PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR 2001 SPECIAL SESSION ON CHILDREN ADOPTS DECISIONS CONCERNING SESSION"S VENUE, DATE, PARTICIPATION

Press Release
HR/4477

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR 2001 SPECIAL SESSION ON CHILDREN ADOPTS DECISIONS CONCERNING SESSION’S VENUE, DATE, PARTICIPATION

The Preparatory Committee for the 2001 special session of the General Assembly that will follow up on the World Summit for Children proposed to the Assembly this morning that the special session be convened in New York for three days between the first and second weeks of the general debate of the fifty-sixth session of the Assembly. The Committee took that action through unanimous adoption of a draft decision prepared by its Bureau.

Through adoption of a second draft decision, the Committee also extended the deadline for the approval on a no-objection basis of participation of non- governmental organizations (NGOs) in the preparatory process of the special session.

Also this morning, the Committee continued its general discussion on emerging issues for children in the twenty-first century.

A representative of the Arigatou Foundation, speaking on behalf of the Global Network of Religions for Children, said that the moral obligation of religious people to confront children’s problems and the necessity of religious cooperation towards that end had been recognized. He called on international organizations, in particular the United Nations and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), to continue to develop partnerships with religious leaders and organizations, with particular attention to the 2001 special session, which will shape a “new global agenda” for children.

A representative of Inclusion International expressed concern that the voices of children with disabilities be adequately heard. He proposed a six- point agenda, which would include: establishing inclusive values, rights and approaches for child development; and ensuring needed family support, so that disabled children could survive with their families and not be turned over to child welfare organizations.

Concerning the special session, the representative of Norway said the final outcome of the session should serve as a global agenda for the full compliance of children’s rights. That meant that the future action for children must address the overarching principles of non-discrimination, the best interest of the child and children’s participation.

Preparatory Committee - 1a - Press Release HR/4477 3rd Meeting (AM) 1 June 2000

At the conclusion of this morning’s discussion, Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, said it had provided much useful and helpful guidance as to the content of the final outcome document. It had been generally agreed that the document be concise and forward-looking, and that it benefit from consultations at all levels and lessons learned, as well as incorporate new and emerging issues. It was also important, as the Chairman had said, that the outcome document be “uplifting, inspiring and interactive”.

Statements were also made by representatives from Portugal, speaking on behalf of the European Union, Ghana, Tunisia, Rwanda, Canada, United States, India, China, Ecuador, Peru, Egypt, Pakistan, Mongolia, Turkey and Algeria. The observer of Switzerland also spoke.

Statements were made, as well, by representatives from the African, South Asian and Latin American Caucuses, the International Vitamin A Consultative Group, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The Committee will meet again at 4 p.m. today.

Preparatory Committee - 3 - Press Release HR/4477 3rd Meeting (AM) 1 June 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly in 2001 for Follow-Up to the World Summit for Children met this morning to continue its debate on emerging issues for children in the twenty-first century.

The special session will review progress made with regard to the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the Declaration in the 1990s, which were adopted at the 1990 World Summit for Children.

(For background information, see Press Release HR/4475 of 30 May.)

Before the Committee was a draft decision on the participation of non- governmental organizations in the preparatory process (document A/AC.256/L.2), which would decide to extend the deadline for the approval on a no-objection basis of participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the preparatory process of the special session as follows: a list of additional NGOs proposed for participation should be provided to the Preparatory Committee by 30 September 2000; the NGO on that list will be approved by the Preparatory Committee on a no-objection basis by 31 October 2000.

Also before the Committee was a draft decision on the substantive session of the Preparatory Committee in 2001 (document A/AC.256/L.3), which would decide to propose to the General Assembly that two substantive sessions of the Preparatory Committee be convened in New York during 2001, one from 29 January to 2 February and one from 11 to 15 June.

Another draft decision before the Committee, on the dates of the special session of the General Assembly for follow-up to the World Summit for Children (document A/AC.256/L.4), would decide to propose to the General Assembly that the special session be convened in New York for three days between the first and second weeks of the general debate of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly.

Also before the Committee was a draft decision on arrangements for accreditation and participation of NGOs in the special session (document A/AC.256/L.5), which would decide on accreditation that the following NGOs will be invited to participate in the special session: the NGOs that are accredited in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 or are accredited to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); and the NGOs invited to the preparatory process of the special session in accordance with relevant decisions of the Preparatory Committee.

