The Foundation for the Child and the Family, as part of the celebrations of International Children's Day - 11th December - organized a meeting on the subject of "The International Treaty for Children's Rights, and the role of the European Union".
This Treaty, although signed by the member states of the European Community and by many other countries, is often violated, resulting in the shameful scenes which so often come to the attention of the public : children suffering from hunger, homeless and unprotected children, maltreated children, children deprived of elementary education, child-victims of exploitation, children who live in conditions of misery and fear.... Scenes which are a part of everyday life in even the most advanced societies, and of ours.
Opening the proceedings, Mrs Marianna Vardinoyannis, President of the Foundation, said, among other things, "The fact that we still speak today of the need for the recognition of children's rights, in other words that these rights are still not taken for granted, nor respected, by everyone, shows us the extent of the problem and the need for an awakening and a pooling of forces"
It is for this reason that the awareness and mobilisation of the citizens of Europe in the field of children's rights, must be intensified and made more effective, as was pointed out by the speakers at this meeting - Mr Antonis Komninos, president of the Greek Committee for Cooperation with UNICEF, Mr Marios Kamchis, Director of the Representation of the European Commission in Greece, Mr Ioannis Roumbatis, euro-MP.
The speakers referred to the role of the European Parliament and to developments, at an European level, of matters concerning the child. They underlined the fact that, despite the efforts that have been made up to now, serious and acute problems, especially those connected with the fight against violence and criminality aimed at children, demand urgent solutions. All the speakers emphasised the need for the European Union and the peoples of Europe to assume a leading role in all areas relating to children, and the need for the respect of children's rights.
The Foundation for the Child and the Family, in its efforts to contribute to the campaign for the awareness of citizens and of the children themselves, presented the book entitled "THE TEN BASIC PRINCIPLES of the United Nations' declaration of Children's Rights", illustrated by the artist Manolis Charos.
The wish and the message expressed by this meeting, which took place in the packed hall of the Offices of the European Parliament in Greece, was the need for the application of the Principles of the Declaration of Children's Rights to all attitudes and actions which affect children, and our common responsibility and collaboration in the realization of this wish.
