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Dear Colleagues, On Behalf of the Executive Committee of the International Forum for Child Welfare, I wish to extend best wishes to you and your families for 2008. As the end of the year approaches, it is timely to step back and reflect on the state of the World’s Children. At this year’s WorldForum2007, which took place in New Delhi, India, we learned that some progress has been made with certain aspects of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, we also heard that much more needs to be done to address global challenges related to:
When it comes to child poverty, the facts are staggering. Every 3.6 seconds, one person dies of starvation…more often than not, that individual is a child under the age of 5. Other facts speak for themselves. World wide, there are more than 100 million children living on the streets. Sex tourism flourishes in many 3rd world and developing nations. More than 300.000 child soldiers are involved in global conflicts. 15 million children under the age of 18 have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. More than 200 million children aged 5-17 are engaged in child labour at a global level. I don’t know about you, but when faced with these global realities it is quite easy to get overwhelmed by the magnitude of the challenge…particularly if we stand alone. That is where the International Forum for Child Welfare (IFCW) comes in with its role as the only international Non-Government organization that is dedicated to promoting child rights and partnerships in the field of child welfare. The IFCW helps to give you a voice through its designated representatives at the United Nations Economic and Social Council as well as the NGO committee through UNICEF and CONGO. Through last year’s WorldForum in India, which was focused on the millennium goals, we were able to bring some of the latest research and best practice in our field to life through our members and various panels and workshops which were provided. On a going forward basis, we will be strengthening our membership exchange capacity as well as our communication and linkages with web based technology at www.ifcw.org. We expect that next year’s WorldForum2008 which will be taking place in Cardiff, Wales will be an exceptional opportunity for further exchange and partnership development. With a focus on Early Intervention and Prevention, there will be plenty of opportunity to strengthen our knowledge base and further support the work of our membership on the ground. Next month we will be providing you with more information on WorldForum2008 which is planned for September 2008. Through your collective efforts and membership in IFCW, we have an opportunity to speak with one voice, exert a global influence and build on one another’s capacity. These are the fundamental building blocks that will help to address the needs of our children and youth worldwide. Thank you for supporting and contributing to IFCW. Bruce Rivers “Where choices change the lives of people who have an intellectual disability” |