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LATIN AMERICA |
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Latin American Countries Mark 20th
Anniversary of UN Children's Rights
Convention
By Alejandra del Palacio
Many Latin American countries have launched
different political, cultural, sports and
entertainment activities to mark the 20th
anniversary of the Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC).
At an official ceremony, Chilean President
Michelle Bachelet said her government has a
policy of providing support for children
from the poorest families, by offering them
free day-care centers and free
kindergartens.
Since September, the Chilean Judicial
Assistance Corporation has launched various
activities aimed at soliciting opinions and
suggestions from children and teenagers on
the fulfillment of their rights, she said.
In Venezuela, the state-run Simon Bolivar
symphony orchestra staged a special concert
to mark the occasion.
In Ecuador, more than 3,000 school children
celebrated Universal Children's Day with
colorful performances of music, gymnastics
and songs at Teodoro Gallegos Borja Stadium
in Riobamba.
Celebrations in Cuba included a forum of
international discussion on children's
conditions, held at the Central Palace of
Computing in Havana.
Jose Juan Ortiz Bry, UNICEF's representative
in Cuba, told the forum that providing
protection for children does not require
lots of money and political will is the key.
Bolivian President Evo Morales, speaking at
the celebrations, urged world leaders to
work for protecting the Earth as the only
means to guarantee children's rights.
"The defense of human and children's rights
goes beyond ceremonies, that's why I propose
to save the Earth, because that will mean to
save water" Morales said.
"Without water, it is impossible to produce
food. Saving water is the best way to
guarantee the rights of the children in the
world," he said.
When having breakfast with children from
Cochabamba province, the Bolivian president
told the kids that his biggest dream is "the
children are well fed and have free
breakfast and lunch at school."
Meanwhile, the Office for Central America
and Panama of the European Commission (EC)
based in Nicaragua hailed progress in the
promotion and protection of the children's
rights in the region.
The EC said in a statement that the CRC is a
"legal milestone" in the protection of the
children of the world without exception and
that "the European Union has tried to
fulfill its promises regarding the rights
and needs of the children."
The CRC, which was approved on Nov. 20,
1989, has been ratified by all UN members
except the United States and Somalia.
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