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