MESSAGE: UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY, 2008

I am very happy with the idea that this message will share with all children across the globe on the eve of the UN Universal Children’s Day, which falls today, 20 November, 2008. Greetings to all the families of children from our ifop. God may bless all of you.

History of the day started in October 1953 under the sponsorship of International Union for Child Welfare in Geneva. Today’s function began in 1954 under the UNO. It aimed to encourage all countries to institute the day, first to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children. On this day in 1959 the UNO adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. 191 countries signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989 but 193 countries ratified it in 2007. USA and Somalia have not ratified. Bangladesh observed national Children's Day from 1996-2000 but from 2001 to 2006 as recognised by UNICEF. India celebrated it on November 14.

UNCRC gives every child a wide range of rights without distinction or discrimination by race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, status of child or family. Special protection; opportunities; facilities; physical, mental, moral, spiritual and social development in a healthy and normal manner; freedom and dignity; the best interests of the child in paramount consideration; a name and a nationality; benefits of social security; grow and develop in health; special care and protection of child and mother including pre-natal and post-natal care; adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and medical; special treatment to physically, mentally or socially handicapped; education and care under particular condition; full and harmonious development of personality; love and understanding; grow up in the care and under the responsibility of parents; atmosphere of affection, moral and material security; no separation from mother except under certain circumstances; particular care to children without a family and adequate means of support; payment of State and other assistance towards the maintenance of children of large families; free and compulsory elementary education ; education promoting general culture and ability on a basis of equal opportunity; development of abilities, individual judgment and sense of moral and social responsibility; making of useful member of society; giving best interests of the child as guiding principle; giving responsibility with parents; full opportunity for play and recreation; protection and relief; protection of all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation; not a victim of traffic; no employment before an appropriate minimum age; no engagement in any occupation or employment prejudicial to health or education, or interfere with physical, mental or moral development; protection from practices which may foster racial, religious and any other form of discrimination; bring up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, peace and universal brotherhood; utilization of energy and talents to the service of fellow men; protection against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, opinions, or beliefs of the child's parents, legal guardians, or family member; well-being of parents, legal guardians, or legally responsible ones; and to this end taking of all appropriate legislative and administrative measures; inherent right to life and surety of maximum extent possible to the survival and development of the child.

Children are actively engaged in the Armed Conflict Afghanistan’s Taliban Forces, Burundi’s FNL, Central African Republic’s APRD, UFDR, FDPC, DRCongo’s FARDC, FDLR, FNI, FRPI, Myanmar’s DKBA, Karen National Union-Karen National Liberation Army PeaceCouncil, KIA, KNLA, KAKNPLF, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, SSA-S, Tatmadaw Kyi, UWSA, Nepal’s CPN-M, Somalia’s UIC, TFG; Southern Sudan’s Defence Forces, SAF, Pibor Defence Forces, SPLA, Darfur’s SAF, SLA, Philippines’s ASG, MILF, NPA, Sri Lanka’s Karuna faction, LTTE; and Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), UPDF etc.

UNMIN and UNICEF identified 2,973 Maoist Army members less than 18 years of age in May 2006, in the ranks of the Maoist forces. It warned to release immediately. They demanded access to these children to make sure that they receive their rights to recovery and reintegration.

We ifop appeal humbly to all concerned to respect the provisions of the UNCRC for our tomorrow, which is purely,‘Universal’ in character. Thank you very much. God Bless!!!

Dr S R Mangang
President, ifop