The issue of Children, Adolescents and Family at Summit Meetings

By Silvana Bruno

Forums held within the Inter-American System
Summits of the Americas

1^st Summit of the Americas ( Miami, Florida, December 1994)

“Our final objective is to improve the way in which the needs of the population (especially the needs of women and people belonging to the most vulnerable groups, including indigenous groups, disabled people, children, senior citizens, and minorities) are met”.

During the development of the 1^st Summit, both in its Declaration and in its Plan of Action, the following subjects –among other- were discussed:

Human Rights

With regard to this aspect, special emphasis was placed on revising and strengthening those laws protecting the rights of the minorities, the rights of women and children, and also the rights of indigenous peoples and their communities, as well as the rights of disabled people.

Society and Community’s Participation

With regard to this aspect, emphasis was put on the importance of the Civil Society’s participation. In order to attain this purpose, Governments should revise and take measures aiming at improving participation, facilitating the way in which it operates, and developing the capacity to receive funds as well as fostering dynamic relations between public and private institutions and organizations.

2^nd Summit of the Americas (April 1998)

“We reaffirm our will to continue with this momentous enterprise that requires progressive national efforts and a dynamic international cooperation”.

During the development of the 2^nd Summit, both in its Declaration and in its Plan of Action, the following subjects –among other- were discussed:

Education

It has been defined as the key to progress. Leaders have set certain priorities with regard to the following aspects, some of which are: development of educational policies, teachers’ training, improvement of education’s quality, updating of regulations concerning education. From the point of view of the subject we are dealing with, two points are developed in the Plan of Action, which are transcribed next:

ü “They will, with the help of families and other persons involved, as well as social organizations, develop educational strategies, both within school and outside, that contribute to the education on values, especially focusing on the incorporation of democratic principles, human rights, the gender perspective, peace, tolerant coexistence and respect for the environment and natural resources.”

ü They will try to connect schools and communities through the use of technology, as a way of establishing links in the Hemisphere, encouraging high education institutions to participate in this process, since they have advantages in this field.

Democracy, Justice, and Human Rights

With regard to this issue, and according to the ratification of the Miami commands, it has been established that:

ü “They will, with the participation of the civil society, define and develop complete policies aimed at promoting and protecting human rights at national level, in accordance with international principles and regulations, and including these policies in the national plans or programs on human rights”.

Specifically in connection with the Rights of the Child it has been established

that:

ü They will, by means of strengthening international cooperation mechanisms, promote the adoption of educational, legal, and social measures to combat physical abuse, sexual abuse and trafficking involving minors, as well as child prostitution, child exploitation and pornography”.

Drugs

ü “They will strengthen national efforts and international cooperation in order to:

• Improve their national policies and plans concerning prevention of unlawful drug consumption and increase the number of measures aimed at preventing the growth and expansion of such consumption, and eliminate financial incentives to illegal trafficking”

Family

Although the issue of Family appears in many parts of this Plan of Action, as well as in the Declaration, this subject is approached through other subjects that are more relevant to this Summit. Thus we see this subject related to the issues of Migration, Labor, Drugs or Education.

Justice

ü “They will, as soon as possible, adjust their legislation, conduct the necessary institutional reforms and take the necessary measures that guarantee the complete protection of the rights of children and young people, in accordance with the obligations stated in the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child and in other international instruments”.

ü “They will, as the case may be, promote a differentiation between the procedures and the consequences of infringing the criminal law, and those measures that are taken in order to protect both children and young people whose rights are threatened or have been violated. Besides, they will promote the adoption of socio-educational measures for the rehabilitation of underage offenders”.

ü They will promote either the creation or strengthening –as the case may be- of a jurisdictional body specialized in matters concerning family”.

Children

As far as this field is concerned, the two points that are considered the most relevant ones and which are connected with our activity, are the ones who have been selected:

ü “Strengthening and creating (in case they do not already exist) national mechanisms and governmental bodies, as well as the corresponding regional and sub-regional networks in charge of promoting legal equality and equal opportunities for both women and men, focusing on gender equity”.

ü “Examining the existing laws and their implementation in order to identify those obstacles that hinder women’s full participation in our countries’ political, economic, social and cultural life. Whenever it is necessary they will foster reforms or new legislation to eliminate any kind of discrimination and violence against women, to guarantee the protection of the rights of Children ”.

Indigenous groups

ü “They will facilitate the arrangements for round-table discussions held together with members of indigenous groups, both at national level and within the hemisphere, with the purpose of promoting greater cooperation in the areas of health and education, placing special emphasis on the issues of children, women, poverty and development”.

Child labor

ü “At the same time, and in order to deal with the issue of child labor, governments will increasingly strengthen their general efforts and coordination between those institutions that are involved in this issue”.

3^rd Summit of the Americas ( Quebec, April 2001)

During the Third Summit, special emphasis was placed on the level of treatment of the issues concerning children and young people in the Americas. Among other items, there was established the need to ensure compliance with those conferences aimed at analyzing the welfare of this part of the population, and problems such as the international abduction of minors by one of their parents, children’s participation in armed conflicts or the use of children by irregular forces, were discussed in particular. With regard to this issue, there stood out in this Summit the participation by several international organizations. One of these organizations was the Inter-American Children’s Institute, since one of its characteristics is that of promoting the rights of children and young people.

