Difference between revisions of "Children's NGOs"
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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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