Difference between revisions of "Children's NGOs"
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| + | This article is based on an article written for the NGO Handbook by Kate Perchuk titled "Children's Rights and Nonprofit Advocacy." | ||
| − | Over the course of the 19th century, the principles of children’s rights have evolved from the intellectual concern of European social theorists to an international charter drafted by the United Nations and ratified by 191 governments. The participation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has been and continues to be essential to the effort of the world’s nations to uphold the standards articulated by the U.N.’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). NGO contributions to the global movement for children -- advocating for youth, monitoring compliance with the CRC, and coordinating aid and development programs -- have helped build a safer world for children. | + | |
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| + | Over the course of the 19th century, the principles of children’s rights have evolved from the intellectual concern of European social theorists to an international charter drafted by the United Nations and ratified by 191 governments. The participation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has been and continues to be essential to the effort of the world’s nations to uphold the standards articulated by the U.N.’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). NGO contributions to the global movement for children -- advocating for youth, monitoring compliance with the CRC, and coordinating aid and development programs -- have helped build a safer world for children. <membersonly> | ||
==Evolution of the Children’s NGO== | ==Evolution of the Children’s NGO== | ||
| − | Social reformers in the early 19th century were the first proponents of children’s rights. As early as 1853, when orphan asylums and almshouses were the only "social services" available for poor and homeless children, Charles Loring Brace founded the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) in New York. CAS services included aid to children, working women, needy families and disabled boys and girls. Creation of the U.S. Children’s Bureau in 1912 signaled the commitment of the United States Federal Government to systematic study and advocacy of children at the national level. | + | Social reformers in the early 19th century were the first proponents of children’s rights. As early as 1853, when orphan asylums and almshouses were the only "social services" available for poor and homeless children, Charles Loring Brace founded the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) in New York. CAS services included aid to children, working women, needy families and disabled boys and girls. Creation of the U.S. Children’s Bureau in 1912 signaled the commitment of the United States Federal Government to the systematic study and advocacy of children at the national level. |
The first major international organization whose mandate was focused primarily on securing universal rights for children was the Save the Children Fund. Responding to the ravages of World War I, in April 1913, British philanthropist Eglantyne Jebb formed a pressure group , Fight the Famine Council, to persuade the British government to end the Allied blockade on the German and Austro-Hungarian economies. The success of the Fund led to the formation of Britain’s Save the Children Fund, and ultimately culminated in the International Save the Children Union (Union International de Secours a l'Enfant), which was founded in Geneva. In 1923, Jebb wrote the Children's Charter, which was subsequently adopted by the League of Nations as The Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959). This historic document laid the foundation for the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. | The first major international organization whose mandate was focused primarily on securing universal rights for children was the Save the Children Fund. Responding to the ravages of World War I, in April 1913, British philanthropist Eglantyne Jebb formed a pressure group , Fight the Famine Council, to persuade the British government to end the Allied blockade on the German and Austro-Hungarian economies. The success of the Fund led to the formation of Britain’s Save the Children Fund, and ultimately culminated in the International Save the Children Union (Union International de Secours a l'Enfant), which was founded in Geneva. In 1923, Jebb wrote the Children's Charter, which was subsequently adopted by the League of Nations as The Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959). This historic document laid the foundation for the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. | ||
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By the 1920s, international organizations had been formed to facilitate development of international treaties in the field of child protection. Between 1919 and 1922, the International Labor Organization (ILO) developed three conventions, or treaties, regarding child protection: The ILO Convention Fixing the Minimum Age for Admission of Children to Industrial Employment (1919), the Convention Regarding the Night Work of Young Persons Employed in Industry (1919), and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children (1922). These were the first international treaties that expressly addressed the protection of children. | By the 1920s, international organizations had been formed to facilitate development of international treaties in the field of child protection. Between 1919 and 1922, the International Labor Organization (ILO) developed three conventions, or treaties, regarding child protection: The ILO Convention Fixing the Minimum Age for Admission of Children to Industrial Employment (1919), the Convention Regarding the Night Work of Young Persons Employed in Industry (1919), and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children (1922). These were the first international treaties that expressly addressed the protection of children. | ||