By analyzing the Declaration and Plan of Action it can be seen that the issues connected with children were dealt with in the following way:

Human Rights

ü Promoting and strengthening the respect for Human Rights, signing and

ratifying international instruments and fulfilling international obligations

concerning women, children, senior citizens, indigenous groups, disabled

people and all those people belonging to vulnerable or discriminated groups

ü A special item is designated for dealing with the issue of Women’s Human

Rights

ü It is stated that the Human Rights of Children and Adolescents must be included on the Agendas of those Institutions existing in the Hemisphere. A special reference is made to the commitment to ratifying and signing, or rapidly adhering to the Optional Protocols of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and legal adjustment to the Convention by each country is also encouraged.

ü Prevention of Violence

Education

It is seen as a tool needed for strengthening Democracy, as a way of developing human potential, and as an element to reduce poverty. Different strategies involving all groups and people are designed.

Children and Young People

The importance of promoting the Rights of the Child to enable children’s full development is acknowledged at this Summit, as well as those kinds of intervention that focus on the protection against discrimination, inequality, abuse, exploitation and violence affecting those most vulnerable people; this also considered from the point of view of a gender perspective. Therefore, the following ideas have been stated:

ü The importance given to the implementation of the Agenda on Children affected by Wars

ü The tasks carried out by the Inter-American Children’s Institute.

ü Generating public policies aimed at ensuring the complete welfare and development of children and adolescents

ü Guaranteeing that children who are in conflict with the law are treated in a way that is consistent with their best interest and in accordance with the obligations arising from the Convention on the Rights of the Child and from other international instruments

ü Supporting the families in order to protect children and adolescents who are at risk, and also in order to protect them against situations involving Exploitation, discrimination, violence, or other factors

ü Fostering cooperation with regard to the issue of International Abduction of Minors by one of their parents.

ü Including birth registration of all children as part of the protection and promotion of the Rights of the Child and also in the implementation of policies and programs

ü Fostering young people’s participation and representation in all those issues affecting them, giving them access to reliable information, enabling them to express their opinions and contributing to organize discussions in forums and events (locally, nationally, etc)

Migration

ü “ They will commit themselves to cooperating and exchanging information amongst States as much as this is possible, in connection with the situation of illicit trafficking networks; including the development of preventive campaigns on the hazards and risks that migrants—particularly women and children, who may often be the victims of such trafficking—must face ”

Violence

After the 3^rd Summit, national and international organizations will be encouraged to work jointly and in a coordinated way on the prevention of violence against people, families and communities. There will also be calls for the Mass Communications Media and Entertaining Media to take part in the process of ending the promotion and diffusion of a culture of violence, thus promoting a culture of Peace.

Specific command for the IIN and other International Organizations

“They will strengthen the role played by the PAHO, the IIN and the CIDH [Inter-American Commission on Human Rights] as technical advisors for the SIRG as far as all the aspects connected with children are concerned, and will acknowledge the importance of the role played by these institutions in following the Summit’s relevant recommendations”

Summit of the Americas 1994 - 2001
	Democracy	Human Rights	Social and economic development	Education	Justice	Social and health-related aspects
1^st 1994	Democracy	§ Discrimination, § Social Justice, § Migrating families	§Sustainable development §Economic integration, §Free trade §Environment	§ Universal access		§ Poverty: § Access to Education § Access to Health-Care Services § Women’s role § Small enterprises
2^nd 1998	Democracy	§ Women, § Indigenous groups § Migrating workers § Vulnerable groups § Commercial sexual exploitation § Child trafficking	§Economic development §Economic integration §Free trade	§ Education	§ Strengthening of the Judicial System	§ Poverty: § Nutrition § Health § Breastfeeding § Sustainable development
3^rd 2001	Democracy	§ International regulations § System of Human Rights § Women § Children § Freedom of opinion and expression § Indigenous groups	§Civil Society’s Participation §Sustainable development	§ Educational systems § Quality of Education § Education Technology	§ Rule of Law § Security of the Individual § Prevention of Violence	§ Health § Reform of the health system § Immunization § Gender § Cultural diversity

Conferences of Spouses of Heads of State and Government of the Americas

The origins of this Conference date back to 1980, when First Ladies from Central America decided to gather in order to exchange experiences and integrate aims, projects and action and cooperation mechanisms within their countries. The eight previous Conferences that are not mentioned in this report[1] were held in: Bolivia (1996), Saint Lucia (1994), Costa Rica (1993), Colombia (1992) and Venezuela (1991). Those issues connected with social welfare, such as health, education, violence, and the increase in the participation of women and children in society, are the ones that have been discussed at these Conferences. Since 1991 First Ladies have periodically held meetings to exchange and analyze experiences about the way in which social policies are fostered in each one of their countries, and also in order to develop strategies that promote the development and welfare of people living in the Region.

5^th Conference ( Asunción, Paraguay, October 1995)

After the Paraguay Declaration the Spouses of Heads of State and Government have established the following as a priority: “ Working for women’s and children’s health and education, in accordance with these principles: complete development, equity, democratization of the information and knowledge and participation by family and society”

7^thConference (Panama, October 1997)

According to certain information taken from the web[2], discussions at this meeting focused on the following issues: mechanisms to eradicate child ill-treatment, women’s incorporation to production, education on human rights and the situation of schools in the 21^st century. According to this source, the declaration that was signed would entail joining efforts in order to eradicate child labor and eliminating all forms of discrimination against children. Concern for the persistent levels of poverty and inequality amongst Latin American women living in rural areas was also manifested. It also says in the report that another commitment would be aimed at increasing and improving education, training and information systems as well as technology in order for people to be able to contribute to their countries’ development. The article points out that `the meeting ended with the First Ladies’ request to designate an International Year for the Eradication of Child Labor’.

