13 June 2006 - CRINMAIL 788
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- COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Commissioner for Human Rights Publishes Paper on Corporal Punishment [publication]
- CHILD LABOUR: World Day Against Child Labour 2006 [event]
- INTERNATIONAL NGOS: Accountability Charter [publication]
- G8: One Year on from Gleneagles [publication]
- UGANDA: Urgent Measures Required to Protect Children [news]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
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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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COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Commissioner for Human Rights Publishes Paper on Corporal Punishment [publication]
Last week the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, published an issue paper on corporal punishment and children. This document is the first in a series of periodical issue papers on cross-cutting European themes:
“As part of their daily lives, children all over Europe are spanked, slapped, hit, smacked, shaken, kicked, pinched, punched, caned, flogged, belted, beaten and battered by adults – mainly by those whom they trust the most.
This violence may be a deliberate act of punishment or just the impulsive reaction of an irritated parent or teacher. In every case, it is a breach of fundamental human rights principles. Respect for human dignity and the right to physical integrity are universal principles. Yet social and legal acceptance of the hitting and other humiliating treatment of children by adults persists in most countries.
Corporal punishment of children often becomes inhuman or degrading, and it always violates their physical integrity, demonstrates disrespect for human dignity and undermines self-esteem. Furthermore, the existence of special exceptions for violent ill-treatment of children in otherwise universally applicable laws against assault breaches the principle of equal protection under the law.”
Read the full issue paper at: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8562&flag=report
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Thomas Hammarberg was appointed as the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights for a term of office of six years starting on 1 January 2006.
For more information, contact:
Council of Europe
Nationality and Family Law Unit, Private Law Department, Directorate General I – Legal Affairs, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France
Tel: +33 3 88 41 25 51
Website: http://www.coe.int
Further information
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CHILD LABOUR: World Day Against Child Labour 2006 [event]
[GENEVA, 12 June 2006] - With World Cup fever in full swing, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has symbolically waved a "Red Card" against child work as part of a series of global events that began last week to mark the World Day Against Child Labour.
World Cup football legend Roger Milla of Cameroon and leaders of the sports, scouting and labour worlds spoke at ceremonies in Geneva on 12 June, the World Day. Mr. Milla and others appealed for an end to child labour at the event, designed to highlight the ILO's global "Red Card to child labour" campaign which, through the partnership with FIFA, has reached millions of people around the world since its launch in 2002.
At the same time, activities ranging from television specials to nationwide discussions, marches and public awareness raising events were planned in some 100 countries under the theme, "The End of Child Labour: Together we can do it!", according to the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).
"Many have said child labour will always be with us," said Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO. "But the global movement against child labour is proving them wrong. That is the meaning of the symbolic waving of the Red Card against child labour - it's not just a gesture, it's a way to highlight our struggle for the right of every child to a real childhood."
Below is an overview of events that took place on or around the World Day.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
In Geneva, the main events took place on 8, 9 and 12 June to coincide with the ILO's International Labour Conference.
Thursday, 8 June: Tripartite Event: Ministers of Labour from eight member States of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) exchanged views on their action plan against child labour. The event consolidated an initiative launched in Lisbon in May, including a CPLP Declaration against child labour and commitment of the concerned countries to eradicate the worst forms of child labour by the year 2016 (Palais des Nations).
Friday 9 June: Delegates to the International Labour Conference held a plenary discussion on the Global Report to review progress made and identify challenges ahead on the way to eliminating the hazardous forms of child labour over the next decade. At a special round-table event, the Brazilian Minister of Labour H.E. Mr. Luis Marinho, the Tanzanian Minister of Labour H.E. Mr. Jumanne Maghembe and the Turkish Minister of labour H.E. Mr. Murat Basesgioglu together with the worker's and employers' representatives of these countries presented their strategies and results obtained in the fight against child labour in their countries. (UNOG Palais des Nations).
