CRINMAIL 776

2 May 2006 - CRINMAIL 776

 

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- MALNUTRITION: Death of 5.6 Million Under-Fives Every Year [publication]

- CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE: CRIN Publishes Newsletter 19 [publication]

- DAY OF GENERAL DISCUSSION: Child's Right to be Heard [call for contributions]

- SOCIAL PROTECTION: Analysis of Recent Experiences [event/call for papers]

- CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE: Day for Prevention of Child Abuse [event]

- EMPLOYMENT: ECPAT International [job posting]

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Your submissions are welcome if you are working in the area of child rights. To contribute, email us at [email protected]. Adobe Acrobat is required for viewing some of the documents, and if required can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html If you do not receive this email in html format, you will not be able to see some hyperlinks in the text. At the end of each item we have therefore provided a full URL linking to a web page where further information is available.

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MALNUTRITION: Death of 5.6 Million Under-Fives Every Year [publication]

[NEW YORK, 2 May 2006] - More than one quarter of all children under the age of five in developing countries are underweight, many to a life-threatening degree, says a UNICEF report published today. Poor nutrition remains a global epidemic contributing to more than half of all child deaths, about 5.6 million per year.

Progress for Children: A Report Card on Nutrition says the proportion of children under five who are underweight has fallen only slightly since 1990 - proof, according to UNICEF, that the world is failing children.

The report charts national and regional progress towards the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG): to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. Achieving this goal means halving the proportion of children who are underweight for their age, the most visible sign of undernutrition. But current trends show the world is still far off track.

Despite progress in some countries, developing-world averages for underweight children have dropped just five percentage points in the last 15 years. Today, 27 per cent of children in developing countries are underweight - around 146 million. Nearly three quarters of the world’s underweight children live in just ten countries, and over half in just three countries: Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. These figures are just the tip of the iceberg, according to UNICEF.

The report shows only two regions of the world on track to meet the MDG target for reducing the prevalence of underweight children: Latin America and the Caribbean and the East Asia and Pacific region, with underweight prevalence rates of 7 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. Progress in East Asia largely has been due to the great leaps taken by China to reduce its underweight prevalence by an average of 6.7 per cent per year since 1990. Other countries in the region are lagging behind.

In South Asia, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan account for half of all the world’s underweight children: approximately 47 per cent of India’s under-five population is underweight, dragging down the regional average.

The famine-prone Eastern and Southern Africa region has not made measurable progress to meet the MDG target on underweight children, its overall tally remaining static at 29 per cent. Despite some bright spots, most notably Botswana, several countries are backsliding with drought-related food crises and the rise of HIV/AIDS taking their toll. The West and Central Africa region has done better, partly due to strides made by some countries to support exclusive breastfeeding for infants and community-based health care. These efforts have been boosted by the UNICEF-sponsored Accelerated Child Survival and Development programme in the region.

Undernutrition rates within the bigger nations of the Middle East and North Africa have pushed back the regional average. Iraq, Sudan and Yemen are all showing a rise in the proportion of underweight children - with conflict playing a major role in many cases.

The Central and Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States has the world’s lowest childhood underweight figures, just 5 percent. But here, as in industrialised countries, there are disparities. Low birthweight is more common among the poorest and among ethnic minorities. In some countries, child obesity is now a serious challenge.

Because the roots of undernutrition lie in poverty, lack of education and inequality, fighting back will take more than food deliveries, according to Progress for Children. Unsafe feeding practices and repeated bouts of illness such as diarrhoea and malaria are all major factors depriving children of nutrients. And in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is robbing millions of children of the support they need to be adequately fed and cared for.

Solutions can be as simple as a capsule of vitamin A costing just a few cents delivered during immunisation - a programme currently saving around 350,000 lives per year by boosting immune systems. And fortifying staple foods with key nutrients like iron and iodine is a proven way to protect millions of children against damaging deficiencies and developmental delays.

The report calls urgently for a nutrition "safety net" to guarantee children’s access to these services every day. This means making child nutrition a central component of national policies and budgets, providing better nutrition information and resources for families, and planning to cope with emergencies.

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8145

For more information, contact:
UNICEF
H-9, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, US
Tel: +1 212 824 6127; Fax: +1 212 326 7731
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unicef.org

Further information

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CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE: CRIN Publishes Newsletter 19 [publication]

[LONDON, 2 May 2006] - The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) has recently published its new yearly thematic Newsletter. The last issue focuses on Children and Violence, to coincide with the near completion of the UN Study on Violence Against Children, and its presentation to the UN General Assembly.

