This page is background information, last updated in May 2002 and still available for reference. For the latest on the Special Session on Children, please go to the Special Session index.

IPU-UNICEF PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON CHILD RIGHTS

The meeting jointly convened by IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) and UNICEF, was an important initiative to mobilize parliaments around children's issues from a child rights perspective, in both developed and developing countries. Over 250 parliamentarians from 76 countries attended the Forum. The purpose was to rally lawmakers around the obligations they have to fulfill the Rights of the Child.

The representative of the Children’s Forum, a young lady from the Gambia selected by her peers, set the tone by bringing to the meeting children’s direct experiences and a sense of urgency: " we want youth to have a say in governance". Panelists Saloojee from the National Assembly of South Africa and Ms Kinnock from the European Parliament gave eloquent analyses."We must child-proof our legislation", rights transforms the motions of budgetary decision-making, said Ms Kinnock.

Over 40 interventions were made from the floor, 10 by children. One youth from Guatemala acknowledged that indeed it must be difficult to keep all the promises that have been made, "but a good beginning is to listen to us!"

A parliamentarian from Europe asserted that the goal should be that child rights are enshrined in the national constitutions: "annual debates on child issues should be obligatory by law, and the methodology to do so should be driven by the child rights perspective."

A youth from Albania felt that "more important than money is their total involvement in decisions" . A disabled youth from Mexico lauded its National Parliament's commission on the quality of life. A parliamentarian from the Central African Republic warned that if poverty reduction failed in post-conflict situations, the exploitation of children would continue. A youth from Mongolia advocated for a "child-friendly legal environment".

Several parliamentarians echoed Ms Kinnock by saying how crucial "child impact analyses" are before any law is adopted. A parliamentarian from Estonia said we all should be "ashamed about the violent world we let our children grow in";"producers of war-games should be taken to court".

A youth from Chad insisted that international debt should be annuled, and invested in those orphaned by AIDS. A parliamentarian from Liberia said that arms-spending is the main obstacle to solve, otherwise the trauma of war will linger on for ever. A parliamentarian from Nigeria said that larger budgetary allocations are needed for education, for primary health care and combating HIV/AIDS, and asked the IPU to regularly monitor this process of each parliament in the IPU statutory conferences.

Details on outcome and steps for action is forthcoming: a sense of community was felt amongst the lawmakers present, a desire to share this when back home.