Marking the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child

A COFACE delegation is in New York today to join the High-level meeting of the General Assembly on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Has this text, detailing all the different rights of children, contributed to the improvement of the situation of children worldwide? The answer is yes, even if the picture is patchy, and especially in certain regions of the world children are still being deprived of basic rights, exploited, trafficked and abused. The event will take stock of the progress made, look at the challenges that still lie ahead, and also showcase a number of innovative solutions for safeguarding the rights of people under 18.
 
Thanks to this text adopted in 1989, governments have incorporated children’s rights and their needs in a number of legislative texts, and globally there has been a reduction of child mortality, child marriages, and more children are attending school, than ever before.
 
“As with any legal instrument, the ratification is just the beginning!” sais COFACE's President Annemie Drieskens. “With the cuts to social spending, child poverty is on the increase, many families are in a very vulnerable situation, unable to feed, clothe and school their children properly. Governments and the EU institutions need to be much more serious about the enforcement of the UN CRC articles, as well as the implementation of the European Commission recommendation on Investing in children. This is why COFACE is in New York today, to build bridges with the UN Institutions and governments to see how to better empower families and improve policies.”
 
The event will be broadcast live. Links to follow it online: http://webtv.un.org
www.unicef.org/crc/index_73962.html
 
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(1) The special consultative status at the United Nations will enable COFACE to actively get engaged with the work of ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) and its subsidiary bodies, as well as with the UN Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies in a number of ways. More information: www.coface-eu.org/en/News/Consultative-Status-UN
 
 
Media Contact
Ana Pérez, Communication Officer  Tel: +322 500.56.93  Email: aperez@coface-eu.org
 
About COFACE
COFACE works towards a family friendly environment, enabling all families and their members to benefit from sufficient financial resources, available quality services and adequate time arrangements in order to live and enjoy their family life in dignity and harmony. More information about COFACE: www.coface-eu.org