25 June: Summit of Ombuds for Children. Impact of the Global Financial Crisis and Climate Change on ChildrenIn anticipation of the G8 Summit, Ombuds for Children are meeting in Sardinia, Italy, on 25-26 June for the O8 Summit. This high-level meting aims to call upon the world leaders to enhance the promotion of children’s rights and interests and strengthen their investment in childhood issues. The O8 Summit is organized by the province of Nuoro, which has recently established an Ombudsperson for children. The UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre serves as a resource and partner in the event. The Summit will bring together Ombuds for Children and representatives of similar independent human rights institutions from all G8 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Ombuds for Children will discuss the consequences of two key crises facing children today – the global financial crisis and climate change – and examine their negative impact on the situation of children worldwide. They intend to call upon the world leaders to promote policies to help mitigate these impacts on children. Research has shown that climate change affects children's health, nutrition and livelihoods. The ongoing economic crisis results in increased school drop-outs, domestic violence and growing disparities among children. While the economic cycle will eventually turn positive again, impacts on children will nevertheless be long lasting. At the 08 Summit, the Ombuds for Children will underline the importance of child participation in decision-making. They will also develop recommendations to G8 leaders. The O8 Summit is a pioneering event aimed to influence global policies and call upon the leading world countries to improve and upgrade their child protection mechanisms, reminding world leaders that children are the future as well as the present of our nations who are in need of our care and support. Unlike other countries represented at the O8 Summit, Russia does not have a Federal Office of the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights. The Russian Federation will be represented at the Summit by Alexey Golovan, Child Rights Ombudsman in the City of Moscow, Chair of the Association of Ombudspersons for Children’s Rights in Russian constituent entities. In Russia, the Child Rights Ombudsperson Institution was established in 1998. Today, child rights ombudspersons function in every fourth region of the Russian Federation (both at the regional and municipal levels). To further develop and support activities in this challenging area, the Association of Ombudspersons for Children’s Rights in Russian constituent entities was created in 2005. The successful activities of the Association enjoy support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF views the existence and development of an independent public institution of ombudspersons for children’s rights as an efficient and indispensable mechanism aimed to uphold children’s rights and interests in complicated situations. Child rights ombudspersons operating in Russian regions help families in difficult circumstances, protect children from violence and abuse, promote the right of children to education. They closely cooperate with federal government agencies and local authorities, carry out independent monitoring of the observance of children’s rights, represent children’s legitimate interests in court and contribute to the development of relevant legislation. Together with the Junior 8 Summit – an event, traditionally held in cooperation with UNICEF - the O8 Summit aims to draw the world leaders’ attention to children’s rights issues and to tackle critical childhood aspects requiring wide alliances that include government leaders, the private sector, media, and civil society.
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