UNICEF and the Safeguard of Children Rights Essay Example for Free

UNICEF and the Safeguard of Children Rights seeUNICEFs mission is to counselor for the protective cover of sisterrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and to set forth their opportunities to reach their huge of the mark potential. UNICEF is guided in doing this by the pro hallucinations and principles of the rule on the Rights of the Child (UNICEF, 2008). strengthened on varied intelligent systems and cultural traditions, the gathering is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable cubicleards and obligations (UNICEF, 2006).The design on the Rights of the Child is the first wakelessly binding planetary instrument to incorporate the full honk of human rights civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights (Freeman, 1996). In 1989, adult male leaders decided that clawren needed a finicky convention just for them because people under eighteen forms old often need exceptional c be and protection that adults do not (Alston, 1992). The leaders as well as wanted to garner sure that the world recognized that kidskinren have human rights too. The Convention sets divulge these rights in 54 cheaticles and two facultative Protocols.It spells out the basic human rights that baberen bothwhere have the right to extract to develop to the fullest to protection from harmful influences, ill-treat and exploitation and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life (UNICEF, 2006). The four core principles of the Convention atomic number 18 non-discrimination devotion to the best interests of the child the right to life, survival and development and respect for the views of the child (Jasper, 1994). both right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child.The Convention protects childrens rights by setting standards in health care education and legal, civil and social function (Jasper, 1994). By agreeing to under discover the obligations of the Convention, national political sciences committed themselves to protecting and ensuring childrens rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this loading before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all exertions and policies in the white of the best interests of the child (Stein, 1998).Most of the governments have incorporated this issue in their development plan politeness of UNICEF. UNICEFs work for the overall protection of childhood is guided by the principles and standards established by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Walker, 1999). In advocating to protect childrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential, UNICEF helps to change the legal and policy framework of States parties and to repair understanding of the Convention itself at all levels of familiarity (Walker, 1999).Among other(a) activities, UNICEF works in n early 160 countrie s to support ratification and implementation of the Convention and the Optional Protocols on the involvement of children in armed involvement and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (UNICEF, 2008). UNICEF draws attention to the duties of governments, families, communities and individuals to respect those rights and supports them in doing so. During armed combat, children are targeted for the worst possible violence and abuse, including abduction, baffle and recruitment as child soldiers, and whitethorn be forced or coerced to take part in atrocities (Peters, 1997).Because children are among the most affected by conflict they become victims and witnesses of these offences (Brandes, 1999). The lack of righteousness for conflict-related crimes against children sack make child victims vulnerable to further violation and abuse. Accountability in post-conflict situations can fulfill a consequence of important functions (Peters, 1997). It contributes to the process of healing and helps children understand that they are not to blame for what has happened.By investigating and documenting violations committed, accountability processes raise public awareness of the impacts of conflict on children (Dobrish, 1999). Accountability can also help to run the cycle of violence, restore confidence in democracy and the rule of law, and strengthen the legitimacy and authority of the reinvigoratedborn government (Fox, 1997). In recent years, truth, umpire and rapprochement processes have begun to focus specifically on crimes committed against children and have involved children proactively, including through testimony that bears witness to their experiences(Dobrish, 1999).The recent involvement of children and adolescents in providing testimony to international and national courts and truth commissions has demonstrated their unique role as participants and as members of their communities (UNICEF, 2008). plainly if children are to secure i n transitional justice processes their rights must be respected. The review and analysis of emerging good practices on the involvement of children and adolescents in truth, justice and reconciliation processes has brought to light a number of dilemmas.For example, it is recognized that children and adolescents who have been recruited to take part in hostilities are primarily victims of armed conflict. At the same time, more argue that several(prenominal) form of accountability for crimes committed by children is in their best interests and could contribute to processes of reconciliation and reintegration (Teitelbaum, 1999). Mechanisms of accountability for flagitious violations committed during armed conflict include a wide range of options, such as discriminative prosecutions, truth commissions, restorative justice processes and traditional practices (Kurmay, 1996).When children engage in truth, justice and reconciliation processes, newfound possibilities and new challenges ar e encountered. In a number of instances, child-friendly procedures have been introduced to safeguard the rights of children who become involved and to support