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For Report of WorldForum 2005October 19-23, 2005WorldForum 2004On National Action Plans for Infancy CHIILDREN'S FORUM Buenos Aires, Argentina September 28-29, 2004 Why a Forum for Children? Because most of the time on the adults' points of view are taken into account, while belittling what we children say. Why was this Forum important? Because it is the first one of its type and allow us to create bonds among those of us who have something to say about our rights. Previous Work done in the Communities before coming to the Fo rum . Participation took place in different forms: Some children had meetings, others assemblies, and others forums. Each organization or school decided how to work. The important thing was that we were able to elect representatives and to bring to the Forum some themes that we had been previously worked by many more children than those present in the Forum. Who participated? More than 300 children from all the provinces of the country and some from neighboring countries that were called by schools, local organizations, NGOs, Scout Groups, etc. These 300 children represented almost 100,000. What did we discuss? The themes discussed in the 14 commissions formed by representatives of the different communities, were directly related with the themes discussed in the adult WorldForum. There were: • Inequalities and Social Exclusion • Community Institutions and Children and Adolescents as subjects of rights. • Possibilities of accessing different social, cultural and sporting activities. • Participation in the school as a "learning community" • Child Labor. • Limits and Authority • Children and Adolescents in the Media. More than 40 professionals in different areas (education, social service, law, helath, etc) participated pro bono in the implementation of the workshops to orient any doubts that became evident. What were the immediate results? Participants inter-acted with adults who participated in the WordlForum through two sessions: one about the Communication Media and one on Participation. During this last discussion we presented to adults the conclusions of our Forum and several questions were made to the National Government, represented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Daniel Filmus. The minister promised, in front of all the participants, to make our demands known to the National Council of Ministers and to channel those that had direct relation with his ministry, inviting us to participate in a forthcoming meeting in the Ministry of Education to look deeper into these matters. The Conclusions of the Children's Forum Children and adolescents, in the groups of these younger and well as in the groups of over 15 years of age, expressed, through our representatives, the conclusions and demands about our rights. As an example, we present some of these and to maintain their legitimacy we transcribe them verbatim: A. Inequalities and Exclusion . "Although there are evident inequalities throughout the country for different reasons (gender, economic, social, etc.) we do know that we have our own rights." "When we are born we all have the same needs. Each of these needs derives into a right, but many times they are not taken into account or respected and this has provoked inequalities that create social exclusion. The State does not guarantee the enforcement of these rights and, while it is its responsibility, we are clear that it requires the active and constructive participation of all of us." We are a" motor for change" "We wish that the Federal Government be respected." "We ask that education give us the necessary tools to attain a just and decent life." "We ask that training be provided for cultural diversity, allowing for the inclusion of aboriginal peoples (Wichis, Tobas, Mapuches, Couyas, etc.) that today are excluded for cultural reasons." "We ask that the educational budge be increased." "The creation of centers for legal control and integral development that will allow to assist children at risk. They should be formed by children and guided by professionals." B. Community Institutions and children as subjects of Rights . "Politicians should do what they have to do and not keep the money for themselves." "Politicians should comply with what they promise." "If politicians were ants.I would call the exterminator." "I would hope that the new generation will not be as abused and that politicians will think about the people, not about themselves and their families only." "How can we fight against impunity? We do not know how, and therefore we have no hope of growing and becoming a first class power." "To have politicians that are committed to work for the people." "Police is synonym of power abuse. There are some good policemen and others are corrupt." "That the police fulfill its function:: control so that there are no problems and to give security." "Some policemen are accomplices of the mafia. There is no difference between them." "In school, because of the form teaching is done, in general one does not learn. They guide and order without any creativity.all theory.one can pass grade, but one does not learn." "To the Ministry of the Interior: wake up so that Argentina can recover. Please!" "Possibilities of Access to different social, sporting and cultural activities." "In most communities there are no places in which