8^thConference (Santiago, September 1998)

The main issues dealt with at this Conference were divided into three broad areas: Education, Familial Violence and Promotion of Participation Rights. The basic outline of those three central issues is as follows:

ü Healthy schools

ü Sex education

ü Prevention of HIV infection/AIDS

ü Integration of women from rural areas

ü Legislation, judicial system and judges’ training on issues concerning violence

ü Protection of children at schools

ü Women’s leadership

ü Senior citizens

9^th Conference (Ottawa, Canada, October 1999)

For the purpose of participating in this Conference, those non-governmental organizations that work actively and are committed to improving the conditions for child development and women’s welfare all around the hemisphere, were asked to present their projects and exchange strategies and tangible solutions for the challenges that are to be faced with regard to women’s health and child development in the Region. In its Declaration they reaffirmed the intention to contribute to the improvement in their peoples’ living conditions and their will to give priority to the most vulnerable groups in the community, as well as to the most urgent social problems and needs. They also acknowledged the need for the civil society’s participation and the importance of its role as a facilitating and supporting and facilitating agent for the implementation of the aims stated in this Declaration.

The following issues are the ones included in the Ottawa Declaration:

:

ü Equal opportunities

ü Participation by all persons playing an important role in the society

ü Vulnerability

ü Women

ü Violence

ü The welfare of Women and Children

ü Child early development

ü HIV/AIDS

ü Rights of the Child: Rights to protection, the Right to a Name (birth registration)

ü Infant mortality

ü Children and Culture of Peace

10^th Conference (Quito, Ecuador, November 2001)

From the beginning of the “Quito Declaration for Adolescents” First Ladies have embraced the commitment to contributing to the development and welfare of those adolescents living in the Region, as well as the commitment to fostering those adolescents’ participation in different areas and to acknowledging their rights and their potential.

The importance of Family as far as the development and welfare of adolescents is concerned is reflected in the twenty commitments that were made. Next there follow the main issues that are included in the Declaration:

ü Social risk

ü Participation

ü Family

ü Sexuality

ü Violence

ü Disabilities

ü Culture of Peace

ü International Regulations (Conventions, Protocols)

11^th Conference (Mexico, September 2002)

The 11^th Conference of First Ladies established their commitment to promoting and contributing to the complete development of children in their own slogan (“Children and Poverty”). Starting from this commitment the Plan of Action was then generated.

The purpose of this Plan of Action is that of “Fostering the creation and improvement of social programs that have an effective and measurable impact on those children living in poverty, with the participation of governments, civil society’s organizations and international organizations in order for children to have a certain number of basic capacities and opportunities that enable them to achieve and keep a standard of living with quality and dignity”. In order to develop this Plan of Action three strategic guidelines were established:

1. Promotion of a healthy childhood, including the following issues:

ü Mortality

ü Basic Health Care

ü HIV/AIDS

ü Prevention of nicotine poisoning and use of alcohol, drugs or other substances

2. Education of children for life

ü Early education

ü Values

ü Sexuality

3. A favorable environment for children

ü Violence

ü Worst forms of exploitation

ü Child care

ü Environment

Conferences of Spouses of Heads of State and Government of the States 1995- 2002
11^th Conference 2002	Children and Poverty
10^th Conference 2001	Adolescents from the Americas: the makers of a new millennium
9^th Conference 1999	Women from the Americas: agents for progress
8^th Conference 1998	America is Now Building the Paths to the year 2000
7^th Conference 1997	Let us build America’s Future with Human Rights and a Culture of Peace
5^th Conference 1995	Paraguay Declaration

Meeting of First Ladies from Central America, Belize, Panama and the Dominican Republic

The background to the call for these Meetings of First Ladies from Central America, Belize, Panama and the Dominican Republic are stated in:

1. The 11^th Summit of First Ladies from Central America, promoting the creation of an Information Centers Network

2. 1990 World Summit for Children,

3. The Second American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy

4. The technical Meeting on mechanisms for follow-up and monitoring of the aims of National Plans in favor of Children

5. The 74^th Meeting of the Inter-American Children’s Institute’s Directing Council held in Buenos Aires, which, in accordance with resolution CD/RES., 91(74-r/99) stipulates the creation of an information system on Central American children and families

From the beginning of these meetings First Ladies have expressed their wish to be in possession of certain tools that would make it possible, through the use of modern technology, to know what the actual situation affecting children and adolescents in their countries really is, thus making it possible for them to take specific action, using information that directs national plans and policies in order to guarantee the complete protection and development of children and adolescents. The slogan that has been kept throughout these meetings has been:

“Children and Adolescents with Rights, Countries with Democracy”

Meetings of First Ladies from Central America, Belize, Panama and the Dominican Republic 2000-2002
3^rd Meeting (2002) Central America, Belize, Panama, and the Dominican Republic	Children and Adolescents with Rights, countries with Democracy: for the sake of Children Issues: Poverty Public Policies The Mass Media and the Rights of the Child Adjustment of National Legislation to International Regulations Development of Information Systems Birth registration Environment and child health
2^nd Meeting (2001) Central America, Belize, Panama, and the Dominican Republic	For the sake of children and adolescents Issues: Rights of the child – violations of the rights, communication tool Birth registration Diffusion of the Rights of the Child: children and the mass media
1^st Meeting (2000) Central America, Belize, Panama, and the Dominican Republic	For the sake of children Issues: Children at social risk Regional Information System Children in conflict with the law – professional training

American Ministerial Meetings on Children and Social Policy

1^st Latin American Meeting for the Evaluation of National Programs for Children (Tlatelolco, October 1992)

This was the first high-level Meeting— politically and technically speaking—that was simultaneously convened by the government of Mexico and UNICEF in order to evaluate and monitor those National Plans in favor of Children that each country developed so as to fulfill the Plan of Action stated in the 1990 World Summit for Children.