their protection throughout the process (Teitelbaum, 1999). This can help build childrens confidence and restore their sense of justice in the social and political company, while also establishing a mechanism of accountability for crimes committed against them. However, legion(predicate) questions remain as to how best to protect the rights of childreninvolved as victims and witnesses in these contexts. Ideally childrens conjunction should strengthen and enhance their protection, and protection measures should enable date (Kurmay, 1996). In the long term, if children are excluded from transitional processes, they may become frustrated and vulnerable to a continuing cycle of violence, impacting future generations. Failure to address their concerns also wastes the capacity and potential of children and adolescents to serve a s catalysts for reconciliation and peace-building within their own communities (Dwyer, 1999).The importance of furthering efforts to support childrens involvement in transitional justice processes was identified during an expert discussion on Transitional referee and Children convened by the UNICEF Innocenti interrogation Centre (IRC) in November 2005. It was proposed that research on children and truth commissions be undertaken, identifying good practices and lessons learned, and recommending strategies to improve and facilitate childrens participation in future truth commissions(UNICEF, 2006).Documentation on the role of children in truth commissions was initiated by UNICEF IRC and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) (UNICEF, 2006). In the course of research underway on children and truth commissions, a number of issues have emerged requiring further research and analysis in order to better understand the potential and the limits of childrens participation in transitional justice processes (ACF, 2007).As a result it was decided to initiate an Expert Paper Series on Children and Transitional Justice, addressing a colossal range of issues, including judicial accountability, truth-seeking, local, traditional and restorative justice processes, and institutional reform. The Series has helped to build a profits for sharing information and expertise, generating discussion and debate among key stakeholders (UNICEF, 2006). These include child protection advocates, government agents, legal experts and academics.The objective of the expert paper serial publication is to improve accountability for crimes against children and to protect the rights of children involved in transitional justice processes (ACF, 2007). Specific papers bequeath document and analyze emerging good practices and lessons learned judge the potential role of children and endure and promote strategies for involving children in future transitional processes(ACF, 2007). It is anticipated that studies undertaken in this series will help to guide the involvement of children in truth, justice and reconciliation processes in post-conflict transition.UNICEF works nigh with other human rights bodies such as Human shelter Network (HSN). This is an organization which has a long-standing commitment to human rights and to the protection of the most vulnerable both in peace and in times of conflict (Marta, 2007). The Human Security Network plays a decisive role in advancing the implementation of the Convention and of its two Optional Protocols, and in reaffirming, in each and every decision the general principles of non discrimination, best interests of the child, survival and development and participation of the child (UNICEF, 2008).The year 2007 was a landmark year for the protection of childrens rights. Indeed, 2007 pronounced the 18th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Marta, 2007). As the Convention entered a new st age of adulthood there was an opportunity to celebrate the many important achievements and to critically reflect on the best ways of addressing the challenges ahead. The year was also marked by the General Assembly mid tenner review of the follow-up to the Special Session on Children.This process was an important opportunity to reaffirm our roled out commitment to children, to advance the Millennium Agenda and further consolidate a world fit for children (Marta, 2007). By 2007, there is a full prohibition of all forms of violence against children in 19 countries (UNICEF, 2008). Legislation was follow in The Netherlands where law enactment is being supported by a communication plan designed to inform parents and the general public about the legal ban in the lead up to its entry into force.New Zealand has banned the use of reasonable force for parents in the disciplining of their children (ACF, 2008). In a number of other nations draft legislation has been prepared and in others public commitments have been undertaken to ban all forms of violence (ACF, 2008). one time the changes become effective within each of these States, one fifth of the UN Member States would have extended legal protection to prevent violence against children (UNICEF, 2008). UNICEF have recently developed and launched a Handbook on what parliamentarians can do to protect children from violence (UNICEF, 2008).With the participation of parliamentarians and international organizations from more than 100 countries, the launch was an opportunity to anticipate actions parliaments can take to ensure childrens freedom from violence, including through their legislative power, and to encourage and oversee government action and to promote the allocation of resources for relevant programmes and interventions(UNICEF, 2008). The Handbook will be translated in national languages and apply as an important tool to support follow-up to the UN Study on Violence (Marta, 2007). The Human Security Network have partnered to promote its wide dissemination and use.Naturally, legislation is only meaningful when it is effectively applied. To make law enforcement a reality it is important to engage children in the process of implementation (Masson, 