Press Release – 20.11.2009

20 years after in the European Union, Children become author/actor of their rights.

The European Social Action Network, E.S.A.N., is active for more than 20 years in the field of the defence of the Rights of the Child through diverse actions carried out at grass-root level by its members across 14 Member States.

This year to celebrate the 20th birthday of the UN Convention, European children and youngsters put into practice the notion of young people author / actor of solidarity by conceiving an educative journey addressing 12 of their rights. This exhibit guides the visitors through entertaining and artistic presentations on the journey from the basic rights of the individual until the emancipation and the empowerment of the young people towards more citizenship and solidarity. The exhibit presents good practices carried out by or with children and youngsters all over Europe and is composed of 4 main areas dealing with Rights related to vital needs, Rights related to Child protection, Rights related to the access to culture and equal opportunities, and finally Rights which ease the live in society as well as the link between generations.

As announced at the Council of Europe during the seminar « Children : respect their rights » organised by ESAN last 5-6th of October, the organisation Secours Populaire Français, member of ESAN held on 13-15th of November 2009 in Nantes a conference entitled « Etats généraux populaires de la solidarité".
Dozens of children representing the movement created by SPF « Copains du Monde » - some of them coming from South Africa and Indonesia – expressed themselves during these three days so that children rights are respected throughout the world. They took the floor, sang their hopes in front of 1,000 participants and guests. This meeting had been prepared by thousands of children who had filled in booklets with drawings showing the world as they want it better. Other children in Europe, particularly from Portugal, Romania, France had presented an astonishing exhibition on children's rights in Strasbourg.
To keep on building a better world for all, together with them, ESAN proposes to each educator, youth leader, NGO that are active in the field of Youth and children to get in touch with each other to share their working methods that promote the UNCRC.
Léon Dujardin
Contact in Brussels: Christelle CLAES : esanbxl@gmail.com
Contact in France : Anthony PAULISSEN: info@esan.eu

20 years of joint commitments of NGOs, Public authorities, Foundations

A Seminar organised by ESAN at the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 5th - 6th October 2009

For the attention of the participants: Please click here for pratical information.

For more than 20 years, in all EU countries, NGOs, social workers, educators who are closely working with children endeavour to contribute to raise the awareness of Children about their rights. The organisations and their members elaborate pedagogical methods tailored to the implementation of all principles underpinned in the UNCRC. Supports from public authorities, foundations, individual donors enable them to exert their activities.

For several years now, ESAN is supporting all initiatives that promote these principles thanks to its network. ESAN has for long committed to these principles by embarking on various European projects. The Seminar to take place in October firstly aims to communicate on and share experiences to enable each of us to improve and enrich its practices. To this regards, ESAN wishes to offer to all social players the possibility to take some benefit from this EU-wide sharing of experiences, this exchange of methods, initiatives and means developed and used by each organisation.