NCJ Number
213676
Date Published
2003
Length
56 pages
Annotation
The theme of the 2003 report on the state of the world's children is the responsibility of adults to structure and encourage children's participation in the decisions and events that affect their lives.
Abstract
This theme derives from evidence that governments, national agencies, and their various international partners are not addressing children's rights and well-being. The voices, insights, experiences, capacities, and energy of children and youth are untapped resources that can help meet the goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration and "A World Fit for Children." Specific arenas where children can be encouraged to assume responsibility for their lives are through girls' education, the practice of democracy in school, and the development of personal responsibility through sports. A separate section of this report focuses on the family as the social institution where children learn to expand their participation in decisionmaking and events in the community that influence their development. Families are helped in the nurturance of independent children through public policies that strengthen families in fulfilling parental responsibilities and keeping children safe. The concept of meaningful child participation at the international level was implemented at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children. More than 400 children representing over 150 countries came to New York City in May 2002 to attend a 3-day Children's Forum. They discussed issues related to exploitation and abuse, the environment, protection from war, children's participation, health, HIV/AIDS, poverty, and education. Tables provide data on basic indicators of children's well-being throughout the world, nutrition, health, education, demographic indicators, economic indicators, women, HIV/AIDS and malaria, and the rate of progress. 9 tables