General Comment on Article 12 By the Committee on the Rights of the Child - Submission at Florence  November, 2007

Children and adolescents are critical observers of their own condition and should be participants in decisions concerning themselves and their lives. These young people need to participate in finding solutions to the problems they face.

                    

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Two thousand migrant workers marched to demand their rights as citizens of this district to the first ever convention of migrant workers in this State at Udupi District. Declaring a peaceful struggle to realise their rights, they announced the formation of the Karnataka Migrant Workers Union and unfurled their flag to display their symbol ?footprints? that visualises their long journey and their aspiration for a new world. 

Today opens a new chapter in the struggle of Migrant Communities in Karnataka.

 

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More than 2300 (two thousand and three hundred) representatives of Gram Panchayats from 23 of the 27 Districts of Karnataka participated in the Convention and Rally convened by the Panchayat Raj Hakkottaya Andolan 2007 on July 5th 2007 at Bangalore.Report of State level Convention of  Gram Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana

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'Say No to Child Marriage' Campaign - A Complete Overview

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Children lead the way to decentralisation and civil society participation
For the past few years, the Government of Karnataka has been trying to enable the participation of civil society in the formulation of plans through the vitalisation of Gram Sabhas without much success. In 2004, participatory planning was made possible through the active involvement of children in the formulation of Five Year Plans in all the 56 Panchayats of Kundapura Taluk, Udupi District, South Kanara. This process was facilitated by the Concerned for Working Children.

For a copy of the publication detailing the entire process, please contact cwc@pobox.com

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Prevention measures / minimum acceptable standards for running residential rehabilitation centers by NGOs / Child Rights Organisations.

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Bhima Sangha, since its inception in 1990 has taken a strong stand against substance abuse. Over the years its members have raised the issue in several forums, have acted against violence related to substance abuse and have lobbied with the local administrators to close down liquor shops in their areas.

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This note highlights the importance of viewing child labour as a by-product of lop-sided developments. It demands that only sustainable and holistic development can create a situation where children are no longer exploited and their rights are respected and realised.

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"Bread and Puppet Theater": Peter Schumann and his daughter Maria Schumann

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Earning a life: Working in children in Zimbabwe, book reviewed by Bill Myers, children's right advocate who has written, co-authored and edited various publications advocating expanded participation of working children to decide policies and programmes that concern their lives. A former official of  the UNICEF and the ILO, is currently a visiting scholar in the Human and Community Development Department of the University of California at Davis, USA. 

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Lessons learnt by CWC: It is a different and difficult reality for working children, as policy-makers should understand.

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Makkala Sahaya Vani, the children's helpline: Troubled and abused children can take recourse to the children's helpline which intervening powers

 

 

More information on children's protagonism 

An Appeal : Join us in our effort and contribute to our cause!
Send your responses to: cwc@pobox.com