explicit. Evaluationschemes could be designed to build on these internalmonitoring practices. But we also need to encouragethe academic community to collaborate with NGOsin developing schemes of evaluation that go beyondthe capacities of individual organisations. Evaluation isimportant both as a source of evidence for thoseadvocating children's participation and to enable us tolearn from practice in order to strengthen existingand future programmes.A new coalition has nowbeen formed, initially called the Children as PartnersAlliance (CAPA) which hopes to build on existingexperiences by sharing information between manydifferent kinds of groups at local, national andinternational levels working on children'sparticipation. For further informtion about thisinitiative, please visit the website:www.crin.org/childrenaspartners.

148[to]

BESTCOPYAVAILABLE

Participatory action with children affectedby violencePillsbury and Openy's (page 25) discussion of war-affected children illustrates the values of participatoryapproaches for helping children affected by violenceand abuse to believe that they have a future. Butgenerally, there is remarkably little literature on thespecial problems of working in participatory wayswith such children, where we are obliged to considerthe therapeutic aspects of participation. For example,enabling a child to present their painful story to aconference audience or to a television camera mightsometimes be therapeutic but this will not always bethe case.We need a more sophisticatedunderstanding of such issues.There often seems tobe a naive belief that as long as children are given thechance to speak out, they can recover from anexperience.

There are many groups around the world which havespent years developing sensitive approaches toworking in participatory ways with abused andtraumatised young people, but rarely do they writeabout the processes they use. Perhaps this is becauseof a belief that one can only be prepared for suchwork through a lengthy clinical training. But the scaleof the problem and the number of NGOs nowworking with such children, means that we need toinvolve more of these therapeutic practitioners indialogue with those NGOs that are promotingparticipatory research and action with children.

Direct involvementAlthough increasing numbers of NGOs aredeveloping initiatives to promote children'sparticipation, it is, as yet, relatively rare for thoseorganisations to open up their own structures inorder that their planning and programming reflect thepriorities identified by children themselves. Involvingchildren, as apprentices, on management boards, inconsultative workshops and through the creation ofadvisory forums are just some of the mechanismsthat might be used to democratise organisations.

Building skillsSome of the articles in this issue demonstrate clearlythat young people can emerge at a young age asleaders, and this is desirable. But too often leadershipis the primary focus of training programmes.Leadership training represents an older model ofdemocracy than the one the UNCRC inspires in somany young people.There continues to be too muchemphasis on children learning to speak out ratherthan learning to consult with their peers. Facilitators

who work with young people need to focus on thepromotion of participatory skills for all, notleadership skills for the few. Leaders will alwaysemerge, but every child needs the chance to learnthe multiple skills of listening and collaborating ingroups if they are to discover that they can play verydifferent roles in building communities and achievingchange.

The next decade

This has been a remarkable decade of changeregarding the view of children and their capacities.Uchengamrna's experience as president of the BhimaSangha State Committee (page 32) is testimony tothe profound impact of children's involvement in theirown organisations.And she is not atypical. Manythousands of children through such programmes havenot only raised their own levels of confidence andself-esteem, but also have successfully negotiated andcampaigned for the realisation of their human rights.Through demonstrating their competence to organiseand lobby for change, they have begun to shift adultattitudes and challenge many of the traditionalinequalities and oppressions faced by children.

Hopefully, the next decade will bring an even greateremphasis on inclusion so that all children candiscover their rights by practising them. It has alwaysbeen assumed that schools are the least likely placeto expect to see democratic practices, as they arethe conservative core of any nation's desire tomaintain the status quo. But with the global push tobring schooling to all children, they should be anobvious focus of our concern and, given theremarkable changes we have seen in the past tenyears, it may no longer be too much to hope thateven schools might change.

Roger Hart Is professor of 'environmental psycholory and co-director of theChildren's Environments Research Group, Graduate School of the CityUniversity of New York. Gerlson Lansdown is an Independent children'srights consultant.

1141 9

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

CRIN Newsletter

A world fit for usMessage from the Children's Forum, delivered to the UN General Assembly Special Session onChildren by child delegates, Gabriela Azurduy Arrieta, 13, from Bolivia and Audrey Cheynut,17, from Monaco on 8 May 2002.

We are the world's children.We are the victims of exploitnion and abuse.We are street children.We are the children of war.We are the victims and orphans of HIV/AIDS.We are denied good-quality education and health care.We are victims of political, economic, cultural, religiousand environmental discrimination.We are children whose voices are not being heard:it istime we are taken into account.We want a world fit for children, because a world fit forus is a world fit for everyone.

In this world,We see respect for the rights of the child:

governments and adults having a real and effectivecommitment to the principle of children's rights andapplying the Convention on the Rights of the Child toall children,safe, secure and healthy environments for children infamilies, communities, and nations.

We see an end to exploitation, abuse and violence:laws that protect children from exploitation and abusebeing implemented and respected by all,centres and programmes that help to rebuild the livesof victimized children.

We see an end to war:world leaders resolving conflict through peacefuldialogue instead of by using force,child refugees and child victims of war protected inevery way and having the same opportunities as allother children,disarmament, elimination of the arms trade and an endto the use of child soldiers.

We see the provision of health care:affordable and accessible life-saving drugs andtreatment for all children,strong and accountable partnerships established amongall to promote better health for children.

We see the eradication of HIV/AIDS:educational systems that include HIV preventionprogrammes,free testing and counselling centres,information about HIV/AIDS freely available to thepublic,

orphans of AIDS and children living with HIV/AIDScared for and enjoying the same opportunities as allother children.

We see the protection of the environmentconservation and rescue of natural resources,awareness of the need to live in environments that arehealthy and favourable to our development,accessible surroundings for children with special needs.

We see an end to the vicious cycle of poverty:anti-poverty committees that bring about transparencyin expenditure and give attention to the needs of allchildren,cancellation of the debt that impedes progress forchildren.

We see the provision of education:equal opportunities and access to quality educationthat is free and compulsory,school environments in which children feel happyabout learning,education for life that goes beyond the academic andincludes lessons in understanding, human rights, peace,acceptance and active citizenship.

We see the active participation of children:raised awareness and respect among people of all agesabout every child's right to full and meaningfulparticipation, in the spirit of the Convention on theRights of the Child,children actively involved in decision-making at all levelsand in planning, implementing, monitoring andevaluating all matters affecting the rights of the child.

We pledge an equal partnership in this fight forchildren's rights.And while we promise to support theactions you take on behalf of children, we also ask foryour commitment and support in the actions we aretaking, because the children of the world aremisunderstood.

We are not the sources of problems; we are theresources that are needed to solve them.We are not expenses; we are investments.We are not just young people; we are people andcitizens of this world.

Until others accept their responsibility to us, we willfight for our rights.We have the will, the knowledge, the sensitivity andthe dedication.We promise that as adults we will defend children'srights with the same passion that we have nowas children.

We promise to treat each other with dignityand respect.We promise to be open and sensitive to ourdifferences.

We are the children of the world, and despite ourdifferent backgrounds, we share a common reality.We are united by our struggle to make the world abetter place for all.You call us the future, but we are also the present.

Source: UNICEF website(wwwunIcaorespeciaIsessIon/documentationichIldrens-statementhtm)

;

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN) ( 12 150,

Young citizens for a new era in South andCentral AsiaThe grown-ups 'know best' attitude has been holding children back, but new partnerships arebreaking down the barriers with heartening results. By Ravi Karkara and Claire O'Kane.

ftk-P

14'014.

"Children's participation is an on-going process ofchildren's active involvement in decisions that affect theirlives.1...] Genuine participation gives children the powerto shape both the process and the outcome. Children'scitizenship involves the exercising of one's rights for thebest interest of oneself and others."Save the Children UKOffice of South and Central Asia, 2000.

Children's active participation and citizenship projectsin South and Central Asia have recently focused ondeveloping the exemplary role that children can playas active citizens. But the work has also shown thatchildren's rights benefit across the board whensustainable initiatives are set up involving meaningfulpartnerships between adults and children.

That children have rights is a central tenet ofcitizenship.Those rights include the right toinformation, expression and association, and the rightto identity and nationality.All of these rights areabout participation, which is one of the fourfundamental principles of the United NationsConvention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).The UNCRC and its (almost) universal ratification bygovernments of the world has helped to establish thevalue of children not only as future adults, but also asactive members of society here and now.

Yet many of the practices associated with theconcept of children's participation in South and

-147g 3F3minta

,41(

a

Central Asia precede the UNCRC.The child-to-childapproach in health education programmes, theestablishment of street and working children'sorganisations for their empowerment, andexperiments in making the learning process moreinteresting for children, have all contributed to theidea and practice of children's participation.

Passive is out

Children, young people and their communities do notdevelop by being passive. It is only throughparticipation that they develop the necessary skills,competencies, aspirations and confidence to becomeactive citizens. Culturally, children in Asia have notbeen encouraged to participate in decision-makingprocesses. Children are generally seen as theirparents' property, who should only respect and dowhat their elders tell them.

