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| Press Release
Bejing Declaration
Fifth East Asia and Pacific Ministerial Consultation
14-16 May 2001
Beijing, China
Introduction
1. The delegations of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Kingdom of
Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic
of Korea, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Kiribati, Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Union of Myanmar,
Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Philippines,
Republic of Korea, Republic of Singapore, Solomon Islands, Kingdom
of Thailand, Vanuatu and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam met
at the 5th Ministerial Consultation in Beijing, China on 14-16 May
2001. We note the significant progress made by the East Asia and
Pacific countries in achieving the goals of the World Summit for
Children. The challenges and opportunities offered by the 21st century
necessitate a new global agenda for children which should build
upon the achievements and lessons learned from the last decade.
Press releases
from other May meetings for the September Special Session
on Children
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2. In doing so, we emphasize that today's children are tomorrow's
future generation, who must be enabled and equipped to achieve their
full human potential and enjoy the full range of human rights in
a globalizing world.
3. We urge the Special Session for Children
of the United Nations General Assembly, taking place in September
2001 in New York, to take into account our concerns and views and
those expressed by the children of this region. We, meanwhile, will
continue to contribute to the strengthening of the on-going Global
Movement for Children.
4. We are guided by the spirit and principles of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the ILO Convention No.
182 on the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination
of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, commitments of the review of
the World Summit for Social Development and the Millennium Summit,
United Nations' core goals on peace, sustainable development and
human rights, and the principles of the draft outcome document of
the Special Session for Children of the United Nations General Assembly,
"A World Fit for Children".
Lessons Learned and Progress Review
5. We view with concern that although universal ratification of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the region has focused
attention and commitment to put all children first, policies have
to be strengthened in some countries and resources are still insufficient
to ensure the comprehensive realization of the rights of the child.
6. We note with great satisfaction that the well-being of children
of the region has considerably improved. Efforts to achieve the
goals of the World Summit for Children have resulted, inter alia,
in dramatic decreases in infant and under-five mortality. This is
due largely to high and sustained coverage of immunization and treatment
of diarrhoea with oral rehydration therapy. Polio has been eradicated
in all but four countries. The majority of families regularly consume
iodized salt and the majority of children under five receive two
doses of vitamin A each year. Primary school enrollment is almost
universal and 86 per cent of adults are literate. There is also
increased protection for children.
7. Further achievements were hampered by recent economic crises,
natural calamities and, inter alia, the HIV/AIDS pandemic which
pose serious threats to the well-being of children in this region.
Unfinished Mission
8. We recognise that there are other goals that have yet to be
achieved. Millions of children still does not have access to good
quality health, education and other basic services. Infant and maternal
mortality remain serious problems. Some countries in the region
have malnutrition rates amongst the highest in the world and most
countries have seen only modest improvements in the last decade.
Although access to clean water and sanitation has improved, about
one quarter of the population is still without safe drinking water
and one half do not have access to decent sanitation. Primary school
drop-out rates remain unacceptably high in some countries, especially
among girls. Quality and relevance of basic education remain major
challenges. There is a need for greater participation of children
in decision making.
9. Despite some notable achievements for improved child protection,
the overall number of children requiring special protection has
increased. Children in need of special protection include girls
in many situations; child labourers; children who are trafficked;
victims of other crimes; sexually exploited and stateless children;
those who are affected by armed conflict, HIV/AIDS or other major
diseases or are in conflict with the law; disabled, poor and street
children; those suffering drug and sexual abuse; refugee children;
displaced children; children of ethnic minorities and children of
migrants.
10. Even within the areas where there has been relative progress,
major disparities affecting children remain both between and within
countries arising from gender discrimination, socio-economic and
ethnic inequities, geographic considerations and proliferating conflict.
Despite positive signs of recovery, the impact of the economic crisis
continues to have serious implications for children and development.
11. We undertake to sustain the progress already made and to address
all these unfinished tasks in this decade.
