“Violations of children’s right to education, to health, to assistance, and to a life free from discrimination. It is truly senseless that certain things are still happening in the 21st century”. The point was underscored by Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi in a video-message to the World Forum for Child Welfare currently taking place in Naples. “In many – too many – cases, boys and girls are still victims of practices that violate their rights: early or forced marriages, infanticide, exploitation. In may armed conflicts, children are forced to kill and go on suffering trauma that are hard to overcome, even once they reach adulthood”.
“Protecting children against these forms of violence and abuse, and promoting better living conditions for the most vulnerable”, he added, “are fundamental principles for the international community. The United Nations Convention, and its Committee, on the Rights of the Child recognise the need for specific legislative provisions to protect children”.
A conference on children’s rights soon to be held at the MFA
Italy is very active on these issues and will soon be organising a conference at the Farnesina on preventing and combating sexual violence against children, announced Terzi. He recalled other Italian initiatives, such as the opening of procedures to ratify the European Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention); the signing of the third protocol of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the creation of an Authority to oversee children’s rights; and the approval of the third national action and intervention plan for the protection of children.
Another important issue is the inclusion, in our educational system, of children of other nationalities, “one of the main challenges to address”, added Terzi. “A situation where a true education inspired by tolerance is flanked by action to combat racism and which also includes a satisfactory knowledge of the country and its language”.
The main topics for discussion at the 23rd World Forum for Child Welfare, which will continue until 29 November 2012, are the rights of children and migrants, international adoptions, and measures to combat child poverty. The event has been organised under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic and the International Forum for Child Welfare (IFCW), together with Mentoring USA/Italia ONLUS and the Albero della Vita Foundation. The initiative is supported by the Department for Social Activities of Campania Region, with the official collaboration of the Curia of Naples and the Consulate General of the United States of America in Naples.