"It is understood that adults know better. It is notexpected that children will speak in front of odults.Theyask Who is big?Who is aged? You or me?Why do youdare to speak?"(Boy, 14 Bangladesh)

However, a rich variety of participatory processeswith children at local, district, national and regionallevels is being promoted and supported across theregion by many NGOs, including Save the Children

13 ) 1 5 1 CR1N Newsletter

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

and UNICEF.These encompass: consultations withchildren; participatory research with and by children;children's media initiatives; children's involvement inconferences; children as peer educators; childrenforming their own organisations; and children'sinvolvement in decision-making bodies such as localgovernment.The work related to the Special Sessionhas acted as a common thread, inspiring practice andprocesses in many countries in the region which willfurther children's active participation.

In diverse settings across South and Central Asia, avariety of children's organisations have developed, forexample, clubs, unions, committees and parliaments,enabling children to unite colleetively for therealisation of their rights.Through theseorganisations, children and young people havehighlighted a range of child rights concerns includingchild marriage, trafficking and sexual abuse;exploitative child labour; unequal access to education;discrimination facing girls; and the distressing impactof loans, war and drought.Through their own actions,children and young people have made the decision-makers take notice of their views and respond toinjustices in ways that have demonstrable and obviouseffects.

Children and young people have been encouraged tovoice their concerns respectfully, showing that theirparticipation need not diminish respect for theirelders' views. Indeed, this process often enhancesunderstanding between children and adults.Moreover, adults are realising that children and youngpeople can contribute good suggestions regarding thedevelopment of their lives, schools, communities andwider society.'There was a tendency to neglect children, but now wehave started this process of involving them, children have

motivated their parents and villagers, they have made lotsof positive changes..."(Executive education councillor, local governmentofficial, Ladakh, India)

Through participatory initiatives, the status ofchildren is gradually changing. Children and youngpeople's new role as active citizens is encouraged andnew types of exciting partnerships between childrenand adults are being forged.

The South Asia Change Makers Initiative broughttogether children, government and corporaterepresentatives to discuss investment for childrenthrough a series of exceptional meetings, proving thevalue of providing real opportunities for children's

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN)

involvement_Another forum, the Regional Girl ChildSymposium, focused on promoting the rights of girlsacross South Asia.This was an excellent networkingopportunity for young people as they met many oftheir peers working with children and communitymembers.

At the Regional Consultation to prepare for theSecond World Congress against Commercial SexualExploitation of Children (CSEC), children metworkers from UN agencies and NGOs workingagainst this kind of abuse, which resulted in theirhaving considerable impact on the future direction ofthe consultation.

In most work on developing children's participationand citizenship, the adoption of key principles insupport of good participatory practice is proving tobe more useful and relevant than followingstandardised 'blueprint' models.

Commitment to make participation happen, a belief inchildren's democratic processes, the willingness ofadults to work in partnership with children andyoung people, and the appreciation of diversity are allessential. Children and young people must have thepower to develop their own participatory initiatives,ones which are suited to their own cultural, socio-economic, political and geographical situations.Adultsmust be prepared to support them, developing meanswhich recognise and involve girls and boys as keypartners in the development process.

Ravi Karkara is regional programme manager, Save the Children Sweden.Claire O'Kane is children, citJzenship and governance project co-ordinatorwith Save the Children Alliance (South and Central Asia).

( 14 )

A place at the top table in South AmericaAlong with many other groups, children are excluded from power in the region. But despitethe barriers, young people are now beginning to be recognised as having a legitimate voice,explain Julia Ekstedt and Blanca Nomura.

When children in South America were asked whatthey thought participation was about, they came upwith phrases like "working together" and "sharing thesame things". Such ideas indicate that for themparticipation is associated with being able to say whatthey think freely, not being scared, and being valued.

Participation in South America has been shaped byfour main influences: the UNCRC; Roger Hart'sladder of participation, which identifies levels of childparticipation; the idea of children as 'persons-to-be'(see Cussiánovich and Mirquez, 2002); and PeterCrowley's concept based on the UNCRC and theright of children to participate in decision-making.

Further influence has come from AlejandroCussiinovich's thinking 'protagonismo infantil'(or childprotagonism),which grew out of the workingchildren's movement in Latin America. Cussiánovich'sidea is based on the understanding that everyindividual in society is entitled to decide their ownpresent and future, which makes them a force in anyprivate and public decision-making process.Thistheory is particularly relevant, since it recogniseschildren as having the same value as adults.

These theories translate into practice, as illustratedthrough the many examples of participation takingplace across the region.Take the inclusion of children

and young people's opinions in the districtdevelopment plan of Cotacachi, a town of indigenouspeoples in Ecuador.This typifies the.community'stradition of involving all actors of the communitywhen decisions had to be made.This type ofparticipation dates back to Latin America's pre-Hispanic cultures (such as the Inca and Maya) wherethe right to participate was an integral part ofcommunity life.Those with such strong traditionshave emerged as having a sound grounding forcurrent participatory initiatives.

An interesting example of children and youngpeople's participation is MOANI, a movementfounded and run by working children in Venezuela,which provides a channel through which children andyoung people can articulate their rights. It receivesadditional support from adults who belonged to themovement as children, and its objective is toencourage the participation of children from poorurban and rural areas. MOANI currently involvesaround 600 children and adolescents from Lara State,is a member of the National Child Rights Coalition,CONGANI, and participates in the activities of theInternational Apostolate Movement of Children.

Children's and young people's participation can alsobe seen in the education system, for example, inMunicipios Escolares (school councils), children's

(15J5 3 CRIN Newsletter

organisations that exist in some 6,000 schoolsthroughout Peru. Council representatives aredemocratically elected every year and share materialand ideas about the UNCRC, for example, througharranging seminars for parents on child rights and theUNCRC or identifying specific child rights violations,which are then taken to the Municipal Child RightsOffice. Municipios Escolares are recognised by localbodies such as the police, health centres and theChurch, and now the Ministry of Education haspassed a law making them mandatory in all publicschools.They have also played particularly active rolesin getting children's participatory initiatives underway,such as the Say Yes to Children campaign and theSpecial Session on Children process.

Working children's movements in Latin America havebeen a notable presence on the national, regional andinternational scenes.They lobby and advocate for therights of working children who have had commandinginfluence driving through legal reforms. However,participation is not always considered as a right or apositive process and may in fact be viewed as aconcession offered by adults.While someinternational organisations invite children and youngpeople to discuss policies, others accuse them ofbeing manipulated by adults and consider them to bea threat to the children's own best interest.

The different regional experiences in the SouthAmerican context also illustrate the diversity ofchildren and young people's participation.Yet it is notan easily achieved process, and undoubtedly barriersexist to making it genuine and meaningful.

One major obstacle is establishing trustAdults maynot initially believe in children's abilities, and childrenthemselves need space and support to strengthentheir innate capacity to join in successfully.They needto learn the democratic values and communicationskills necessary for representing a group where morethan one interest exists. Other practical barriersinclude access to those responsible for decisions.Decision-making structures in South Americansocieties provide little enough access to the adult letalone to children and young people.

Chad Rights Information Network (CRIN)

1 5

Children and young people are also easilymanipulated to further the agendas of others.However, evidence demonstrates that childrenworking through the structures of an organisation aremore likely to contribute to a genuine participatoryprocess and are less open to being manipulated."If achild is alone, it is much easier to convince him" ishow one boy described it.Also, through operating asorganisations, children and young people fund themeans and space to exercise their right toparticipate.

Despite this, children and young people, along withwomen, older people, indigenous groups, and ruraland urban working populations, are often excludedfrom decision-making structures and processes.Encouraging the participation of traditionallyexcluded groups both challenges and questions theestablished power-structures of a society.

The way forward

Those committed to children's participation need tolearn from the diversity of initiatives taking place inSouth America.This knowledge will come throughsharing experiences and assessing how thoseinitiatives have fared. Organisations need to discusstheir political and strategic goals with children,including the best ways for them to be involved inproject planning, implementation and evaluation.Every programme, in both the private and publicsectors, should integrate the process of children andyoung people's participation.This is because a genuineparticipatory process for children and young peopleis not merely a question of methods, but of providingreal opportunities for children to contribute wherethe decisions are actually made.

Julia Ekstedtsand Blanca Nomura are programme co-ordinators in Save theChildren Sweden Regional Office for South America. Email:postmaster@scs.org.pe

[ 16 ]

Why sharing matters when you are young andpowerless in the Arab worlaiNizar Rammal describes how young people are taking a leading role in the production of ahealth kit and how sharing experiences is vital in a world where their participation stilllacks widespread recognition.

The Arab region is young children and youngpeople aged 13 to 19 make up about a third of theentire population (around 90 million).Young peoplecurrently face many challenges, such as access tobasic healthcare and information services, includingsexual and reproductive health, and lack of universalaccess to education.This has a direct impact on theirdevelopment, and the situation is furthercompounded by a strict system of taboos rooted insociety, particularly regarding the role of women andtheir freedom.

Given this context, it is not surprising that youngpeople's right to participation is not supported by thecurrent political and social systems, with the resultthat children and young people are unable toparticipate in shaping their own environment.

Despite this, many initiatives are underway tofacilitate the participation of children and youngpeople in the design and development of thegovernment's youth policies. For example, Save theChildren US convened a series of youth forums inLebanon and Jordan which aimed to engage childrenand young people in policy design. On the basis ofthis work, policy recommendations were made to thegovernment and parliament In 2000, UNICEForganised a regional conference in preparation forthe UN Special Session on Children, which adoptedan Arab Youth Declaration.