By the terms of the same draft decision, a limited number of NGOs will address the special session, given availability of time. The President of the General Assembly will be invited to select those organizations on an equal and transparent basis, taking into account the geographical representation and diversity of NGOs.

Statements

ATSUSHI IWASAKI, representative of the Arigatou Foundation, a Buddhist- sponsored non-governmental organization, speaking on behalf of the Global Network of Religious for Children, said that the moral obligation of religious people to confront children’s problems and the necessity of religious cooperation towards that end had been recognized. The Foundation had advocated the establishment of a network of religious people engaged in activities for children – the Global Network.

He said that, two weeks ago, some 300 representatives of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and other religions had gathered from 33 different countries and engaged in fervent discussions for three days. Those people of religion had joined their voices in a common recognition that the child was a sacred gift from the divine, that the very existence of the child was a source of hope, and that the child bore the promise of the future.

The Global Network, he continued, called on international organizations, in particular, the United Nations and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), “To uphold the United Nations Charter impartially, to exercise their mandates to monitor and encourage States’ compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and to engage in proactive educational and service programmes on behalf of children. To continue to develop partnerships with religious leaders and organizations, with particular attention to the special session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, which will review the achievements of the World Summit for Children and shape a new global agenda for them.”

MICHAEL BACH, speaking on behalf of Inclusion International, said that his organization was very concerned that the voices of children with disabilities be adequately heard. Without focused interventions on the part of governments and the international community, learning deficient children would be greatly affected. It was true that disabilities and disfigurements were on the rise throughout the world. Sadly, however, children with disabilities and their mothers had not been included in child development schemes. They did not seem worthy of the effort.

Mr. Bach went on to propose a six-point agenda, which could be considered at the upcoming special session and would help reverse those disturbing trends. It would be important to: establish inclusive values, rights and approaches for child development, so all children were regarded equally; reduce child and family poverty; ensure needed family support, so that disabled children could survive with their families and not be turned over to child welfare organizations; enhance education about disabilities and disfigurements; strengthen civil society to include diverse perspectives on children and families; and enhance information gathering and distribution techniques to include information about the special needs of children with disabilities.

Adopting such an agenda, he said, would bring hope rather than cynicism and despair to a segment of the population that was sorely in need of attention.

ROSA BATOREU (Portugal), speaking on behalf of the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta and Liechtenstein, said that one should build on the philosophy that presided over the World Summit for Children and adopt the same innovative approach to the current process. The review and appraisal should greatly benefit from a comprehensive analysis of the results achieved, carried out by the substantive secretariat, in close consultation with a broad range of actors, including civil society and children.

She said that the substantive secretariat should prepare an objective and comprehensive report on the achievements, constraints and lessons learned in the last decade, in the implementation of the Plan of Action. The negotiated outcome of the special session should be short, concise, forward-looking and action-oriented. That outcome, which should be relevant to children in all countries, should draw on the work that identified the measures needed to overcome the obstacles encountered in implementing the Plan of Action, as well as new actions needed to address emerging issues.

The negotiated outcome could be prepared by the secretariat, with the strong and committed guidance from the Bureau, on the basis of a broad consultation process, including the contribution of multilateral organizations from inside and outside the United Nations system, as well as from research institutions and academia, she said.

ALBERTA QUARTEY, Chairman of the National Commission on Children of Ghana, said that her country was the first to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child and had subsequently made many unique advances in the area of children’s rights. But, efforts in adopting a rights-based approach had been constrained by resources, traditional and cultural practices, non-participation by children and the emerging HIV/AIDS pandemic.

She went on to say that it was important to realize that many of those challenges had not been envisaged 10 years ago when the World Summit goals had been set. To that end, Committee members were urged to give special consideration during their deliberations to special interventions to bridge disparities, mobilize resources and provide adequate facilities for aid and health education.

Armed conflicts within the African subregion had also had a negative effect on children, she said. It was a tragedy that innocent children had been recruited as soldiers, killed or left as orphans. Ghana, in collaboration with the Government of Canada, had recently hosted a conference of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address that phenomenon.

ALI CHERIF (Tunisia) said the follow-up process was very important. Despite progress made, the situation of children remained a matter of serious concern. The special General Assembly session on the follow-up should assess progress achieved and problems encountered. Active participation of all actors in the process was necessary, as well as political will towards cooperation.