The following are the main commitments made at this Meeting:

ü Changing National Action Programs into a tool for social policies and into the basic strategic component needed in order to fight poverty and reduce social and cultural inequalities

ü Joint participation by government sectors and the civil society

ü Complementary participation by local organizations in the National Program

ü Completing the design and execution of the Information Systems in order to put National Programs into practice, since the Information Systems are the tools needed for monitoring and evaluating those National Programs

ü Trying to attain a higher level of international cooperation

ü Forming Networks for the exchange and coordination of information resources, as well as human and technical resources, so as to ensure that the Programs are fulfilled.

This set of Commitments is known as the `Tlatelolco Declaration’.

2^nd American Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Bogotá, April 1994)

The general purpose of convening this Meeting still was to achieve the aim set during the First Meeting with regard to the evaluation and follow-up of the National Plans of Action. One of its main characteristics was that of setting measurable goals, as well as specific indicators and deadlines to achieve these same goals. This declaration is known as the “Nariño Commitment”

At subsequent meetings, the Nariño Commitment was referred to as a historic event, since it was the first commitment to state that children and adolescents are to be given priority in the Hemisphere’s Social Agenda.

The following are the commitments made on the occasion of this event:

ü Linking economic and social policies, through an integrated approach that makes it possible to overcome those structural factors arising from poverty.

ü Promoting the institution of Family as the nucleus at which those programs corresponding to public social policies are aimed, and where these same programs are strengthened.

3^rd American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Santiago, Chile, August 1996)

This was an updated version of the two first meetings, which incorporated certain subjects such as the following: legal adjustment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the issue of women (violence, labor integration, equity), gender, the globalization of the economy and the situation of vulnerable groups, among other subjects. This Meeting acted as a source of information for the 6^th Latin American Summit of Heads of State and Presidents that was held in Venezuela the same year, in November.

The “Santiago Agreement” was signed on the occasion of this meeting.

4^th American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Lima, November 1998)

The purpose of this Meeting was to support and strengthen the aims set for the decade and stated in the Summit’s Plan of Action, to evaluate the advances and difficulties that were to be faced when achieving the goals, and also to set either local or regional goals seeking the welfare of children and adolescents in the Region. The “Lima Agreement” was then signed.

5^th American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Kingston, October 2000)

Although this Meeting continued with the same purposes that had been set at the four previous meetings (achieving those aims stated in the Plan of Action, evaluating the reports, generating policies, making legal adjustments, etc), concern for the sustainability of the aims that had been achieved was manifested during this Meeting, and subjects such as the reduction in the levels of inequality and the treatment of certain emerging issues (measurement of the level of compliance with the Rights of the Child, access to health care services, need for children to participate in decision-making) were also dealt with. This Meeting is known as the “Kingston Consensus”

American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy 1992- 2000
5th 2000	American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Kingston, October 2000) Issues: Rights of the Child Participation Education Health Nutrition Social Policy Sexual and reproductive health Infant mortality Social expenditure on Children
4^th 1998	American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Lima, November 1998) Issues: Family Participation Civil society
3^rd 1996	American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Santiago, August 1996) Issues: Convention on the Rights of the Child Legal adjustment Women Health and nutrition Water and Sanitation Education Gender equity
2^nd 1994	American Ministerial Meeting on Children and Social Policy (Bogotá, April 1994) Issues: Health and Nutrition Drinking water and Sanitation Education Civic Rights
1^st 1992	Latin American Meeting for the Evaluation of National Programs for Children (Tlatelolco, October 1992) Issues: National Plans Information Systems Social Policies Networks for cooperation and exchange of information International Cooperation Joint participation by the civil society and governmental organizations

Ibero-American Forums
Ibero-American Summits of Heads of State and Government [3]

Ibero-American Summits date back to 1991. The countries that took part in the beginning were: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. The main intention behind these summit meetings was stated in the first item of their first `Guadalajara Commitment’:

“... in order to jointly analyze the great challenges to be faced by our countries in this changing world. Therefore we intend to harmonize our governments’ political will in order to make it easier to find solutions for these challenges and to turn our historical and cultural similarities into a tool to attain unity and development on the basis of dialog, cooperation and solidarity”

Therefore, Ibero-American Summits of Heads of State and Government have become the main regional forum for reflection and agreement. Although concern for children is not reflected in each one of the Declarations, this issue was included on the agenda of subsequent Summit Meetings.

The following are the most important Summit Meetings at which the issues concerning children have been discussed:

1^st Summit Meeting (Mexico, July 1991)

Although the issue was not discussed in detail here, it is important to mention the commitment to making every necessary effort to achieve those aims set at the World Summit for Children held in Miami in 1990.

