2019 is the year we should all be thinking about childhood
27 January 2019
•By Joe
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will mark its 30th anniversary in 2019. As one of the most ratified human rights treaties in history, the CRC has played a significant and vital role in both defining and upholding the rights of children. It ensures we value children’s lives now, not only their adult futures. The CRC has also resulted in the implementation of child protection policies and legislation in almost all developing countries. However, progress has been uneven, and the rights of many millions of children continue to be violated. This year there will also be a renewed focus on how we uphold every child’s right to live free from violence and exploitation, with the United Nations undertaking its first review of SDG 16.2. As the world shines a spotlight on children’s rights in 2019, ChildFund Australia will be a prominent voice on the importance of childhood for all children ̶ a childhood where children are nurtured, protected and have opportunities to reach their full potential. We know childhood has a deadline and we must do all in our power to be a champion for children. In 2019, we will speak up for childhoods.
The right to be nurtured
Too many children face extreme disadvantage from their earliest years. They are born in unsafe conditions , lacking proper nutrition , safe water and healthcare . Giving parents access to basic necessities, as well as the tools and knowledge they need to raise healthy, resilient children, increases a child’s chance of survival dramatically. Every child should have a childhood where they feel cared for, encouraged and valued. ChildFund believes every child has the right to live in a nurturing environment. We must do all in our power to ensure that every child can survive and thrive. We want every child to be able to say: “I have a future.” ChildFund implements programs that prioritise health and wellbeing , and build children’s resilience , working with their families and communities to ensure their basic human rights are safeguarded and upheld.