| − | While international standards protecting the rights of children in the workplace were being set, nongovernmental organizations were emerging to specifically advocate on behalf of children. | + | While international standards protecting the rights of children in the workplace were being set, nongovernmental organizations were emerging to specifically advocate on behalf of children. In 1937, in an effort to aid the millions of families and children displaced by the second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), J. Calvitt Clarke, a Presbyterian minister, founded China’s Children Fund (CCF, which would in 1951 become Christian Children’s Fund). |
| − | In 1937, in an effort to aid the millions of families and children displaced by the second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), J. Calvitt Clarke, a Presbyterian minister, founded China’s Children Fund (CCF, which would in 1951 become Christian Children’s Fund). | ||
| − | With the creation of the United Nations in 1945, substantial resources and political support were leveraged on behalf of children, not only by individual world governments, but also by U.N. agencies such as UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and many other nongovernmental organizations (e.g. International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, CCF). With broad-based international support, the United Nations and its constituent agencies worked systematically to provide for the needs of children. | + | With the creation of the United Nations in 1945, substantial resources and political support were leveraged on behalf of children, not only by individual world governments, but also by U.N. agencies such as UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and many other nongovernmental organizations (e.g. International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, CCF). With broad-based international support, the United Nations and its constituent agencies worked systematically to provide for the needs of children. |
| − | ==Children’s | + | ==Children’s Rights as International Law== |
The special rights of the child were first articulated by the United Nations General Assembly in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which provided that "Motherhood and Childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.” But it was not until 30 years later that the first legally binding international treaty to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights—was drafted. | The special rights of the child were first articulated by the United Nations General Assembly in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which provided that "Motherhood and Childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.” But it was not until 30 years later that the first legally binding international treaty to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights—was drafted. | ||
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Since 2000, it has prepared several versions of an alternative outcome document called, 'A Children's Rights Agenda for the Coming Decade.' | Since 2000, it has prepared several versions of an alternative outcome document called, 'A Children's Rights Agenda for the Coming Decade.' | ||
| − | The Committee on the Rights of the Child, the monitoring body created in the Convention, established a systematic process for gathering and responding to reports from U.N. member states concerning progress toward meeting the standards set forth in the Convention. In May 2002, to review progress since the 1990 Summit and re-energize global commitment to children's rights, more than 7,000 people participated (including 3,600 children’s NGOs) in the most important international conference on children in more than a decade, the Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly on Children. The 2002 Special Session was the first of its kind devoted exclusively to children and the first to include them as official delegates. | + | The Committee on the Rights of the Child, the monitoring body created in the Convention, established a systematic process for gathering and responding to reports from U.N. member states concerning progress toward meeting the standards set forth in the Convention. In May 2002, to review progress since the 1990 Summit and re-energize global commitment to children's rights, more than 7,000 people participated (including 3,600 children’s NGOs) in the most important international conference on children in more than a decade, the Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly on Children. The 2002 Special Session was the first of its kind devoted exclusively to children and the first to include them as official delegates. |
| − | ==NGOs | + | ==NGOs Take Leading Role== |
| − | The participation of NGOs in the Special Session was unprecedented in a number of ways. First, in record attendance for a child rights event, more than 1,700 NGO representatives from 117 countries and from 700 NGOs took part. This was a vast improvement over the number of NGOs attending previous international children’s rights conferences | + | The participation of NGOs in the Special Session was unprecedented in a number of ways. First, in record attendance for a child rights event, more than 1,700 NGO representatives from 117 countries and from 700 NGOs took part. This was a vast improvement over the number of NGOs attending previous international children’s rights conferences and went far beyond all expectations. Second, the NGO contingent included not only those accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as is customary at UN conferences, but also representatives of NGOs who are partners of UNICEF at the global and national level . An impressive 699 NGOs from 117 countries were represented at the Session; 314 from developing countries and 385 from industrialized nations. Also significant was the involvement of 248 children and young people who served as NGO delegates to the Children's Forum and the Special Session. |
