Kids Empowerment

04/04/2024

Le samedi 27 avril après-midi, la Marche s'élancera de la place de la République à Paris et empruntera les boulevards pour déboucher sur la place de la Bastille.
En cas d'imprévu, inscrivez-vous à la newsletter pour connaître toutes les dernières actualités de la MEJ.

Voir le site internet pour plus d'informations!

https://www.marche-enfance-jeunesse.fr/?fbclid=IwAR3fv7ENOYPBoFEYYmdTCwehWjtXYgBmJcGRUeOyWRY0Q3zWcoaMZ7jbTtk_aem_ATY8fg-o1AwfZ0RWJS1YGvuiaVvd-IjEScV4hKwOhw5ZaKaglKf9-SqiJDppZEnbuw7wie-NuwIAfsVaDNrZbEpl

La Marche pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse s'adresse à toutes les personnes, jeunes et moins jeunes, qui veulent exprimer leur intérêt pour les droits des mineur·es et jeunes majeur·es. Enfants, étudiant·es, parents, professionnel·les, associations sont attendu·es en nombre à cette manifestat...

04/04/2024

Le 27 avril, à Paris, rejoignez la Marche pour l'Enfance et la Jeunesse, la première grande manifestation publique pour les droits des enfants et des jeunes organisée par le COFRADE !
LA MEJ : POURQUOI ?
En France, les enfants sont au nombre de 15 millions. Mais aujourd’hui, force est de constater que la catégorie d’enfant est une étiquette jugée dépréciative par la plupart d’entre eux, et, d’ailleurs, également par nombre d’adultes, puisque même les principaux·ales concerné·es ne descendent pas défendre leurs droits dans la rue.
Il est impératif de donner aux jeunes le moyen d’occuper pacifiquement l'espace public pour visibiliser leur participation à la société et réaffirmer leur appartenance au corps citoyen !
LE 27 AVRIL : POURQUOI ?
Lors du débat d’entre-deux-tours des élections présidentielles d’avril 2022, Emmanuel Macron déclarait que “la protection de l’enfance sera[it] au cœur des 5 prochaines années.” Deux ans plus t**d, il est temps de dresser un bilan. L’enfance est-elle vraiment devenue la priorité qu’elle devrait être depuis tant d’années ?
LA MEJ : POUR QUI ?
La MEJ se veut être une rencontre généraliste et intersectionnelle, à l’image du domaine des droits des enfants :
éducation, santé, numérique, loisirs et culture, handicap, violences, aide sociale, justice, discriminations, mineur·es non accompagné·es, écologie, égalité des genres, droits LGBTQIA+, antiracisme…
Autant de domaines concernés par les droits des enfants, et que nous invitons à rendre visibles le 27 avril.
Pour redonner aux jeunes la place qu’ils méritent dans le corps citoyen,
Pour que l’enfance et la jeunesse deviennent enfin les priorités qu’elles devraient être,
Le 27 avril, rejoignez la Marche pour l’Enfance et la Jeunesse, la première grande manifestation publique pour les droits des enfants et des jeunes !

03/04/2024

April 2nd is International Children's Book Day and it is a day where we can direct our attention to the education of children worldwide. A report conducted by UNICEF, stated that “children from the poorest households benefit the least from national public funding” which examined data from 102 countries combined. The report; Transforming Education with Equitable Financing, reviews government spending from pre-primary through tertiary education. It states that in order for education to be effective and for reform to occur, “investing in the education of the poorest children is the most cost-effective way to ensure the future for children” (UNICEF, Catherine Russell). This report demonstrates that there are considerable gaps among low-income countries and that children from the richest households benefit from over 6 times the amount of funding for public education compared to the poorest learners.

This has become a never ending cycle because the children that are living in poverty are less likely to have access to school or a good education, and then are more likely to drop out early and not reach higher education. They are also less represent in higher levels of education and are more likely to live in remote or rural areas, and receive a lack of attention in order for progress to occur within their education system. There are ways in order to increase the public education to ensure that more children from low income communities receive proper public education, however it all starts at the funding. With just a one percentage increase in the resources directed towards public education within the poorest quintile of students, it could feasibly lift 35 million primary children out of learning poverty (UNICEF). What this implies, is that by directing funds to the areas and the children that need it the most, actual progress within global education can be achieved, and more kids around the globe will have access to an actual education system.