to develop social, cultural, artistic, recreational or sporting activities for all the people with different capabilities. You need money to have access." "The commissions established in the different communities do not have trained people to develop these activities." "Create Children and Youth Centers in each neighborhood with state assistance to be able to give conferences, and carry out other activities." "That the State does not put taxes to houses, institutions, foundations, etc., that are working on a not-for-profit basis for the protection of children and youth. The same for firms that provide water, electricity, gas and other services." "That the countries develop health and educational actions creating Complete Sport Centers where we will have access to different sports and also to social assistance for all. We propose that a bond called "BASSE" - Emergency Health and Social Assistance Bond - be provided so that it becomes the "basis" of a transformation in de development of children and youth." C. Participation in the school as a Learning Community. "Both the Student Centers and Cooperating Associations are valuable means to promote participation but were not created for the defense of the rights of children and youth." "We also observe that authoritarianism is still present in the schools." "This Commissions has thought about a participative methodology at national level for the defense, promotion and implementation of the CRC." "A decision by the Ministry of Education to make possible the election of a representative of Rights in each classroom and the creation of a Council of Rights in each school." "A Council of local negotiation with representatives of children, adolescents, parents, NGOs and other children or youth interested in participating." "Teachers and Administrators should be trained in the CRC." "Support from NGOs and the election of representatives of rights to be mandatory in all schools through a directive from the Ministry of Education." D. Child Labor . "Why don't we have concrete jobs, but only social plans" "Why do adults treat us as "children" when the CRC says we are boys, girls and adolescents?" "Children that work go hungry and suffer cold, they also learn bad habits." "There is abuse of working children". "They leave school and are analphabets, therefore they do not know their rights and when they grow they cannot find a good job." "What is the Government going to do regarding child labor?" E. Limits and Authority. With our posters we want to show how sometimes this society forces you to go over your own limits if you want to be part of it." "We need limits but accompanied by their respective values." "To limit violence is important, because if we become violent with others, we are violent with ourselves. This means that we should learn to love ourselves and to love others." This is a slogan for a poster: "In order not to hurt yourself, set limits." "Will it be possible to put a limit to drugs? A world without drugs is the responsibility of all." "To respect the life of others is also a limit." F. Children and the Media . "There is not space for us in the media because it is always adults who express themselves. They should interview us." "The media shows a reality that does not exist." "News programs are fiction because they show how a bomb explodes as if it were a movie, with music and all." To this, one of the youngest members of the Forum added: "News programs are real, not fiction, because in the movies people are acting and the blood is ketchup, but in the news programs the blood is blood." "TV invents, exaggerates, lies." "Young actors are all rich. They only care about music and love with their partners. In their values, each one does their own thing. They have nothing to do with us." "What we are and what we care about is not shown by the media." "Among the things that they do not say about us have to do, sometimes, with our rights. Then our rights are not shown by the media." "When they say bad things about reality they do not say what happens or what can be done to change the situation." "Because the media is a public service, we have the right to be part of it." "We propose to speak here and in our towns to inform other children, adolescents and adults of how bad TV is." "We would try not so see some programs and therefore diminish their ratings so that they are no longer shown." G. Some Proposals send by other children by e-mail after the Forum. The Forum is an open space. We hope it continues and is held every year." "I am interest in knowing how it went after the Forum, when you reached home, and how do you plan to continue working. It does not have to end here." "That the Forum be promoted through public means of communication because otherwise it is difficult for other children to learn about it, no matter how much will you put into it." In Santiago del Estero they think: "That the Forum and the provincial forums be supported and sponsored by the State, in order to further develop or expand this integral and pluralist spirit." The children of the Patagonia said "Here they are interested in the documents we brought back, they think it is important material that should not be overlooked. Therefore we are analyzing it in depth so that it can be available for all." "It would be nice to continue immediately with a Virtual Forum, via internet" said one of the