The emerging report should be written with an eye towards action, he said. Ongoing action was something his country believed in. The mobilization of all parties concerned had resulted in a national plan for children, so that his country could comply with the goals on education and health issues. An adequate environment had been created for the development of a new generation. Infant mortality had decreased and vaccine coverage was over 90 per cent.

JOSEPH MUTABOBA (Rwanda) said that the genocide in 1994 had left his country with more that 400,000 orphans. The social fabric of the country had been torn. Children’s rights had been grossly violated, as young boys were forced to kill on demand and young girls were raped or forced into sexual slavery. Rape had even been used a weapon to humiliate children and perpetuate genocide. “Despite our Government’s best efforts”, he said, “the welfare of these children remained shaky and uncertain.”

He went on to say that his Government was encouraging citizens of all walks of life to show commitment to children’s concerns. To that end, national television and radio programmes had been produced to reflect that new commitment. A children’s funds had been established in most communities, which was meant to meet the basic needs of poor and orphaned children. It was generally considered that it was everyone’s duty to contribute, as much as their own financial needs allowed.

The challenges ahead were enormous, he said, and though most countries had ratified the Convention, children’s rights continued to be violated throughout the world. “This should be an indication to the international community that signing and ratifying conventions is one thing, but implementation is another”, he said. Therefore, the Committee should not lose momentum, but continue to strive for a better world for children.

BIRGITNE LUND-HENDRIKSEN (Norway) said the final outcome of the special session should serve as a global agenda for the full compliance of children’s rights. That meant that the future action for children must address the overarching principles of non-discrimination, the best interest of the child and children’s participation.

She said that the unfinished agenda from 1990 must be addressed, this time from a rights perspective. The unreached must be reached, with a special emphasis on those who were most discriminated against. There was also a need to respond to the demands of a changing world by addressing the issues that had emerged during the last decade as priority areas for intervention.

The rights approach meant that reaching 80 per cent of the children was no longer satisfactory. The goal must be 100 per cent, she said. Attention to quality issues within all the sectors affecting children was necessary. There was a need for a new culture of resource mobilization and utilization, with the first priority being the best interest of the child.

LANDON PEARSON (Canada) said that the main objective of the current process was to enhance political awareness at the highest levels about the need for increased support of children’s rights issues. The goals of the forthcoming special session would be central to the proposed outcome document. It was true that “emerging issues” could be described as the barriers to achieving full implementation of the goals of that document. It was most important, she continued, that the outcome document contained regional and thematic meetings that would take place over the next few years. In fact, the next session of the Preparatory Committee should be devoted to a substantive review of those meetings. That would facilitate intergovernmental consideration of the outcome document.

MAUREEN WHITE (United States), referring to the outcome of the 1990 World Summit, said that “success breeds success”. The review process should proceed as planned at the regional and national level, including participation of other parties. She encouraged UNICEF to provide an outline of the work plan as the consultations were going forward.

The Plan of Action of 1990 was forward-looking, she said. It had included issues that were only beginning to emerge, such as HIV/AIDS, tobacco, and trafficking in women. It had offered a structured response to problems and quantifiable goals. The final outcome document should focus not on what divided, but on what united the international community in regard to the problems of children. She urged delegates to think "outside the box" to ensure that the special session would be, in fact, a special session.

VEENA S. RAO, Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development of India, said that the outcome of the special session should be a focused, intergovernmentally negotiated document that was concise, short and action-oriented.

She went on to highlight some of the key elements that should be included in the document. Among other things, there should be: steps to implement the unfinished agenda of the World Summit, including crucial questions related to the mobilization of resources; agreement on efforts that would hasten the eradication of poverty; a strategy to combat malnutrition inter-generationally in children, infants, lactating and pregnant mothers; a focus on improving water supplies and providing better sanitation facilities; a reiteration of the importance of literacy and education; and an increased focus on children in special circumstances, particularly those affected by terrorism, armed conflict and HIV/AIDS.

In all those areas, special attention should be focused on the needs of the girl child, she continued. The growth and development of girl children was of paramount importance to the well being of the next generation of the world's children. India supported the adoption of a life-cycle approach, with serious efforts made to secure appreciable gains within a single generation.