Similar initiatives are also being conducted by nationaland regional organisations like the Youth and HealthLiving Programme of the Arab Resource Collective(ARC).As part of this programme, a meeting washeld for children and young.people in Beirut, Lebanonin 2001.This meeting was convened to discussvarious health-related issues with young people.including sexual and reproductive health, and theirrelationship with their neighbourhoods.This is part ofa series of meetings to be held in five Arab countries(Lebanon, Palestine,Yemen, Jordan and Egypt); theprogramme is expected to reach at least 150 youngpeople between the ages of 13 and19.This work isunderpinned by the right of children and youngpeople to good health, along with their right todevelop and be protected, to be able to getinformation and to have a major say about decisionsaffecting their lives.

Using lessons learned from implementing the child-to-child approach in the Arab region, the Youth andHealthy Living Programme plans to adopt a youth -to-youth approach to enable the participation ofyoung people in all stages of the programme.

Participation is central

Facilitating children and young people's participationhas long been a central part of ARC's mandate. In linewith the organisation's principles and strategy, young

155[ 17 ] CRIN Newsletter

people from across the five Arab countries were firstinvited to participate in Youth and Healthy LivingProgramme's first regional workshop in 2001, the aimof which was to engage both partners and youngpeople in planning the programme.

Although at that time the programme was at theconcept stage, participants at the meeting identifiedeight health issues as priorities for work withchildren and young people.These were: nutrition,accident prevention, health in schools, healtheducation, health under difficult circumstances (war,occupation, street children), sexual and reproductivehealth, HIV/AIDS and drugs.

The workshop also provided valuable space for youngpeople to talk about the health issues that reallymattered to them.The ones they chose includedrelationships, sexual health, smoking, alcohol anddrugs, domestic and school violence, first aid andaccidents, disabilities and special needs, nutrition,sexual discrimination, gender, and political awareness

including lobbying, advocacy and how to get a say indecisions made at a political level.

The workshop helped turn the initial programmeconcept into a plan which was more realistic aboutthe daily life and challenges faced by young people ofthe region. In addition, the approach proved theimportance of participation in putting across thevarious views of many young people in differentcommunities across the region and building acommon approach.

Health information pack

The main aim of the Youth and Healthy LivingProgramme is to produce a central health resourceaimed at teenagers.Throughout 2001, 16 youngpeople from the same five Arab countriesparticipated in workshops at the local and regionallevels to plan and develop the programme's vision,and to select the topics for the health kit/pack.Theyalso helped to shape how that was done, what wasincluded and its design.

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN)

In the next phase, the programme aims to increasethe role of young people in all aspects of its work.Tosee how this can be achieved a series of workshopsis planned for groups of young people engaged in theyouth activities of ARC's partners in the five targetcountries, and youth groups will be invited to workon drafts prepared for the health resource by theproject's editorial team.

The workshops will pave the way for feedback fromthe young people on the topics, allowing them toamend the text and suggest alternative ways ofpresenting the information.At a later stage, a selectednumber will be invited to participate in the actualediting and design of the final resource pack.

Young people have a significant role in the work ofthe Youth and Healthy Living Programme.Theorganisation makes sure its work and activities onparticipatory initiatives dovetail with related eventsor moves in the region. By building on this goodpractice, the programme aims to support a networkof youth groups pressing for the right to participate.

The participation of children and young people in theArab world is as yet a young process, which makesthe process of sharing information about successesand failures all the more important.

Nizar Rammal Is programme co-ordinator for community health care anddevelopment at the Arab Resource Collecdve (ARC).

156

[ 18 ]

Pushing the participation agenda experiencesfrom AfricaChildren play a major role in the continent's social and political movements, but there's stilla lack of understanding about their right to influence their own development. Henk vanBeers reports on an initiative that is challenging that problem.

Children's participation in African countries takesmany forms. Children played a key role in the struggleagainst apartheid in South Africa, and throughout thecontinent children continue to play a major role inpolitical and social movements.

Since the early 1990s, the importance of involvingchildren has been recognised by a growing number ofAfrican organisations and agencies dealing withchildren's issues. Many advocacy and awarenesscampaigns depend largely on children as the maincommunicators. Research is becoming increasinglychild-focused, and in a number of cases children havebeen actively involved in research as providers andcollectors of data.

Children's rights and HIV/AIDS awareness campaignshave led to the establishment of many children's clubs,particularly within schools.The role of children insuch activities is seen as more child-focused or moreeffective in collecting and passing information relevantto children. Less emphasis has been put on the role ofchildren as social actors who contribute to their owndevelopment and that of society.This has been due tolimited understanding of what children's participationactually is and the lack of skills and knowledge onhow to go about involving children within schools,institutions or local government as well as a negativeattitude by adults towards children's participation.These challenges need to be dealt with to enhancethe range and depth of children's involvemencThefollowing example indicates how some of thesechallenges can be tackled.

In 1995 a five-year programme was launched'in Kenyato support organisations working with street andworking children.This programme wanted to developthe capacity of these organisations to work withchildren, and a ten-month staff training course basedaround participatory action research with childrenwas designed.The course consisted of a series ofworkshops followed by fortnightly meetings forparticipants to share experiences, address constraintsand enhance their skills. In addition, the programmeprovided individual follow-up and feedback toparticipants in their workplace.The main objectivesof the training programme were two-fold:first, foradult staff and management of organisations to learnmore about the children; and second, to enhancetheir involvement in programming.

During the training, the trainees increasinglyconsidered children as active participants in theirown development and rehabilitation, and this

continued after the training.As a result, childrenparticipated in each project stage, including research,planning, implementation and decision-making, as wellas monitoring and evaluation.This resulted insignificant improvements, not only in the services thechildren received but also in the way they wereviewed by programme staff. Subsequently, the childrengrew in confidence and self-esteem, which enabledthem to take greater control over their situation.

In order to make children active participants in theorganisations' projects, the training started with aproblem-analysis approach. Drawing from their ownexperiences of working with children, participantswere able to identify and share their problems.Through a process of reflection, they were thenchallenged to take children's perspectives intoaccount. In so doing, participants realised howdifferent things look from a child's point of view.Theyalso realised that they knew little about the childrenthey worked with, recognising that, up till then, theyhad not been able to develop a trusting and openrelationship with them. Once participants hadaccepted that children's views needed to be takeninto account, they could focus on learning new toolsand developing skills to facilitate children'sparticipation.

In this example, because a problem-based approachwas used, there was little need to define the conceptof children's participation.Yet, in other cases, it hasbeen necessary to address the issue of children'sparticipation more directly, particularly when dealingwith policy-makers, government officials and stafffrom international NGOs. One recommendation is

(19) 157 CRIN Newsletter

that the participation of children and young peopleshould be understood and agreed upon within thecontext where it takes place (or is intended to takeplace).This is because the purpose and level ofchildren's involvement may vary in different situationsdepending on the issue at hand, the adults andchildren involved, their capacities and capabilities, andthe social-cultural and political context, etc.

This flexibility moves away from ideologicaldiscussions and prescribed definitions towardsworking definitions with which participants feelcomfortable.With the development of a commonunderstanding of children's participation, morepractical aspects can then be addressed, such asethics and the quality of children's participation.

Main barriers

The major obstacles towards children's participationhave been adults' perceptions of this process.However, in most cases, these have been found to bebased on misconceptions. Most experiences showthat once adults have been sensitised to the processand once they have seen the results of a positiveparticipatory process with children, they becomemore supportive. For example, through someprojects, community leaders who were initiallysceptical about children's involvement have becomeenthusiastic supporters of the process after havingwitnessed the seriousness, commitment and value ofchildren's input towards communal matters.

However, organisational commitment to takechildren's participation seriously may not always beadhered to, especially in cases where children'sinvolvement may have a major impact on theapproach and direction of a particular programme ofwork. For example, in organisations with top-downand authoritarian management structures which areunsuitable for children's participation, staff efforts tobe more child-focused are frustrated by managementwho are neither fully acquainted with the approachnor prepared to significantly refocus their workbased on its outcomes.An organisation cannot affordto be half-hearted about making a participatoryprocess with children happen.To do so risks not onlyraising expectations of the children involved but alsofrustrating staff who inevitably reflect on their ownposition within that organisation and become moreaware and vocal about their own limited involvement.

Child Rights Information Network (CM)

With diplomacy and patience, such issues can beaddressed, in most cases leading to greatertransparency in organisations' structures and policies.With the Kenyan training programme, managementtraining proved to be a crucial step towards obtaininglasting results and institutionalising the participationof children. In-house training, including allmanagement and staff, proved to be most effective inensuring that the need to involve children wassupported at all levels in the organisation.

Recommendations

Training should be part of a sustained and systematicprocess to enable adults to understand the conceptand practice of children's participation.Thisexperience has shown that regular follow-up andsupport after initial training sessions is central tomaximise the impact of the training. Participantsshould have opportunities to practise and experiencewhat they have learned, and opportunities to shareand analyse experiences and enhance their skills.

Contrary to what is often stated, children need littletraining to be involved in programmes. However, theydo need proper and adequate information about theprocess and intentions of their involvement and anenvironment that enables and encourages theirparticipation.