participants at the end of the Forum. "What I propose is that commissions exchange the documentation they have available. Please, this would be of great help." "That this Forum should reach the objectives that it proposed at the start and that the recommendations are put into practice so that it is not just another event and then we would have contributed to the growth of peace in the world." ************* Reports Exclusive to IFCW Members from the United Nations by Claudia Lombardo, IFCW Representative to the UN - NY In-Depth Consultation with UNICEF on Civil Society Partnerships On November 19, 2004, the NGO Committee on UNICEF was given the opportunity to provide input into UNICEF's latest thinking as it adjusts its strategy in relation to the Mid-term Strategic Planning Goals (MSPGs). In particular, the consultation focused on how NGO's, UNICEF, and other civil society actors can better partner in both advocacy for and delivery of service to the world's most vulnerable children. Two NGOs, the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children described partnerships with UNICEF that have successfully promoted global, regional and local efforts to advance the causes of and service to children. UNICEF and NGOs had the opportunity to hear the specifics of pragmatic partnerships that have yielded measurable results. In addition, the discussion focused on having the consultation identify those principles, policies and procedures that have constituted success in these partnerships. With this information, UNICEF will be able to incorporate these principles, policies and procedures as it proposes new ways to accomplish the MSPGs. Kimberly Gamble-Payne, Deputy, Office of Public Partnerships, UNICEF The Mid-term Strategic Planning Goals serve as UNICEF's business plan, which describes the direction UNICEF is heading. Recently, UNICEF conducted its mid-term review. The Executive Board agreed on 5 priority areas, but wanted to know specifically how UNICEF will contribute to the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals. The 5 areas are as follows:
A draft of the MTPGs will be completed before Christmas, informal consultations with the Executive Board will be in February, informal consultations with other partners will be in March, the presentation of a draft report to the Board will be in June, and approval will be in September. The plan will be a short document (16 pages) and four paragraphs will be devoted to the various types of partnerships UNICEF has with civil society. Jane Lowicki, Advisor for Youth Protection and Development, International Rescue Committee Civil society wants UNICEF to succeed, however serious problems with partnerships arise when dealing with so many global emergencies. Civil society will often find diversity and inconsistency among UNICEF offices around the world. The decentralization of UNICEF is the reason why there are some very helpful staff members and others that are not so helpful. NGOs have at times felt that they are dependent on the will of staff members. To be fair, there are structural barriers and political environments that prohibit UNICEF from partnering with civil society. For example, UNICEF can help only when governments agree to their assistance. If UNICEF is able to partner with NGOs, various obstacles may arise such as:
However, there have been situations where UNICEF's influence has led to positive outcomes. In Guinea, several adolescents were located and needed to be reunified with their families. However, because these children were not registered at refugee camps, little could be done. UNICEF was instrumental in the reunification process of these children. However, consistency is not always to be expected. In Pakistan, UNICEF, despite creative reunifying efforts, was unwilling to step up to the plate for Afghan refugees precisely because they were not registered at camps. UNICEF had much more success playing a coordinating role in Albanian Refugee Camps in 1999. While there were hundreds of NGOs working in Kosovo, UNICEF was instrumental in creating an Albanian Youth Council. Christine Knudsen, Senior Protection Officer, Emergencies and Protection, Save the Children UNICEF's strategies must be mutually reinforced, such as the relationship between girls' education and HIV/AIDS prevention. Protecting the Vulnerable, the smallest part of the Millennium Declaration is an area UNICEF and civil society have to be vigilant about. Furthermore, Child Protection is an area that is under funded and requires NGOs' efforts advocating for better outcomes. There are many types of formal and informal partnerships. UNICEF could be in control of a project or simply provide the funding for its execution. A great success for UNICEF (though there is still room for improvement) is its work in Iraq. In the beginning of the conflict, NGOs were not allowed to enter Iraq, therefore UNICEF created a space where NGOs could unite for assessment purposes. Problems arose once NGOs were allowed into Iraq because civil society then became disbursed due to poor programmatic planning. The consultation ended on a positive note. Peter Crowley, head of the Office of Public Partnerships stated that even if the problems identified by NGOs are problems of perception, they are still problems that need to be examined. He assured the NGOs present that issues such as UNICEF's accountability