International Children´s Rights Day

International Children´s Rights Day

August 2017 (2)A day designated to children´s rights. On November 20, 1989 the United Nations passed the International Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international treaty that is legally binding. Much has happened since to give children, to address their needs and to enforce their rights

Having said that, statistic on global poverty amongst children, violence, abuse, child marriages and child labor will demonstrate that these efforts have been insufficient. “Millions of children are still deprived of their rights“, explains UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Dr. h.c. Ute-Henriette Ohoven. For more than 30 years, she has dedicated herself to the protection of children and the fight for their rights. Her YOU Foundation initiates projects and programmes for children and adolescents around the world.

Until today, in many families violence against children is a daily occurrence. More than one billion children are the object of physical punishment. It is estimated that 70 million girls have experienced physical violence or have been raped. In addition, a huge number of children live in unimaginable poverty, experience hunger and/or are forced to perform child labor. “For almost 30 years, we have the United Nations children´s rights. This fact alone, however, is no reason to ease up on our efforts. I have seen with my own eyes how child welfare has been violated. At the same time, children are the members of our society that are the least capable to defend themselves”, says Ute-Henriette Ohoven.

Far to Often Children are Deprived of Their Rights

Around the globe, the foundation has established educational institutions where children and adolescents are treated properly. In these sanctuaries, children can be children and are granted a temporary reprieve from their often brutal everyday life.  They are taken care of, encouraged and kept safe. Our kindergarten „Kinderglück Joyde“ in Ouakam, Sengal, is a typical example for the institutions the YOU foundation sets up. Here, approximately 80 children divided into several groups enjoy the care and nurturing of highly trained preschool teachers –  als Fischverkäuferinnen arbeiten.
They have access to pedagogical resources, as well as to age-appropriate toys they can play with in a closed courtyard. They are given the opportunity to explore their interests and are prepared for the demands school will place on them. Regrettably, many of their peers are left in the streets to fend for themselves. “The existence of international children´s rights is meaningless, if we do not enforce them”, says Ute-Henriette Ohoven.
The YOU Foundation – Education for Children in Need, an initiative of UNESCO Special Envoy Dr. h.c. Ute-Henriette Ohoven, is committed to education for the poorest of the poor worldwide.

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