To support all those involved in the UN Study and committed to ending violence against children in general, CRIN developed a thematic website to serve as a shared platform for civil society to exert an influence on the Study.This newsletter aims to complement that website by looking at some of the current debates on violence against children while also offering some practical tools for those working with children and for those engaged in campaigning and advocacy.

In his introduction to the Newsletter, Professor Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the Independent Expert leading the Study, notes that his direct contact with so many children and young people in the course of the Study, and particularly at the regional consultations, has given him a heavy responsibility to ensure that his report does not gather dust on shelves and thereby add to children’s sense of frustration and cynicism concerning adults’ real commitment to their rights.

Professor Pinheiro shows his commitment to placing strong recommendations before States, to revealing in detail the yawning gap between their legal obligations and the reality of most children’s lives, and to securing a strong follow up mechanism for the Study. The Study in itself cannot change children’s lives. But it will make even clearer the responsibility of all those committed to children’s rights to make a reality of the clear standards of the Convention and thus have a real impact on children’s everyday  lives. That is the important challenge for everyone involved.

The Newsletter also contains articles by Jaap Doek, chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and Jo Becker, co-convenor of the NGO Group Subgroup on Violence against Children, who demonstrates the impact of NGO participation in the UN Study process and explains why NGOs are calling for a Special Representative on Violence Against Children as a follow up mechanism to the Study.

An article by Peter Newell, Coordinator of the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, reveals progress already achieved in making corporal punishment illegal and gives some tips for campaigners on how to pressurise their governments to fulfil their legal obligations.

Florence Martin, Child Protection Adviser at Save the Children UK, takes a look at criminal justice systems and shows how most of them fail to address root causes of violence. A case study by Ravi Karkara and Lena Karlsson, from Save the Children Sweden, looks at ways of addressing gender discriminations and violence against children by working with men and boys. In another case study in South Africa, which is said to have one of the highest levels of sexual assaults in the world, Carol Bower (RAPCAN) explains that what is needed is to ensure children’s rights are respected, promoted – and more importantly – put into practice.

Dick Sobsey then highlights the need for equal standards and treatment of some of the most vulnerable of children: children with disabilities. Ann Birch describes how programmes are helping to address violence faced by children in countries in West Africa that are ravaged by war. Finally, Chris Dodd gives a brief description of efforts made to engage religious leaders and strategies for ending violence against children.

While this newsletter is being published within the framework of the Study, it is meant to inform but also support NGOs in their broader work in this area. 

It will soon be available in Spanish and French. Hard copies of the Newsletter will be sent to all CRIN members in the next few weeks. Those interested in receiving extra copies are invited to contact CRIN.

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8141

For more information, contact:
Child Rights Information Network
1 St John's Lane, London EC1M 4AR, UK
Tel: + 44 20 7012 6865; Fax: + 44 020 7012 6899
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.crin.org

Further information

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DAY OF GENERAL DISCUSSION: Child's Right to be Heard [call for contributions]

The Committee on the Rights of the Child is devoting its next day of general discussion to the theme: "To Speak, Participate and Decide - The Child’s Right to be Heard". The meeting will take place at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, 15 September 2006 from 10am-6pm. The meeting is open to representatives of non-governmental organisations, children and their organisations/networks, UN programmes and agencies, governments and other interested individuals, experts and organisations.

The aim of the discussion will be to explore the meaning of article 12 and its linkages to other articles of the Convention, focus on identifying gaps, good practices and priority issues and promote child participation at all levels. For more information on the approach and objectives of the Discussion Day, read the outline document.

In order to facilitate an in depth discussion of these issues, the Committee has decided to convene two working groups which should focus on the two following sub-themes:

  • The first working group will concentrate on the child’s right to be heard in judicial and administrative proceedings including those related to civil and criminal law, family and alternative care, protection, health, immigration status and schooling.
  • The second working group will focus on children as active participants in society in various settings such as family, school, associations and politics. A copy of the outline of the issues to be discussed is attached.

NGO contributions

NGOs and children are invited to submit written contributions on the themes mentioned above to the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) before 30 June 2006. The Committee requests that written contributions be limited to a maximum of seven pages. Although documents may be submitted in English, French or Spanish, they will not be translated into the other languages. Oral contributions from NGOs are also welcome during the day itself but should be limited to interventions in the debate rather than formal statements. Guidelines and additional information are available on the OHCHR website. Written contributions should be sent electronically to [email protected].

NGOs and children are invited to submit written contributions on the themes mentioned above to the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) before . The Committee requests that written contributions be limited to a maximum of seven pages. Although documents may be submitted in English, French or Spanish, they will not be translated into the other languages. Oral contributions from NGOs are also welcome during the day itself but should be limited to interventions in the debate rather than formal statements. are available on the OHCHR website. Written contributions should be sent electronically to  [email protected].