In Article 18 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it states that “States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
(a) Make primary education compulsory and available free to all” (CRC). This directly states that it is the duty of the world to take the measures necessary in order to make primary education compulsory and available to all. However, if a child’s public education system is incredibly weak and poor, then it will not provide the support needed in order to ensure that child’s education and future success. There must be a change in the allocation of resources to ensure that every child has a right to a proper education, and so that they themselves will be able to celebrate and read a book, on International Children’s Book Day.

Link to report:https://www.unicef.org/media/133431/file/Transforming%20Education%20with%20Equitable%20Financing.pdf

28/03/2024

A recent report conducted by the government of the United Kingdom, Home Office, released a report on the re-inspection of the use of common hotels for housing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. In 2022, an inspection revealed shortcomings in effectively identifying and addressing the needs of children housed by the Home Office within hotels, leading to inconsistent safeguarding and welfare outcomes. These hotels can often be found to consist of unsafe circumstances and with traits that are not adequate places for a child.

Now in 2024, another assessment was conducted that did notice some improvements, such as the recruitment of social work and nursing managers in order to supervise the agency staff. However, there is limited evidence of the children’s input influencing any improvements that the hotel may begin to operate. Feedback collection from children is extremely limited and the children within the hotels had minimal access to advocacy. There was additionally no written information for the child, within their own language, in order to help them understand what next steps awaited them in their transfer and asylum process. “Additionally, a fundamental gap still exists in terms of defining who is ultimately responsible for the children and for safeguarding decisions in hotels, given there is no corporate parent or designated safeguarding lead” Home Office.

This report is incredibly important as it sheds light on the discrepancies that exist within these hotels that house these children. Once children are placed in the care of the government, they are responsible to ensure that their services or institutions are adequate in order to house unaccompanied minors. Within Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it clearly states that “States Parties shall ensure that the institutions, services and facilities responsible for the care or protection of children shall conform with the standards established by competent authorities, particularly in the areas of safety, health, in the number and suitability of their staff, as well as competent supervision” United Nations. If these hotels that are housing children are not living up to necessary health standards, then immediate changes need to be implemented.

Link to report:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65e07349f1cab36b60fc47ba/A_re-inspection_of_the_use_of_hotels_for_housing_unaccompanied_asylum-seeking_children_September_to_October_2023.pdf

28/03/2024

On the 13th of March, the United Nation released a news piece on Gaza, and that the number of children killed within 4 months, is now higher than from the last 4 years combined. “More than ten children per day, on average, have lost one or both legs in Gaza since the conflict erupted four months ago, according to Save the Children. UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, estimates that at least 17,000 children are unaccompanied or separated from their parents, and almost all of Gaza’s 1.2 million children are in need of mental health and psychosocial support” UN. It is difficult to put into words aiming to describe what is occurring in Gaza right now. Children are dying at an alarming rate and are being stripped away from the opportunity to grow up and live their lives.

The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 6, states that “States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child”. What is occurring right now in Gaza, is stealing away their inherent right; to live.

One in three children under age 2 in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, and famine is looming, the main U.N. agency operating in the Palestinian enclave said on Saturday. Children are starving, children are suffering, and children are being killed. The United Nations has claimed that 13,000 children have died in Gaza. Not enough is occurring in order to attempt to save these children’s lives and respect their inherent human right.

Link to UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147512

17/03/2024

March is officially Women’s History Month, and it is a time where we can direct our attention to certain issues that pertain women and girls issues all over the world. A prevalent topic that affects over 230 million girls and women within certain countries, is female ge***al mutilation (FGM). “Africa accounts for the largest share of this total, with over 144 million. Asia follows with over 80 million, and a further 6 million are in the Middle East” UNICEF. The most common within the African countries include Kenya, Somalia, Guinea, and Djibouti. 90% of those operations are conducted on young girls and are making way for legal cases within European countries that have had to deal with the repercussions of this practice from other countries.

On the 16th of February, a criminal court case took place, resulting in the conviction of Amina Noor. A woman found guilty under section 2 of the Female Ge***al Mutilation Act of 2003. The act of FGM and specifically pertaining to this case, directly violates Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of a Child. Article 19 states that “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”, United Nations.

