International Network
Our history
Bice was founded on 17 January 1948 in response to the call made by Pope Pius XII to assist children harmed by war, under the auspices of Cardinal Suhard and nuncio His Grace Roncalli, who later became John XXIII. At the time, Bice was a research institute with specialised committees.
From 1959 onwards, the Bice took an active role in work to prepare the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, then joined the United Nations working group to draft the International Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC).
It progressively developed field projects to defend children's rights in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe. In these tasks it uses an innovative approach to child development, based on the capacity children have to show resilience, participate in society and be involved in their community.
At the very roots of Bice, a joint and international aspiration:
to place itself at the service of children
1979: International Year of the Child
After many long years of awareness-raising, consultation and reflection with its partners, Bice made it possible go beyond a primordial stage in the recognition of children's rights.
On its initiative, a year was devoted to children in the world and to the launching of a Draft Convention.
1986: International Year of Peace
Launched by the United Nations, the Year for peace in the world found a large echo at Bice which instigated aid programmes for children who were victims of war. The same year, in a large Congress which brought together 42 countries, Bice brought up the theme of the spiritual growth of the child. With its research on resilience, spiritual development is one of the main strands of reflection in Bice's participation in the major project of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
1989: The year of the CRC
The International Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations.
The 1959 Declaration of the Rights of Child was a Charter of moral principles. The Convention makes it possible to implement them. This was a real victory for Bice which participated in the Working Committees. Proof of this change in the status of the child: the New York Congress (1990) brought together leaders from all over the world to combat the difficulties of children.
