Press Releases

Following 11 convictions of Colombian citizens involved in child prostitution, this is a big success for the Swiss NGO in its fight to reduce this scourge, which affects hundreds of young victims.

The convicted man, who was present for the first time at the sentencing, has been given a 15-year jail sentence. “The announcement came as a relief for young victims who have been abused”, said Antoine Lissorgues, TdH Foundation (Lausanne) Delegate in Colombia. “This should deter many sex tourists, who have remained unpunished for a long time, as well as restore confidence to girls and boys who have been victims of this form of exploitation.” There were many new developments during the trial. Terre des Hommes was able to resist to pressure, in a climate in which money is predominant. Two accomplices were given 10-year jail sentences and fines of more than USD 14’000 each.

Yesid Torres, aged 15, was forced to provide sexual services (allegedly presented as domestic work) to an Italian paedophile, aged 72, in a rented apartment in a rich residential area of the city. Young adults and minors were also involved, including the younger brother of Yesid’s best friend, aged 13 at the time. Yesid died on his way to hospital, from an overdose of cocaine taken in the company of the Italian national. A camera containing several pornographic pictures was found immediately afterwards in the apartment, together with whisky, drugs and the paedophile himself, drunk and half naked. Sexual services were reimbursed with presents, including a new motorbike that the perpetrator had offered to Yesid.
Sex tourism is widespread in Cartagena. At the airport, some taxi drivers indicate to clients a list of young boys and girls of all ages and origins that they can provide. In the city centre, young women wearing make-up and clothes chosen to make them look older than they are can be found in night bars. Many are aged 13-14 and carry false identity documents. Transactions are agreed on-site, and older European and Northern American clients take the girls to one of the cheap hotels in the area, that are open day and night.
Cartagena has more than 500’000 inhabitants living in extreme poverty. Many have fled from rural areas due to the armed conflict between governmental and rebel forces. Sexual exploitation of children may be seen as a family survival strategy.

Bussels, June 2010

EU aid own goals pushing MDGs out of reach

EU Member States are missing their official development aid targets and jeopardising global efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, reveals a new report published today by CONCORD, the European confederation of development NGOs.

The report, ‘Penalty against Poverty: More and Better EU aid can score Millennium Development Goals’, is being released as EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels next week to agree their common position for the United Nations’ MDG Summit in New York this September.

‘Penalty against Poverty’ finds that EU development aid in 2009 amounted to €49bn or 0.42% of national income – €1 billion less than 2008 levels. Official estimates for 2010 put total EU aid at 0.46% of national income, far short of the 0.56% target for 2010 agreed by member states back in 2005.

In real terms, this represents a shortfall of €11bn in funding with some of the EU’s biggest economies – Italy (€4.5bn), Germany (€2.6bn) and France (€800m) – amongst the worst offenders.

“EU aid efforts are being crippled by a crisis of commitment. In 2005 EU leaders committed to allocating 0.7% of their national income to fight global poverty but 5 years later they are well off-track on aid and abandoning their international commitments2 on aid effectiveness”, said Hussaini Abdu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria. “We are not asking them to get more ambitious about fighting poverty, just keep their existing promises on aid quality and quantity”, he said

The annual AidWatch report notes that although inflated aid figures continued to decline compared to 2008 levels, a staggering €3.8bn of inflated aid – or 8% of the total EU amount – was reported in 20093.

This includes €1.4bn for debt cancellation, €1.5bn in student costs and €0.9bn spent on refugees in donor countries – making real EU development aid only 0.38% of European GNI.

“EU aid is €19bn short of what was promised to developing countries by 2010 to help them meet the MDGs – more than half the estimated extra €32bn required per year globally to meet the hunger goal alone4”, said Justin Kilcullen, President of CONCORD. “This is very disappointing from a bloc that calls itself a leader on global development”, added Eduardo Sánchez, President of the Spanish NGO platform.

“Europe’s credibility as a global leader on development is at stake. If EU leaders are serious about regaining the trust of poor countries, they must come up with an ambitious MDG action plan next week”, said Elise Ford, head of Oxfam International’s EU office.

Representing over 1,600 European NGOs, CONCORD calls on EU governments to keep their promises to deliver more and better EU development aid. EU leaders must commit to legally-binding yearly timetables stating how aid targets will be met and find new ways to raise money for development such as a financial transaction tax which would bring estimated yearly revenue of €215bn - €1tr6 at no extra cost to the tax payer. Europe must put an end to the inflation of aid figures and place developing countries and their citizens at the centre of efforts to meet the MDGs.

Despite notable successes in getting children into primary education and reducing under-5 mortality from 12.6 million in 2000 to 9 million in 20075, world hunger is over one billion and rising, and the goal of halving extreme poverty will not be met until well after the 2015 MDGs deadline, leaving almost 30% of the world’s population in extreme poverty.

------------- END ----------------

Notes to editor:
1 Source: European Commission staff working document on Financing for Development (Spring Package 2010)
2 The Paris Declaration, endorsed on 2 March 2005, is an international agreement signed by over 100 Governments and aid agencies in which they committed to increasing aid effectiveness through a set of monitored actions and indicators. The Accra Agenda for Action, agreed in 2008, built on the Paris Declaration and set out the areas where donors intended to focus their aid effectiveness efforts between 2008 and 2010.
3 AidWatch definition of inflated aid: Official aid figures include debt cancellation and student and refugee costs in donor countries. These are ODA reportable items which do not amount to a real transfer of resources to developing countries and are difficult to link to clear development results. Some countries, such as Luxembourg, the UK and Denmark do not report student and/or refugee costs as ODA.
4 The UN estimates that at a minimum, an additional €32.7bn per year is required globally to halve hunger
5 Schulmeister, S. (2009) A General Financial Transaction Tax: A Short Cut of the Pros, the Cons and a Proposal. WIFO, Wien
6 UN Millennium Development Goals Report 2009
CONCORD is the European confederation of relief and development NGOs. Its national associations and international networks represent over 1600 NGOs which are supported by millions of citizens across Europe.

The AidWatch network is an active group of civil society aid experts from CONCORD members across the 27 EU member states, working collectively to hold EU member states to account on their aid quality and quantity commitments.

version imprimable - français | print version - english

Geneva, May 17 2010

Delaying tactics from a criminal tourist in Cartagena

The sexual exploitation of children by foreign citizens
remains unpunished in Colombia

In Colombia, the Italian citizen indicted for child pornography, sexual intercourse with minors under 14 years of age, and incitement to prostitution, still avoids his conviction by using delaying tactics. Tourists who systematically abuse children on the north coast of the country remain unpunished. After 11 convictions of Colombian nationals involved in child exploitation, Terre des Hommes keeps fighting against a scourge affecting hundreds of young children. Next judgement date sets on June 16, 2010.