This experience from the African context proves thatit is important to 'practise what you preach' and thatonce an organisation has decided to support aparticipatory process with children, a broaderprocess of organisational change will be needed.Thislearning is equally relevant for other agencies,including international NGOs promoting children'sparticipation. It will not only involve critical analysis oforganisational cultures in terms of transparency ofcommunication and decision-making structures, butwill also demonstrate a genuine commitment to thelong-term involvement of children in programmedesign, implementation and evaluation.

Heck van Beers Ls child participation and non-discrimination advisor for Savethe Children Sweden Southeast Asia Region.

The five-year capacity building programme, initiated by SNV-Kenya

Netherlands Development Organisation, has now been transferred to acollective of organisations and trainers who were the initial beneficiaries ofthe programme.

[ 20 J

153

A long road ahead for children in South EasternEuropeWar and deprivation following the fall of communism has made it hard to get theparticipation message across, says Rath Sekulovié

s'

Sixteen million children and young people live inSouth Eastern Europe. Many of them have witnesseddramatic changes in the livelihoods of their familiesduring the ten years since the fall of communism andSoviet control. During this time, health, social andeducation services have deteriorated, along with thequality of family life and in some places civil rights, asthe political situation became highly insecure.

The standard of living across the region is marked bymassive economic hardship, resulting in a particularlychild-unfriendly environment, which fails to recognise,let alone realise, children's rights.Traditionally, therewas little history of democratic participation ofcitizens, so the very concept of children and youngpeople's participation was even further removed. If atall, their participation was usually limited to theirvisible, but meaningless, attendance at events.Furthermore, reports from different countries withinthe region suggest that neither the activeparticipation of children nor full respect for theirrights are considered, with the result that their rightto participate in issues which affect their lives is notbeing realised.

Initiatives bring hope

Despite this situation, various attempts to developmeaningful participation of children and young peoplein the region have been supported by local orinternational inter- and non-governmental child-focused organisations.Through their children's rightsprogrammes, a certain number of opportunities havebeen offered for children and young people to expresstheir opinions and ideas, which may be subsequentlytranslated into specific actions or projects.

These ideas include:encouraging increased involvement of children and

young people in decision-making processes at variouslevels (for example, school councils, youthparliaments and children's governments)

supporting children's and young people's capacity toexpress their opinions (for example, through debatingclubs and Internet fora, etc)

promoting children's rights through peer educationand developing local child-led initiatives (children'srights information and documentation centres, child-to-child groups)

developing consulting and advisory activities relatingto adult-led projects for children and young people(child advisory teams, consultancy co-ordinationbodies, etc)

keeping children and young people informedthrough the media (newspapers and magazines, radioand TV programmes, etc.)

devising specific ways through which children andyoung people can express views regarding politicalor social issues (youth marches, rallies)

developing concrete initiatives to supportdisadvantaged children and young people in need(refugee and internally displaced children, children ininstitutions, children with disabilities, marginalisedchildren)

organising regular events to make it easier forchildren to share opinions regarding their rights(summer camps, child rights festivals).

Many examples of such initiatives are emergingthroughout the region, which is developing a moreactive role for its young citizens.Take the RomanianChildren's Forum (facilitated by Salvatii CopiiiRomani), an initiative offering children theopportunity to meet with governmentrepresentatives to discuss children's rights. Childrenparticipate in a wide variety of activities aboutchildren's rights, as well as focus groups and meetingswith adults.This helps children and young people todevelop important organisational skills.

(2,1 159 CR1N Newsletter

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, child advisory teams havebeen established, composed mainly of disadvantagedchildren and their advocates.Through closeinvolvement in programme planning and prioritysetting, their views and priorities are integrated intoSave the Children's programme work.This experienceoffers children the opportunity to influence thedesign of programmes meant for their own benefit.

As part of the Child Participation Programme of theYugoslav Child Rights Centre, the child-to-child groupin the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia createsopportunities for children and young people toactively participate in civil society.The youngmembers of this group are involved in activities suchas publishing child-friendly publications and posterspromoting children's rights, facilitating discussions onthe UNCRC, supporting various child-led actions fordisadvantaged children, peer-education programmesand putting together a guide about how to promotechildren's rights in the media, through its own ChildMedia Centre.

In addition to activities contributing to raisingawareness of children's rights with peers and themedia, children are becoming increasingly active indecision-making. In Albania, children's governmentswere established to make children active participantsin the process of democratic change in their schoolsand communities, strengthening their links withdecision-makers in the process.Through this, childrenand young people learn to develop their criticalthinking and express their opinions.

Conclusion

Despite the many challenges relating to children andyoung people's participation across South EasternEurope, these examples contribute to a changingperception of the role of children and young peoplein society. However, they are rarely provided genuineopportunities to organise their own 'get-togethers'and are still not being taken seriously in decision-making.A number of challenges expressed by childrenthemselves remain to be addressed if a more genuineprocess of participation is to be achieved.

These include:promoting children's rights in school curriculaintroducing independent child representation to

prevent manipulation of children's opinionslimiting adult management of adult-initiated child-

focused initiativesincluding children's participation as the cornerstone

of all child/youth-related legislationincluding disabled and disadvantaged childrencreating more participative education with regular

consultation with childrenengaging children and young people in decision-

making processesraising adults' awareness about children's

participation.

Rah Sekulovid Is child righis and NGO development programme officer.Save the Children UK FR Yugoslavia.

I G

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN) 1 22 ]

FactfileGlade to par/id/Ham), research

There are various terms used to describeparticipatory research, and because they are oftensimilar, people interchange them, which leads toconsiderable confusion.The following explanationsaim to clarify different types of research bysummarising typical work carried out under the mostcommonly used labels.

Action research

Although this term was originally used to refer toresearch with a high degree of participation, it hasnow been used for so many different types ofresearch that the best one could say is that itdescribes any:research that provides guidance totaking action for change.

Participatory Research (PR)

This general term is often used to refer to any one ofthe following types of research. However, since thesehave different ideologies attached to them, it is usefulto be more precise by using one of the followingterms:

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

PRA grew out of a set of methods called Rapid RuralAppraisal (RRA), Rapid Assessment Procedures (RAP)and Rapid Ethnographic Assessment (REA). PRA isdistinguished from these in that the research processis shared with the participants.Although used lessoften, the term Participatory Appraisal (PA) ispreferable to PRA because it does not arbitrarilyexclude.participatory methods conducted in an urbancontext.A diversity of methods has been developedwhich enable people to collectively articulate andanalyse their own knowledge. Because the methodsare visual, people with no research training or evenformal education can understand them.

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Those who use participatory action research stateexplicitly that there should not be just partnershipbut ownership of the research by the participants.Participants control the research as the basis fortheir own programme of action. The belief is thatparticipants view research as a process to beincorporated into their everyday problem-solvingrather than something requiring external initiation.Although there is still often a role for an outsideresearcher, it is more clearly peripheral.While PRA

proponents may claim a similar role. PAR has a clearmandate for community empowerment through itsspecific focus on action.

In some PAR projects, commonly those influenced byPaulo Freire, participants are encouraged to gofurther in their analysis of power and root causes. Ifwe did not already have too many confusingacronyms this might be better termed "participatoryemancipatory research" (PER)! For example, a groupof children from very poor families investigating localhousing conditions may proceed beyond the analysisrequired to guide their local actions to a political andhistorical analysis of why they live in poor housing. Inthis way they may become aware of the roots oftheir consciousness and see that they wrongly tendto blame themselves and their families for their owncondition. PAR researchers may argue that theresulting consciousness is more important than theresearch itself or any direct action it may lead to.

Participatory Learning and Action .(PLA)

This phrase refers to a family of participatoryapproaches (including those listed above), thecommon strand being the participation of people inthe processes of learning about their needs.capabilities and visions, and in the action required toaddress them (PLA Notes, International Institute forEnvironment and Development UK).

Factfile compiled by Roger Harc

[ 23 ) 161 CRIN Newslctler

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Young Ugandans use participation to cope with theaftermath of warAllison Anderson Pillsbury and Akello Betty Openy report on the roles played by young peoplein projects highlighting the plight of adolescents affected by armed conflict,

Offi ,

Oitt III4 t.

,

"There are many young people in Uganda and aroundthe world who have had to flee their homes becauseof war and who have not returned to school like me.I want to help them.We need our voices to be heardand to participate at all levels. We need a future."Akello Betty Openy, 18, Ugandan youth activist

After releasing Untapped Potential:Adolescents affectedby armed conflict, a review of programs and policies(2000), the Women's Commission for RefugeeWomen and Children (Women's Commission)launched an international campaign to increaseservices and protection to adolescents affected byarmed conflict around the world.As part of thiswork, we conducted participatory adolescentresearch projects in 2001 in three conflict areas:Kosovo, Sierra Leone and northern Uganda, with afuture intervention planned for the Thai/Burmaborder.The project aimed to increase knowledgeabout the specific situation of young people in thesesites, identify areas for follow-up activities andundertake advocacy efforts to generate constructiveaction for and with young people. Direct adolescentparticipation and leadership is a central componentof this effort since adolescents not only have a right

Child Rights Information Network (CRINI

to participate in the decisions that affect their lives,but also they hold many of the answers to theproblems they face.