SAI GUOHUA (China) said the final outcome document should cover a decade review of the 1990 Summit’s Declaration, as well as issues that had emerged during the 1990s. It should also include an analysis of the current situation, with the lessons learned from successes and failures. The document should also include challenges for the future, focusing on strategies for key areas, especially with regard to resources and highlighting the new commitment of government, NGOs and the international community, she said.

JEAN-MARIE BOUVERAT (Switzerland) said that the Convention constituted a solid foundation on which all rights-based decisions, policies and activities should be based. His delegation was convinced that full implementation of the Convention was a priority.

Systematic registration of births, statistical analysis of child labour activities, and raising awareness of children in armed conflict were all issues that would be important for the Committee to consider during the current process, he continued. Violence and sexual exploitation of children were also at the heart of his delegation's concerns. It was also important to develop mechanisms to better measure progress made in the area of children’s rights.

Finally, he encouraged participation of civil society in the preparatory process. To that end, he suggested a forum be held, which would feature the participation of children from all over the world, so that some of their concerns could be addressed and identified. It was also important for all States to clearly confirm their commitments to the Convention.

MARGARITA VELASCO (Ecuador) said her country had been the first in Latin America to ratify the Convention on Rights of the Child. The reforms made to its Constitution guaranteed the rights of the children and promoted their integral development. There were also public policies for situations in which children’s rights were violated.

In order to generate the information required from countries vis-à-vis children’s rights, Ecuador had created a system of social indicators to disseminate the social situation of the country. She suggested that that system would be useful for the follow-up and assessment process for the next decade.

GUILLERMO TORO (Peru) said that his country, in cooperation with NGOs and civil society, had made many strides in the area of children’s rights. Peru had establishes national plans of action for children, as well as for nutrition and food. That plan had sought to decrease the malnutrition of children. There was also a code on adolescent children.

Turning to Peru’s Plan of Action for Children, he said that certain survival goals, with a view to reducing children’s diseases by 50 per cent, were of particular interest. That Plan also ensured full rights for girls, boys and adolescents. Peru had also established a network of defence for children. The areas of health and infant mortality had also been improved, wherever possible, and several legislative measures had been established, including one ensuring free schooling for children.

Ms. KHALTAB (Egypt) said a comprehensive report on achievements made and obstacles encountered was necessary. That report should be studied in the forthcoming Preparatory Committee.

The final document should be short, concise and action-oriented, drawing on achievements of the past decade, she said. It was also necessary to raise political commitments at the highest level to meet the various needs of children throughout the world.

The document should focus on goals not yet achieved, she continued. National and international measures must be taken that would ensure enforcement of those goals. The document should also incorporate the problems that emerged in the 1990s, such as HIV/AIDS, the problems of girl children, the effects of environmental pollution on children and mothers, and maintaining cultural identity. She hoped that the new document would be issued by consensus and would command international consensus, as well.

Ms. ASI (Pakistan) said that the review process should focus on the targets set forth in the last Summit, with particular consideration of the needs and concerns of developing countries. New and emerging issues should be given special consideration.

Turning to the organization of the special session, she said she supported the idea of a substantive session in February 2001 for one week, and another in May or June for three weeks. A three-day plenary meeting was also suggested. The outcome document itself should be brief and focused, presented perhaps in the form of a declaration

Mr. SIDIBE, of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said that in the effective exercise of the rights of children, the right to education was most fundamental. That right to education should also include continuing education throughout life. Impeding that right were numerous obstacles, such as political and economical constraints, and also the negative impact of globalization and the increase in poverty worldwide.

The special session should come up with clear goals, as well as the practical means to ensure the right to education for all, he continued. Clear and coherent policies for education for all should include support and resources for education, promoting education for women and girls, developing capabilities at the local level, promoting basic scientific and technological education, and establishing mechanisms for continuing education. Within the United Nations system, there was a need to promote “joint programming”. The Organization should work with governments in order to develop a plan for education for all.

JARGALSAIKHANY ENKHSAIKHAN (Mongolia) said that final outcome document must be concise and action-oriented with specific consideration to the agreements set forth at the previous Summit. It should set easily quantifiable and measurable targets that would address the needs and rights of the world’s children.

MOUSSA SISSOKO, speaking on behalf of the African Caucus, said that in Africa increasing poverty had impeded achievement of the goals set in the World Summit of 1990. New problems had emerged, as well, such as child soldiers, children being victimized in armed conflict and trafficking in children, among others. Some other problems were the increasingly important decrease in education and the worsening of such illnesses as malaria and AIDS. He also noted the increase of street children and exploitation of working children.

