Why an Appeal

In the last 60 years, the International Catholic Child Bureau (Bice), a Catholic network of organizations for the dignity and the rights of the child, has carried out field operations as well as international advocacy and research on childhood.
In Geneva, on 4 June 2009, Bice will launch the World Appeal to a New Mobilization for Childhood in order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The goal of this note is to explain our objectives and to request your support to the Appeal.

 

In 1979, Bice was one of the promoters of the International Year of the Child. The success of this event gave a decisive impetus to the project of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. During the 80's, Bice played a very meaningful role in its drafting process. Afterwards, our organisation has continued to follow its implementation to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva (where we have permanent representation) as well as in the field, thanks to our presence in 77 countries through a network of partners, member organisations and experts.

 

Two years ago, having in mind the 20th anniversary of the Convention, Bice launched a large consultation on the status of childhood worldwide, gathering expert groups in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe-CIS. In view of commemorating Bice's 60th anniversary, their reports were presented in Paris last June.

 

They have been instrumental to the International Committee, which met in Brussels in October 2008 and were entrusted to draft a Reference Document (see annex). This text has served as a basis to write the Appeal to be launched in Geneva next June.

 

Millions of children are uprooted, physically uprooted, but also psychologically uprooted, frequently accentuated by the weakening of families noticable everywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, the economic crisis that is taking on a global scale threatens to worsen the situation.

This issue as well as the transnational character of many issues affecting children (migration, human trafficking, child pornography, sale of organs...), urge a new mobilisation for childhood worldwide.

Thus, the Appeal questions States - that have the primary responsibility to ensure the Convention's implementation -, the international community, the media, moral and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and all men and women of good will because the respect of the rights and the dignity of the child concerns each one of us.

 

Marguerite Barankitse, from Burundi, 1998 French Government Human Rights Award, sponsors the Appeal. Her courage and determination have saved the life of many Tutsi and Hutu children during the inter-ethnic massacres of 1993. Since then, more than 10 000 children have been sheltered at Maison Shalom that she created. Here, a mutual sense responsibility is fostered and children receive an education to Peace.

We are also constituting an Honorary Committee and soliciting a number of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates to sponsor the Appeal.

 

The Appeal's signature is widely opened to NGOs, educational institutions, youth organisations, social institutions, moral and religious organisations and leaders, committed personalities, and the larger public...

Its signature means the promotion of a culture based on the respect of the child in order to ensure the integral development of each child and all children. Through the Appeal's dissemination, its subscribers also indicate their commitment to defend the dignity and the rights of the child wherever they are violated.