The research teams in each country includeapproximately 54 adolescent researchers, 16 adultresearch advisers and a co-ordinating group,preferably a youth group.A diverse group ofadolescent researchers is chosen, reflecting a broadrange of experiences.They attend a three-day trainingto shape and test a research process using focusgroups, individual interviews and written surveysranking adolescent concerns.The only question thatthe teams are given to guide them is:"What are themain problems for adolescents in your country today,and what are some of the solutions?" Theadolescents themselves decide what questions to askso that the study is appropriate for their community.Adults support the adolescent researchers, listen tothem and write a final report based on their inputsand analysis.

Akello Betty Openy, is an I8-year-old who lost herhome during Uganda's upheavals and now works asyouth activist in Gulu District, northern Uganda. Shetook part in the research project and here relatesher experiences:"I met some staff from the Women's Commission forRefugee Women and Children in May last year.Afterbeing nominated by an NGO that I volunteered with,I was interviewed by the Women's Commission andchosen to be an adolescent researcher. I was trainedalong with 54 adolescents in three districts ofnorthern Uganda. My team was located in Gulu andwas made up of Ugandan adolescents affected by thewar.The second team was located in Kitgum andPader districts and consisted of adolescent Ugandansand Sudanese refugees. During the training.I workedwith other adolescents to identify our purpose as ateam and decide what kinds of questions we wouldneed to ask and who to pose them to.We not onlyformulated the research methodology, but we alsopractised it to make sure we could do it, such as leada focus group discussion, carry out individualinterviews and administer a survey.

"After the training we carried out our research forthree weeks, and we interviewed over 2,000 of ourfriends, peers and adults to discover the problemsthat young people face in northern Uganda. In thecourse of our work, young people and adults told usthat most youngsters, like myself, lacked access toeducation, feared abduction by the rebels, were oftensick, have many personal health problems and much

[241162

more. After the research, we spent a week togetheras a team analysing our findings and another twoweeks drafting our report, with the help of the adultresearch advisers:'

Based on the material collected and Women'sCommission research, a report was published: AgainstAll Odds: Surviving the war on adolescents, promoting theprotection and capacity of Ugandan and Sudanese

adolescents in Northern Uganda, which includesrecommendations for NGOs, governments, UNagencies and international organisations.Adolescentresearchers were subsequently involved in nationaland international advocacy.

Ake llo Betty Openy continues:"After the publicationof the report I was elected by my colleagues topresent our research findings in New York with theWomen's Commission. It was my first time leavingUganda. Since then, I have visited the United Statesthree times, with the help of the Women'sCommission, to give speeches about our findings andrecommendations and meet with United Nations,government and NGO officials:'

The overwhelming importance of adolescentparticipation is illustrated in that the majority of theadolescent researchers with whom we have workedhave gone on to design, find funding for andimplement projects in their communities. ManyNGOs and donors also use the findings to addressyoung people's concerns.

Ake llo Betty Openy adds:"Compelled by the horrorsof the research findings and the solidarity felt by theadolescent researchers, some of us have cometogether to take action. I co-founded Gulu Youth ForAction (GYFA) in November 2001, a youthorganisation to advance the common cause of youngpeople and mitigate the socio-economic impact ofwar on them. Our motto is: Be the change we urgefor.We work to engage other young people on issuessuch as girl child education, reproductive healthmatters and conflict resolution, especially in thecamps catering for people who have lost their homes.We are, however, struggling to find funding:'

Achieving proper participation takes a lot of time. Itis important to be engaged with and be available foradolescents.Widespread collaboration and theinvolvement of many local stakeholders is importantto get a realistic idea of young people's situation in acommunity, how they see themselves and how othersregard them. Establishing a trusting relationship isimportant and that rests on never promising morethan you can deliver.The Women's Commission'sparticipatory work has demonstrated thatprogramme and policy interventions will be moreeffective if they actively involve adolescents inidentifying needs and creating solutions.

Looking back over her experience working on theproject,Akello Betty Openy sums up:"While theresearch was not easy for most of us since we hadno earlier experiences to draw on, the skills welearned and the solidarity built up in the team madeus successful. Since then we have participated in localand international conferences, advocating on behalf ofyoung people back home. Our advocacy has certainlyhad an impact and we live in hope that with moreparticipation a better world can be achieved:'

Allison Anderson Pillsbury is children and adolescents project manager atthe Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children.Akello BettyOpeny is a 18..year.old youth activist from Uganda.

For further Information, please contact the Women's Commission forRefugee Women and Children (Email: allison@womenscommission.org) orGYFA (Email: scdgulu@africaon.co.ug).

163

( 25 ] CAIN Newsletter

Stepping stone to a heakhy and happier futureMany communities prevent the young learning about sex, a fatal move where HIV infectionis concerned.Alice Welbourn reports on the Stepping Stones workshops that bring youngpeople into the fold.

With millions of children in the world orphanedbecause of, and infected by, HIV, the issue of childrenand HIV/AIDS needs to be addressed as a rightsissue. Sexual abuse and exploitation of children, forexample, as well as the development of their ownnatural interest in sexual activity means that theyrequire specific support and information, if they areto develop awareness of HIV/AIDS related issues.

Societies traditionally protect children from accessinginformation about sex, believing that it will encouragethem to become sexually active earlier in theirdevelopment. However, there is increasing acceptancethat access to sensitive, non-judgemental sexinformation is essential for children and young peopleif their rights and self-protection regarding theirsexual and reproductive health are to be realised. It isalso crucial in preventing early sexual activity.Furthermore, there is the acknowledgement thatchildren and young people need to participate inspecific processes which offer them the privacy andsecurity to explore their concerns aroundrelationships in this area.

Stepping Stones is one such process, offering ordinarycommunity members the opportunity to create theirown responses to the threats and effects of HIV andrelated issues. It is a training package in gender, HIV,communication and relationship skills, following aparticipatory workshop model, and is designed totackle HIV prevention through a gender analysis ofsex and its context.

Young people aged ten and above are encouraged tojoin the adults in their communities in a series ofworkshop sessions that take place over severalweeks. Involvement is entirely voluntary andparticipants work in separate peer groups that theychoose based on gender and age. Every few sessions,groups are brought together to share findings in acarefully structured environment, all with equal statusso as to breakdown the hierarchical structures (eggender and age-based) of the community.Theworkshops are based on participatory methods (forexample, theatre for development and ParticipatoryRural Appraisal (PRA) drawing techniques) whichfacilitate the involvement of both literate andilliterate members of the community.

The workshops follow specific themes:peer-group co-operation and identificationHIV and safer sexwhy we behave in the ways we doways in which we can change.

The first workshop sessions tackle easier issues.Thispaves the way for more challenging exercises in thelater sessions.The workshop discussions explore awide range of issues, including ideals and realities,what love is, prejudices, risk-taking, gender and ageinequalities, power structures, tradition, trust, refusingunwanted sex, assertiveness, preparing for death andtaking control.

Child Rights Information Network ICRIN) ( 26

It may not be surprising, then, that some workshopsessions can lead to serious moments. However, theyare also full of laughter.The process is moremeaningful to participants as the material they discussis initiated by themselves, drawing from their specificexperiences.At the same time, solutions whichparticipants present to one another during theworkshops, and through special requests to the widercommunity at the end of the process, are remarkablysimilar whatever the continent and context.

These solutions include calls for a reduction ingender violence and more harmony in householdsand communities; greater mutual respect andunderstanding between males and females andbetween younger and older people; increased use ofcondoms; greater self-esteem among young peopleand women; and a greater support for people withHIV and their carers.

As a result of the participatory Stepping Stonesprocess, there have been tangible results regardingthe way in which children and young people regardtheir sexual and reproductive health rights. Forexample, in Entebbe, Uganda, officials were deeplymoved to hear ten-year-old girls requesting sugardaddies to leave them alone. Elsewhere in Uganda,young people reported having platonic relationshipswith members of the opposite sex, and in other casesyoung men declared their determination to makesomething of their lives.Some have even started todo unpaid care for people with HIV and their carers,rather than just laughing at them as they said theyused to. In Dar es Salaam, parents of 15,000 primaryschool children participating in Stepping Stonesworkshops also requested them for younger children.In the Philippines, leaders of both the Girl and BoyScouts movements decided to work together for thefirst time to hold a joint Stepping Stones workshopfor themselves.

Processes like Stepping Stones cannot on their ownhold back or reverse the tidal wave of HIV. Child-friendly service provision, laws and policies, sensitiveschools programmes and child-friendly media all havecritical roles to play in supporting children and youngpeople. Children and young people have the right toparticipate fully in and learn about anything whichprotects and promotes their sexual and reproductiverights and wellbeing. Stepping Stones, if well adaptedand supported, appears to be one process that canhelp young people advance their hopes for a saferand more positive future, for themselves and theworld.

Alice Welbourn Is a freelance consultant who developed Stepping Stones.She has worked on gender-sensitive participatory approaches to sexual andreproductive wellbeing and rights for the past ten years. Further informationabout Stepping Stones is available at www.steppingstonesfeedback.org.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

163

[ 27 ] CRIN Newsletter

ard lessons from Zimbabwe's children'sparliamentA children's parliament is only any good if it represents young people and takes action ontheir behalf In Zimbabwe neither is happening, says Chris McIvor

Several years ago the Zimbabwean authorities set upa children's parliament to create a forum wherechildren could raise their views, concerns and hopesfor the future with seriior politicians.This now meetsevery year and in itself is a major step towardsintegrating children's participation into nationaldecision-making.