Challenges and Tasks for 2001-2010
12. We recognize that the challenges and tasks for this decade,
for the realization of the rights of the children of the East Asia
and Pacific region, should include:
13. Ensuring the active and full participation of children and
youth in decisions affecting them;
14. Ensuring continued parallel implementation and monitoring of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, in
recognition of the inextricable link between the rights of children
and women, through a National Plan of Action;
15. Undertaking specific efforts to ensure peace and reduce poverty
in order to guarantee full respect for the rights of all children;
16. Striving to achieve the unmet goals of the World Summit, in
particular the goals to reduce maternal mortality and malnutrition
and achieve universal access to basic social services, safe water
and sanitation. This will entail recognizing the full range of macro-economic,
social and environmental factors that affect such problems and the
achievement of these and other goals;
17. Reducing disparities, discrimination and inequities by reaching
out to all children, in particular those we have yet to reach, those
in need of special protection and those in the most disadvantaged,
vulnerable and marginalized situations;
18. Recognizing the imminent threat of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that
is rapidly affecting East Asia and the Pacific, instituting broad-based
strategies and programmes, within and across borders, to halt its
spread and provide care for its victims;
19. Ensuring the protection of all children, girls and boys, from
all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, strengthening juvenile
justice systems and care services for those in need, and helping
children to protect themselves, in accordance with the Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
Principles and Strategies
20. In addressing the above challenges and tasks, we will be guided
by the following principles and strategies:
21. Support a global movement for children and a child friendly
society through expanded community mobilization, including children
and youth, in cooperation with government, civil society and the
private sector;
22. Monitor and evaluate achievements in terms of the fulfillment
of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
23. Mainstream children's well-being at the centre of the national
agenda, as the most important indicator of national economic and
social progress, and allocate sufficient resources for investing
in children;
24. Promote and protect the best interests of all children by focusing
on critical stages in the life of a child when interventions will
have the greatest and most lasting effect. As such we will ensure
that all children have:
a. The best start to life through optimal early childhood care
and development, universal birth registration and the right to
acquire a nationality;
b. A basic education of high quality;
c. The opportunity to develop fully their individual capacities
and to participate in and contribute to their societies, especially
during adolescence;
25. Encourage the formulation and subsequent implementation of
national plans of action for this decade with inputs from children,
parents and communities, consistent with the goals and targets of
the forthcoming Special Session for Children of the United Nations
General Assembly;
26. Strengthen the capacity of national and sub-national institutions
to implement integrated national plans of action, within a decentralized
system;
27. Expand the strategic alliances and partnerships for children
at all levels for the implementation of integrated, multisectoral
and multidisciplinary programmes for children;
28. Prevent and minimize the negative impact of man-made and natural
disasters through better preparation and strengthened social services
including the provision of safety nets for those affected;
29. Strengthen mechanisms for the empowerment of children and adolescents
in the consideration of their concerns and in the formulation, implementation
and evaluation of appropriate actions to address those concerns;
30. Recognise and support parents and families as the primary caretakers
of children and strengthen their capacity to provide the optimum
care, nurturing and protection;
31. Strengthen the capacities of social services providers and
other care givers for the greater development, protection and care
of children;
32. Welcome the sharing of the responsibility to ensure the well-being
of children with communities; local governments; social, cultural,
religious, business, local people's and children's organizations;
and civil society, including the media. Within this, support the
empowerment of other organizations to play a greater role in contributing
to the best interests of children;
33. Give priority to developing sustainable solutions and systems
for improving the situation for children by fully involving children
and their communities;
34. Recognise that although globalization has facilitated economic
growth and development in many instances, it has also marginalized
many poor countries. Consequentially, it is necessary to review
trade policies and commitments which may have adverse effects on
children and provide social safety nets and national protection
mechanisms to protect children and their families from the negative
effects of globalization;
35. Harness the opportunities offered by the global information
and communication revolution and use, in the most effective way
possible, new technologies that can benefit children and women.
At the same time protect children from their harmful effects;
36. Ensure the best interest of the child in all programmes and
at all levels and sectors by ensuring good governance and transparency;
37. Build upon lessons learned and develop a better understanding
of the success factors that improve the efficacy and efficiency
of interventions and responses;
38. Develop a strong disaggregated information base to help assess
problems, develop solutions, target interventions and monitor and
evaluate results. Recognise the value of measurable indicators and
targets as benchmarks of success or failure and;
39. Develop indicators and systems, with inputs from children and
those concerned, for monitoring the situation and progress of poor
and vulnerable groups, down to the lowest administrative level.
Commitments: from Beijing and Beyond
40. We unanimously adopt the Beijing Declaration
on Commitments for Children in the East Asia and Pacific Region
for 2001-2010.
41. We pledge to work with regional and international bodies such
as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Commonwealth, APEC, ASEM,
UN agencies, ADB and other international financial institutions,
people's organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private
sector in realizing our commitments for children, in order to enhance
regional and international cooperation for the survival, development,
protection and participation of children.
42. We will endeavour to provide practical support to the recommendations
of the Regional Children and Young People's Forum - 1, held in Jomtien,
Thailand in April 2001.
43. We urge all sectors of government and society, including non-government
organizations, community based organizations, regional bodies, international
agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, the media,
parents and children and youth themselves to support this Declaration
and work together for children.
44. We pledge to work towards ensuring that our budgetary allocations
for basic social services constitute at least twenty per cent of
all national, regional and local budgets in the spirit of the 20/20
initiative and appeal to donor countries to strive to fulfill their
commitments to provide 0.7 per cent of Gross National Product for
Official Development Assistance and to allocate at least 20 per
cent thereof to support us and our partners in meeting the commitments
for children embodied in this Declaration.
45. We look forward to the forthcoming Special Session for Children
of the United Nations General Assembly and pledge our best efforts
to ensure the inclusion of the principles of this Declaration in
the deliberations and outcomes of the Special Session.
Conclusions:
46. We thank the People's Republic of China and UNICEF for organizing
this Fifth Ministerial Consultation at the dawn of this New Decade
for Children, and for the excellent meeting arrangements.
47. We pledge to give this Declaration the widest possible publicity.
We look forward to meeting at the Sixth Ministerial Consultation
to again review the situation and achievements for children.
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