Monday 12 June: Roger Milla "Kicked the Ball" against child labour in a friendly match with girls teams from a local football club and an international school. Joining the ceremony prior to the match will be ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, Mr. Federico Addiechi, head of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association FIFA, Dr. Eduardo Missoni, Secretary General, World Organization of the Scout Movement, Ms Nicole Petignat-Mouidi, the only female referee qualified for male international matches and Mr. Carlos Xavier, a football player from Portugal and creator of a football club targeted at child development. (ILO headquarters).
WORLDWIDE
Numerous events, discussions and other activities were held worldwide to mark the Day and raise awareness about child labour. A march in Port-au-Prince (Haïti), card pinwheels throughout Brazil, a poetry, essay and painting competition in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), a panel discussion about research gaps in Washington, DC. Television and radio programmes, stories of working children reported in newspapers, children performing in drama, song and dance. In more than 100 countries around the world, people are reminded that at least on this one day of the year, they should reflect on the fate of working children.
In Sialkot, Pakistan, where IPEC has been eradicating child labour in the football stitching sector with the support from, among others, FIFA, the link between WDACL and the start of the World Cup was symbolised with the kick off of the first match in the new ILO-FIFA programme on supporting children's rights through football. Children who used to stitch footballs were able to play football. This is the first step in a development of sport as part of rehabilitation of former child labourers word wide.
Many of the events focused on discussions of this year's ILO global report entitled The End of Child Labour: Within Reach which was released recently. The report shows that child labour has decreased worldwide for the first time, dropping by 11 per cent from 246 million to 218 million between 2000 and 2004. The report calls upon Member States to aim at eradicating the worst forms of child labour in a decade from now.
The World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) is observed worldwide on or around 12 June each year. It serves as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour.
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8325&flag=event
For more information, contact:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
4, route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22/917 1526
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ilo.org
Further information
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INTERNATIONAL NGOS: Accountability Charter [publication]
[6 June 2006] - International civil society organisations took an unprecedented step last week in coming together to endorse the first international, cross-sectoral code of conduct for Non-Governmental Organisations. The heads of eleven of the world's leading human rights, environmental and social development organisations endorsed the first global accountability charter for the non-profit sector.
The eleven organisations took this step to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability. The initiative builds on individual, national and sectoral initiatives already taken by international NGOs.
Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said of the charter, "NGOs are playing an increasingly prominent role in setting the agenda in today's globalised world. This places a clear responsibility on us. The Accountability Charter clearly shows that NGOs are willing to adhere to a code of conduct, lead by example and encourage others to follow."
The Accountability Charter sets out core values and operating principles for international NGOs. These include good governance and management; fundraising and multi-stakeholder engagement. It also makes specific reference to respect for universal principles (such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), independence, responsible advocacy, effective programmes, non-discrimination, transparency and ethical fundraising.
All international NGOs -- across different sectors -- will be invited to sign-up to the Accountability Charter. The organisations say that the Charter is only the first step and that a robust system for reporting and review of the Charter will be put in place so that it can be improved and updated in light of experience.
The eleven organisations who have endorsed the Charter are ActionAid International, Amnesty International, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Consumers International, Greenpeace International, Oxfam International, International Save the Children Alliance, Survival International, International Federation Terre des Hommes, Transparency International and World YWCA.
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8624&flag=report
For more information, contact:
Amnesty International - International Secretariat
99-119 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RE, United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 20 7814 6200
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.amnesty.org
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G8: One Year on from Gleneagles [publication]
[9 June 2006] – The View from the Summit – Gleneagles G8 One Year On, a report released on Friday by international agency Oxfam, shows that decisions made at last year's G8 in Scotland, following huge pressure from campaigners around the world, have led to real improvement in the lives of some of the world's poorest people. However, Oxfam is concerned that while debt cancellation is starting to be delivered, the growth in aid in key G8 nations is not enough to meet the promises made at the Gleneagles G8.
The report comes as G8 Finance Ministers met in Moscow to prepare the ground for the leaders' summit in St. Petersburg next month. It reveals that while official figures show large aid increases in 2005 and 2006, this is only a temporary spike caused by the inclusion of a substantial one-off debt cancellation deal for Nigeria and Iraq. When this deal is no longer part of the equation at the end of 2007, aid figures will plummet unless the finance ministers accelerate the present rate of aid increases.