Yesid Torres, aged 15, was forced to provide sexual services (allegedly presented as domestic work) to an Italian paedophile, aged 72, in a rented apartment in a rich residential area of the city. Young adults and minors were also involved, including the younger brother of Yesid’s best friend, aged 13 at the time. Yesid died on his way to hospital from an overdose of cocaine taken in the company of the Italian national. A camera containing several pornographic pictures was found immediately afterwards in the apartment, together with whisky, drugs and the paedophile himself, drunk and half naked. Sexual services were paid with presents, including a new motorbike that the perpetrator had offered to Yesid.

For more than one year, the attorneys of the child paedophile have multiplied tactics to delay the sentence. “The sentence should be exemplary” said Veronique Henry, Terre des Hommes delegate in Colombia. “That would probably deter a certain number of sex tourists and would have a positive effect on the young victims of this form of exploitation, which has remained unpunished for a long time”.

Sex tourism is widespread in Cartagena. At the airport, some taxi drivers indicate to clients the list of young boys and girls of all ages and origins that they can provide. In the city centre, young women wearing make-up and clothes chosen to make them look older can be found in night bars. Many are aged 13-14 and carry false identity documents. Transactions are agreed on-site, and older European and Northern Americans clients take the girls to one of the cheap hotels of the area, that are open day and night. It is possible to bring minors to all kinds of hotels, from the most luxurious to the cheapest, even if access to the hotel is allegedly forbidden to minors. This can be done by bribing the porters.

Cartagena has more than 500’000 inhabitants living in extreme poverty. Many have fled from rural areas due to the armed conflict between governmental and rebel forces. Sexual exploitation of children may also be seen as family survival strategies.

Geneva, 24 March 2010

Terre des Hommes calls on the donors participating in the New York Conference on March 31 to protect children and enhance the public health system in Haiti

Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) has been operating in Haiti for more than 20 years. It is now calling on the donors gathered in New York on March 31 to ensure protection for the children of Haiti, and to strengthen the public health system instead of acting in parallel to it. Terre des Hommes also supports some 20 000 homeless in the areas affected by the earthquake.

After the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, international aid should not replace the existing infrastructure, it should instead support children to remain within their communities, and enhance the capacity of public hospitals and health care centers, as realized by Terre des Hommes in Cayes (Southern District). Violence, abuse and abduction, sometimes masquerading as adoption, affect thousands of children in Haiti, especially since the earthquake, and notably in Port-au-Prince. It is urgent that children be better protected and respected, and that they get back to school and to their families.

“Protecting the young, helping them to overcome their losses and trauma, and enhancing their autonomy are among the challenges that the government and the humanitarian community can only meet together with the people of Haiti.” This is the message of Raffaele Salinari, Chair of TDHIF to the donor conference that will take place on March 31 in New York. “Similarly, existing health care structures need to be consolidated and developed to generate long term effects. As some emergency aid teams have already left the country, the organisations that remain should not replace the civil society of Haiti but help strengthening it on a long term basis.”

Close to the epicenter of the earthquake, Terre des Hommes has provided tents, tools, cooking and hygiene kits, and child clothes to more than 12 000 homeless people. One thousand children and their families already have access to clean water and sanitation. These numbers will double during the coming weeks around Léogane, Petit and Grand Goâve (Western Districts). Several activity centers already allow 2 000 children to express their tension and emotion through play and other exercises. Strategically, Terre des Hommes does not encourage a large concentration of internally displaced people, but prefers to encourage families to remain close to where they were living – so as to rebuild their houses - or to come back to their place if they have been displaced to neighbouring areas.

Since the late 1980s, Terre des Hommes has been helping thousands of children in Haiti to overcome malnutrition and disease, as well as exploitation and violence. Terre des Hommes has enhanced the local sanitary infrastructure, informed communities about good practices regarding health and hygiene, contributed to providing health care to hundreds of undernourished children, and provided protection and access to education projects for highly vulnerable children. After the 2008 cyclone, Terre des Hommes brought aid to around 11 000 children and their families in the South of Haiti.

Geneva, March 24 2010

NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Human rights council to develop UN communications procedure for violations of children's rights

Today (Wednesday 24 March 2010), the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva agreed to start drafting a new international human rights instrument enabling the Committee on the Rights of the Child to receive and examine communications from children and their representatives alleging violation of their rights. The communications procedure will be established by a new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which came into force 20 years ago.

“This is a great breakthrough for children’s rights”, said Anita Goh, the NGO Group for the CRC Advocacy Officer coordinating the international campaign for the new mechanism, “The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the only core international human rights treaty that does not have a communications procedure. We have lobbied very hard for the past four years to get this result.”

In June 2009, the UN Human Rights Council established an intergovernmental Working Group to “explore the possibility” of drafting a new Optional Protocol. The Working Group met in December 2009 and States, experts and civil society had the opportunity to discuss the different issues raised by the creation of this new instrument.
Now, a few months later, the Council has adopted by consensus a new resolution that gives the Working Group the mandate to draft an Optional Protocol.

“Starting the drafting now is a strong signal from the international community that children are rights holders too and that they have the right to complain internationally when no effective remedy is available to them in their own country”, said Ms Goh, “We look forward to the first drafting session later this year and will continue our work to ensure that this new mechanism is both effective and child-sensitive”.
The first session of the Working Group is expected to take place in December 2010 and the new instrument could be adopted by the end of 2011.

Background note
The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a coalition of over 80 international and national NGOs. Supported by more than 600 organisations in all regions, it has been actively lobbying for the establishment of this new mechanism since 2006.
A complaints or “communications” procedure allows individuals, groups or their representatives, claiming that their rights have been violated by a State that is a party to a Convention, to bring a communication before the relevant UN Committee, provided that the State has accepted the procedure.

For background information on the international campaign, see
http://crin.org/law/CRC_complaints/

Geneva, January 26, 2010

Earthquake in Haiti: Protecting Unaccompanied Children

The Terre des Hommes* team has offered support to the medical team of the Les Cayes Hospital (180 km from Port-au-Prince) where 800 casualties arrived last week and a dozen continue to come every day. In addition, tents have been erected in the grounds of the hospital to take care of the less badly wounded, and to accommodate people accompanied by their relatives. The Terre des Hommes delegation has also installed latrines and provided access to drinking water, which is in desperately short supply in Les Cayes, as it is in the whole region following the earthquake. Terre des Hommes works in close collaboration with the other humanitarian agencies operating in Haiti.

Following the earthquake, many children have become separated from their families and have found themselves without shelter, food and other basic necessities. Terre des Hommes is joining its voice to those of numerous other agencies working for the rights of children, to remind that in such emergency situations, efforts to reunite children with their families or customary care-givers should be a priority. Interim care should ensure children’s protection and well-being. Terre des Hommes is also warning of the increased danger of child trafficking among unaccompanied and separated children, and advising that long-term care arrangements, including adoption, should not be made during the emergency phase.

