For the well-being of Latin American children

* Representatives of civil society and inter-American system
strengthen work and spaces for participation and regional impact
* World Vision, in its role as secretary of the Global Movement for
Children in the Americas, accompanies the leadership of the Inter-American Children's Institute

Buenos Aires, 25 August 2009 - Getting underway in this city today was the preliminary Civil Society Forum to the Twentieth Pan-American Child Congress scheduled to take place 23-25 September 2009 in Lima, Peru.

This meeting was conceived and arranged by the Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children and the Inter-American Children's Institute (IIN), a specialized entity of the Organization of American States (OAS).

This meeting will formalize inclusion of recommendations and suggestions from civil society organizations concerning enforcement and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Latin America and the Caribbean, in the context of the 20th anniversary of its enactment.

These recommendations will be submitted for the consideration of the delegates from the OAS Member States' governments and Authorities on children's issues attending the Pan-American Congress in Lima.

According to IIN Director General Dolores Aguilar, now is the right time to move forward on constructive dialog and relations that will allow for focus on, among other things, greater social responsibility on the part of the State, civil society organizations, local governments, communities and families on behalf of the region's children and adolescents.

Strengthening dialogue among those responsible for children

* Forum convened by the IIN by organized civil society, coalition
groups and NGOs gathered at the Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children draws to a close
* Consensus on moving forward on the defense and promotion of the
rights of children, adolescents and youth; specific actions, and agreements on how to assess impact and results are urgent

Buenos Aires, 26 August 2009 - At its close, the Civil Society Forum prior to the Twentieth Pan American Child Congress, to be held this coming 22-25 September in Lima Peru, was considered by participants as a sure initial step that must be reinforced.

Four large areas of recommendations were discussed by close to fifty individuals in attendance representing organizations, networking coalitions / platforms and non-governmental organizations with a presence in Latin America and the Caribbean. These representatives met with delegates from the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Children's Institute, a specialized organization of the inter-American system of nations.

The four subject areas discussed were commemoration of the twentieth Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Public Policy on Comprehensive Protection Systems, Participation of Children and Adolescents in Citizenship Building and Development of International, Regional and Bilateral Cooperation on Public Policy.

Recommendations
Some of the recommendations reviewed by participants to be submitted for the consideration of the member States urge those responsible for allocation of budgets needed to effectively and appropriately implement high quality actions, putting children's rights at peril.

Urgency was also expressed concerning enforcement of the principle of inclusion to ensure that policies and plans take all social sectors into consideration in a comprehensive fashion on behalf of the well-being of children and adolescents in every aspect of their lives.

Participants also voted to include promotion of monitoring and evaluation processes for participatory public policy, which include civil society organizations, children, and adolescents, especially the disabled, ethnic groups, minorities, and other routinely marginalized sectors.

Deserving of special attention was the topic of the genuine participation of children and adolescents in democratic processes and policy making, beyond the nominal interventions conducted by the adults.

In addition, the organizations recommended urging those in a position of responsibility and authorities on issues affecting children and adolescents, to decisively communicate the importance of putting children participation into practice as a tool for building and reinforcing democracies and the comprehensive education of children and adolescents as citizens.

Finally, concerning dialogue and cooperation among non-governmental organizations and the States, emphasis was made on the importance of leading agendas toward a shared horizon that will facilitate strengthening spaces for dialogue and efficient use of resources, as well as promotion of children's full access to their rights, ensuring that State policy outlive the terms of government administrations.

A rough draft will again be reviewed and finalized, along with other items, in order to submit a body of roughly 27 recommendations and suggestions for high authorities, those responsible for children, and ministries dealing with families, children and adolescents that are to meet in Lima.

Productive and constructive dialogue

* The Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children
expresses gratitude for opening up this opportunity for dialogue at the Civil Society Forum and advocates its reinforcement
* Leadership of the Inter-American Children's Institute in the
inter-American system. New challenges and progress on the agenda

Buenos Aires, 27 August 2009 - Amanda Rives, World Vision Regional Advisor on Public Policy, Advocacy and Positioning expressed her gratitude to the Inter-American Children's Institute, on behalf of the non-governmental organizations grouped together in the Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children, by calling participants to reflect on the challenges faced in the promotion, defense and protection of children's rights in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"We are experiencing a very special moment in the region's history. We are reflecting on progress made in observance of children's rights in the context of the twentieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, yet at the same time we are facing simultaneous crises: we are in the midst of a global economic crisis, growing food insecurity, the observable effects of climate change, and violence / poor public safety are affecting all aspects of daily life," said Ms. Rives.

In this context, she said, we are also undergoing a crisis of trust, especially in the capacity of governments to solve these problems and associated factors that also genuinely affect the well-being of children and adolescents throughout the region.

