[child-rights] International Children's Rights Day 2002: Let's put ourselves in a child's place

Strasbourg, 19.11.2002 - Tomi Ungerer, the internationally-known Alsatian
artist, has been supporting the Council of Europe for many years in its
mission to introduce children to the idea of human rights and to promote
social values. Mr Ungerer, who was nominated "Council of Europe Ambassador
for Childhood and Education" two years ago, at the initiative of the
Council's Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, made the following statement
on the eve of International Children's Rights Day:

"Children have rights ...

* They have the right to love and affection and to warmth and care

* They have the right to a home; many children no longer experience this;
family units have become scarce, and this lack arouses frustration and anger
and engenders antisocial behaviour

* They have the right to respect, so that people will listen to them

* They have the right to their opinions, since innocence is often full of
wisdom

* They have the right to a more caring form of education that promotes their
skills and talents

* They have the right to be taught respect for others - for their races,
their differences, their work, their nature, their food and their poverty -
so that by growing aware they can understand the place they hold and the way
they operate in society

* They have the right to be set an example and to be subject to discipline

* When they are abused, ill-treated or exploited, they have the right to
complain and to lodge complaints without suffering reprisals; the innocent
suffer most: they are hostages to misfortune. How can we give them the means
to do this? How can we build trust while reinforcing the existing specialist
facilities? By developing a civic sense, playing at elections, planting
trees and going to visit retired old people or other children in hospital

* They have the right to enhance and fulfil their potential

* And all adults have the right to become aware of their childhood so as to
put themselves in a child's place... "


       Press Release
Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division
Ref: 581a02