It has been noticed that the issue of Human Rights has been raised at each Summit Meeting, what has led to a reaffirmation of the international commitments and agreements made by the different States. This is especially the case of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

3^rd Summit Meeting (Brazil, July 1993)

There stands out the high degree of priority that is given to government action aimed at those groups that are the most affected by the increase in poverty levels. Special emphasis is placed on the fact that government action should not be limited to sectorial policies, but should include the activities jointly carried out by all those people playing an important role in society, and should involve the whole society’s participation.

4^th Summit Meeting (Colombia, June 1994)

It was noticed that a cooperative attitude surrounded this event, and also, that special importance was given in its Declaration to the participation by specialized and international organizations forming part of the Inter-American System, emphasizing the role played by these institutions in strengthening relations, both at government level and within the civil society, as well as other roles played by them.

From the point of view of the situation concerning Children, this Summit means the fulfillment of those commitments made at previous Meetings. In its evaluation however, special importance is given to the Meetings seen as a useful tool for the exchange and sharing of information.

5^th Summit Meeting (Argentina, October 1995)

Although this Summit’s main issues were those of Sustainable Development and Education, an emerging issue (the issue of Information) was raised. Information had, so far, been considered as a tool. From this meeting on, information has undergone a transformation and has started being truly appreciated. It is even considered as a right to be exercised and as a guarantee of Democracy.

6^th Summit Meeting (Chile, November 1996)

A special reference to Education as one essential factor in the Social and Economic Development was made at this meeting. It took the issue of the improvement in the quality of education into account, considering also other aspects such as equal opportunities, and young people’s incorporation and participation. Special emphasis was placed at this Meeting on the situation concerning `the Young’ age group. Emphasis was also put on the need for full access to information, as part of the `Efficient and Participatory’ Democracy concept.

7^th Summit Meeting (Venezuela, November 1997)

This Meeting continued dealing with the issue of Democracy, and after having studied this system’s ethical values, it included the Right to Information on its agenda, thus giving new importance to certain concepts originated at previous Summits and studying this subject in depth.

The issue of Women was more seriously dealt with at this 7^th Summit, although it had been either outlined or taken into account as part of the issue of equal opportunities discussed at the 5^th Summit.

9^th Summit Meeting (Cuba, November 1999)

The issue of Children was dealt with again, in connection with the cooperation initiatives. The following points can be considered the most important ones:

ü Right to a name and to a nationality

ü Children’s birth registration

ü Early education

ü Convention on the Rights of the Child

ü Complete support to the Family

Therefore, this was the first time that a reference to the Family was made. The Family was considered as “the primary nucleus for human beings’ socialization”.

10^th Summit Meeting (Panama, November 2000)

The Panama Declaration “Together for children and adolescents, the base of Justice and Equity in the New Millennium” was the first document to make a complete reference to those issues dealt with by the Inter-American Children’s Institute. It is starting from this Summit that the need to create an Ibero-American Agenda on Children and Adolescents –one that includes specific aims, aspirations and priorities concerning children and young people in the region —,was first stated. It is also important to point out the role played by information as part of those activities aiming at achieving social equity and social justice, as established in the Declaration.

11^th Summit Meeting (Peru, November 2001)

The Ibero-American Agenda on Children and Adolescents entitled `Challenges for improving the quality of life of Ibero-American children and adolescents’ arising from the 3^rd Latin American Conference of Secretaries and High Authorities in Charge of Children and Adolescents, was approved on the occasion of this event.

12^th Summit Meeting (Dominican Republic, November 2002)

This Summit pointed out the importance of detecting trafficking in human beings, especially those situations in which children and adolescents are involved, which are thought to be related to future exploitation.

It also included a commitment to strengthening the Programs for the Protection of Children and Adolescents that arise from the Convention on the Rights of the Child and are stated therein, with a special emphasis on the issue of eliminating child labor.

Central issues Ibero-American Summits of Heads of State and Government 1991 – 2002
1^st 1991	International Law	Economic and social development	Education and culture
2^nd 1992	Social and human development: sustainable development	Economy, Integration and Cooperation	Education and modernization
3^rd 1993	Social development
4^th 1994		Development: Trade and integration
5^th 1995		Economic and social integration	Education
6^th1996	Democracy and Participation
7^th 1997	Democracy
8^th 1998		Globalization and integration
9^th1999		Economic development
10^th 2000	Children
11^th2001	Democracy	International Development and Cooperation
12^th2002		Development

	Issues connected with those Declarations arising from Ibero-American Summits of Heads of State and Government 1991 – 2002
	Democracy	Human Rights	Socioeconomic development	Education	Drugs	Children, Young people and Women	Information	Poverty
1^st 1991	Democracy	Human Rights Peace	Economy Environment		Drugs	Children		Poverty
2^nd 1992			Sustainable development	Education
3^rd 1993	Democracy			Education				Poverty
4^th 1994				Education		Children
5^th 1995			Sustainable development	Education			Information	Poverty
6^th 1996	Democracy	Human Rights Peace	Sustainable development		Drugs	Young People	Information	Poverty
7^th 1997	Democracy				Drugs	Young People Women	Information
8^th 1998
9^th 1999		Rights of the Child : birth registration	Economy
10^th 2000			Sustainable development			Children		Poverty
11^th 2001	Democracy				Drugs	Children		Poverty
12^th 2002		Discrimination	Sustainable development Environment	Education	Drugs	Children Women		Poverty

Latin American Conferences of Ministers of Childhood and Youth

Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth in a Global World with Rights

It is important to point out that countries at this Meeting embraced the commitment to defending the high interest of children, since it `implies the exercise of these rights, allocating the maximum number of resources available and making every necessary effort in order to ensure compliance with these same rights’.