Rives drew attention to the impact and instances of regression that after, two decades of improvement in child well-being indexes, are evidenced by rising school dropout rates, child labor, sexual exploitation, and domestic abuse. These are signs that unquestionably reveal the advent of critical times.

"In the midst of it all," she pointed out, "a new conceptualization of civil society is emerging; we are equally passionate about the struggle for children's rights; we are now more organized than ever before, innovatively using the media and collaborating to combine efforts and resources."

Before ending her talk, Ms. Rives, acknowledged that it is everyone's responsibility to face challenges constructively and creatively. On behalf of the member organizations of the Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children, she reaffirmed interest in accompanying governments and institutions in the region in their pursuit of solutions, with the inclusive and participatory criteria of children and adolescents. "We understand that their contributions are genuinely the key to making a difference over the next 20 years."

A new social contract

* Nobel Peace Prize laureate assesses the twentieth anniversary of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child
* Advocates building more spaces for children

Buenos Aires, 27 August 2009 -Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel assessed implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the context of commemoration of its twentieth anniversary organized by DCI, an event participated in by the World Vision Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office, as member of the Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children.

During the interview, the Nobel laureate highlighted the role to be played by organized civil society and the State in formulating and implementing life-saving policy for children and adolescents, and the establishment of measures for prevention and social security. Click on attached file to see interview.

Irene Klinger, Director of the Department of International Affairs at the Organization of American States (OAS); Claudio Franchello, Undersecretary for Institutional Development and Federal Integration of the Republic of Argentina's Ministry of Social Development, and Dolores Aguilar, Director General of the Inter-American Children's Institute, at the opening session of the OAS Civil Society Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Civil Society Organizations, entities devoted to the promotion, protection, and enforcement of the rights of children and adolescents, groups of international development cooperation organizations and organizations of the Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children meet in Buenos Aires with delegates of the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Children's Institute, in preparation for the Twentieth Pan-American Child Congress to take place in Lima, Peru.

Jorge Sanín of the OAS, Paulina Fernández of the IIN, and Amanda Rives of World Vision, Silvana Pedrowicz, Consultant for the Latin American Network of Child and Adolescent Organizations (Red Latinoamericana y Caribeña por la Defensa de los Derechos de los Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes, REDLAYC) and José Campang coordinator of the secretariat for the Global Movement for Children, Regional Protection Advisor of the Latin American Chapter of Plan International

Agradecimiento | Foro con la Sociedad Civil previo al XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño la Niña y Adolescentes - Buenos Aires - 25 y 26 agosto
2009

Apreciado representante de la sociedad civil:

En nombre de la doctora Irene Klinger, Directora del Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales de la OEA, y la señora Dolores Aguilar, Directora del Instituto Interamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes (IIN), nos es grato expresarle nuestro más sincero agradecimiento por su participación en el Foro con la Sociedad Civil que se llevó a cabo en Buenos Aires el 25 y 26 de agosto de 2009, previo al XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes.

Este Foro facilitó el diálogo y el intercambio de ideas entre las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y abrió un espacio para los miembros de la sociedad civil para generar y formalizar sus recomendaciones y sugerencias sobre los temas que los Estados Miembros tratarán durante el XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes que se realizará en Lima, Perú del 22 al 25 de septiembre de 2009. Su importante contribución y los esfuerzos realizados por usted y su organización para participar en dicho Foro enriquecieron significativamente el diálogo entre los representantes de la sociedad civil y estamos seguros incrementaron la cooperación hemisférica en relación con los temas de la niñez y la adolescencia.

El Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales y el IIN presentará las recomendaciones generadas por los representantes de la sociedad civil a los Estados Miembros de la OEA, para su consideración en sus deliberaciones de la resolución final del XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes. Adjunto, encontrará dichas recomendaciones.

Para mayor información sobre el referido Congreso, favor visitar la página Web del Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes del IIN http:// www.xxcongresopanamericano.org o la página Web de la Sociedad Civil de la OEA http://www.civil-society.oas.org/indexESP.htm.

Cordialmente,

Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales
Secretaría de Relaciones Externas
Organización de los Estados Americanos

De: Civil Society civilsociety@oas.org

Asunto:

OEA - Foro con la Sociedad Civil previo al XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes | OAS - Civil Society Forum prior to the XX Pan American Child Congress

THIS MESSAGE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH / ESTE MENSAJE ESTÁ DISPONIBLE EN INGLÉS Y ESPAÑOL

El Instituto Interamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes (IIN) y el Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) se permiten en informarles que se llevará a cabo el XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes los días 23 al 25 de septiembre de 2009 en Lima, Perú.

El Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes, órgano del IIN, es una reunión interamericana, de nivel ministerial, en la que participan autoridades gubernamentales de alto nivel en materia de niñez y adolescencia en el hemisferio, cuyo objetivo es promover el intercambio de conocimientos, experiencias y acuerdos entre los Estados Miembros del Sistema Interamericano.

Los temas a tratar en esta reunión incluyen: la conmemoración del 82º Aniversario de la fundación del IIN, los 60 años de su integración como Organismo Especializado de la OEA y los 20 años de la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño; las políticas públicas en los sistemas de protección integral, incluyendo los sistemas locales; la participación infantil-adolescente en la construcción de la ciudadanía y la incidencia en las políticas públicas; y el desarrollo de la cooperación internacional, regional y bilateral en las políticas públicas.

Con el fin de brindarle una oportunidad a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil para formular recomendaciones sobre los temas anteriormente mencionados y presentarlas para la consideración de los Estados Miembros en sus deliberaciones de la Resolución final, el Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales de la OEA, en colaboración con el IIN, realizará el Foro con la Sociedad Civil previo al XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes a partir de las 14 horas del día 25 y durante el día 26 de agosto de 2009 en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Adjunto encontrará el borrador de agenda para su consideración.

Este espacio, organizado y convocado por el Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales (DAI) y el Instituto Interamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes (IIN), responde a la Resolución CP/RES. 759 (1217/99) “Directrices para la Participación de las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil en las Actividades de la OEA”, la cual fomenta la participación de organizaciones de la sociedad civil en los distintos espacios de los organismos, reuniones, foros y demás eventos de la Organización. Las conclusiones y recomendaciones a las que ellos lleguen son de su propia autoría y responsabilidad, y éstas serán distribuidas por el DAI y el IIN a los Estados Miembros. Adicionalmente en el XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes se tiene prevista la presentación de las conclusiones de este Foro, a cargo de un Representante que ellos designen.

En concordancia con dicha resolución, aquellas organizaciones de la sociedad civil que deseen participar en las mencionadas reuniones, deberán enviar una carta al Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales vía fax al 1-202-458-6319 o al correo electrónico civilsociety@oas.org, indicando su interés en participar en el Foro con la Sociedad Civil previo al XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes y en observar el XX Congreso Panamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes antes de las 5:00pm el 18 de agosto de 2009. Asimismo, aquellas organizaciones de la sociedad civil que no estén registradas en la OEA deberán incluir adicionalmente, en dicha comunicación, el acta constitutiva, los estatutos y el informe de actividades más reciente de su organización, siendo esta información suficiente para asegurar su participación.

The Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN) and the Department of International Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS are pleased to inform you that the XX Pan American Child Congress will be held September 23-25, 2009 in Lima, Peru.

The Pan American Child Congress, a body of the IIN, is an inter-American meeting, held at the Ministerial level, in which high-level government authorities on children’s issues in the hemisphere participate. The objective of the Congress is to promote the exchange of knowledge, experience and agreements between Member States of the Inter-American System.

The topics to be addressed in this meeting include: the Commemoration of the 82^nd Anniversary of the foundation of the IIN, 60 years of its integration as a Specialized Organ of the OAS and 20 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; public policies in Systems for Integral Protection, including local systems; child participation in building citizenship and the influence in public policies; development of international, regional and bilateral cooperation in public policies.

In order to offer civil society organizations an opportunity to formulate recommendations about the above-mentioned topics and present them for the consideration of the Member States in their deliberations of the final Resolution, the Department of International Affairs of the OAS, in collaboration with the IIN, will hold the Civil Society Forum prior to the XX Pan American Child Congress beginning at 2:00 pm on August 25 and all day August 26, 2009 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Please see attached the draft agenda for your reference.

This space, organized and convened by the Department of International Affairs (DIA) and the Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN), is held in accordance with Resolution CP/RES. 759 (1217/99) “Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities,” which supports the participation of civil society organizations in the various spaces of the political bodies, meetings, forums and other events of the Organization. The conclusions and recommendations arrived at by civil society will be distributed by DIA and the IIN to the Member States. Furthermore, a civil society representative will be designated during the Civil Society Forum to present the conclusions and recommendations during the XX Pan American Child Congress.

In accordance with above-mentioned resolution, civil society organizations that wish to participate in these meetings, should send a letter to the Department of International Affairs by fax (202.458.6319) or email (civilsociety@oas.org) indicating their interest in participating in the Civil Society Forum prior to the XX Pan American Child Congress and observing the XX Pan American Child Congress by August 18, 2009. Moreover, those civil society organizations which are not registered in the OAS must also submit the official charter, statutes, and most recent annual report of activities of their organization to be eligible to participate.

Todos los derechos para todos los niños, niños y adolescentes

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