Oxfam International Executive Director, Jeremy Hobbs, said: "The debt cancellation deal brokered at last year's Finance Ministers' meeting in London is already making a difference but G8 governments must not continue to double count debt cancellation as part of their aid budgets."
True aid figures continue to be obscured because official figures still count debt cancellation deals as new foreign aid. Four years ago, at the Monterrey Financing for Development conference, rich countries promised to stop this double counting. Despite their promise, the practice remains unchanged.
Hobbs continued: "Finance ministers should use their influence to ensure that G8 countries deliver both debt cancellation and increased aid if they are to make poverty history. The millions of people who campaigned for an end to poverty last year will be watching the G8 leaders carefully to ensure they keep their promises."
Last year the G8 promised to increase aid by $50 billion annually by 2010.
Oxfam's report shows that all G8 countries will need to announce new aid plans to ensure they meet the Gleneagles commitment. Although this represents only 0.36 per cent of GNI compared with the O.7 per cent promised at the UN thirty years ago it could pay for every child to go to school and save the lives of 500,000 women who die each year in pregnancy or childbirth.
Hobbs added: "At the current rate of progress real aid is not rising nearly fast enough across the G8 countries to meet their Gleneagles aid commitment to increase by $50 billion by 2010. The G8 must make clear how and when they will deliver real aid increases, particularly for health and education."
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8581&flag=report
For more information, contact:
Oxfam International
26 West Street, Boston MA 02111 1206, USA
Tel: + 1 617 482 1211
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.oxfaminternational.org
Further information
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UGANDA: Urgent Measures Required to Protect Children [news]
[8 June 2006] - With thousands of children still unaccounted for, Save the Children UK has called on the Ugandan Government to take urgent measures to address the special protection needs of children affected by the conflict in northern Uganda.
On the third day of an exceptional visit to Uganda, five Chief Executives of Save the Children, have called on the government of Uganda and the international community to renew their commitment to tackle, once and for all, the root causes of the conflict in northern Uganda, its effects on the lives of thousands of children, and take urgent measures to account for the whereabouts of those children who have not yet returned as a result of captivity by the Lord Resistance Army (LRA).
“Every day is another day when children are at risk of abduction. Another day of lost education. Another day a child risks contracting malaria. Another day a child can be exploited. Thousands of children face a daily struggle to survive in dreadful conditions in camps or villages. And every day more children are born into these dire circumstances. Enough is enough. The government of Uganda and the international community have a moral obligation to end this shameful situation for children” said Jasmine Whitbread, CEO of Save the Children UK during the visit.
To demonstrate that children’s concerns are a priority, the government could consider instituting an independent Ombudsperson for Children, who will act as their main defender. In addition, the emergency plan for the north, coordinated by the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), will only make a difference if decisions and resources are deliberately targeted to address the conditions of children on the ground. In all these, there is a need for a UN leadership. The Secretary General must appoint a Special Envoy to address the regional aspects of the conflict as well as to support efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict by all the stakeholders.
“In its recent efforts to find a regional solution to the conflict, the government of Uganda must place more emphasis on finding ways to account for the thousands of children abducted by the LRA in the affected territories, who remain lost and largely forgotten. The parents who have lost their children in this conflict have the right to know what has happened to them. The Amnesty Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the regional governments affected need to cooperate more and find a way to trace the whereabouts of some of these children”, said David Wright, Director of Save the Children in Uganda.
Save the Children applauds the recent peace efforts marshalled by President Museveni, and appeal to him to accompany this offer with a concrete plan of action for peace, centred on the rights of children. This should eventually lead to the establishment of a period for truth and reconciliation, as the fundamental basis upon which the return of a lasting peace in the region can be achieved.
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8563&flag=news
Further information
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**NEWS IN BRIEF**
Charities Concerned with Children in Romania: Statement on Childcare Crisis (12 June 2006)
http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?id=8607
ECPAT: Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Violence in Disaster and Emergency Situations (May 2006)
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8553&flag=report
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Guide for Integrating Human Rights into Business Management (7 June 2006)
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=8556&flag=report
Coming soon: Special edition of CRINMAIL on the Day of the African Child 2006
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