However, an investigation with past and present childparliamentarians has revealed this body has majorflaws and problems.And the implications areconsiderable, not only for a more meaningful childparliament, but also for other participatoryprogrammes trying to establish models of goodpractice.

Representation

The process of selecting children as parliamentarianshas normally been undertaken by adults and theselection criteria has not been understood by themajority of children consulted in the study.As a resultthey believed that candidates were determined by thepersonal bias of the adults involved in theprogramme.

As parliamentarians were not elected by their peers,most other children felt that they represented noone but themselves. Even though parliamentarianswere titled after a particular political constituency,very few had interacted with the children living there.This lack of accountability raised serious concernsabout the sincerity of the programme.

As a former child MP claimed:

"The children's parliament is called a 'mock' parliamentby the local media.The term is right, because the childparliament contradicts the purpose of what a parliamentshould be, namely a forum to share and express theopinions and wishes of other people, not just the views ofa few select delegates."

In broader terms, the issue of representation,including that of children being selected by adults toattend events such as the UN Special Session onChildren (May 2002), needs to be addressed if childparticipation is to move beyond the kind of tokenismthat often characterises such initiatives.A flawedprocess both invalidates any claims that an individualchild is representing "children's views" andundermines a valuable opportunity for children tolearn about the practice of democracy, transparencyand accountability.

Social bias

Child parliamentarians involved in the researchacknowledged that most of them belonged to aprivileged stratum of society, as nearly all wereselected from better-off urban schools, on thegrounds that they would be more confident andarticulate.This resulted in the exclusion of a largesection of the population from a forum that wasmeant to represent all children's interests. Manyparliamentarians indicated that they knew little aboutthe problems faced by their poorer counterparts, sothe issues discussed reflected a class, economic andethnic bias, undermining the parliament's validity.

When Save the Children organised a visit by a formerchild president to one of the poorest parts of thecountry, she indicated that it would have been moreuseful had it taken place while she was still "in office",so that the children from her constituency could havebeen better represented in the parliamentarydiscussions.

Ignoring the social bias of children is common tomany projects that claim to promote their

Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) [28] 1 6 6

participation. It is as if childhood by itself defines aunique set of issues that can be divorced from otherfactors.Yet children's views reflect their class,economic and ethnic backgrounds and withoutexposure to the views of those from different socialbackgrounds, children, like adults, will present theirown biased priorities.

Taking children seriously

Despite these issues of accountability andrepresentation, many of the child parliamentariansbelieved their recommendations offered aconstructive view of a better world for children inZimbabwe.Yet after the three-day meetings that takeplace every year, they receive no indication ofinitiatives resulting from their proposals, which raisesserious concerns about the sincerity of the exerciseand the commitment of adults to genuinely listen towhat they have to say.

This issue is echoed by many children whoparticipate in events organised to explore theiropinions.They claim that adults often applaud theability of children to articulate issues, but show littlesign of tangible commitment to their proposals. It isimportant to be clear about what children are saying.They are not claiming the right to have all theirsuggestions acted upon, but feel that adultparticipants never challenge their views becausethere is no intention to take them seriously.A case inpoint is the publication Our Right to be Heard by theformer child parliamentarians. Although the studywas widely applauded by senior government officialsas providing a way forward for a more effective childparliament, to date not one of theirrecommendations has been implemented.

As one of the authors stated:

"If they disagree with us, then why don't they say so."

All the child parliamentarians involved in the researchstrongly endorsed the principle of the childparliament,seeing it as progress towards includingchildren's voices in national decision-making.Yetsomehow it had got lost, failing to contributemeaningfully to this process.

Unless the process of child participation is adequatelysupported and respected by adults, children maybecome cynical about their participation, which mayresult in the loss of valuable input from children interms of the design, implementation and monitoringof projects, and lead to lost opportunities forchildren to develop skills in communication,democratic decision-making and leadership.

Chris McIver Is programme director of Save the Children UK Zimbabwe.

6

1 29 ] CRIN Newsletter

FactfileGuide lo crealing lbe right enyinniment jOr children andyoung people's partici/la/Um

Ethical issues always need to be taken into accountthroughout (and beyond) the process of children'sinvolvement.These may vary and relate to suchfactors as the age of children involved, the children'sdevelopmental stage, their experience, exposure andsocio-cultural background, their status and gender. aswell as the topic at hand and adults involved.

The following are some basic ethical guidelines forchildren's involvement.

Voluntary involvement

Children's involvement in any initiative should bevoluntary.They should also have the right to changetheir mind about their participation during theprocess.

Non-discrimination

Children's representation should relate to the specificissues in question and an inclusive approach shouldbe adopted.

Provision of and access to information

Children need to be sufficiently informed about thepurpose, process. expected outcome and implicationsof their involvement.They should have opportunitiesto gather and analyse information themselves.

Confidentiality and privacy

Children's identity and the information they provideshould be kept confidential. Communicating children'sinformation to a wider audience should only be donewith their agreement and should not put them at risk.

Avoid putting children at risk

Children's involvement may interfere with theireducation or work.Those who aid children'sinvolvement have to be aware that children may putthemselves at risk by expressing their views ordiscussing sensitive issues in a group.

Flagging up children's contributions

Throughout the process of children's involvement,children's views should be given equal respect tothose of adults and taken into full consideration.

Child Rights Information Network ICRINI

Provide feedback and follow-up

Children should be informed about the outcome ofdecisions and be provided with an opportunity toreact. Efforts should be aimed at making children'sparticipation an integrated part of all activities,decisions and policies that affect children.

Other factors to consider when facilitating children'sparticipation include:

Democratic or fair principles look at the fairnessof election/representation.

Being non-iudgemental don't focus onstereotypes attributed to certain groups ofchildren.

Use appropriate methods and approaches theseshould suit children's abilities, capacities andcircumstances.

Facilitation skills key facilitation skills includeencouraging children, building trust and makingthem feel comfortable, being respectful, honest.non-imposing, creative, active, patient and flexible.

interactions between children and facilitatorstime should be set aside for children and adults toget to know each other to ensure that children feelcomfortable.

Other adults adults not direcdy involved, such asparents. teachers, school authorities andcommunity leaders, may have co be informed aboutthe activity to prevent interference orrepercussions.This can also provide furthersupport to the children.

Factfile compiled by Honk van Beers. Save the Children Sweden

BEST COPY AVAILABLE

Knowing rights from wrong in IndiaPartiapation has transformed a 14-year-old Indian girl's life. Instead of being forced intomarriage and facing a life of drudgeiy, Uchengamrna is president of the working children'sunion Bhima Sangha, fighting injustice and campaigning for a better deal.

Early on I learned about Bhima Sangha from theConcerned for Working Children organisation, one ofthe first NGOs working exclusively on the issue ofchild labour and children's rights in India.

From time to time I would attend the meetings ofBhima Sangha, a union of, by and for working childrenin Karnataka, as well as those held by the MakkalaPanchayats, children's village councils, which tookplace regularly in my village. I became a member ofBhima Sangha in 2000.1 became increasing involvedand now I am its state president.

When Bhima Sangha planned a leadership trainingprogramme at state level in 2001, I was selected as aparticipant. During the training programme. I learnedhow to form and lead children's organisations, how tolist issues in order of importance and how to do costand benefit analyses.As a result, my participation inBhima Sangha grew. I had a clearer idea about whatinformation and experiences I should take from otherorganisations and understood better which of ourorganisation's experiences to share with others.

Before I joined Bhima Sangha, my parents asked meto leave school to work in the fields. In those days, Ifelt that this was the right thing to do, but now I feeldifferently; that having an education was, and still is,

my right. I also feel that children of my age should notbe involved in child labour.Through my involvementin Bhima Sangha, I know that I have changed a lot. Ihave learned about working children from differentareas and the situations in which they live and work. Ihave learned how to get along well with otherchildren and the importance of building relationshipswith them. I have had opportunities to be a resourceperson for several children's and women'sprogrammes and I have gained a lot from thisexperience. I have also earned respect as an individualand as a member of an organisation.

Before joining the organisation, I hardly spoke toothers. I never went anywhere apart from my house,my fields and my village. I use to feel that it waswrong to talk to others, especially boys. Now I havelearned to socialise easily and can speak up withouthesitating. I can visit far away places and participatewithout fear or anxiety. Now I have the ability andthe confidence to determine what is right and what iswrong. For example, when my family decided to takeme out of school at the age of I I, I didn't even reactto their decision. In those days I used to think thatwhatever adults do is always right. But recently, whenmy family and my community tried to make memarry against my will, I tried to convince them thatthis marriage was wrong.

169[ 31 ] CR1N Newsletter

As well as being the new president of Bhima Sangha,Uchengamma is the president of Makkala Panchayat.She is now leading a protest movement against childmarriage in her village in northern Karnataka.Makkala Panchayats in this region have highlightedchild marriage as a major issue of concern and havebeen consistently raising it publicly. Despiteprotests, the practice of child marriage continuespractically unabated in this region.According to onesurvey, the average age of marriage in thesePanchayats is 13 years for girls and 18 years forboys. In several cases children as young as fouryears old have also been married off. Thedetrimental implications of child marriage on theminds and bodies of these children is clear and theaction is a violation of children's rights and is alsoagainst India's constitution.

Part of press release issued by the Bhima Sangha,Makkala Panchayats and the CWC, 3 June 2002.

