OUR VISION
International Network
Part one
A revenew child approach to answer the situation of millions of uprooted children
OUR VISION
The child we believe in
The society we relieve in
FACING REALITY
Millions of uprooted children
Haunting questions
Issues to be taken up
A RENEWED CHILD APPROACH
Upholding children's resilience
Encouraging child participation, solidarity and responsibility
Encouraging child participation, solidarity and responsibility
Allowing children to find their roots and landmarks
Our vision
4 Our vision is a world where children can truly enjoy their rights as clearly stated in the Convention. A world without extreme poverty and violence. Economically, financially and technologically, this world is attainable now.
The child we believe in
5 Each and every child is a gift to the world. His / her birth is inscribed in the continuation of generations; it opens up to promises of renewal. Children have an innocent passion for life, which allows them to grow and learn with their peers. If not suppressed by today's society, this positive energy will support their growth despite the numerous challenges and suffering that life inevitably carries with it.
Children always amaze us. They teach us our capabilities as human beings, our weaknesses as well as our potential of going beyond our limitations.
Despite the potential existing in each child since his/her birth, he/she is still fragile; he/she needs love and affection. This obliges us to protect him/her fully until he/she gains his/her own autonomy. An autonomy that does not mean total independence and will always need to be surrounded by human solidarity at all levels.
The society we believe in
6 The society we believe in is a society capable of granting us peace as armed conflicts always lead to the negation of the rights of the child and to great suffering.
...A society where children have access to food, basic health care, and are loved, protected, instructed and educated.
...A society where children are raised according to the "... ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations: peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity." [6] We ourselves should start to live this ideal of solidarity.
...A society where families play a central role. [7]
The family "The family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community." Preamble of the Convention |
A society where the closest community, the school, leisure places, associations, secular and religious institutions support the family and contribute to the growth and development of the child.
A society where, thanks to new technologies, the "global village" plays a constructive role in children's life.
7 A society where public authorities, because of their legitimacy and engagements, try to respond to the specific demands of each community and each child by guaranteeing the key principles enshrined in the Convention, which are also the basis of our commitment:
- The best interests of the child (Art.3);
- Non-discrimination: all children, girls and boys alike, without distinction of colour, religion, culture, opinion are concerned; the Convention has a universal outreach (Art.2) [8];
- The child's right to life, to survival and development of his/her capabilities (Art.6);
- The child's right to express his/her own views freely (Art. 12 and 13), to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Art.14) and the freedom of association (Art.15);
- The indivisibility of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights recognized to children. We aim at the integral development of the child, which goes beyond material goods and includes all dimensions, including the spiritual one;
- The compelling nature of the provisions contained in the Convention. It allows us to urge signatory States violating their obligations, to take the administrative, legal, economic, social, and educational measures in order to ensure a child-friendly environment.
This is our vision. Nevertheless, we live in the real world....
[6] Preamble of the Convention.
[7] The Convention underlines the role of the family and engage States to support it. In particular:
• Article 5 "States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents or, where applicable, the members of the extended family or community as provided for by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the present Convention",
• Article7: "The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.",
• Article 18: "Parents or, as the case may be, legal guardians, have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child... and § 2 "States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities ...".
[8] The United States and Somalia are the only countries that have not yet ratified the Convention.