The African Caucus questioned the relevance of a number of UNICEF programmes, he said. The situation was alarming in Africa and the problems were interdependent. Mono-sectoral solutions were impossible. Mechanisms of coordination were required, and UNICEF must question its own strategies and methods. He stressed that all problems were linked to the problem of poverty. DARSHANA VYAS, speaking on behalf of the South Asia Caucus, said that children were the first to be affected by society’s ills. They had the basic right, therefore, to be recognized as “human persons” -- a right that must be ensured by all members of the international community.

She went on to say that, in this era of technological progress and globalization, it was sad that only a small segment of the population had benefited. Developing countries had been particularly ignored. In the South Asia region, while there had been advances made in preventive and curative health care, infectious diseases persisted. Family-life education also needed to be improved, along with child labour laws, and laws concerning trafficking, violence and pornography. All those concerns must be at the family, regional and institutional levels. Therefore, region-specific, culturally sensitive approaches must be considered by United Nations agencies.

MANUEL MARTINEZ, speaking on behalf of the Latin American Caucus, said the United Nations’ initiative to open its doors to civil society was helpful in assuring the dignity of boys, girls and adolescents. He believed in the responsibility of the State to define public policy. Poverty, corruption and violence in Latin America posed risks for the future.

Malnutrition, child labour, discrimination, children without identity, street children and refugee children were all problems that called for major efforts, he added. There was no reason for such suffering. Further, the rights of the children should be accompanied by sufficient resources. Civil society should be involved at all levels. Participation of children, in particular, was important.

KEITH P. WEST, speaking for the International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG), highlighted the linkages between adequate nutrition for women and children and their survival, health and development capacity. Some of the key goals of the World Summit would be the virtual elimination of iodine and vitamin A deficiencies, and marked reductions in iron deficiency and anemia in the decade ahead.

He went on to say that the technology to iodize salt had been available for eight decades, but political commitment would now make it possible to address concerns of iodine deficiency, which threatened the minds of the young.

It was also true that vitamin A was an essential part of the human diet, he continued. Without vitamin A, infection could overwhelm and kill children. It had been estimated that more than 1 million children died each year from infections made more severe by vitamin A deficiency. Efforts by organizations, such as UNICEF, which distributed over 400 million vitamin A supplements worldwide each year, needed to be continued.

Efforts also needed to be increased to protect the world’s children from the effects of iron and zinc deficiency, as well as anemia. The Preparatory Committee offered a vital opportunity to strengthen the goals of the World Summit, the resolve of the international community and the ability to assure a healthier future for children and women.

Ms. BULUT (Turkey) said that, while governments had the primary responsibility to ensure basic provisions for children, NGOs and other civil society organizations had an important role to play in shaping the agenda for children. Their participation in the preparatory process was, therefore, necessary.

In closing comments, CAROL BELLAMY, Executive Director of UNICEF, said that today’s discussion had provided much useful and helpful guidance as to the content of the final outcome document. It had been generally agreed that it be concise and forward-looking, and that it should benefit from consultations at all levels and lessons learned, as well as incorporate new and emerging issues. As the Chairman said, it was also important that the outcome document be “uplifting, inspiring and interactive”. The secretariat would do its best to meet the Committee’s expectations.

M. PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica), the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee, said that based on discussions of the last two and a half days, there was a basis for preparing a draft outcome document for consideration at the third substantive session. She, therefore, asked that the Preparatory Committee authorize the Bureau to prepare such document, to be issued in November 2000.

AMINA MESDOUA (Algeria), commenting on the timing of the issuance of the document, said that since the national reports would not reach UNICEF until December, they could not be reflected in the document.

In the ensuing discussion, speakers supported Algeria’s objections, and it was decided to defer the decision on the proposal to the next meeting.

Action by Committee

The Committee adopted unanimously the draft decision on participation of NGOs in the preparatory process (document A/AC.256/L.2).

The decision on the draft decision on substantive sessions of the Preparatory Committee in 2001 was postponed pending the results of informal consultations.

The Committee adopted unanimously the draft decision on the dates of the special session of the General Assembly (document A/AC.256/L.4).

The decision on the draft decision on arrangements for accreditation and participation of non-governmental organization in the special session was deferred to the next meeting, pending informal consultations on oral amendments proposed by Algeria, Cuba and Portugal.

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