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Summary: In the coming months, CRIN will be publishing interviews with leading child rights advocates from around the world. Our first is with Dr Rima Salah, Special Adviser to UNICEF, and former UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. Rima is currently working on a study called 'The Child in World Religions', which is being prepared by UNICEF and the Global Network of Religions for Children. The project aims to research and document resources on teachings, approaches, perspectives and practices in world religions in relation to children. I discovered the value of religion in promoting children's rights while working for UNICEF as a regional director in West and Central Africa. We met with more than 200 religious leaders to help solve the problem of polio. We realised that religious leaders have assets, moral and social. They can mobilise people from the pulpit and from the mosques.
Religion is being hijacked, now more than ever, due to stereotypes and a lack of knowledge. This lack of knowledge is a real problem, and children need to have pride in what they believe in.
This book is groundbreaking. For the first time we will have the contributions of many religions as well as the traditional religions. The process is very important too because it gets people together to talk and engage with each other.
I'm originally a refugee from Palestine. I was always asking my family “why am I a refugee?”, so I was interested in violations of rights from the start. I always felt it was important for young people to realise their rights.
I did a Phd in a refugee camp in Jordan. I saw how important education is for them, and that was why I came to UNICEF. It is my passion. When I began working at the UN, I felt that I had found my place.
NGOs are vital as they are near the local people and don't have all the red tape to wade through. They can do a lot more sometimes. It is crucial the UN works very closely with NGOs and that the gap is bridged. They must not see themselves as add-ons.
The biggest challenges to child rights are conflict, poverty and bad governance. Also, the education of young people – 25 per cent of young people in Palestine are jobless.
The CRC is the best thing that has happened to children. It is good as a framework but of course it can be adapted for the particular circumstances.
I cannot see myself as working in anything other than child rights, or development in general. Perhaps I could have been a professor, but I would need to be teaching young people. I suppose I could have been a negotiator too.
If I were to sum up child rights in one word? Wellbeing."
For more information on children and religion, visit: http://www.gnrc.net/en/ and www.ethicseducationforchildren.org