“Terre des Hommes calls on donor countries to prepare a long-term plan after their first meeting in Montreal, which will enable Haiti not only to rebuild the areas affected by the earthquake, but also to engage in a long-term process of consolidating children’s rights ”, said Raffaele Salinari , Chairperson of the Terre des Hommes International Federation. Government estimates of the death toll following the earthquake, have now reached 112’250, with a further 194’000 injured. More than 235’000 people have left Port-au-Prince, and the number of people living in temporary shelter in Port-au-Prince could be as high as 800’000.

Terre des Hommes has worked in Haiti for decades to provide health, hygiene and nutrition programmes, and also to provide vulnerable children with educational opportunities and protection against violence and exploitation.

For more information

Terre des Hommes Denmark
Terre des Hommes Foundation (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Terre des Hommes Germany
Terre des Hommes Italy
Terre des Hommes Netherlands
Terre des Hommes Switzerland (Geneva)

* Terre des Hommes Foundation Lausanne, Terre des Hommes Switzerland and Terre des Hommes Denmark supported by Terre des Hommes Germany, Terre des Hommes Italy, Terre des Hommes Netherlands and Terre des Hommes Spain

January 15, 2009

Violent earthquake in Haiti : Terre des Hommes assists child victims

Following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which devastated Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, casualty figures are increasing at medical facilities, while many victims have been left in the open or are still trapped in rubble. The death toll remains unknown. Terre des Hommes has been operating in Haiti for decades and is deploying first aid measures for affected children and their communities, while also preparing for the reconstruction phase.

TdH staff helping victims
copyrights : Tdh Fondation (Lausanne, Switzerland)

Terre des Hommes* is supporting children and communities in the affected areas, with EUR 133 000 already committed, and is sending a specialist team to reinforce its presence in Haiti, with the backing of Swiss Solidarity. In collaboration with local organisations, Terre des Hommes is planning the distribution of essential items to respond to the immediate needs of many thousands victims of the disaster.

Terre des Hommes will provide daily food rations, hygiene kits, and water containers to affected families, enabling them to cope with the large scale destruction following the earthquake. Its long collaboration with communities in Haiti should ensure substantial sanitary and food support for children and their families hit by the disaster.

The Cayes Hospital copyrights : Tdh Fondation (Lausanne, Switzerland)

“The Terre des Hommes organisations are mobilising their capacities in order to help the children of Haiti, in collaboration with local populations, not only during the first aid phase but also during reconstruction”, said Raffaele Salinari , Chairperson of the Terre des Hommes International Federation. Terre des Hommes will participate in the reconstruction phase by further assisting affected families and providing badly affected children with psycho-social support.

Terre des Hommes has worked in Haiti for many years to provide health, hygiene and nutrition programmes, and also to provide vulnerable children with educational opportunities and protection against violence and exploitation. Some of the project partner organisations of Terre des Hommes have suffered considerably as a result of the earthquake.

Marie Jude, Tdh psychologist
copyrights : Tdh Fondation (Lausanne, Switzerland)

For more information :
Terre des Hommes Denmark
Terre des Hommes Germany
Terre des Hommes Italy
Terre des Hommes Netherlands
Terre des Hommes Foundation (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Terre des Hommes Switzerland (Geneva)

Nerlande, Tdh nurse, providing health care
copyrights : Tdh Fondation (Lausanne, Switzerland)

* Terre des Hommes Foundation Lausanne, Terre des Hommes Switzerland and Terre des Hommes Denmark supported by Terre des Hommes Germany, Terre des Hommes Italy, and Terre des Hommes Netherlands and Terre des Hommes Spain

Brussels, 20 October 2009.

EU Ministerial Conference against Trafficking in Human Beings
Terre des Hommes puts child trafficking on the agenda

For the fits time the issue of child trafficking is discussed and tackled in a specific panel of a very high level Conference. The Conference, taking place in Brussels on the 19-20th of October ‘09, brought together Ministers of Justice, Interiors and Migration from the 27 EU Member Stated and from third countries, with a total of 66 States represented in the conference. The H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden and H:M. Queen Paola of Belgium also participated and addressed the Conference.

Since March 2009, Terre des Hommes was invited by the Swedish EU Presidency and the European Commission to take an active part in the preparation process of the Conference. Terre des Hommes advocated strongly for an in-depth discussion among Governments on the current reality of child trafficking and needed responses, both in and outside Europe.

To contribute to such discussion, Terre des Hommes was asked to produce a position paper based on the field reality and its program. The paper includes a series of recommendations that should be taken into account in the so called “October 2009 Declaration on Trafficking in Human Beings” and the up-coming “Stockholm Program”, setting the political EU priorities in the field of Justice and Home Affairs for the next 5 years.

In the “October Declaration” Governments recognize the need to enhance a human-rights approach against trafficking, and promotion of “regular, fair and managed” migration policy. In its external cooperation, the EU should emphasize education and sustainable development programs that affect positively children and young people at risk of being trafficked.

The specific panel on child trafficking recalled that adequate responses to child trafficking are still missing. Protection of Unaccompanied minors was considered as a priority within the EU Member States. The UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children also called upon governments to enhance child-centered measures on recovery, reintegration and redress.

At this regard, Terre des Hommes photo exhibition “Another Me” (www.anotherme.org), on trafficked girls from Nepal to India, is showed in the conference. It demonstrates how assistance and reintegration projects can support trafficked persons to transform their pain into empowerment and looking ahead life projects.

Geneva, 5 October 2009

NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Event marks key moment in the history of children's rights

Children, NGOs, State delegates, UN experts and advocates will gather in Geneva on 8 and 9 October 2009 to mark a key moment in the history of the children's rights movement.

The event, 'Dignity, Dialogue and Development', will take place at the International Conference Centre in Geneva. It has been organised to take stock of progress in children's rights on the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989.

Hosted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the conference will see delegates discuss pivotal child rights themes, and adopt a set of recommendations to guide future theory and practice. Children will be among those speaking and presenting.

There is little doubt that the impact of the CRC has been profound. Ratified by all but two of the world's States, its provisions, based on children's fundamental entitlement to be treated with respect and dignity, have formed the basis of national laws and policies, regional human rights mechanisms and international guidelines.

But its value lies beyond the power of the law. Historically subordinated and viewed as second class citizens, or the property of others, the Convention demands that children are seen as rights-holder with sets of specific entitlements. The participation of children themselves in monitoring the Convention, while far from universally practised, is testament to the sea change in global attitudes.

Peter Newell, of the NGO Group for the CRC, said: “Over 18 years, 340 successive CRC reports from states have been examined. Governments have been held externally, publicly, accountable for their attitudes to children, and their respect for children’s rights.”

