Special News--November 2022
World Children's DayChildren--Parents--Families
Love Them All!
"Fiat" by Michael J. Mullen (1989,11 foot bronze) (Luke 1:38)Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California USA (Image KOD) "Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child [1959], 'the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth'..."
Preamble, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
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Overview
In this Update (#77) we are celebrating children around the world--and parents and families everywhere! We specifically focus on the upcoming World Children's Day (WCD, 20 November). The theme this year is "Equity and inclusion, for every child."
“World Children's Day...November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child [ratified by 196 UN member states]...World Children's Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.” (quote from UN website)
Our Focus
Specifically, we focus on two items as part of our commitment and contribution to WCD and the theme this year, "Equity and inclusion, for every child":
1. The Preamble in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989), and especially its compelling reaffirmation that "the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth." Love children before and after birth!
2. Some of our favorite statues in the world. Really! These statues for us collectively reflect things that we cherish--the best of humanity: the sanctity of human life at all stages, the strength and courage of women and mothers, and the central role of the family--father, mother, children. Love them all!
Applications--Making It Personal
--Explore the text of the CRC Preamble below (11 paragraphs) as well as the images of the statues. What thoughts and feelings do they stir up for you?
--Probe into the CRC itself and read through all 54 articles. Are there some articles that you find particularly relevant, questionable, and/or that you want to explore further?
--Share this Update about WCD and the CRC with your colleagues, organization(s), and networks. Discuss it together and consider practical applications.
How neat it would be if each of us could identify one special, new way to support children, parents, and/or families during the month of November--something locally through globally! A good place to start for ideas is on the website for WCD. See also the list at the end of 10 related observances--International Days.
We are displaying this sign in advance of WCD--Promoting both parents and chidren!
Sign courtesy of Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center, New London, CT USA
We are also promoting the new Child and Family Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Resource Collection by the MHPSS Network and the MHPSS Collaborative (an extensive set of materials for humanitarian/development settings including the Ukraine crisis)
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Going further--see these Global Integration Updates:
--The UN at 75: “We the peoples...”: Engaging in UN International Days (July 2020)
--Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age–film, blog, etc. (September 2018)
--Education for Global Citizenship: The Gyeongju Action Plan etc. (June 2016)
Warm greetings,
Kelly and Michèle
MCAresources@gmail.com
Featured Resources
World Children's Day
Children--Parents--Families
Love Them All!
Infographic of 42 Articles of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989) UNICEF South Asia website. Articles 43-54 focus on how the Convention works.
Click here for a child-friendly version (UNICEF).
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.
This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, 1964
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Preamble (11 paragraphs)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The States Parties to the present Convention,
--Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
--Bearing in mind that the peoples of the United Nations have, in the Charter, reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
--Recognizing that the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Detail from "Fiat" by Michael J Mullen (1989,11 foot bronze)
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California USA (Luke 1:38)
--Recalling that, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance,
Bronze statue of a family by Kees Verkade (1978)
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, Vogelenzang, The Netherlands
--Convinced that 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,
--Recognizing that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,
Bronze with patina statue of Sacagawea and her infant son (Shoshone People)
by Harry Jackson (1980, 12 feet), Santa Barbara, California USA. She was a crucial guide in the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803-1806). (Image KOD)
--Considering that the child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity,
--Bearing in mind that the need to extend particular care to the child has been stated in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924 and in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly on 20 November 1959 and recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (in particular in articles 23 and 24), in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (in particular in article 10) and in the statutes and relevant instruments of specialized agencies and international organizations concerned with the welfare of children,
Michèle and Erin in utero, May 1989, Noord Holland, The Netherlands
Six months before the UN General Assembly adopted the CRC
--Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, "the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth",
Detail of bronze with patina statue of Sacagawea and her infant son (Shoshone People)
by Harry Jackson (1980, 12 feet), Santa Barbara, California USA
--Recalling the provisions of the Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally; the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules); and the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict, Recognizing that, in all countries in the world, there are children living in exceptionally difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration,
--Taking due account of the importance of the traditions and cultural values of each people for the protection and harmonious development of the child, Recognizing the importance of international co-operation for improving the living conditions of children in every country, in particular in the developing countries,
--Have agreed as follows: [the 54 articles of the CRC]
UN image
See also these 10 related observances:
--6 February: International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
--8 March: International Women's Day
--15 May: International Day of Families
--1 June: Global Day of Parents
--4 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
--12 June: World Day Against Child Labour
--30 July: World Day against Trafficking in Persons
--12 August: International Youth Day
--11 October: International Day of the Girl Child
--25 November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Member Care Associates
MCAresources@gmail.com
Member Care Associates Inc. (MCA) is a non-profit, Christian organization working internationally from Geneva and the USA. MCA's involvement in Global Integration focuses on the wellbeing and effectiveness of personnel and their organizations across sectors (e.g., mission, humanitarian, peace, health, and development sectors) as well as global mental health and integrity/anti-corruption, all with a view towards collaboratively supporting sustainable development for all people and the planet. Our services include consultation, training, research, resource development, and publications.
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