General Secretariat

Message from Jean Ayoub, ISS Secretary General

Dear all

As we mark today the 26th anniversary on the 1989 Convention on the right of the Child, we thought opportune that we remember together couple of salient articles from this convention that guide, alongside all other articles evidently, ISS work every day and worldwide. We wish to mention those specific articles produced below as It does seem unfortunately that in today's battered world there is a general amnesia at all levels of society be it public or private, civil or military to what the convention – that has achieved since a quasi-full list of signatories among states worldwide – stands for and or trying to achieve!

We can be proud that at ISS level and fortunately among many other NGOs, IOs and other form of organizations, CRC is alive in our activities, actions and advocacy plans. Today more than ever, with our daily work, in our plans for the future, in our exchanges with partners, in our representation activities and in our thoughts, we need to double our efforts to uphold CRC objectives, intended effects and outreach.

Keep up the good work!

 Article 2

1. States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the
present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without
discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's
or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or
other status.

2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the
child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the
basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child's
parents, legal guardians, or family members.

Article 3

1. In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or
private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities
or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary
consideration.

Article 19

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative,
administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all
forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent
treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the
care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of
the child.

2. Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective
procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary
support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as
for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral,
investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment
described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.