[child-rights] Mexican Supreme Court and UNICEF sign agreement to promote child rights

UNICEF Press release

MEXICO, 1 October 2003 ­ The Mexican Supreme Court of Justice and UNICEF
yesterday signed an agreement of collaboration to promote respect for
human rights, particularly the rights of children and adolescents, among
judges, magistrates, officials of the judicial branch of government and
society in general.

The agreement sets a precedent for the Latin American community. Upon
signing the agreement, Minister Olga Sánchez Cordero said the commitment
would also help to combat problems of intrafamily violence and child
prostitution. Minister Guillermo Ortíz Mayagoitia proposed that activities
to promote child rights be incorporated into the programme "La Justicia va
a la Escuela" (Justice goes to school), a Supreme Court initiative in
primary schools.

"This agreement places the Supreme Court on a very important cultural
level, not only in its juridical activity, but also in its social and
human-resource interactions," he said.

Yoriko Yasukawa, UNICEF Representative in Mexico, said that the signing of
the agreement constitutes a message to Mexican society about giving due
priority to child rights. "Children are not mere objects of charity,
benevolence or good will; this agreement is about child rights, in the
sense of establishing minimum conditions of well-being and human dignity
that are established by law," she said.

With the signing of this agreement, she added, "Mexico sets an example for
Latin America, and the world in general, in contributing to the formation
of a culture in which all human beings ­ men and women, adults and
children ­ have the same rights and are equal."

The Ministers Olga Sánchez Cordero y Guillermo Ortiz Mayagoitia signed the
agreement on behalf of the Supreme Court, and Yoriko Yasukawa signed on
behalf of UNICEF in Mexico. Ms. Yasukawa was accompanied by Catherine
Langevin, Communication Officer, and Dilcya García, Programme Officer.
UNICEF and the Supreme Court will jointly undertake academic activities
and other actions to promote the objectives established in the agreement.

Activities will be carried out within the national and international legal
framework in defense of human rights, including forums, diploma
programmes, seminars and courses in order to promote a dialogue of ideas
and reflections on the theme.

The framework of the agreement also includes the editing and publication
of academic texts and juridical research for judges, lawyers and all
persons working towards the realization of human rights in Mexico.

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For more information please contact:
UNICEF Mexico
tel.: 5202-3233, ext. 203 and 207
e-mail: msayrols@unicef.org




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