When discussions with my family and communityfailed, I protested against my proposed marriage withthe help of the Makkala Panchayat,Bhima Sangha andseveral other supporting organisations. Our protestwas successful.

Previously, our community looked down upon girlswho would speak or sing in public.They used to saythat those girls lacked good character. I too used tothink like them. Now, I think it is a matter of greatrespect for children, especially girls, to haveopportunities to be heard in public.

As I said in the film Citizens Today (2002) that isavailable from Concerned for Working Children: "Firstof all, we must have integrity, and then we should demandthe same from others. We don't want onyone to pointfingers at us. We want to bring credit to our organisation.We respect others and we expect others to respect us."

With the help of the Sangha, many children are nowtrying to participate, develop skills and stand on theirown feet.Through my participation in Bhima Sangha,many children who are members of the organisationare actively participating in various fields, programmesand discussions.As a result of the work of theorganisation, the situation of working children hasimproved in my area. Earlier, working children werenever paid the right wages for their labour. Now theydemand this as a right and have actually obtainedbetter working conditions and better wages as aresult. I also believe that because of our fight againstchild marriages, the situation of girls like me in ourvillage has improved.

Child Rights Information Network (CM

Most often barriers to children's participation comefrom families, from neighbours and other members ofthe community, especially if they lack awarenessabout our participation. If the child is a girl there aregreater restrictions on her movements and she is notallowed to participate. Boys face other kinds ofrestrictions such as pressures from work. Forinstance, if a boy is working on a farm or in a hotel,he does not have any time to participate. Boys face alot of pressure and their families put a lot ofresponsibility on them. Because of this, they lack timeto seek out information, to learn and to participate.

Adults who are aware of the importance of children'sparticipation should educate children and otheraduks.They should encourage children to learn andshould create opportunities for them to participate.They should also help children to distinguish betweengood and bad participation.

I am very happy that I am one of leaders of ourorganisation. I am also very aware that suchleadership brings with it a lot of responsibility. I amalways thinking about how to make our organisationstronger. I am trying to find ways of building on theinformation, opportunities and respect that I get inorder to achieve something remarkable for ourorganisation.

Uchengamma's story was put together with the help of Anuradha Shetty,research assistant at CWC, and translated from Kannada by Kavita Ratna.director of Sanwada,CWC's programme on communication and advocacy.

[32] .1 7/1

Telling it like it is: young disabled peoplejoin forcesCarolyne Willow and Bill Badham describe what was gained when young people linked upto run a striking multi-media campaign to get their voices heard.

Pupil Chris Martin took particular notice when aposter appeared in his school advertising a video clubfor young disabled students. The I2-year-old studenthad been hoping for something like this, a place wherethere wouldn't be sneaky jokes or put downs becauseof his disability.At the first meeting, set up by TheChildren's Society, Chris expected to watch videos,not make them. But he was wrong, and from that startin 1997 this group has gone from strength to strength,sharing experiences and campaigning against disabilitydiscrimination. Chris and his friend James evenproduced a cartoon highlighting the issues.

Their timing was just right to get involved incampaigning multi-media projects, as it was also thenthat the mould-breaking Ask Us! Initiative was justgetting off the ground.The initiative had emergedfrom an advisory group for the UK Government'sDepartment of Health (DoH) five-year QualityProtects programme.The group was charged withhelping young disabled people and their families andgiving them a far greater role in planning theirservices.The group had two main objectives. First,that the individual needs of disabled children andtheir families were assessed and regularly reviewed;and second, ensuring that users and carers wereactively engaged in planning services and tailoring

. 33

care, as well as ensuring there was a system in placeto handle complaints.

The Quality Protects programme presented a uniqueopportunity for young disabled people to influence anational government initiative and The Children'sSociety offered to help, with support from the JosephRowntree Foundation. But it was project co-ordinator Lynette Partington's use of multi-media thatensured the consultation was genuinely inclusive forover 200 disabled children and young people,including some with severe and multiple impairments.This became known as the Ask Us! project.

Six local CDs were produced by groups of disabledchildren and young people and project staff, eachfocusing on different areas of exclusion, such asaccess to play, leisure and education, and reladonshipswith friends and families.The groups communicatedtheir concerns and ideas through graphics, cartoons,video and songs, which they composed and sang. Inaddition, a summary CD from the six CDs wascompiled, containing key messages about the youngpeople's understanding and experience of inclusion,consultation and participation.This was targeted atkey people in local and national government.

171CRIN Newsletter

At the launch of Ask Us! in 2001, attended by over200 people, the young people ran workshops andgave advice on lessons learned. Ian Sparks, then chiefexecutive of The Children's Society, called for radicalchange, declaring: 'We can't go on like this.Thesechildren and young people are part of this world.Thereshould be one world together, for all of us."

Recognising the impact of Ask Us! on both theQuality Protects programme and wider policy andpractice, a second phase began. Eight localconsultations with 180 young disabled people tookplace, based on principles in the UK Government'sstrategy for Learning Disabled People called ValuingPeople.These included: rights, inclusion, choice andindependence.

The summary CD starts with children and youngpeople declaring that participation is manipulative ifit does not lead to improved services. "Know yourrights!" calls out one young man.They go on to statethe practical changes needed to'fulfil their rights:

to be included and to go out in the community,with the necessary public, personal and supportresourcesto receive appropriate services that promotechoice and independenceto participate in meetings and reviewsto be safe.

The results

The young researchers themselves have been incharge of the Ask Us! consultations. They havepresented their work to local and nationalgovernment and given evidence to the Committee onthe Rights of the Child through the UK's reportingprocess for the UK. Linking the message to a nationalinitiative, Quality Protects, has helped bring about aprocess of wider change. For example, according to asenior member of the Department of Health, thesuccess of recent legislation for the introduction ofguidelines for accessible parks is largely down to theinfluence of Ask Us!

Ask Us! illustrates some key lessons for participationthat is effective in achieving social change with andfor young disabled people.

First, workers recognise that challenges faced bydisabled young people are due to discrimination insociety and lack of resources, rather than individualincapacity.Article 23 of the UNCRC stresses theirright to "social integration" and "active participationin the community".Yet this is rarely their experience.Second, there is a striving for equality, with adultsrecognising the young disabled researchers' uniquecontribution and encouraging them to take as muchcontrol of their lives as possible.Third, children andyoung people have been supported in choosing theirown means of communication, not straitjacketed byprofessional forms and norms.

But perhaps most important is that the young peoplehave felt they have been instrumental in achievingchange.As one young person summed up: "It wasgood being on the other side of the fence for once andmaking a difference to other young people's lives."

Carolyne Willow is joint national co-ordinator of the Children's RightsAlliance for England. Rill Badham is development officer with the NationalYouth Agency.

This article is based on a chapter in Participation in Practice:Children and young

people as partners in change by Carolyne Willow. For further informationabout Ask Us! contact Chris Osborne at The!Children's.Society. Email:chris.osborne©childrenssociety.org.uk

17' 2

Child Rights Information Network KRIM (34]

0 .09,1/4

-4

_/

,

PublicationsThematic publications children and young people's participation

BICE (2001) Protagonistic Participation: Promotion of aconcept, promotion of practices, Brussels

BT/ChildLine (2002) Are Young People Being Heard?Research into the views of children and youngpeople, London

Butterflies (2002) My Name is Today Participation

Vol.VIII No. I &2, India

Children's Consortium of Zimbabwe (2002) We HaveSomething to Say Children in Zimbabwe speak out,

Harare, Zimbabwe

Canadian International Development Agency (2000)Meaningful Youth Participation in InternationalConferences:A case study on war-affected children,Canada.Available on the Internet www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/publications-e.htm

The Children's Society (2001) Its Not Fair young

people's reflections on children's rights, UK

Cussianovich,A and Marquez,A (2002) Towards aprotagonist participation of boys, girls and teenagers,Save the Children Sweden, Lima, Peru

De Mel, G (2000) Children and Citizenship:A regionalstudy in South Asia, Save the Children Office of Southand Central Asia, Nepal

ECPAT International Secretariat/UNICEF (1999)Standing Up for Ourselves:A study on the concepts andpractices of the young people's rights to participation,Philippines

ECPAT International Secretariat (2002) ChildParticipation A matter of rights, ECPAT InternationalNewsletter, issue 40,Thailand

Fewkes, J H and Bhat, M S (2002) Our Voices...Are youlistening? Children's Committee for Village Development,Save the Children UK, India

Hart, R (1997) Children's Participation:The theory ondpractice of involving young citizens in communitydevelopment and environmental care, EarthscanPublications, London

Hart, R (1992) Children's Participation: From tokenism tocitizenship, Innocenti Essays no. 4, UNICEF InnocentiResearch Centre, Florence

International Institute for Environment &Development (2001) Children's Participation, EvaluatingEffectiveness, PLA Notes 42, London

Johnson,V, Ivan-Smith, E et al, (eds) (1998) SteppingForward Children and young people's participation inthe development process, ITDG, London

Kindernothilfe (2001) Participation Counts: 10 Reasonsfor Children's Right of Petition, Duisburg

Kindernothilfe (2002) Strengthening Children's Rights,Documentation of a conference held in Berlin on 5thApril 2001 Duisburg.Available on the Internetwww.kindernothilfe.de/downloads/tagungsbeitraege-englisch.pdf

