Bice 60th Anniversary
Bice's 60th anniversary: on the road to the Geneva Appeal
What world we want for our children, today and tomorrow, was the theme of Bice's 60th anniversary which also marked the start of a mobilization on the occasion of the 20 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Four experts groups - Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe and CIS - presented their positions on June 4th, in Paris.
More than 250 people were present in Paris to celebrate the 60 years of Bice in a day of reflection on the subject "Tomorrow, that world for our children". After the official opening and the welcome from Bice's President, Yves Marie-Lanoë, the salesian priest Jean-Marie Petitclerc, started the day by reflecting on an approach on education and the value of children in our society. "Adults need children to build the world."
After having read the letter of congratulations sent by Pope Benedicto XVI, Bice's Secretary General, Virginie Dhellemmes, invited all four groups to present their position papers.
Delegated from each group of experts presented their analysis on the Convention on the Rights of the Child: What have been the major advances in each region? What challenges are arising? What strategies would give more strength to the actions promoted by Bice to defend and to promote the rights of the child in the world?
Delegated from each group of experts presented their analysis on the Convention on the Rights of the Child: What have been the major advances in each region? What challenges are arising? What strategies would give more strength to the actions promoted by Bice to defend and to promote the rights of the child in the world?
In fact, this anniversary was the starting point of an appeal to civil society on the subject of the dignity and the rights of the child. After collecting inputs from a wider spectre of organisations, the final document which will regroup all continents will be presented in Geneva in June 2009.