Despite this one being a Latin American Meeting, references were permanently made to the Ministerial Meetings on Children and Social Policy, as well as to the Plan of Action provided for the 1990 Child World Summit

The following issues were of special concern to the Conference:

ü The challenges posed by globalization and their repercussions on the living conditions of children and adolescents

ü The fact that the macroeconomic growth achieved in the Region has not benefited all groups of people, and has increased poverty and inequalities, directly affecting those most vulnerable groups.

ü The increase in violence; this being a direct cause of death amongst children between 5 and 14 years old.

ü The increase in the number of children and young people who are in conflict with the criminal law.

ü The increase in commercial sexual exploitation and teenage pregnancies

ü Trafficking

ü Drug abuse

ü Non registration of children’s births

Recommendations and agreements in connection with the development of policies and programs for legal adjustment in order to safeguard and guarantee the exercise of the Rights of the Child are directly linked to these issues.

Amongst other considerations, there was expressed the need to create the new Agenda for children in the 21^st century, with the help and technical assistance of international organizations, as well as the need to adjust public and social expenditure in order to enable its implementation.

2^nd Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth (Panama, October 2000)

The Ministers of Childhood continued supporting the principles that had been stated at the 1^st Meeting. Thus, they focused their commitment on 8 aspects:

1. Promotion of social justice and equal rights and opportunities

ü This includes fostering legal reforms in order to ensure effective compliance with the Rights of the Child

ü Adopting policies and strategies in order to guarantee these rights

ü Applying the principles for the children’s high interest

ü Giving priority to those programs aimed at reducing poverty levels

ü Reducing the degree of exclusion and inequality amongst children and adolescents

ü Not separating the children from their family and promoting a situation in which those conflicts involving children no longer have to come under the judicial sphere

ü Making a higher investment on social policies

2. Guaranteeing the respect for dignity

ü Adoption

ü Commercial sexual exploitation

ü Loss of freedom

ü Children in conflict with the law

ü Armed conflicts

ü Children with disabilities

ü Information systems to monitor and evaluate the situation concerning the Rights of the Child

ü Indicators

3. Promoting the application of human values in a responsible family-life environment

ü Family

ü Social protection of motherhood and fatherhood

4. Guaranteeing the right to life and health

ü Education on Health

ü Access to health

5. Guaranteeing the right to education

ü Early stimulation

ü Elementary education

ü Indigenous population

ü Special educational needs

6. Acknowledging the right of children and adolescents to participation

ü Society

ü Identity

ü Family

ü School

7. Guaranteeing access to culture as well as to scientific and technological agreements

8. Cooperation in Ibero-America and agreements’ follow-up

3^rd Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth (Lima, October 2001)

This Conference continued supporting those principles and aims that had been stated since the First Latin American Summit of Presidents and Heads of State in 1991. In this conference’s Declaration it was stated that:`…[they would] make every necessary effort in order to achieve the aims set on the occasion of the World Summit for Children’, as in the case of the following Ministerial Meetings and Summits. The following commitments are the ones established by this Conference:

1. Presenting the Latin American Agenda on Children and Adolescents to the Heads of State and Presidents

2. Creating a system of integrated development indicators for the follow-up and evaluation of the level of achievement of those aims concerning the issue of children and adolescents.

This Latin American Agenda on Children and Adolescents entitled `Challenges for improving the quality of life of Latin American children and adolescents’ was developed bearing in mind the fact that the situation of children and adolescents in the region was far from being a satisfactory one. Although some progress had been made, this was not yet enough, if we take account of the existing levels of poverty and violence. Therefore, they committed themselves to: `transforming Latin America into a region free of violence and exclusion, where human rights coexist peacefully, respectfully and in common cause, where children and adolescents feel that they are loved, that they are safe, that they can be happy and have opportunities to fully develop and fulfill their wishes’

The aims set by this Agenda made a special reference to those commands arising from the Convention on the Rights of the Child itself (1989), to the World Summit for Children (1990), to the Latin American Summits and Ministerial Meetings that included the issues concerning children in their agendas as a priority, and particularly to the 4^th and 5^th American Ministerial Meetings on Children and Social Policy held in Lima (1998) and in Kingston (2000).

These aims have been set for the period 2001-2010, unless in certain special cases in which they are extended to the year 2015. They are 18 basic aims which are not the only possible aims and are not mutually exclusive either, and which may be enriched by the contributions made by participating countries. This Plan of Action first sets an aim (including the aspirations concerning a specific issue), and then suggests a series of actions for dealing with the subject. It has the following structure:

Aim 1: Poverty reduction

Aim 2: Guaranteeing birth registration of children before the age of three months

Aim 3: Giving priority to policies and plans concerning children’s complete development

Aim 4: Reducing infant mortality

Aim 5: Reducing mortality amongst mothers

Aim 6: Extending the range of socio-educational services

Aim 7: Universal access to elementary education

Aim 8: Inclusion of children and adolescents with disabilities and with special needs

Aim 9: Access to good quality secondary education

Aim 10: Providing support in order to reduce early pregnancies

Aim 11: Reducing the number of children with HIV infection

Aim 12: Improving the nutritional conditions

Aim 13: Eradicating child labor

Aim 14: Preventing and punishing all forms of violence

Aim 15: Creating and monitoring criminal justice systems for juveniles

Aim 16: Preventing the consequences of natural disasters

Aim 17: Creating and maintaining reliable information systems

Aim 18: Guaranteeing the right to participation

4^th Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth (Santo Domingo, October 2002)

At this meeting, the countries of the region committed themselves to implementing complete public policies for the benefit of children, which also specify the financial mechanisms needed in order to ensure their execution. Those issues related to Trafficking and commercial sexual Exploitation involving children and adolescents were also studied in depth.