to civil society will be brought to the Executive Board and that UNICEF will spend considerable time instilling in staff what is expected of them and what it means to fall short of these expectations. ************ 57 th Annual DPI/NGO Conference Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action United Nations, New York, September 8-10, 2004 This year's DPI/NGO Conference aimed to support national efforts around the world to mobilize civil society to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It was a conference with a practical, substantive and activist agenda arising from urgent concerns and pressing deadlines to which the United Nations and more than 3,000 affiliated non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are deeply committed. The following is a summary of what I was able to experience at this year's conference. Eveline Herfkens, Executive Coordinator, United Nations Millennium Development Goals Campaign, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The MDGs were created thanks to NGOs. We know that they are reachable because if progress has been made in Tanzania, progress can be made anywhere. Wealth countries could even do better. However, these goals must be translated and dictated to politicians. NGOs at the moment are not a mass movement, however we could be. NGOs must promote fair globalization, providing the world with a human face to global trends. A great example of taking the MDGs seriously is Brazil's private sector. On every milk carton in Brazil are the MDGs. Once we really start campaigning, rich countries have got to begin supporting poor countries and mutual accountability must become the norm. There is no excuse for countries to not do a better job, particularly around primary education, as it is not inexpensive. Aid and trade must be increased, debt must be forgiven, and agricultural subsidies must end. Furthermore, we must monitor how money is spent and see to it that basic needs are not secondary to terrorism. On the issue of debt, in Tanzania, a million children are now in school because debt was forgiven. The MDGs must be localized and governments must not be let off the hook. It is critical that the goals be integrated into national plans. NGOs must join the fight against corruption and the disposal of valuable resources. We must be aware of what the World Trade Organization, World Bank, the European Union, and the International Monetary Fund Committee are doing. Children in rich countries have no idea how their peers live in the South. We are the first generation that can alleviate poverty and we should not let the opportunity pass us by. Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information of the United Nations A total of 2,700 NGOs attended this year's conference. The first DPI/NGO conference took place in 1947. Presidents Roosevelt and Truman encouraged NGOs to play a role in the conference since NGOs were seen as the midwives of the UN. Since 1947, the conference has evolved significantly. DPI now has a broad outreach program. The overall goal of DPI is to encourage journalists in developing countries to write about the MDGs. In four short years, the MDGs have transformed the face of global development and cooperation. However, greater resources are needed. We need the MDGs to slide off of tongues and to hear about the front line work taking place. Criminal organizations are enemies to achievement. Promoting the Rule of Law is important and no single country can address the problems of the world alone. Joan Kirby, Chair, 57 th Annual DPI/NGO Conference Four years ago, 189 member states recognized that they had the collective responsibility to uphold human dignity and equality globally, especially for women and children. The 189 member states promised to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. The goals are not empty promises nor unreliable aspirations. However, the MDGs are unknown beyond the UN, therefore we must raise public awareness of them. No one constituency makes change alone. It takes the media, member states, the private sector, and NGOs. During the Millennium +5 Summit in 2005, the MDGs will be highlighted.
Midday NGO Interactive Workshops: Girls Education: Key to Fulfilling Millennium Development Goal Promises Educating girls is key to accomplishing the MDGs and critical to eradicating poverty and violence and fighting HIV/AIDS. NGO practices, governmental perspectives and advocacy strategies in support of girls' education formed the basis for discussion at this workshop. "When you educate girls, you educate a nation." Cyril Mooney, Sister, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Principal, Loreta Day School, Sealdah, Calcutta, India Girls are always educated for something. Girls should be educated for themselves, the way that boys are since education leads to financial prosperity. Low self image (always being seen as less) and spiritual slavery have to be removed from one's life. Women in India are educated well, but when they marry, the money is given to their husband or his family. There are however, a large number of children, who live on the streets. Out of 15 million people in India, 70,000 are students. Girls are more likely to not attend schools and if they are lucky enough to attend government schools, for every 140 students, there is one teacher. In some schools, for every 