Constitutionalism for Kids

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Thursday December 15, 2005 13:17 by iosaf

a few seperate developments have caught my eye in the global and local area of children and rights this morning.

& I hope the readership see how they come together.

Chavez, Uribe, UNICEF, birth certs and Barnardos.

The right and left wing faces of Bolivarian leadership where kids still sniff glue.

in no particular order-
* Mr Chavez has won the UNICEF José Martí prize which will be conferred on him next January 28th in Havana for helping the children of his country.
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/320728.html

* He received the news as he joined with neighbouring president Uribe to commemorate the death of Bolivar and they made a joint statement which included their hopes for the kids of tomorrow.
http://www.europapress.es/europa2003/noticia.aspx?cod=20051214235040&tabID=1&ch=69
It has proved an opportunity for both men whose animosity has waned in the last year thanks to the good efforts (perhaps) of Spain and the shifting pole of South American politics especially in the "bolivarian states" of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru, we have ample info on these states "use the search engine".

* Barnardo's are calling for children's rights to be enshrined in the Irish constitution. As we know the rights of children born in the state to citizenship has seemed more important to the current minister for justice than the economic or social conditions guaranteed them.
Norah Gibbons their spokesperson has this morning said ""In some situations, there is a conflict between what parents want and what children may need, for example, if parents want to, for religious or other reasons, refuse medical attention to a child." "Because of our constitution, the courts are unable to secure that right in all instances for a child."
here's their site:-
http://www.barnardos.ie/

UNICEF has announced that at least 6 million children have been trafficked as slaves in 2005.

In addition they have issued today their annual report on the state of the worlds children and it makes horrible reading.
http://www.unicef.org/sowc06/intro.html

They are also hoping that richer nations and the politicians who would represent them, focus on the 50 million children who go "unregistered" in the world every year. "invisible" children receive no education, no vaccines, and don't get to sit exams.

The last UNICEF report is here so you can "compare and contrast" :-

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=67903&search_text=unicef

Needless to say, you can buy christmas cards.
You can also think about voting next year for a party which cherishes the future of both Irish children and the poorest children on earth. There are thankfully a few options available to you.