Focus on Arts and Ecology

Purpose of the articles posted in the blog is to share knowledge and occurring events for ecology and biodiversity conservation and protection whereas biology will be human’s security. Remember, these are meant to be conversation starters, not mere broadcasts :) so I kindly request and would vastly prefer that you share your comments and thoughts on the blog-version of this Focus on Arts and Ecology (all its past + present + future).

Premium Blogger Themes - Starting From $10
#Post Title #Post Title #Post Title

There Can Be No Future Without Children

Posted by Focus on Arts and Ecology on - -
0 nhận xét

7 August 2024 

Photo Credit: Pixabay

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Including children in the Pact for the Future is crucial to protect their rights, promote their well-being, ensure sustainable development, foster accountability, and consider the long-term impact of decisions.

By involving children, the Pact can be more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective in addressing the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Member States – governments at the UN – are furiously busy working on a major global policy document – a Pact for the Future. This will be one of the crucial planks of the upcoming Summit of the Future to be held in New York in September. The Summit’s aim is to forge a new international consensus on how to deliver a better present and safeguard the future. This is vital given the SDGs’ deadline is only six years away.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that “we can’t build a future for our grandchildren with a system built for our grandparents.” I agree wholeheartedly, but I am worried. This is because, despite this initiative’s focus on future generations, children under 18 years of age are barely included. Their voices and their needs are hardly mentioned in the pact.

The organization I represent in New York, World Vision International, is a child-focused organization. That does not just mean we work in the best interests of children, though we do, it also means we strive to ensure children under 18 have their say and are represented in decisions that affect the present and the future.

Here are five reasons that Members States and the UN must adopt a child-centered approach to both the Pact for the Future and the Summit of the Future:

1. Impact on children: Decisions and agreements made in the Pact for the Future will have a significant impact on children, as they are the present and future generations. Children are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of global challenges such as climate change, poverty, conflict, and inequality. By including children in the Pact, their specific needs, rights, and perspectives can be addressed, ensuring their well-being and future are prioritized.

2. Rights and well-being: Children have their own set of rights recognized under international law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights encompass areas such as education, health, protection from violence, and participation in decision-making processes. By explicitly referencing children in the Pact, their rights and well-being can be safeguarded and promoted, ensuring their voices are heard and their interests are considered.

3. Sustainable development: Achievement of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires a holistic and inclusive approach. Children are key stakeholders in sustainable development, and their inclusion in the Pact is crucial for addressing the inter-generational challenges and ensuring a sustainable and equitable future. Their perspectives and ideas can contribute to innovative solutions and strategies for achieving the SDGs.

4. Accountability and transparency: Including children in the Pact for the Future promotes accountability and transparency in decision-making processes. Children have the right to be heard and participate in matters that affect them, and their inclusion ensures their voices are taken into account. This fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among decision makers, as they are held accountable for the impact of their decisions on children’s lives.

5. Long-term impact: By including children in the Pact, Member States can ensure their needs and interests are considered in the planning, budgeting, and implementation processes. This ensures the long-term impact of policies and actions is taken into account as decisions made today will shape the future for children. Children’s perspectives can contribute to more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable outcomes that benefit both current and future generations.

Including children in the Pact for the Future is crucial to protect their rights, promote their well-being, ensure sustainable development, foster accountability, and consider the long-term impact of decisions. By involving children, the Pact can be more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective in addressing the challenges and opportunities of the future.

(Sources: International Institute for Sustainable Development)

Posted in
    Powered By Blogger