Additionally, this case is incredibly important within the precedence of the United Kingdom, because it convicted a case where the physical event of FGM occurred outside of the UK. It was the first time that a person within England and Wales had been convicted of the act of FGM, with it being committed abroad. Demonstrating the importance of this case, due to the ability of a conviction occurring even if the event itself was conducted outside of the country. The sentencing of Amina Noor occurred due to her involvement with aiding, abetting, and procuring a person for the act of female ge***al mutilation on a UK national girl out of the UK. By that verdict, the court condemned her, found her guilty, and sentenced her to 7 years in prison. The maximum sentence for committing the act of FGM, being 14 years. This case demonstrated to be an incredibly impactful one as it provided precedent for a new start within the United Kingdom. One where the condemning of FGM operated outside of the country was viable, and one that condemns the violation of Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of a Child. In doing so, using their legal ability in order to protect this young girl and her rights.

Link to case:https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/R-v-Amina-Noor-Approved-Sentencing-Remarks.pdf
Link to Article 19:https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/crc.c.gc.13_en.pdf

23/12/2023

20/11/2023

Ce 20 novembre, le monde célèbre la Journée Internationale des Droits de l’Enfant, qui consacre un ensemble de droits fondamentaux à “tout être humain âgé de moins de dix-huit ans”.
En France, force est de constater que des enfants sont victimes de discriminations. C’est notamment le cas des mineur·es isolé·es étranger·es qui sollicitent une protection de nos institutions, faute de représentant·e légal·e sur le territoire.
Si les mineur·es isolé·es étranger·es ne bénéficient pas des droits qui leurs sont reconnus, cela s’explique principalement par le fait qu’ils et elles sont avant tout considéré·es comme des étranger·es à suspecter plutôt que comme des enfants à protéger. La société française doit donc changer son regard sur eux et elles, afin que l’intérêt supérieur de l’enfant prime sur toute autre considération.
C’est pour rappeler cette évidence que nos organisations lancent aujourd’hui une campagne de sensibilisation. Nous appelons à un sursaut citoyen et politique pour que les droits prescrits par la Convention internationale des Droits de l’Enfant soient effectifs pour l’ensemble des mineur·es isolé·es étranger·es.
Illustrations : Mathieu Letellier - les carnets de Mat Let

26/03/2023

On February 21st, Le Collège de France hosted speakers that spoke on immigration. Serge Salma, a professor of public law at the University of Grenoble-Alpes specializing in the fundamental rights of immigrants, led a presentation about the French Constitutional Council (CC) and its role regarding immigration laws, status, and expulsion.

Salma pointed out that the French Constitution does not explicitly mention immigrants or the rights that they should be provided within France; therefore, the CC largely ignored immigrant issues.

Between 1988 and 2010, the court released 15 decisions regarding the rights of immigrants and 10 regarding deportation and expulsion. However, a majority of the decisions passed by the Constitutional court led to the successive weakening of the advantages granted to immigrants in the process of deportation and of the jurisdictional control without hesitancy. For example, the possibility of detaining a minor accompanied by an adult (Decision Number 2018-770 DC of September 6, 2018).

The CC recognized that the constitutional requirement that the best interests of the child must, in particular with regard to the conditions of detention, be the subject of special attention in the implementation of these measures. Thus, it is clarified that detention decisions must be carried out by the legislator to preserve the interest for the minor by carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of not being placed in detention and being separated from the one he or she accompanies.

Attached below is the link to the September 6th, 2018 decision where you can find the exact language the CC used in regards to the validation of the possibility of detaining minors in paragraph 62 and 63.

https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/decision/2018/2018770DC.htm

21/03/2023

On March 17th, the International Criminal Court released an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova. The ICC accused Putin and Lvova-Belova of war crimes that include the unlawful deportation of children into Russian territory. He has transferred at least 6,000 children into Russian adoption centers with the believed intention to expedite Russian citizenship.

It is prohibited for an occupying power to transfer any persons from their home country to another, but children are particularly protected under the Geneva Convention and Convention on the Rights of the Child. Russia’s displacement of Ukrainian orphans violates the various articles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child that are to follow:

The systematic displacement of over 6,000 children by the Russian government grossly infringes on a child’s right to best interests (Article 3), preservation of identity (Article 8 ), to maintain relations with their family (Article 9), protection from unlawful transportation (Article 11) and the priority of care to be in the child’s home country (Article 21). By submitting an official decree against the two Russian leaders, the ICC is demanding accountability for their non-compliance and taking an important step in the prevention of further crimes against children.

Today, 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova. Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Put...