The
third International Conference of the Children First
successfully concluded
The third international conference of Children First
under the title of “Children
First, Why and How? A Conference on the Universal Rights of
Children”
was held during 11th and 12th
February in Stockholm, Sweden.
Speakers from Iraq, Iran, Belgium, England, Sweden. Italy
and United States addressed, discussed and debated a number
of issues concerning children. The conference opened, on
both days, with observing one-minute silence in
commemoration of the victims of the Asian Tsunami.
During the conference proceedings a comprehensive and wide
ranging issues covering the daily struggle of street
children for survival across the world with special
references to street children in Iran and Baghdad and
Suleymaineh in Iraq, the plight of children in Iranian
jails, the situation of children in Belgium and the migrant
child labourer in Italy and the USA, the banning of
religious schools and prohibition of Islamic veil for
children were addressed and discussed. The conference also
while expressing its sympathy with the victims of the Asian
Tsunami and the last year’s Bam earthquake in Iran
highlighted the vulnerability and the special needs of the
children in the effected zones. A round of discussions and
debates around the content of the UN’s “Convention on
Children’s Rights” took place and the “Declaration of
Universal Rights of Children” drafted by the Children First
was presented to the conference.
Two days of discussions and presentations by 21 speakers, a
range of artistic and cultural programmes including music,
films, poetry reciting and a social evening in solidarity
with children, shared by tens of enthusiastic children’s
rights activists and advocates, provided a rich and
fulfilling experience for participants and organisers alike.
This conference was a major step forward in developing and
establishing a clear vision and understanding of the issues
surrounding children’s rights and building and reinforcing
an international network of radical activists in the field
of the defending children’s rights. The conference also
reaffirmed its commitment to promoting children’s rights and
instigate changes to advance the plights of children. Day
one of the conference was conducted in English and Swedish
and the second day was conducted in Farsi and Kurdish. In
the course of the proceedings on both days, sessions of
question and answer and discussions took place, with
participants engaging in constructive debates and exchanging
comments and views.
Unfortunately a number of guest speakers and participants
from Africa and Asia were, mainly due to difficulties in
obtaining Visas to Sweden or exit permission from their
countries, not able to join us and the conference was
deprived from their contributions.
During the course of the conference the news of the arrest
warrant served on the secretary of the “Association of
Defending the Children Rights” in Iran was announced. A call
by the Children First to mobilise international support and
solidarity with the Secretary of “Association of Defending
the Children Rights” was warmly received by the speakers and
the participants and offers and commitments to support the
campaign of the Children First in this regard were made.
The news of the conference, before, during and after the
conference, was widely reflected in the Farsi speaking and
the Swedish media and attracted considerable amount
attention.
The text of the speeches, presentations and the video and
the photos of the conference will shortly be posted on our
website.
Children First – Central Office
February 14, 2005
Contacts:
Children First,
International Campaign For children's Rights
Main Office:
Chair Person, Soraya Shahabi
CF, BM Box 2592
London WC1N3XX
England
Tel: 44-798 134
3101
E-mails:
childrenfirstinternational@yahoo.ca
soraya_shahabi@yahoo.com
Web;
www.childrenfirstinternational.org
Sweden:
Tel:
70 444 15 78-46
Fax:46 - 8-590
737 99
www.barnenforst.se
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