Registration 

As the meeting is open to the public, written invitations will not be issued by the United Nations or the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. For security reasons and due to limited space, attendance at the meeting requires advance registration. The registration deadline is 1 September 2006. Please note that there is no funding available for travel expenses either from the United Nations or the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child and no assistance can be given for visas, travel or accommodation arrangements.

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6473&flag=event

For registration and to submit written contributions, please contact:
Secretariat, Committee on the Rights of the Child
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/discussion.htm 

For questions regarding NGO contributions, please contact:
Laura Theytaz-Bergman
NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Email: [email protected]

Further information

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SOCIAL PROTECTION: Analysis of Recent Experiences [event/call for papers]

Date: 30-31 October 2006
Location: New York, US

UNICEF and the Graduate Programme in International Affairs (GPIA) at The New School are jointly hosting a conference in on social protection for children, women and families, in New York in October 2006. This is the third international conference on “Children’s Rights and Policies” organised in partnership by UNICEF and the GPIA.

The conference will present analytical and policy papers that explore policies, issues and trends related to social protection and/or assistance programmes providing cash or non-cash transfers. It will focus on their relevance for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and contribution to the Millennium Development Agenda. The wellbeing of children, the impact of ensuring the fulfillment of children’s rights and lessons learned for future action will be the central focus of the conference.

The conference will promote a discussion about the scope and contours of social protection for children. In other words, innovative papers addressing programmes and solutions which are not traditionally considered as part of the social protection mechanisms are encouraged. A fresh analysis on new or well-established social security and/or social protection programmes, transfers, benefits and allowances from a child rights approach is also encouraged.

Call for papers

The conference will be organised around three broad themes - programmes, policies, and evidence. Thus, submissions are expected to address at least some of the following categories:

  • What cash and non-cash programmes are most relevant to children and women?  What are their main features? Can low income countries afford them? How are these programmes and policies promoting international development targets and the fulfillment of human rights?
  • How can model/pilot social protection projects be up-scaled into national policies? What knowledge gaps exist in formulating and designing effective and efficient programmes?  What are the capacity constraints for their implementation?
  • What evidence is gathered from monitoring and evaluating these policies and programmes? How can policy impact be demonstrated? What are the lessons learned?  

Submission deadline: 26 May 2006

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8143

For more information, contact:
UNICEF
H-9, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, US
Tel: +1 212 824 6127; Fax: +1 212 326 7731
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unicef.org

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CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE: Day for Prevention of Child Abuse [event]

Date: 19 November 2006

Child abuse, especially sexual abuse, is a universal and alarming problem and increased attention and efficient protection skills and prevention measures are necessary at family, local, national and international level.

Alerting Governments and civil society organisations to play a more active role in the promotion of and respect for the rights of the child and contribute to the prevention of child abuse, the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) launched in 2000 the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse, a Day to be commemorated every 19 November in synergy with the anniversary of the International Day for the rights of the child (20 November) which has as its objective to be a rallying point around the issue of child abuse and the need for urgent effective prevention programmes.

To make the Day a global call for action, WWSF launched in 2001 an international NGO coalition that marks the World Day with appropriate events and activities to focus on and increase prevention education. The main purpose of the NGO Coalition is to contribute to the creation of a culture of prevention of child abuse and form a global partnership network to raise awareness, mobilise public opinion and action, and disseminate prevention programmes.

To join the Coalition, members commit to mark the Day with local and national events and activities; mention the Day in their publications and on their websites; distribute posters, educational programmes and information; create partnerships with local organisations working for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, alert the press and radio stations, inform local authorities of the existence of the Day and planned activities, and lobby governments for official proclamation of the Day as a National Day.

So far, 625 organisations from 115 countries have joined the international coalition. WWSF is calling for more organisations to join the 2006 global campaign and is asking existing members of the coalition to renew their membership by completing and returning the registration form by 1 June 2006. Organisations' will then receive new campaign materials in due course. 

Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8144

For more information, contact:
Women's World Summit Foundation
11 Avenue de la Paix
PO Box 2001
1202 Geneva
Tel: + 41 22 738 6619; Fax: + 41 22 738 8248
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.woman.ch

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EMPLOYMENT: ECPAT International [job posting]

ECPAT International is seeking to fill the position of Programme Officer: Research, Monitoring and Evaluation. Under the supervision of ECPAT International Executive Director, the Programme Officer is responsible to implement, support and strengthen ECPAT International’s research, monitoring and evaluation systems and practices; and coordinate and support research operations, design and methodologies, with a focus on participatory social action research.

Application deadline: 31 May 2006

For more information, contact:
ECPAT International
328 Phaya Thai Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Fax: +662 215 8272
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ecpat.net

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