In their Declaration, these countries committed themselves to accelerating the implementation of decentralized plans of action, with the purpose of improving the families’ standard of living, and placing special emphasis on the eradication of poverty.

Amongst the mechanisms specified for monitoring the Agenda and its Plan of Action, it was agreed that the development and adoption of a system of indicators valid for all the region should be promoted, also indicating the support of International Organizations such as CEPAL (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), UNICEF, and the Inter-American Children’s Institute itself.

Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth 1999 - 2002
4^th 2002	Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth (Santo Domingo, October 2002) Issues: Poverty Information system Indicators Child trafficking Commercial sexual exploitation - National plans - Legal adjustment
3^rd 2001	Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth (Lima, October 2001) Issues: Poverty Violence Birth registration Policies Child development Mortality Tangible aims Education –access to all levels Teenage pregnancies AIDS Nutrition Eradication of child labor Administration of Justice Disasters Information systems Participation
2^nd 2000	Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth (Panama, October 2000) Issues: Rights of the Child Policies Children’s high interest Poverty Inequality Need to exclude children from the judicial sphere Participation Family Values Education
1^st 1999	Latin American Conference of Ministers of Childhood and Youth (Panama, October 2000) Issues: Rights of the Child Health and sanitation Mortality Immunization Early child development Education Birth registration Sexual exploitation and ill-treatment Participation Sexual and reproductive health

Annex I

First Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Mexico, July 1991

14. We commit ourselves to making every necessary effort in order to achieve the aims stated on the occasion of the Children World Summit. Therefore we shall foster the development of the National Plans of Action aimed at promoting the survival of Latin American children as well as their complete development.

Second Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Spain, July 1992

A special emphasis was placed on the adoption by the 11^th Summit of Presidents of Central American countries of the `Tegucigalpa Commitment’ for Human Development on December 12^th, 1991. This Commitment includes a number of priorities, strategies and activities for the region, which are aimed at benefiting children, the youth, and women, as well as at fostering the fight against poverty and the satisfaction of the basic needs of Central American people.

Third Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Brazil, July 1993

19. Answering the basic needs of those people living in countries that are severely affected by the expansion of poverty must be a high-priority objective of the government’s action. Social development, and especially the fight against poverty, regarded as a State policy, should not be limited to a sectorial policy. Joint cooperation by all persons playing an important role in society is regarded as indispensable, as well as the whole society’s full participation. We also acknowledge the importance of making an effort similar to that made on the occasion of the Rio Conference, which leads to the joint mobilization and administration of international resources in order to strengthen national progress. Social development includes actions aimed at improving income distribution, eradicating poverty and increasing and giving priority to social expenditure according to the basic needs concerning health, education and social security. It is particularly important to allocate resources to meet the needs of those most vulnerable groups of people, such as the children, the youth, the unemployed, pregnant women, infants and senior citizens. Along this line, we are confident that the 1995 World Summit for Social Development will mean practical and effective progress towards a solution for the problems of poverty, unemployment and social integration.

We, the Latin American countries commit ourselves to bringing action forward in order to have a report on the advances and results concerning these areas and take it to the Summit.

Children on the development and democracy agenda

39. We approve and embrace the conclusions and recommendations arising from the government representatives of those Latin American countries participating in the seminar on `Children on the development and democracy agenda’(annex 9) held in Fortaleza (Ceará) [Brazil] from June 7^th to June 9^th 1993.

We especially emphasize the importance of giving priority to the allocation of resources in order to ensure the fulfillment of National Plans of Action (NPA); we have decided to incorporate the NPA to national development strategies, and we agree on the idea of fostering national policies to benefit children. We see that certain projects, such as the one carried out by the Inter-American Development Bank on Social Reform and Poverty, which create favorable prospects for the situation of families and children in Latin America, and we give them our approval. We also urge international and bilateral agencies and organizations of cooperation to give priority to the allocation of financial and technical resources in order to execute the NPA.

Fourth Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Brazil, July 1993

2.5. We agree with the proposals outlined by those countries participating in the “2^nd American Meeting on Children and Social Policy, 2000 Agenda: Now the Children”, held in Bogotá on April 5^th and 6^th; specifically with the idea of complementing social and economic policies and linking then with each other, as well as with the idea of attaining the institutionalization of social policies with an emphasis on children and on those most vulnerable groups, thus achieving the aims that had been agreed on the occasion of the World Summit for Children.

4.5. We renew our commitment to respecting the right to human life, the rights that mothers and children have to enjoy health and a good quality of life, which are regarded as being fundamental for our peoples’ future development and for strengthening the institution of family.

Recommendations

M. The education of human beings since their childhood, regarding them as the main protagonists of development; a type of education that strengthens their creative capacities and leads them to an efficient professional life, thus overcoming the vision that limits them to being just a mere object of economic interest. We invite those international organizations that are in charge of dealing with these issues (organizations such as UNESCO or UNDP) to cooperate with the governments in the development of proposals on the Latin American educational systems that include different aspects of education.