1999). It is for this reason that UNICEF has join efforts with a number of partners to produce the child friendly version of the UN Guidelines on justice in matters involving child victims and witnesses of crime. The child friendly version was launched at the recent Crime Prevention Commission, in Vienna (UNICEF, 2008). The preceding(prenominal) months show the instrumental role played by Professor Pinheiro as a global advocate and a catalyst for social change.But the task is just beginning and only by piteous the implementation forward can we build a world free from violence for every child, wherever he or she may live (Marta, 2007). France hosted a major conference in 2006 where a wide range partners endorsed the Paris Principles to stop the recruitment and use of children in adult wars. The document represents the state of the art knowledge in the prevention, protection and reintegration of children recruited by armed forces and groups. And it has a unique potential to ensure the acknowledgement of childrens rights more broadly (UNICEF, 2008).These milestones are mutually complementary and provide a strategic vision for the future. More importantly, they give us a golden occasion to make a real going in the lives of children (UNICEF, 2008). At the heart of this process are two closely related dimensions child participation and the prevention of violence and conflict. Together, they both support the protection of childrens rights. A recent study of the Innocenti Research Centre a partner of UNICEF on Birth Registration and Armed Conflict revealed a hardly a(prenominal) truths. Birth Registration is a permanent and official record of a childs macrocosm (Marta, 2007).It is a fundamental human right and has strong implications for the enjoyment of other human rights it thus stand as a vivid illustration of the indivisibility of childrens rights and a call to unceasingly keep a child centered approach. In times of war, birth registration gains a special relevance for child protection, for the prevention of child recruitment, abduction and exploitation, as well as for access to humanitarian assistance (ABA, 2007). Over 25 truth commissions have been convened in various countries over the last decades and several have addressed the experiences of children (ABA, 2007).But the Truth Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for sierra Leone was the first truth commission to specifically focus on children as victims and witnesses, and to profile childrens role as actors in the reconciliation process. It is also the first sideslip where a childrens version of the Commissions report was prepared (ACF, 2008 ). The childrens version of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report is one example of how children can contribute to community efforts towards reconciliation and transition, while helping to break the cycle of violence and re-establish confidence in the rule of law.UNICEF has had its fair share of challenges in protecting the rights of children. Civil wars especially in Africa have always targeted the children as recruits and this has always been a hurdle for the organization to overcome. Advocacy for children rights in a civic war infested area has not always been easy for them since the lives of the employees are also threatened. Lack of political will in various countries to support the UNICEFs initiatives has been another monster in children rights protection.Some government agents like the police may be uncooperative in issues of child trafficking, pornography and other related cases hence the risk of failing to catch non-convicted abusers. other(a) barriers that have been along UNICEFs path to success are undeveloped, unimplemented and conflicting policies on children rights and responsibilities in many countries. Lack of adequate funds to support their initiatives especially in less developed countries.Traditional practices and taboos among communities are also a major impediment since some encourage abusive practices against children such as communities warriors, early marriages, and local slave trade among others. Children are members of their communities and by taking part in community action they increase awareness and confidence and build their capacity for citizenship (Teitelbaum, 1999). Through their involvement in community reconciliation efforts, children can become advocates and catalysts within their families and communities, energizing reconciliation and nation building efforts (Jackson, 1999).It is by addressing the root causes of conflict and providing realistic opportunities for young people that we can begin to break the inter-generational violence that has resulted in protracted conflicts in many countries today. Fi nally, as we move forward and support actions to prevent all forms of violence in peace and in war through UNICEF, we must not forget that at the centre of all our efforts are individual children whose lives hang in the balance of our actions. We cannot wait another minute. When Graca Machel prepared her report in 1995, she was asked by a child, How long will it take before things get better?A month, a year? Today that child is an adult and another generation of children is asking the same question (UNICEF, 2008). How long will it take? The life of a child leaves no second chance. That is the urgency that must drive us in our efforts to make a real difference, a lasting difference.ReferencesAlston, Philip, et al. , Children, rights, and the law. Oxford England Clarendon Press New York Oxford University Press, 1992. Alston, Philip. The best interests of the child reconciling culture and human rights. Oxford Clarendon Press New York Oxford University Press, 1994.Angel, William D. The international law of youth rights source documents and commentary. Dordrecht capital of Massachusetts M. Nijhoff, 1995. Carey, Jacqueline M. Section of Family Law Home Page. the Statesn Bar Association Family Law Section. 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