DCI e-newsletter - December 2017
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In this edition:
  • Latest news from Geneva: The Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty to commence its implementation phase // The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Joint General Comments on the Human Rights of Children in the Context of International Migration are now available // Justice for Children Award // DCI latest publications
  • DCI-Costa Rica: National Section of the month
  • Defence for Children International (DCI) highlights from around the world: DCI-Palestine: First - ever bill on Palestinian human rights introduced in US Congress // DCI-Uruguay meet the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein during his two-day visit to the country
  • Special edition: DCI celebrates Universal Children’s Day around the world
  • Upcoming Event: Paris World Congress on Justice for Children
Latest News from Geneva
The Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty to commence its implementation phase

Finally, a message that we have all been waiting for: substantive funds have been raised, ensuring that the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty effectively moves ahead and into its implementation phase. The idea to call for a Study was initially launched in 2014 by DCI together with other NGOs, which now form the official “NGO Panel” for the Study, and counts with a total of 140 NGO members from across the globe.

It is an important milestone to be able to finally move on to the Study’s effective realization, where members of the NGO Panel will be involved in actively contributing to the collection of data and information on the issue of children deprived of liberty. Defence for Children International (DCI) will continue to co-convene the NGO Panel for the Study, together with Human Rights Watch, in order to channel and ensure civil society engagement throughout the process. 

The Independent Expert for the Study, Professor Manfred Nowak, is working on a detailed implementation plan for the Study. It is foreseen that a Study questionnaire will be sent to all States, and research on the different thematic clusters will start in parallel. A questionnaire will also be sent to civil society organizations.

More updates soon!

CMW-CRC Joint General Comments on the Human Rights of Children in the Context of International Migration are now available!

The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families - CMW  and the Committee on the Rights of the Child - CRC developed two joint general comments addressing the human rights of all children in the context of international migration.

The process included global and regional consultations between May and July 2017 including children and organizations working on the topic. The Committees received more than 80 written contributions from States, United Nations agencies and entities, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders. The International Secretariat of DCI submitted contributions from DCI sections which were taken into account in the final version. Access both General Comments on the OHCHR website.

“No blame for being vulnerable: access to justice of disabled girls in Uganda on the example of sexual violence”
wins the 2nd edition of the Justice for Children Award
Filip Waszczuk second-year Master’s student on Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po – Paris (France), won the second edition of the “Justice for Children Award” competition, jointly organized by Defence for Children International (DCI) and the World Organization against Torture (OMCT) with his article « No blame for being vulnerable: access to justice of disabled girls in Uganda on the example of sexual violence ».
Jury members wished to express their particular appreciation for the article submitted by Ms. Ann Marie McDonald Master student in International Development at the Kimmage Development Studies Centre (Dublin). Her paper presented an analysis of the violence girls face in the justice system in Sierra Leone.

The aim of the Justice for Children Award competition is to encourage academic research within European Universities on the obstacles and challenges that compromise the realization of children’s rights in justice systems. Full winner articles (in English) and information on the Justice for Children Award is available on our website here.

Defence for Children International latest publications


We are happy to share with you the latest institutional brochures developed by Defence for Children International, where you can find more information about our activities for defending the rights of children and adolescents around the world. To access our brochures, click here.
News from our National Section of the month:
DCI - Costa Rica
This month the International Secretariat of Defence for Children International (DCI-IS) is highlighting the work done in the Americas region by sharing with you the different projects and campaigns lead by DCI-Costa Rica. 

On the occasion of the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour held by ILO on the
14th-17th of November, DCI-Costa Rica jointly with the “Time to Talk” campaign organised a consultation process with children and adolescents on the labour they undertake. The outcome of this consultation was presented at the Global Conference. Click here  for the video of the consultation process (in Spanish). 

Alarmed at the escalation of all forms of violence against children and adolescents in Costa Rica, DCI-Costa Rica is proposing an agenda of 10 commitments, to the political parties.  Aimed at preventing, protecting and combating all forms of violence against children and adolescents, the aim of the agenda is to reach a National Consensus within the country’s framework of electoral process. This campaign is called #10CompromisosPolíticosPorLosNNA (#10 political commitments for the children).  

Since last month DCI-Costa Rica has also been participating in 3 different projects to 1) Prevent gender violence, 2) Prevent and identify commercial and sexual exploitation and 3) Assist and train adolescent women and officials on improper unions. In addition to these projects, DCI-Costa Rica has also continued its work on the Project 180 degrees, dedicated to adolescents in vulnerable conditions. This project offers adolescents, aged 12-18 years, technical training and education on important themes. To give an example, sexual education is provided to teenagers to help prevent sexually transmitted infections, thus improving their quality of life.   For more information on DCI-Costa Rica’s work visit their Website,  Facebook page and YouTube page.

Other DCI highlights from around the world

DCI-Palestine: First-ever bill on Palestinian human rights introduced in US Congress 


On November 14th, 2017, members of Congress introduced a bill in the House to prevent U.S. tax dollars from paying for human rights violations against Palestinian children during Israeli military detention. 
 
The Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act requires the Secretary of State to certify annually, that no obligated or expended fund by the United States for assistance to Israel, has been used to support the ill-treatment of Palestinian children, detained by Israeli forces from the occupied West Bank. Defence for Children International – Palestine, assisted in the drafting of this bill, whilst being mindful of the number of children under the age of 18, estimated to be  five to seven hundred, who are annually prosecuted and convicted in Israeli military courts, with disregard for their fundamental rights to fair trials and proper protection. This bill aims to establish, as a minimum safeguard, a U.S. demand for basic due process rights , and for an absolute prohibition against torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian children, arrested and prosecuted within the Israeli military court system. 
 
To access the press release from DCI-Palestine’s website click here.

DCI-Uruguay briefed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on the human rights situation within the juvenile justice system in Uruguay during his two-day visit to the country.

On October 27th, 2017, Juan Fumeiro from DCI-Uruguay delivered a presentation about the situation of adolescents in conflict with the law in Uruguay, focusing on the excessive duration of pre-trial detention after the Parliament passed a reform to the Penal Code. During the visit of the UN High Commissioner, DCI-Uruguay warned that this new law is regressive going against article 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and called for the government to stop its approval in Congress. 
 
The High Commissioner considered DCI-Uruguay’s inputs, and during his visit expressed his concerns about the situation of adolescents in conflict with the law. He urged the government to take action stating that “young offenders are protected from violence and discrimination, and can have a real opportunity for reintegration into society”. To read the OHCHR full press release click here.
Special edition: Universal Children's Day
(November 20th)
Defence for Children International celebrates Universal Children's Day around the world on the 28th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 

Defence for Children International - France

DCI-France organized a day focused on the rights of the child on the 18th of November. Speakers during this event open to the public included Alex Kamarotos, Executive Director of DCI-International Secretariat, Sophie Graillat, President of DCI-France and Liliane Huguet, President of DCI-Gard. The topics of the day revolved around the main interactive exposition entitled “Des droits de l’homme aux droits de l’enfant.” The discussion was then focused on the current situation of children’s rights, followed by the inauguration of DCI-Gard, a new regional section in France, and a presentation of the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.

In addition, DCI-France issued a press-release highlighting the challenges that France is facing to fulfil its obligations towards children’s rights.

Defence for Children International - Colombia

DCI-Colombia participated in a thematic conference addressed to children, adolescents, youth, and key stakeholders. The overall theme was on the challenges for children’s rights in the context of the Colombian peace process. The purpose of the Conference was to reflect on the opportunities and challenges regarding the promotion, protection and defence of human rights. Also under review were the special measures that must be considered in the cases of children, adolescents and young people affected by the armed conflict, in the current process of the Peace Agreement implementation.

Defence for Children International - Americas

Several DCI sections from the Americas met on November 17th and issued the Buenos Aires declaration, calling to the governments of Latin America to redouble their efforts to defend the neglected rights of children and adolescents in the region.
DCI-Americas took this opportunity to remind the region of the challenges that it still faces on fulfilling children’s rights with respect to: the persistence of sexual violence, exploitation and worst forms of child and adolescent labour, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, children and adolescents, in migration contexts. Moreover, DCI-Americas highlighted the increase of heavy-handed policies with regard to demonstrations, increase in punishments, and criminal law as regulatory solutions for social conflict in the region.

To read the full declaration, click here.

Defence for Children International - Italy

DCI-Italy organized a seminar in the framework of the EU project ‘My Lawyer, My Rights’ that was held in Genoa with the participation of 150 lawyers. Funded by the European Commission and coordinated by DCI-Belgium, the project ‘My Lawyer, My Rights’ aims to advocate for the proper implementation and effective monitoring of the EU directives on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings, the right to have procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings, the right to interpretation and translation, and on the right to information.

The project advocates and provides practical tools to member States to set up national structures specialized in child legal and social aid, and practical tools to further develop and entrench the specific role of children’s lawyers, their training and structure to guarantee children’s rights, including systems and socio-legal defence centers.  For more information, please visit the  Facebook page  of DCI-Italy or the website of the ‘My Lawyer, My Rights’ project.

Defence for Children International - Ghana

DCI-Ghana started with 19 days of Activism (1-19 November) on the prevention of violence against children and Youth, and increased its outreach programs to communities and institutions to ensure that the UN Sustainable Development Goal- Target # 16.2 becomes a call to action to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children.
Throughout  these 19 days of Activism, DCI-Ghana organised trainings for women’s groups and awareness raising activities on the issue of violence against girls and young women. During these occasions issues of abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children were explained and discussed. Participants were also encouraged to advocate publicly against such issues and report cases to the appropriate authorities.

Upcoming events

World Congress on Justice for Children

Under the haut-patronage of UNESCO, the 2018 World Congress on Justice for Children will be held in Paris from 28-30 May 2018 to address three major issues:
  • The global trend towards children’s involvement in violent extremism and possible responses
  • The need for more effective ways to reduce juvenile offending and recidivism
  • How to improve protection mechanisms for vulnerable children, including early prevention.
The World Congress on Justice for Children aims to bring professionals and stakeholders from all around the world to share their perspectives on youth and family justice but also on the prevention of offending and violent extremism.

In this regard, the organizers and sponsors of this event – among which Defence for Children International -  opened a call for papers and workshops. For more information on this call and on the event please click here. (Information available in EN, FR and ES).
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Defence for Children International thanks you for your support and wishes you a happy holiday season!
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