Children, Rights, Poverty, and Equality
- NINT 5135 - Children, Rights, Poverty, and Equality (Fall 2008)
Children represent more than one third of the world¹s total population and nearly half of the population in the least developed countries (LDC). To protect them, in 1924, the League of Nations adopted the 'Declaration of the Rights of the Child' and in 1989 the 'Convention on the Rights of the Child' (CRC). The CRC has nearly universal ratification. Together with its Optional Protocols, the Convention ensures the rights of children¹s survival, development and protection. Governments, leaders and international
organizations are committed to these objectives. However, today ³Millions of children make their way through life impoverished, abandoned, uneducated, malnourished, discriminated against, neglected and vulnerable. For them, life is a daily struggle to survive² (UNICEF 2005). In the developing world most of the poor are children and most of the children are poor. They are massive victims of war, social and family violence. They are orphaned by HIV/AIDS, sexually exploited and raped. They do not have any way of protecting and exerting their basic rights. They are left uneducated, hungry and living in the streets. They are made to work, often in hazardous conditions, with no access to sanitation or health services. How can democracy and peace expand under these circumstances? What are the problems of development? What are the main relevant policies and programs that are currently being implemented and how effective are they? Are poverty reduction programs addressing children's needs? What are the possibilities and alternatives to implement the CRC and improve significantly children¹s situation?
The objective of the course is to analyze and discuss different programmatic approaches that are presently being implemented around the world. Human Rights and the Convention will be discussed and used as a paradigm and benchmark for analyzing programs. The present development agenda and trends will be debated in light of children¹s situation and the human rights-based
approach. Some UNICEF senior experts will provide their experience and vision as guest speakers in the course. The course will be a combination of lectures, debates and student-led presentations on 'child programs' case studies. Active participation and debate will be promoted. Students enrolled in this class will derive practical learning on children¹s issues, poverty and globalization, as well as on policies and programs to deal with these issues. This knowledge can be applied in their future work and careers in the public, nonprofit, or private sector.
Concentrations:Development, Governance and Rights