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Summary: Statement of the UPO-FCO Council towards a
Children's Europe programme update. UPO-
FCO hopes the idea will be promoted and
supported by international and national
children's and youth associations and child-
focused agencies upon concrete partnership
and exchanges.
CHILDREN’S EUROPE UPDATE
Dear friends and colleagues,
It is now nearly ten years since eight leading children’s associations of
Finland have urged the European Union to launch a programme “Children’s
Europe” for adolescents in the age of 10-15 years. The International Union
of Children’s NGOs (UPO-FCO) has supported this initiative.
Ongoing efforts of many child-focused associations and recent debates
around the children’s rights to be included in the new European
constitution could encourage the decision-makers to recognise the
necessity of involving young people under 15 in existing and future
programmes and projects.
During the past decade the UPO-FCO and its 80 member organisations in
Russian Federation and Newly Independent States have been widely
promoting this goal by numerous own activities for children and in close co-
operation with diverse partners in Europe and worldwide. The
International forum of leaders of children’s NGOs that met twice in 2000
(Odessa) and 2004 (Budapest) and brought together diverse children’s
and youth associations emphasized the importance of intercultural
meetings, encounters, festivals, exchanges and camps for children and
with their direct participation.
In that sense and based on its statutory and programmatic commitment,
the UPO-FCO re-confirms its readiness to share ideas and concrete
proposals towards eventual joint exchange programmes in Europe.
You are welcome to a respective partnership on this issue.
Wishing you all the best,
Council of the International Union of Children’s NGOs (UPO-FCO)
Moscow, February 2005
Contact:
UPO-FCO
Novaya Plostchad 6,
109102 Moscow, Russian Federation
Tel/Fax: + 7 095 928 17 33
E-mail: [email protected] (Secretariat)
E-mail: [email protected] (International)