Summary: Takes place in Santiago. Preparation of
a diagnostic study of the actual
situation of children in the
Ibero-American countries. The study
will identify
concrete goals for the improvement of
child welfare in areas of
education, health, water and
sanitation, and eradication of child
labour.
The Xth Ibero-American Summit of Presidents and Heads of State on
November 17th and 18th, 2000, and the 14 Ministerial-level meetings
leading up to it, were focused during the year 2000 on the theme of
Children and Adolescents.
During the Summit, at the initiative of President Zedillo of Mexico,
UNICEF and Comisión Económica para América Latina (CEPAL) were called
to support the Secretariat Protempore of the on-going Ibero-American
process (la Secretaría de Cooperación Iberoamericana – SECIB) through
the preparation of a diagnostic study of the actual situation of
children in the Ibero-American countries. The study will identify
concrete goals for the improvement of child welfare in areas of
education, health, water and sanitation, and eradication of child
labour.
A first meeting was held in Santiago, Chile on December 15th, 2000,
hosted by the Executive Secretary if CEPAL, which included
representatives from CEPAL, UNICEF, SECIB, FNUAO, OPS, OEI, OIJ, and
IICA. After discussing options for organisation of the work, it was
decided that each agency should contribute specific assistance in its
own areas of expertise.
A second meeting of the group will take place in New York on January
29th, taking advantage of the presence of all concerned agencies at
the forthcoming PrepCom II session, to finalise the design of the
study, and determine a process leading to the preparation of an Ibero-
American Agenda/Action Plan.
A further meeting is set for March 22 in Santiago, Chile.