Difference between revisions of "Children's NGOs"
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Addressing NGOs at their plenary session, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "You non-governmental organizations give life and meaning to the concept of 'We, the Peoples', in whose name our United Nations Charter was written." Noting that children's participation is key to the work of NGOs and other advocates for children, he added, "If we are to live up to the title of the outcome document and build 'A World Fit for Children', we must also build it with children.". | Addressing NGOs at their plenary session, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "You non-governmental organizations give life and meaning to the concept of 'We, the Peoples', in whose name our United Nations Charter was written." Noting that children's participation is key to the work of NGOs and other advocates for children, he added, "If we are to live up to the title of the outcome document and build 'A World Fit for Children', we must also build it with children.". | ||
− | NGO views strongly influenced the outcome document, “A World Fit for Children,” which was carefully crafted to take account of the contributions of NGOs at the national, regional and international levels. Two themes dominated the statements given by 15 NGOs in the official proceedings | + | NGO views strongly influenced the outcome document, “A World Fit for Children,” which was carefully crafted to take account of the contributions of NGOs at the national, regional and international levels. Two themes dominated the statements given by 15 NGOs in the official proceedings: the key role of child rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the follow-up action to the Special Session, and the daily, pervasive and crushing impact of violence on the lives of children. |
In addition to organizing their own supporting events, NGOs participated actively in events organized by UN agencies, governments and other constituencies. NGOs also coalesced by regions and around specific issues, including the rights of girls, early childhood development and education, HIV/AIDS, child and youth participation, and children in armed conflict. | In addition to organizing their own supporting events, NGOs participated actively in events organized by UN agencies, governments and other constituencies. NGOs also coalesced by regions and around specific issues, including the rights of girls, early childhood development and education, HIV/AIDS, child and youth participation, and children in armed conflict. |
Latest revision as of 08:15, 5 August 2008
This article is based on an article written for the NGO Handbook by Kate Perchuk titled "Children's Rights and Nonprofit Advocacy."
Over the course of the 19th century, the principles of children’s rights have evolved from the intellectual concern of European social theorists to an international charter drafted by the United Nations and ratified by 191 governments. The participation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has been and continues to be essential to the effort of the world’s nations to uphold the standards articulated by the U.N.’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). NGO contributions to the global movement for children -- advocating for youth, monitoring compliance with the CRC, and coordinating aid and development programs -- have helped build a safer world for children.