The role of NGOs has been pivotal in the promotion and implementation of the CRC. They have submitted Alternative reports to the Committee, campaigned for its deployment in national courts, as well as in policy and practice, and held governments to account. However, the plight of millions of the world's children demonstrates that the existence of the CRC has not in itself been enough.

Mr Newell said: “The gross breaches of the child’s right to life and maximum survival and development, extreme discrimination in access to basic health, clean water and nutrition too easily become part of the scenery and make a mockery of us telling children they have rights. We need to equip ourselves now for a decade of insistence that the CRC is a legal instrument, bestowing legal obligations on states which must be enforceable by children and their representatives. It is going to be up to us, NGOs, and human rights institutions and individual lawyers, children’s organisations and other advocates to be creative in invoking the legal force of the Convention.”

Notes to editors:
1. The Committee on the Rights of the Child, made up of a set of international experts, oversees the implementation of the CRC. Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/Committee.asp and http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/
2. The NGO Group for the CRC is a network of 80 international and national non-governmental organisations, which work together to facilitate the implementation of the CRC. Visit: http://www.childrightsnet.org/

Geneva, June 11, 2009

12 June 2009 – International Day Against Child Labour
Shield for Children is Urgently Needed!
Terre des Hommes warns of the risk of an increase in child labour as a result of the global financial crisis

The child relief organisation Terre des Hommes is warning of an increase in child labour. The loss of jobs for adults, especially in the export-oriented sector in emerging countries, means that millions of families are under economic pressure.

The International Labour Organization ILO estimates that 50 million jobs have been lost worldwide. “Millions of people are taking any kind of job and are trying desperately to keep themselves and their families above water. In many families, the decision to remove children from school was taken”, said Barbara Küppers, Terre des Hommes International Federation expert in child labour. Families can no longer pay for school fees and books, and children have to contribute to the household income. In India, for example, the situation of the poor has deteriorated, even in times of high economic growth; the country has fallen to rank 132 in the UN social development index, and 59 million boys and girls between 5 and 14 years of age are not attending school.

“Terre des Hommes therefore calls on governments and on the international community to deploy a protective umbrella for children, now”, said Barbara Küppers. “Otherwise the number of working children will rise and even the so far small success against the exploitation of children would be wasted.” The remission of school fees or free school meals would have a direct effect, for example.

Around 217 million children work worldwide; 126 million of these children are used as slaves, debts-bonded servants, or are unscrupulously exploited in life-threatening working conditions. Since the adoption of ILO Convention 182 against the worst forms of child labour on June 1999, laws have been passed in many states to protect children from exploitative work. Some governments have improved their education system and the enrolment rates have increased in some countries. In some sectors, joint efforts have been led by Trade Unions, employers and non-governmental organizations to combat child labour.

May 14, 2009

Aid Watch Annual Report 2009

European governments U-turn on the most vulnerable as economic crisis grips; children may be the primary affected in the world.

As poor countries face the full impact of the economic crisis, European governments are falling short by nearly €40bn on their aid promises, a new report from CONCORD, the European confederation of development NGOs, reveals.

“The Aid Watch 2009 report shows 2 realities: incoherence and a political gap in the attitude of European governments towards their commitments towards Development Cooperation”, said Raffaele K. Salinari, President of Terre des Hommes International Federation. “Incoherence between official figures published by EU Governments and the effective amount of money concretely spent for cooperation. Gap again between the Millenium Declaration commitment to allocate 0.7%/GNI for Development by 2015 and the current tendency of some European Governments to decrease such target, with 0.34% European average today. No doubt this will have an impact on children in developing countries. This is why we calls on EU governments not only to meet their commitments, but also allocate additional ad hoc funds to mitigate the impact of the crisis on children”.

As Development Ministers prepare to meet in Brussels next week, the report shows that European governments will not meet their 2010 aid target until 2012 unless serious action is taken now. Many governments are still inflating their aid levels by counting money that does not reach poor people. Missed targets and non-genuine aid will mean poor countries will have missed out on nearly €40bn by 2010 – enough to increase the income of 380 million Africans living in absolute poverty by one quarter.

Official figures show that in 2008, Europe allocated 0.40% of its gross national income (GNI) to aid. However, CONCORD’s 2009 AidWatch report shows that most European donors have provided misleading aid figures. Out of almost €50bn provided as aid in 2008, close to €5bn went to debt cancellation, €2bn to hosting foreign students and close to €1bn to hosting and repatriating refugees. Real European aid amounted to only 0.34% of collective GNI.

Europe has proved capable of mobilising gargantuan amounts of money for its banks. Over $150 billion was mobilised for Northern Rock and Dexia alone – more than double the amount of EU aid in 2008. Europe is failing to mobilize the same level of political will for aid - instead we have seen a raft of European government cuts to aid budgets in 2009. Italy, Ireland and Estonia have all announced cuts to their 2009 aid budgets, and Latvia has suspended 100% of its development activities. Most European countries still have a mountain to climb to meet their 0.56% percent aid commitments, with half of this going to Africa.

Terre des Hommes International Federation International, as founder member of CONCORD (European NGO Confederation for Development and Relief that represent 1,600 European NGOs across Europe), is associated to all CONCORD members to calls on EU governments, who are meeting in Brussels next week, to show genuine solidarity with poor countries by meeting their development promises, ending unfair inflation of their aid figures and ensuring they do not support policies which have a detrimental impact on developing countries.

The Terre des Hommes International Federation is a network of eleven national organisations working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.

Concord's 2009 Aidwatch Report :

Report : download here

Summary : download here

February 12, 2009

UN : Ex-Child Soldiers and Other Youth Seeking Stronger Action On Treaty Anniversary, International Red Hand Campaign Appeal to Secretary-General

(New York, February 12)—Former child soldiers and other youth representing a grass-roots campaign from around the world will present hundred thousands of symbolic “red hands” to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon today to demand stronger action by international leaders to end the use of child soldiers.

A UN treaty prohibiting the forced recruitment or use of children under age 18 in armed conflict, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has been ratified by 126 countries and entered into force on February 12, 2002. But child soldiers are still being used in 15 countries or territories, including some that have ratified the treaty.

“Young people from around the world have joined forces to express their outrage that children are still used to fight in war,” said Jo Becker of Human Rights Watch, an organizer of the campaign. “They want a stronger commitment from world leaders to end this practice.” “There was an overwhelming worldwide solidarity and passion in the Red Hand Campaign. The message is clear : No child under the age of 18 should be abused as soldier”, added Ralf Willinger of the international child rights organization Terre des Hommes.