Lansdown, G (2001) Promoting Children's Participationin Democratic Decision-Making Innocenti Insight 6,UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence

Lansdown,G (1995) Taking Part Children's participationin decision making 1PPR, UK

London Children's Rights Commissioner (2002)Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-Making in London, London

Save the Children (2002) Change Makers for SouthAsia: Building new partnerships lessons learnt from theconsultations with children, corporate leaders andgovernments of South Asia, London

Save the Children Office of South and Central Asia(2000) Guiding Principles fir Enabling Children's Organisations

Save the Children UK (1997) All Together Nowcommunity participation for young people, London

Save the Children UK (2001) Children andParticipation: Research, monitoring and evaluation withchildren ond young people, London

Save the Children UK (2002) Participation Spice itUp! Practical tools for engaging children and youngpeople in planning and consultations, London

Save the Children Wales and the Carnegie YoungPeople Initiative (2001) Taking the Initiative: Promotingyoung people's participation in decision-making in Wales,Cardiff

Save the Children Wales (2002) Listen Up! Children

and young people talk: about poverty, Cardiff

Swedish Government Ministry of Health and SocialAffairs (2001) Children As Participants: Swedishexperience of child participation in society's decision-making process, Stockholm.Available on the Internet:http://social.regeringen.se/pressinfo/pdf/barn/children_as_partic ipants_200 I .pdf

Tearse, M,Wellard, S and West,A (1997) All TogetherNow:Community participation for children and youngpeople, Save the Children UK, London

van Beers, H (2002) Children's Participation: experiencesin capacity building and training Save the ChildrenSweden, Stockholm

173( 35 ) CRIN Newsletter

PublicationsNew publications - child nghts

von Feilitzen, C, and Carlsson U (eds) (1999) Childrenand Media: Image, education, participation, UNESCOInternational Clearing House on Children andViolence on the Screen,Yearbook Sweden

von Feilitzen, C and Bucht, C (2001) Outlooks onChildren and Media: Child rights, media trends, mediaresearch, media literacy, child participation, declarations,

UNESCO International Clearing House on Childrenand Violence on the Screen,Yearbook 2001, Sweden

UNICEF IRC (1998) Actas del Seminario de Bogota,UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

Wanduragala, R and Article 19.Woolf, M, & Sali, N(2000) Child Participation: Challenges of empowerment,Discussion Paper Issue No. 9,World Vision, UK

Welbourn,A (1995) Stepping Stones Strategies forHope,ActionAid, London

White, S (2001) Child Brigade:An organisation of streetworking children in Bangladesh, Save the ChildrenSweden, Dhaka/University of Bath, UK

Willow, C (2002) Participation in Practice: Children andyoung people as partners in change, The Children'sSociety, London

World Vision (2001) Creating Space for Children'sParticipation:Planning with street children in Yangon,Myanmar, Australia

-174

Child Rights information Network ICRIN) 36

New Publications child rights

Africa Recovery (2002) A Troubled Decade for Africa'sChildren, United Nations

Child Workers in Nepal (2002) The State of the Rightsof the Child in Nepal, Nepal

Dhakal, P and Javis R (2001) Street Diary, Save theChildren UK Nepal Office, Nepal

International Labour Organisation (2002) A FutureWithout Child Labour: Global Report under the Follow-upto the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles andRights at Work, International Labour Conference, 90thSession, 2002, Report I (B). International LabourOffice, Geneva.Available on the Internetwww.ilo.org/public/english/bureaufinf/pr/2002/19.htrn

International Planned Parenthood Federation (2002)The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Sexualand Reproductive Rights,A Guide for Young People,London

OXFAM (2002) Beyond Philanthropy:The pharmaceuticalindustry, corporate social responsibility and the developingworld, Oxford, UK

Save the Children Sweden (2001) Are Children Gettingtheir Fair Share of Budget Allocations?, Sweden

Save the Children UK (2000) An Assessment ofInterventions to Reduce Violence and DiscriminationAgainst Girls in South Asia, Office for South andCentral Asia Region, Nepal

Save the Children UK (2001) Different Places, SameStories Children's Views of Poverty, North and South,London

Save the Children UK (2002) HIV and Conflict:Adouble emergency, London

Save the Children UK Nepal Office (2000) Bringing upChildren in a ChangingWorld: ConVersations with familiesin Nepal, Nepal

Save the Children UK Scotland Programme (2002)A World Fit for Children A consultation with children andyoung people to contribute to the United Nations GeneralAssembly Special Session on Children, Edinburgh

Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child(2001) The State of Pakistan's Children 2001, Pakistan

UNICEF (2001) Commercial Sexual Exploitation andSexual Abuse of Children, UNICEF South Asia RegionalOffice, Nepal

UNICEF (2001) The Realities of Girls' Lives in South Asia,UNICEF South Asia Regional Office, Nepal

Ca lender of eventsEvents jor November 2002 January 2003

November19 November, worldwide, focusing on Geneva,Switzerland

World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse 19 November 2002

Women's World Summit Foundation

PO Box 2001, 1211 Geneva 1, Smitzerland

T +41 22 738 6619; F +41 22 738 8248;

E dignity@vtxnetch

W www.woman.ch/childrenhintroworlday.asp

20 November

Universal Children's Day

20 November

Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

20-23 November, New York, USA

NARYC Annual Conference

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Conference Department

1509 16th Street, NW Washington DC 20019, USA

T +1 202 232 8777; F +1 202 328 2614E conference@naeyc.org

www.naeyc.orghttp://www.naeyc.org/conferences/annual/2002/inst

_annConfhtm

December9-10 December, Swanick, UK

Children in Communities Annual Conference 2002The Children's Society

T +44 115 942 2974

I 0 December

Human Rights Day

January21-23 January 2003, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Consultation of NGOs on Education For All

UNESCO Contact Team Collective Consultation of NGOs on

Education For All

Susanne Schnuttgen

7, place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07 SP, France

T +33 1 45 68 21 41; F +33 1 45 68 56 26;E ccngo.efa@unesco.org

13-31 January, Geneva, Switzerland

32nd Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the ChildSecretariat for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,

8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

T +41 22 917 9000; F +41 22 917 9022;E ssyed@ohchr.org or jmermet@ohchtorgW wwwohchr.org

29 January, London, UK

Innovative Approaches to Face-to-Face Work with YoungPeopleTrust for the Study of Adolescence

23 New Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1WZ, UK

T +44 1273 771249; F +44 1273 729098; E info@tsa.uk.comW www.tsa.uk.com

Directory of Child Rights Organisations:Membership Update Form

The third edition of CRIN's Directory of Child RightsOrganisations will be published in Spring 2003. CRIN'sbiggest challenge is to ensure that the information isup to date.We would therefore like to remind all ourmembers who have not yet filled OM the update form(sent 15 July) to do so as soon as possible in orderfor us CO ensure that your organisation's details areaccurate.To view your page on oUr website, pleasevisit www.crin.org/organisations

CRIN members must complete a CRIN MembershipUpdate Form in order to update their information inthe Directory.This form can be sent to members viapost or fax, and returned via post or fax. (Important:We kindly request that all members include theirCRIN Member Number in correspondence.)

For more information, or to receive a CRINMembership Update Form, contact:

Veronica Yates, Communications Assistant, CRINEmail: vyates@crin.org Fax: +44 (0) 20 7793 7628

CRIN Newsletter

BEST COPYAVAILABLE

InformationThe Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) is amembership-driven organisation and network of more than1,295 child rights organisations around the world. It strives toimprove the lives of children through the exchange ofinformation about child rights and the promotion of theUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A websiteUpdated regularly, the website is a leading resource on childrights issues and contains references to hundreds ofpublications, recent news and forthcoming events, as well asdetails of organisations working worldwide for children.Thesite also includes reports submitted by NGOs to the UNCommittee on the Rights of the Child.

An email serviceDistributed twice a week, CRINMAIL provides regular newsbulletins about child rights issues, as well as information aboutnew publications and forthcoming events.

A newsletterPublished three times a year, the newsletter is a thematicpublication that examines a specific issue affecting children. Italso summarises news, events, campaigns and publications.

Child Rights Information Networkdo Save the Children17 Grove Lane, London, SE5 8RDUnited Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7716 2240Fax: +44 (0) 20 7793 7628Email: info@crin.org

www.crin.orgBookmark CRIN's website to learn more, or email us tocontribute news or information.

CRIN is supported by Save the Children Sweden, Save theChildren UK, the International Save the Children Alliance andthe United Nations Children's Fund.

Previous issuesCRIN Newsletter 12, March 2000:Education

CRIN Newsletter 13, November 2000:Children and Macroeconomics

CR1N Newsletter 14, June 2001:The Special Session on Children

CRIN Newsletter 15, March 2002:Mainstreaming Child Rights

U.S. Department of EducationOffice of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)

National Library of Education (NLE)Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

NOTICE

Reproduction Basis

&tat WI Resources birdman Cato

This document is covered by a signed "Reproduction Release (Blanket)"form (on file within the ERIC system), encompassing all or classes ofdocuments from its source organization and, therefore, does not require a"Specific Document" Release form.

This document is Federally-funded, or carries its own permission toreproduce, or is otherwise in the public domain and, therefore, may bereproduced by ERIC without a signed Reproduction Release form (either"Specific Document" or "Blanket").

EFF-089 (1/2003)

poc- 03/s..?