800 students, there are 6 teachers. Schools should be resource centers. Children must also be involved in the MDGs. At Sister Mooney's school, 50% of students are admitted from slums. When students turn 10, they become "teachers" to other children. Students can come to her school any time that is convenient to them and sleep there safely if it is necessary. They can come in naked and dirty since being clean, according to Sister Mooney is a middle-class value. The 50 teachers stress that every child is loved. In fact, 150 children are sent out to villages where they confront the employers of the child day laborers, explaining to them that they want the children to attend school with them. The practice of child labor is always denied, but for about one hour a week, the children harass the employers until the children attend school. Calcutta is the only city in India, where every child has a school. The city was very successful in getting government to look out for 10,000 children. Girls are empowered with compassion and hands-on experience. They also provide them with the moral empowerment to change the system, which denies them education. This is mini-globalization, which is impressive since one-half of the world's "out-of-school" children reside in India. Rita Burghardt, Director of Development, NetAid, New York NetAid was created with the purpose of getting wealthy countries involved in the education of girls. They started with the question, how could the internet be used to help educate girls and reduce poverty? They started with building an active network of people and found that effective communication strategies can help tremendously. They now have 20 projects all around the world and campaigns to complement them. For example, in September, the "back-to-school" campaign is socially marketed as "many kids can't go to school." They have recently developed an educational game where children in the U.S. have to live in the shoes of their peers in India. It is incredible to see the emotional reaction of children in the first world when they find out that their peers in other countries cannot attend school. Several US Senators are involved in girl's education, but this is not seen as a government priority. After 3 years, NetAid has seen results from their effective communication strategies.
Towards 2015: MDG Progress to Date This panel focused on the current state of the MDGs campaigns around the world and provides candid assessments of progress within the United Nations system and among governments and civil society partners, particularly NGOs. United Nations Member States set 2015 as a target for achieving most of the MDGs, using data from 1990 as a benchmark. They agreed to chronicle their achievements in 2005 in a five-year comprehensive review. This panel outlined the national reporting process and other feedback mechanisms that governments, institutions and non-governmental organizations use to monitor information, chart progress and guide policymaking. The discussion assessed the status of MDGs such as poverty eradication, universal primary education, food security, gender equality, good governance, reduced child mortality, improved maternal health care, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and development assistance. Panelists provided insights into those goals and regions that are on track and those that are behind schedule or particularly problematic Farida Allaghi, Senior Advisor to the President of the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) There is little civil society participation in the MDGs from Arab countries and few Arab governments are moving forward with the goals. However, there are millions of Arab men and women working under severe conditions to complete the MDGs. Progress in Arab countries has to be looked at from a historical perspective. These countries have a history of colonization, illiteracy is high, major deficits exist, and oil is not found in many high population countries. The worst deficit is lack of data. Honest and realistic data is not retrievable and governments and international organizations use different numbers. The problem with the MDGs is that we neglect certain question such as, Achievement for who? At what level? At what deadline? Women have been given so many promises and the deadline for these promises keeps changing. And, why does extreme poverty exist in countries rich with oil? The political establishment is the domination of males over the political arena. Women need to focus on the younger generation and stress the importance of business, science, technology, and government. These are the corridors of power. We can no longer isolate ourselves from the political process and the internet. Leonor Briones, Co-convenor, Social Watch, Philippines Asia Pacific is made up of more than just rich countries. There are small land-locked countries, such as Cambodia as well. A number of countries will not achieve the MDGs. Each country submits a report and within these reports, there are large disparities. Big cities were making progress in numbers, but not small and poor countries. There are plenty of UN and independent campaigns in these countries since it was felt that the public needed to be convinced that the MDGs would work. Reactions from civil society are mixed. The goal of reducing poverty by 50% for example is not fully understood. What do you tell the other 50%? How can you tell someone that in 15 years, they will do better? We have to establish who the owner is of the MDGs. Is it the government, the UN, the people? If there is no sense of ownership, there is no real campaign. Furthermore, as long as exports are denied and there is foreign debt, there can be no MDGs. We must insist that government delivers these goals with the UN's support. Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General on the Millennium Development Goals; Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University In some countries, poverty has decreased and malnutrition and hunger have increased. This seems ironic, but in actuality when you consider other factors preventing progress, such as, the distribution of food, the price of food, the price of other items, and inflation, it actually makes sense. Today, approximately 30 people are in control of the world's oil supply. We are constantly trying to catch up to US billionaires. The U.S. is also conducting an anti-national security policy by spending 30 times more on the military than on development assistance (450 billion this year compared to 15 billion). There is clearly a funding war taking place. In order to be safe, we have to value life and take the lives of others seriously. Safety implies that we have ethical values. These values and standards need to catch up to our developments in science and technology. We also have to question privatization. What is the limit? Poor people cannot stay alive at market cost. This is not a new concept, but rather one that is explained in Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations." As civil society, we have four roles: 1. Planning- working with government and international organizations to identify needs and priorities that make sense. 2. Watchdog- fighting government to achieve these goals. 3. Delivery of Service- using creativity to empower the community. 4. Hearing your voice every day- we need to hear from the rich world regarding poverty and living together safely. In Africa, 750 out of 1,000 children die before their 5 th birthday. We have to stress the importance of social marketing. Malaria bed nets cost $4 each. Antiviral drugs are less than $1. Soil nutrients (instead of food aid) should be provided until farmers reach the level of income to market their own produce. This will end dependency. Eleven years is enough time to reach the MDGs with targeted interventions and proper investments. These are not handouts, they are investments. It isn't that there is an absence of plans in developing countries, but rather an absence of partnerships from rich countries. If life is completely devalued, how will we ever win a war against terrorism? ************ NGO Briefing on the Implications of and Follow-up to Security Council Resolution 1539 (2004) on Children and Armed Conflict by Claudia Lombardo On July 19, 2004, I attended a briefing Olara Otunnu, Under-Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, provided NGOs on the implications of and follow-up to Security Council resolution 1539 (2004) on children and armed conflict. The resolution, according to Under-Secretary-General Otunnu, "contains some very important and far-reaching provisions, particularly in the context of making the 'era of application' a reality on the ground." Under-Secretary-General Otunnu stated that this resolution is a political project in which NGOs are very important, asking the NGO representatives present, "how do we make sure that the Security Council, the American government, and the European and African Unions agree to at least one or two of the measures in the resolution? Additional questions asked include: Who does what on various levels? How do we integrate U.S. agencies? What are the roles of the Commission of Human Rights and the General Assembly? Under this resolution, the Security Council will not "name and shame" countries. It will make references to countries only when parties within their borders are to blame. Ultimately, these parties will be "named and shamed." Countries like Uganda and Brazil are not on the Security Council's agenda despite the occurrence of armed conflict within their borders. Though this is unsettling for NGOs, it is critical to know that under this resolution, no country will escape scrutiny. Member States also play an important role. They have the responsibility of protecting children against parties that continue to abuse them, including abusive governments. A number of NGOs will the Secretary-General's office reports citing abuses. It is essential that the reports the Secretary General receives are in fact factual and uncontestable. While it is true that there will be abusive practices too difficult to bring to justice, there are those that are obvious, but until now have not been stopped. For example, a report, which states the date of the violation and the party that was responsible for the violation is sufficient. Under-Secretary-General Otunnu ended the briefing, affirming that application of the resolution is our biggest challenge. "The appropriate mechanisms are in place, but will application and compliance be delivered?" Security Council resolution 1539 (2004) on children and armed conflict can be found at: http://www.un.org/special-rep/children-armed-conflict/KeyDocuments/Resolution/S-RES-1539English.html |