February 12 is celebrated worldwide as Red Hand Day, and young people and others from over 30 countries have collected around 250,000 of the images, the symbol of the international campaign. They have made red handprints on paper and banners and inscribed personal messages calling for an end to the use of child soldiers.
Young people have organized hundreds of events, including marches, petition drives, special exhibitions, public awareness programs at their schools, and other activities to highlight the continued use of child soldiers. Some have delivered red hands to their members of Congress or Parliament.

“Former child soldiers like me are encouraged to have youth from all over the world standing up for our rights,” said Yina Paola Moreno Soto, 20, a former child soldier from Colombia who will participate in the event in New York on February 12. “We hope that world leaders and commanders using child soldiers will pay attention.”

Former child soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, and youth activists from Germany and the United States will present red hands to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at 5 p.m. in UNICEF headquarters. On behalf of the campaign, they are calling for :

Stronger UN action against governments and armed groups using child soldiers, including Security Council arms embargoes and other sanctions against persistent violators;
Prosecution of military leaders who recruit or use child soldiers;
Universal ratification and enforcement of the optional protocol;
Increased support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of former child soldiers, including child soldier refugees in Western countries.

Public events will also take place in other countries including :

In Germany, campaign participants will deliver more than one hundred thousand red hands to the German President Horst Köhler ;
In California, students are asking city councils to adopt resolutions declaring February 12 “Red Hand Day” in their city;
In Belgium, activists presented ‘red hands’ to the Belgian foreign minister at a special event at the the Palais des Académies in Brussels on February 5;
In India, activists presented more than 35.000 hands in a press event.

Red Hand Day Campaign activities have taken place in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, France, Germany, Guinea, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Madagascar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States.

Belém, 27 January 2009

World Social Forum 2009 Belém, January 27th - February 1st , 2009
Opening March: A colored reflection of the cultural and biodiversity of Amazonia

“This WSF Opening March was the most illustrative and powerful demonstration of the cultural and social diversity of humanity. Amazonia region and peoples represent an extraordinary example of that diversity” declared Raffaele Salinari, President of TDHIF, who accompanied a group of 15 young people and children from across Latin America who will express their views during the forum.

“TDHIF participated in the WSF since 2001 to promote the views of children on global issues. Our framework has been the international human rights framework since then. This year, our activities in this social forum will focus on the importance of adopting the lens of human rights to discuss the financial crisis, the financing for development cooperation, the issues of budgeting of public policies. To do so, we will promote TDH campaign on “children, cultural and biodiversity” he stated.

Last but not least, the fact that Brazilan Head of State Luiz Ignazio Lula da Silva, together with others like Kirchner, Chavez or Morales, participate in the WSF and not in the World Economic Forum is also giving a clear signal that WSF succeeded in setting a political and social agenda to today’s challenges like the financial crisis and the issues of Amazonia protection, two crucial issues of the WSF this year.

Photo : TDHIF President, Raffaele K. Salinari, in Belém

“Our right to land in Amazonia is your right to life”

This was one among the strong messages released by indigenous communities at the second day of the WSF 2009 dedicated to pan-Amazonia issues.

“Our right to life, to land, to development patterns respecting our culture are the only guarantee to protect Amazonia from devastating projects like digs or extensive soya cultures imposed by a small group of multinationals supported by governments, therefore, the rights of all of you, people from Europe, Asia, Africa and America, are interconnected to our right to live in our forest and to protect it according to our living patterns”, they declared. This year again, Terre des Hommes will contribute to this debate through the active participation of a group of 15 young people coming from Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, who will present patterns of their cultures and promote the respect of diversity through their participation in public and global issues.

Photo panel “right to land in amazonia”

Photo of TDHIF stand and children group”

Geneva, January 2009

World Social Forum 2009
Belém, January 27th - February 1st , 2009
Walking the path…towards implementing Human Rights

Background
Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) is dedicated to promote concrete conditions for the full respect and implementation of child rights within a context of human rights based approaches to sustainable and equitable development embedded in economic, social and cultural rights. Our belief is that children are the main participants in their own development, with inherent rights and vital social, economic and cultural roles. In both the unstable and stable conditions children are the most affected in terms of human rights violation. In a changing world scenario global threats such as climate change, food crisis, financial crisis and poverty have tremendous impact on the most vulnerable people. This is the case for children.

more >>> (pdf 186 ko )

Geneva, January 5, 2009

Terre des Hommes International Federation calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza strip

“Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) urges all parties to the conflict to come to an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza strip and to a strict observance of international humanitarian law and urges the Israeli government to ensure unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza” said Raffaele K. Salinari, TDHIF Chairperson. “Terre des Hommes International Federation also urges the international community and in particular the UN Security Council and the European Union to take all appropriate measures to put an end to the crisis, to encourage political dialogue and to contribute to laying basis for a just and lasting peace in the region” he continued.

While condemning the rocket attacks by Hamas that led to the death of Israeli civilians, Terre des Hommes International Federation also strongly condemns Israel's disproportionate use of force resulting in the reported death of more than 500, a large number of which were civilians, and the wounding of over 2’250 persons. Furthermore, at least 13’000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes in Gaza, a large number of which are children. The water and sewage system in Gaza is also collapsing, cutting people off from water supply.

Through its partner organisation, Ard El Insan, the Terre des Hommes Foundation (Lausanne/Switzerland) has been running health programmes for 22’000 mother and children in the Gaza strip, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Last summer Terre des Hommes Italy supported four Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) clinics that were badly damaged by the Israeli air-strikes. The project benefited directly to more than 100’000 people, but it revealed the dire health needs of the Gaza children. Due to the impossibility of entering Gaza for the international humanitarian personnel, Terre des Hommes Italy is waiting for intervening with direct humanitarian aid to the population.

Geneva, December 10th 2008

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A Landmark Treaty

On 10 December 2008, the world celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a crucial text which states in its article 1 that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Terre des Hommes was born almost 50 years ago to ensure that the rights of all children are respected, and it daily implements this commitment through 1084 development and humanitarian aid projects in 70 countries. Terre des Hommes is commemorating this important 60th anniversary through the organization of specific events.

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a landmark treaty that has shaped our social history since its inception”, said Raffaele Salinari, Chairman of Terre des Hommes International Federation. “It is also the common ground which unites mankind in reflecting the general aspirations of all human beings no matter what their culture”. The Declaration represents a contract between governments and their peoples, who have a right to demand that this document is respected. Not all governments have become parties to all human rights treaties, but all countries have accepted the UDHR. The drafters of the UDHR saw a future of freedom from fear, but also freedom from want, and they put all human rights on an equal footing. Over the years, the commitments have been translated into law, whether in the form of treaties, customary international law, general principles, regional agreements or domestic law. The UDHR is the most translated document in the world.