N. The training of human resources through an improvement in educational and cultural policies as well as in social-and-labor policies, with special emphasis on the problems affecting women and the youth.

Fifth Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government (San Carlos de Bariloche [Argentina], October 16^th and 17^th 1995)

24. The improvement in the quality of education should not be carried out without taking the principle of equity into account. Along this line, the development of a type of education that promotes really equal opportunities and equal possibilities—thus avoiding all forms of exclusion affecting those less benefited groups—will be a guarantee of social cohesion, ensuring equal opportunities of education and production for women, as well as the incorporation of young people and their participation, cultural and linguistic self-identification for the complete development of the indigenous groups and the appreciation of cultural pluralism and multiethnic coexistence.

Matters of special interest

25. We particularly appreciate the recommendations arising from the “Technical Meeting to strengthen Mechanisms to Monitor and Evaluate the Goals for the benefit of Children stated in the Nariño Commitment”, held in the city of Antigua (Guatemala) from the 16^th to the 18^th August 1995. Within the framework of Sustainable Development we undertake the responsibility to give priority to those actions concerning social and economic policy that are aimed at children.

Seventh Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Margarita Declaration

November 8^th and 9^th 1997

WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION

24.- We declare that the existence of equal opportunities for women and for men is fundamental in order to attain a democratic balance; a balance that is guaranteed by the ethical values that governments should responsibly embrace when making decisions seeking the satisfaction of peoples’ needs and aspirations.

25.- We propose that women be acknowledged as a fundamental agent for economic development processes and social change, taking account of the contribution that they make to their countries, and we acknowledge the importance of promoting full social and political participation at decision levels and in the government.

THE YOUTH

26.- Since we are concerned about those issues that worry young people in our countries, we are aware and convinced that it is necessary to make greater efforts in our governmental administration, with a view to guaranteeing that the new generations of Latin Americans are provided with more opportunities for education, employment, health and democratic participation.

Ninth Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

HAVANA DECLARATION

November 15^th and 16^th 1999

We are pleased to highlight the following cooperation initiatives that were presented at this 9^th Ibero-American Summit :

…Right to a Name and to a Nationality, Birth Registration of Children, Early Education (Elementary education and nursery education); Maternal Mortality; Mobilization and Participatory Monitoring of the degree of compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the issue concerning complete support to the institution of family regarded as the primary nucleus for human beings’ socialization.

We have great interest in including again the issue of Children and Adolescents on the Ibero-American Agenda and we reaffirm our commitment to developing new national policies for the benefit of Children and Adolescents

Tenth Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Panama, 17^th and 18^th November 2000

The situation concerning children and adolescents, and the way in which to jointly face those problems affecting both children and adolescents, have been the main subject of the Tenth Ibero-American Summit held in Panama between the 17^th and 18^th November 2000.

Panama Declaration: “Together for Children and Adolescents; the Basis for Justice and Equity in the New Millennium”

Eleventh Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Lima Declaration

"Together for Building Tomorrow"

Lima (Peru) November 23^rd and 24^th

55. We approvingly adopt the Ibero-American Agenda on Children and Adolescents, which will help direct the formulation of policies and the possible implementation of cooperation initiatives that are beneficial to these policies.

Twelfth Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government

Bavaro (Dominican Republic), November 15th and 16th 2002

Bavaro (Dominican Republic) Declaration

39. We regard the contribution made by migration to the economy and society of both countries of origin and destination, as well as the integrating efforts of those countries that receive immigrants, as being positive. We reaffirm the commitment undertaken by our States with regard to respecting the migrants’ rights, providing fair and egalitarian treatment based on national and international laws and on the complete respect for all the human rights that they are entitled to. We shall generate actions in order to outline cooperation programs between States of origin and destination that create legal and orderly channels for migration processes to take place, while we also commit ourselves to persisting in our fight against the trafficking in human beings, especially trafficking involving children and women, as well as the trade in human beings which, being related to that trafficking, is assumed to lead to their future exploitation.

41. We commit ourselves to strengthening those programs aimed at the protection of children and adolescents that also promote the type of education and values that are mentioned on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We reaffirm our intention to eradicate all forms of child labor.
Annex II

5th Conference of spouses of Heads of State and Government of the Americas

Asunción, October 1995

Paraguay Declaration

Working for the health and education of women and children, in accordance with the principles of complete development, equity, democratization of information and knowledge, and familial and social participation.

Supporting those activities aiming at improving the health of children and women throughout all the stages of their life cycle; promoting the spread of health care services and their good quality, thus contributing to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Contributing to the achievement of the goal concerning Elimination of Measles in the Americas by the year 2000.

Promoting strategies and activities in order to improve Health and Education amongst Women and Children, giving priority to rural areas and to poor urban areas

Contributing to the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against Women and Children, through the regulation and adoption of the necessary mechanisms; as well as contributing to promote the respect for human rights

The Declarations of the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th Conferences are available on our website: www.iin.oea.org

---

[1] No systematized information on these Conferences is currently available. This particular fact was obtained from certain information coming from the 9^th Conference.

³ http://ladb.unm.edu/econ/content/obsereco/1997/december/pulso.html

[3] The main points appearing in the Declarations are systematized in Annex I. They have been transcribed in their exact original form.