Addressing NGOs at their plenary session, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "You non-governmental organizations give life and meaning to the concept of 'We, the Peoples', in whose name our United Nations Charter was written." Noting that children's participation is key to the work of NGOs and other advocates for children, he added, "If we are to live up to the title of the outcome document and build 'A World Fit for Children', we must also build it with children.". | Addressing NGOs at their plenary session, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "You non-governmental organizations give life and meaning to the concept of 'We, the Peoples', in whose name our United Nations Charter was written." Noting that children's participation is key to the work of NGOs and other advocates for children, he added, "If we are to live up to the title of the outcome document and build 'A World Fit for Children', we must also build it with children.". | ||
| − | NGO views strongly influenced the outcome document, “A World Fit for Children,” which was carefully crafted to take account of the contributions of NGOs at the national, regional and international levels. Two themes dominated the statements given by 15 NGOs in the official proceedings | + | NGO views strongly influenced the outcome document, “A World Fit for Children,” which was carefully crafted to take account of the contributions of NGOs at the national, regional and international levels. Two themes dominated the statements given by 15 NGOs in the official proceedings: the key role of child rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the follow-up action to the Special Session, and the daily, pervasive and crushing impact of violence on the lives of children. |
In addition to organizing their own supporting events, NGOs participated actively in events organized by UN agencies, governments and other constituencies. NGOs also coalesced by regions and around specific issues, including the rights of girls, early childhood development and education, HIV/AIDS, child and youth participation, and children in armed conflict. | In addition to organizing their own supporting events, NGOs participated actively in events organized by UN agencies, governments and other constituencies. NGOs also coalesced by regions and around specific issues, including the rights of girls, early childhood development and education, HIV/AIDS, child and youth participation, and children in armed conflict. | ||
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As articulated by UNICEF: “The challenges facing children exceed the capacity of any single organization – by far. Building a world that is fit for children requires the partnership of every individual and every organization sharing the values of the United Nations and a respect for children's rights. This includes eminent and ordinary individuals, civil society organizations, voluntary agencies, philanthropic foundations, trade unions, faith-based organizations, academic and research institutions -- and, of course, children and young people themselves.” | As articulated by UNICEF: “The challenges facing children exceed the capacity of any single organization – by far. Building a world that is fit for children requires the partnership of every individual and every organization sharing the values of the United Nations and a respect for children's rights. This includes eminent and ordinary individuals, civil society organizations, voluntary agencies, philanthropic foundations, trade unions, faith-based organizations, academic and research institutions -- and, of course, children and young people themselves.” | ||
| − | NGOs that advocate for children’s rights and protection play an important role in the progress of social development in both rich and poor nations by encouraging government resolve and inspiring the collective conscience to come to the aid of a world of children facing momentous challenges, including destitution and poverty, unstable political situations, and ethnic strife. As local, national and international NGOs help nations meet and sustain their development objectives they also lead the fight for human rights, equality, freedom, and social justice. | + | NGOs that advocate for children’s rights and protection play an important role in the progress of social development in both rich and poor nations by encouraging government resolve and inspiring the collective conscience to come to the aid of a world of children facing momentous challenges, including destitution and poverty, unstable political situations, and ethnic strife. As local, national and international NGOs help nations meet and sustain their development objectives they also lead the fight for human rights, equality, freedom, and social justice. |
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==Select Bibliography== | ==Select Bibliography== | ||
Latest revision as of 09:15, 5 August 2008
This article is based on an article written for the NGO Handbook by Kate Perchuk titled "Children's Rights and Nonprofit Advocacy."
Over the course of the 19th century, the principles of children’s rights have evolved from the intellectual concern of European social theorists to an international charter drafted by the United Nations and ratified by 191 governments. The participation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has been and continues to be essential to the effort of the world’s nations to uphold the standards articulated by the U.N.’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). NGO contributions to the global movement for children -- advocating for youth, monitoring compliance with the CRC, and coordinating aid and development programs -- have helped build a safer world for children.
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