Regarding the implementation of human rights for children since the Declaration, the situation is inconsistent. There has been undoubted progress in the fields of health, education and the recognition that each child is a person with inherent rights and a vital socio-economic role. However child exploitation is still a very major issue and numbers seem to be growing. Children also continue to suffer from inequalities at all stages in their development. Of the 9.7 million child deaths in 2006, almost half were in Sub-Saharan Africa and almost one third in South Asia. About 57% of the children of primary school age who are not in school are girls. “All in all, there is still a long way to go”, says Eylah Hamouda, the TDHIF Coordinator. “We see, for example, that in times of economic crisis the progress for children, which has been so difficult to achieve, can easily be reversed.”

Terre des Hommes is marking this 60th anniversary through different events. Terre des Hommes Germany, for example, is participating in the organization of an international workshop entitled Social and Human Rights Budgeting, in Berlin on 9 December 2008. Governments and parliaments can promote human rights through budget allocation. State-subsidized school lunches can foster the realization of the right to food. Public housing benefits promote the right to adequate housing. Official Development Assistance (ODA) for public health systems strengthens the right to health. The workshop will present an overview of the broad range of existing budget monitoring and human rights budgeting initiatives, and will share experiences with organizations from Asia, Africa and Latin America in analyzing and influencing national budgets. The event is being organized in conjunction with the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation, the Global Policy Forum Europe and Social Watch.

November 2008

A new Terre des Hommes publication :
Kids abroad : ignore them, abuse them or protect them ? Lessons on how to protect children on the move from being exploited

“Children who leave home and migrate, either within their own country or to another country, are entitled to far better efforts to protect them from abuse and exploitation”, says the Terre des Hommes International Federation today (Wednesday 26 November 2008).

Available here : pdf 1150 Kb

In a new report, “Kids Abroad”, published today, Terre des Hommes reviews a wide range of initiatives to support children who leave home without being accompanied by any other family member, discussing the situation in Western and South Eastern Europe and also in West Africa, Central America, South Asia and South East Asia.

“There are too many missed opportunities to protect children, particularly foreign children”, says Raffaele K. Salinari, Chair of Terre des Hommes International Federation. “In particular, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have developed effective and imaginative ways of protecting children who are on the move. But governments, instead of helping, often impede efforts to protect such children – and in the worst cases are the ones responsible for abusing children’s rights.”

The study criticises the way that children travelling alone are treated in some countries, but focuses primarily on what can be done within the limitations of the law to assist such children and enable them to exercise their human rights. It notes that in countries where immigration policy (and detaining irregular immigrants) is a government priority, it is difficult for Terre des Hommes or other organisations to give separated children the support that child rights organisations know to be appropriate (and to which the children are often entitled), for fear that they will be accused of infringing the law.

As a matter of public policy, most governments encourage children to attend school and to remain there, at least until they complete their primary education. However, millions do not do so and set out to ‘seek their fortune’ while still adolescents or even before reaching puberty. While public policy may not want to approve or encourage their actions, thousands of NGOs around the world are engaged in efforts to protect and assist such children, particularly when they are far from home and are vulnerable to abuse because they are cut off from the families or home communities who could help protect them.

The study found that in one country in South Eastern Europe NGOs have played an important role in developing the capacity of local social services to identify children who are at high risk of being taken out of school and made to earn money, sometimes even before reaching the age of ten. In South East Asia, international organisations have provided crucial support to an NGO that represents an immigrant community. This has strengthened the ability of immigrants to defend the own rights, denouncing cases in which adolescent and adult workers have been abused at work and making it safer for the children of migrant workers to attend local schools. In large countries where children migrate a thousand kilometres in search of a living, such as China and India, the study praises the role of projects which have linked up the communities in towns which are the destinations of child migrants and the villages from which they come. By linking the two ends of the migration chain and making migration ‘less unsafe’, such initiatives have brought significant benefits for children and deserve to be replicated in other regions.

Terre des Hommes’ study ends with a series of recommendations. The main one is that more effort should be made to “prevent migration being unsafe” for young people under 18. Other, more specific recommendations include:

1. More investment is required to develop techniques for protecting children who are actually in transit, moving from one place to another in search of a better future.

2. Better and more imaginative use could be made of communications and information technology to protect children on the move, notably by ensuring they can stay in contact with others while travelling and after reaching their destination.

3. Not enough attention has been given to understanding ‘indigenous’ practices which have the effect of protecting children from harm and which can be strengthened at relatively little cost.

Notes for Editors:

The study - Kids abroad: ignore them, abuse them or protect them? Lessons on how to protect children on the move from being exploited. – can be downloaded at www.terredeshommes.org

The report was prepared for the Terre des Hommes International Federation by Mike Dottridge, a consultant who was the author of a 2004 Terre des Hommes report entitled Kids as Commodities: child trafficking and what to do about it.

In most countries in Europe (and also in North America), children who arrive alone from abroad are seen by the authorities to be a ‘problem’. The decisions made about them routinely look as though they are based primarily on the interests of the State and the resident population of the country concerned, rather than on the best interests of the children themselves. Large numbers of children are either stopped at border posts or rounded up later on when they are found to have no legal entitlement to be in the country. Some under 16 are referred to residential children’s homes, while others are placed in detention centres for immigrants who are considered to be ‘illegal’.

“Assisted voluntary return” is the only acceptable method for returning children who are abroad to their country of origin, in the view of Terre des Hommes. This means that returns must be carried out in a way which is safe, legal, prepared with the child, prepared with the child’s family, adapted on a case by case basis and must be carried out fairly quickly (rather than keeping a child waiting in limbo). Further, such returns must be preceded by a set of steps which will confirm that the return is in the child’s best interests. In Terre des Hommes’ experience, when these criteria and procedures are respected, there is a good chance that a child can be well reintegrated. However, the opposite is also true: if they are not observed, the child concerned is quite likely not to remain at home for long.

November, 2008

3rd World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of children and adolescents: Rio de Janeiro November 25-28, 2008
Going step by step

Brasil President Lula da Silva opening the 3rd World Congress

The 3rd World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents has ended in Rio de Janeiro on Friday November 28, after a week of intense work involving 3400 participants, including 170 government delegations, 850 NGOs, 260 journalists and 300 children and adolescents. The Congress had been opened on Tuesday November 25, by President Lula in the presence of Queen Silvia of Sweden, who actively participated in the Congress work. The Congress resulted in an international plan of action reflecting the commitments taken by participating states, civil society and corporate actors in the fight against sexual exploitation and the trafficking of children.

Sexual exploitation of children is a scourge that spares no region or social groups. According to the UN, an estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual abuse. Alarmingly the most commonly reported perpetrators of sexual violence against girls are male family members. An estimated 82 million girls around the world, some as young as 10 years of age will marry before their 18th birthday and an estimated 1.8 million children are victims of prostitution or pornography.

