June 21: Child Well-Being, Participation and Rights Symposium

(14 Jun 04) The Foundation for International Training and
South Asia Partnership Canada
invite you to a Symposium on:

CHILD WELL-BEING, PARTICIPATION AND RIGHTS:
Reviewing and Rethinking Programming Strategies

Date: Monday June 21, 2004

Time: 9:30 to 12:30

Location: Chapleau Room, Palais des Congr�s,

200 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Qu�bec.

Concern for children living in poverty is by no means a new phenomenon; since the 1950�s no other single group has been targeted so consistently by international aid organisations as children. Addressing the needs of these children from a rights perspective works to ensure that children�s basic human rights are recognized and respected by society. However, acknowledging the rights of children is just the beginning. Promoting and protecting child rights involves working with different models of rights-based programming to ensure well-being through child participation and holistic approaches to safeguarding the rights of children�namely protection, survival, participation and development rights.

At this Symposium, these issues will be explored through presentation and discussion. It will also provide the opportunity to examine the key programming strategies being implemented by governments and the international donor community to promote child well-being from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Dr. Roger Hart, expert in child participation and child rights, from the Children’s Environments Research Group at the Center for Human Environments and the Environmental Psychology Program at the City University of New York, will review challenges and opportunities to engage children in meaningful participation in rights-based programming.

Dr. Katherine Covell, child rights specialist from the Children�s Rights Centre at the University College of Cape Breton, will discuss the key differences between rights and needs based approaches, and explore how these two approaches can be integrated for effective child protection programming.

Natalie Zend, Senior Child Rights Analyst with CIDA�s Child Protection Unit, will discuss CIDA�s adoption of rights-based approaches in its Action Plan on Child Protection, lessons learned in child participation and review current CIDA activities.

We hope you can join us for this opportunity to share ideas and engage in discussion on emerging issues of child well-being.

Kindly RSVP by June 14, 2004 to:

Shireen Mohammed, Senior Program Coordinator
Email: shireen_mohammed@ffit.org
Tel: (905) 305-8680 extension 224
Fax: (905) 305-8681
Foundation for International Training
7181 Woodbine Avenue, Suite 110,
Markham, Ontario, L3R 1A3