"…Not tomorrow, but today." - UNICEF's The Berlin Conference and its Commitment for the Children of Europe and Central Asia.
Following the World Summit for Children, which took place in New York City in September of 1990, Germany, Bosnia, and Herzegovina sponsored three European consultations regarding the Summit's impact on children. From these consultations, leaders learned that five out of ten children believe that children from poor families and disabled children are treated unfairly across the continent. Six out of ten children report violent or aggressive behaviors at home and sixty-one percent think that their views are not taken into consideration.
These statistics, in conjuction with Europe's unanimous ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, led the continent's leaders to focus not on words but on action. By the year 2011, Europe's leaders hope to have created youth councils in every local authority, educational reform, and a center in every major city where children from different backgrounds can meet and interact.
While at the Special Session, Treasure Bear heard the Finish Minister of Health speak out in favor this plan. Most particularly, she spoke of ensuring that all children, especially girls, are protected from discrimination, ensured of their physical integrity, provided with a well-rounded education, and allowed to play. As he heard this, Treasure Bear wondered how will children and young adults, especially those from groups of people like the Roma (Europe's Gypsies), be actively involved in monitoring and implementing Europe's plan for the future.