Terre des Hommes contributed to the preparation of the Congress and was actively present during all its work. It co-organized 6 workshops on protecting children against sexual exploitation. One workshop on sex tourism, for example, presented the work undertaken in collaboration with local NGOs concerning extraterritorial laws which most Western countries have put in place. These laws allow to prosecute European tourists for sexual abuses committed abroad and the sex offenders are often first identified by NGOs.

Terre des Hommes (Netherlands) workshop

Terre des Hommes also presented its latest research on protecting children on the move1 to the Congress. The study highlights the increased number of children on the move who leave home either forced or voluntarily, the dangers they face, and the general lack of knowledge about this phenomenon.
The Congress highlighted existing and emerging practices and allowed exchange of knowledge among different sectors of society involved in child protection. As an example, an entire afternoon was devoted to corporate social responsibility. Many examples were presented about initiatives by the tourism and transport industry to prevent child sexual exploitation, as well as about new uses of the Internet. The Congress also gathered various professions involved in the fight against sexual exploitation, such as the police or juvenile justice.

1 Mike Dottridge : Kids abroad : ignore them, abuse them or protect them ? Lessons on how to protect children on the move from being exploited

For more information and to download the outcome document of the Congress, click here.

Brussels, 9 October 2008

424 Members of the European Parliament stand against child trafficking

On 22 September 2008, the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering formally announced that Declaration n. 50 on combating the trafficking of children was adopted by reaching 400 signatures from Members of the European Parliament. Up to today, expiration date for endorsement, at least 424 Members of the European Parliament took a strong political position against child trafficking by signing such Declaration.

“Child trafficking, often referred to as the modern slavery, is a persisting problem and an encroachment not only against human rights, but against our future” said MEP Lyubcheva, promoter of the Declaration. To address it, “the European Commission should set up a separate programme and an action plan within the framework of the EU strategy on the Rights of the Child and undertake the measures needed for the establishment of a common EU policy” she added.

As a child rights non-governmental organisation specialised in the fight against child trafficking worldwide, Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) was contacted by MEP Lyubcheva in May 2008 to support this initiative. “The formal endorsement of the Declaration by 424 MEPs out of 785 is certainly a successful result of campaigning run by NGOs to put the issue of child trafficking on the EU political agenda” highlighted Raffaele Salinari, President of TDHIF. “In the light of the recent increase of xenophobe, restrictive migration policy and violations of migrants’ rights in Europe, this is an important contrasting political step to which TDHIF certainly contributed through its longstanding work against child trafficking” he declared.

This is the first and probably the only Declaration that will be adopted by the European Parliament under the legislature 2004-2009. The Declaration represents a formal position of the EP that will be sent to the European Commission and to the 27 EU governments. Through it, the EP is asking them to place the fight against child trafficking as a priority in the framework of child protection mechanisms in Europe. It also demands the EC and Member States to enhance trans-national collaborations and their support to NGOs involved in preventing and protecting victims. “Beyond its political importance, this Declaration definitely represents an important advocacy tool for any actor committed to put an end to child trafficking”, admitted Salvatore Parata, representative of TDHIF in Brussels.

Terre des hommes implements since 2001 an International Campaign against Child Trafficking. 75 anti-child trafficking field projects, in 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa are implemented in the framework of this Campaign. In Europe, TDH works since 2000 in ensuring protection of children against exploitation and trafficking. Projects are implemented in countries of origin such as Albania, Kosovo, Moldova and Romania, and networking activities cover countries of destination within EU Member States and Russia to ensure the protection of the children on the move.

Brussels, 7th October 2008

A new report on Human Rights - Based Approaches and EU Development Aid Policies

Poverty eradication is a major human rights challenge of the 21st Century. A decent standard of living, adequate nutrition, health care, education decent work and protection against calamities, are not just development goals - they are also human rights - UN Human Development Report 2000

A review of EU development policies* launched today in Brussels finds that core EU development policies, including the European Consensus on Development, fail to coherently reflect the applicable international human rights framework and other core legal principles required of human rights based development, as outlined in 2003 in the UN Common Understanding regarding human rights based approaches (HRBA).

The review of key development policy documents, which was carried out in conjunction with consultation with a range of stakeholders, notes an increased use of human rights language in many EU development policies and welcomes some recent policy documents (e.g. regarding children) that coherently reflect the applicable international human rights framework.

However, deficiencies in other policies include failure to use human rights terminology with legal precision; misrepresentation of the relationship between policy commitments and legal obligations; failure to identify core development challenges, such as poverty as a denial of human rights. In particular, the EU overarching development policy framework, the European Consensus on Development fails to provide a clear and accurate policy commitment to human rights based development, or to acknowledge human rights as both the means and the goal of EU development assistance.

The briefing paper seeks to inform those responsible for formulating, applying and reviewing EU development policies on the internationally agreed legal principles which underpin HRBA and to ensure that they are clearly reflected in the development policies of the world's largest development donor

Amongst the recommendations of the participating organisations is that future formulation processes and content of development policies should be subject to scrutiny for human rights based approaches, including legal accuracy. In addition, existing development policies should be interpreted so as not to undermine international human rights law obligations.

EU Member States, development partner states and all development stakeholders are urged to insist that EU development policies and programmes be coherent with international law obligations and adopt HRBA as the overarching framework for their advocacy.

*** END ***

A joint initiative by Terre des Hommes International Federation, Action Aid International, Amnesty International EU Office and International Human Rights Network (IHRN).

Please click here to download the full report Human Rights-Based Approaches and European Union Development Aid Policies 2008
(pdf 1.7 mb)

and the launching event of the report, Brussels, 7 October 2008
( pdf 3.7 mb)

Geneva, June 12, 2008

World Day against Child Labour – Education the right response to child labour

Terre des Hommes International Federation takes the opportunity of the World Day against Child Labour to reaffirm its position that the worst forms of child labour, as defined by ILO Convention 182, as well as all exploitative and harmful forms of labour should be immediately eliminated and that any work children undertake, should be compatible with the principles of the best interests of the child and the right to education and should not jeopardise their future.

Terre des Hommes calls upon all stakeholders to strictly employ a human rights approach when addressing situations of child labour. Education plays a crucial role in this direction, as it enhances the child’s knowledge and life skills as well as it develops the sense of human dignity and self-confidence. The right to education means that children should be able to access education, and that such education should be of quality and correspond to the expectations of the children and their communities.

Terre des Hommes would like to remind all stakeholders that as stated by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, ‘education goes far beyond formal schooling to embrace the broad range of life experiences and learning processes’. In this context, the role played by the family, community and civil society remains crucial. States should and cannot ignore such a fact, which requires a truthful partnership regarding existing problems both in the formal and informal education. Terre des Hommes remains committed to support such an ongoing exchange and to link it up with State policies and practices.

Education should transmit to children respect for human rights, but unfortunately abuse and violence against children within the education system also occur, even though it remains often unreported. The first step in addressing it, is through open debates on violence and abuse against children within the education system, accompanied by transparent procedures of reporting and follow-up. Terre des Hommes has also evidenced that another reason why children drop out of school is that the education received does not correspond to the wishes and needs of the children and their communities. Terre des Hommes calls for improvements in the quality of education.

Brussels, June 4, 2008

European Parliament is taking a political stand against child trafficking

Combating child trafficking: EU needs a priority policy says Bulgarian MEP

Today, MEP Marusya Lyubcheva is pleading for the European Parliament to recognize the fight against child trafficking as a priority for the EU. Specialised on combating child trafficking, the child rights organisation Terre des Hommes is strongly supporting this initiative.

During today’s Mini-Plenary Session of the European Parliament, MEP Marusya Lyubcheva, backed by four MEP signatories, will launch a “Written Declaration (n. 50) on combating the trafficking of children”.

Trafficking of children is a problem and a challenge for each county nowadays recognizes MEP Marusya Lyubcheva. Its existence in the EU and in partner countries makes us, the Members of the European Parliament, responsible for the future generations; we are called upon to create conditions of security and safeness for our children, she states. MEP Lyubcheva calls on the EU to develop both programmes for child protection and uniform, targeted policies against child trafficking: We need a target and priority-oriented EU policy against child trafficking.

The Declaration is calling on EU Member States to recognize the fight against child trafficking as a priority in national child protection policy, to enhance transnational cooperation, to support authorities and NGOs to shape adequate responses to prevent, protect and provide adequate treatment to victims. To become official, this Declaration must get 400 signatures out of the 785 MEPs by October 2008.

After 8 years of intensive work against child trafficking, we observe that the phenomenon is not only evolving quantitatively but the responses to prevent and combat this crime against humanity are increasingly inadequate, said Raffaele K. Salinari, President of TDHIF, referring to the work done in the framework of the TDHIF International Campaign against Child Trafficking.

Benefiting from the know-how of expert NGOs is key to shape adequate policy at EU level, continues Lyubcheva, this is why I invited Terre des Hommes to support us in this. The Declaration is calling on the EU Council and Parliament to provide the necessary resources to fight child trafficking in the framework of the Commission’s strategy on the rights of the child.

For the first time, the EP is clearly focusing on the very issue of child trafficking as a priority in the perspective of a future EU strategy on the rights of the child. This shows that the EU is progressively addressing child trafficking as a specific policy area, and not only as a sub-category of trafficking in persons, stated Salvatore Parata, from TDHIF Brussels office. The challenge for the EU is still to shape specific anti child-trafficking programs and allocate respective resources. The Declaration launched by MEP Lyubcheva is an important step towards that target.

Geneva, June 3, 2008

High level Conference on World Food Security - Terre des Hommes acts to reduce child malnutrition

The world food crisis threatens the advances made in development and children’s rights in recent years. Terre des Hommes welcomes the opening of the FAO High-Level Conference on World Food Security and calls on states to take stock of the gravity of the situation, to devise measures protecting children from both short and long-term effects of the crisis and to make the necessary investments to implement them.

“We call on governments attending the conference to be forward-looking and to give priority to the well-being of children and to the implementation of the right to food. Terre des Hommes considers the food crisis as a massive violation of children’s rights and we expect from this conference a process of collaboration between governments, international organisation, civil society and the private sector to face the challenges by intervening on factors such as the rising of fuel prices or poor environmental practices” said Raffaele Salinari, President of the Terre des Hommes International Federation. “We know that children will be the first victims of the food crisis” he continued, “rapid decisions must therefore be taken that will allow states to fund increased social protection and support for farmers.”

The world food crisis threatens to place an additional 100 million people deeper into poverty. At least 35 million of those will be children.1 This is a serious breach to the commitments taken by governments regarding the Millennium Development Goals and especially regarding the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. Many families in poor countries are already spending over three quarters of their income on food and this puts an unbearable burden upon them. The High-Level Conference, which starts on June 3rd at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, has become even more timely in light of soaring food prices and the additional challenges this situation poses to achieving global food security. Decisions on longer term solutions are essential, including the need for investment in small scale sustainable agriculture and strategies to increase access to land for small farmers, especially women.

Terre des Hommes contributes to the implementation of the right to food through projects on child health and nutrition, it also focuses on other effects of rising food prices, for example on the right to education, to prevent withdrawal of children from schools to earn additional income. Terre des Hommes works with communities and supports the capacities of parents to provide adequate food to their children. Terre des Hommes also runs nutrition units in different services of paediatric hospitals to cure children who are gravely undernourished. Usually these units are progressively integrated into the services of regional or national hospitals after a certain period of time.

Brussels, February 26, 2008

Adoption in Europe: at what cost ?
Adoption is also a responsibility of receiving European countries.

Today in Brussels governments' representatives and Members of the European Parliament discuss the responsibilities of the European receiving countries on inter-country adoption as outlined in Terre des Hommes International Federation study.

Today in Brussels, Terre des Hommes presents to the representatives of European competent national Authorities for Adoption and the Members of the European Parliament the study "Adoption : at what cost ?" comparing the laws and practices on inter-country adoption of six receiving countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Norway and Switzerland).

The launch of the study takes place through an expert panel and a roundtable at the European Parliament, the latter hosted by Catherine Stihler, MEP for Scotland, and introduced by the institutional greeting of the Vice-President of the European Parliament, MEP Luisa Morgantini. The event aims at stressing the responsibilities of the receiving countries. President of Terre des Hommes International Federation, Raffaele Salinari comments: "Each receiving country should ensure protection of children from deviations and abuses stemming from the regulations or their enforcements. The Hague Convention, even if in force in the countries analysed in the study, is still not applied in all its aspects, in order to stop child trafficking in the field of inter-country adoptions". For Marlène Hofstetter, co-author of the study, the practice of private adoption remains a main concern: "Private adoptions do not guarantee sufficient control. Often parents are not aware of being trapped in very complex child trafficking organizations".

Given that cross border adoption is now regarded to be at its highest level, Terre des Hommes and MEP Catherine Stihler are looking to the European Commission in order to safeguard the rights of the adopted child and adoptive parents by encouraging all EU states to participate in a code of good practice, sharing responsibility and ensuring a smooth, incorrupt adoption process. This should be done within the framework of implementation of the Communication "Towards a EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child" adopted in 2006 by the European Commission.

MEP Catherine Stihler commented "Whenever issues are raised with regards to inter-country adoption, we often blame the country that the child has come from. We also have to look at ourselves as a country and ask what we could do to prevent a re-occurrence of these issues or to stop problems arising in the first instance."

Terre des Hommes is a leading non-governmental-organization in the fight against child trafficking. The study falls within the International Campaign against Child Trafficking launched by Terre des Hommes in 2001.