International Forum for Child Welfare

Naples Italy 26^th-29^th November

The 23rd WorldForum was held in Naples from the 26th to the 29th November at the Port Maritime Centre. 600 people attended the World Forum with representatives from 22 countries including Canada, Australia, South Africa, the United States, Uganda, Wales and England. As with the Melbourne WorldForum in 2011 the Italian government did not issue visas to a number of developing countries. This is disappointing as one of the goals of the WorldForum is to assist developing counties in their responses and programs to assist children most in need. The participation of representatives from developing countries remains a challenge for future WorldForums. It is proposed that the 2013 WorldForum be held in Malawi East Africa and the 2014, the 25th anniversary held in the founding country Finland.

As a part of the WorldForum the General Assembly of the IFCW was held. Sixteen members were present. New statutes were passed and a strategic directions paper accepted to set the agenda for the revamping of the organisation to meet changing global needs. I completed my term on the Executive committee. I however was appointed a special advisor to the IFCW for a further two years.

The theme for this years WorldForum was “Family, children and education at the core of the new challenges of social development: global scenarios, migration and citizenship.” The movement of children across the globe was a central theme and the way countries across the world are failing to address their needs.

The involvement of children and their families in the migration process was highlighted and not restricted to formal processes but included asylum seekers, boat people and others described by governments as illegal immigrants.  Issues discussed included;

• The different family structures among those who are seeking to move between countries
• Citizenship and the rights to an identity
• The process of integration in a new country
• The supports needed for families including education, housing, health and work opportunities
• The stigma associated with being a migrant
• The protection of children
• The voice of children 

The World Forum attracted a range of international speakers that gave diversity to the presentations while highlighting a number of common concerns and responses to the issues under discussions. The Opening session involved a range of government officials welcoming participants and extolling the challenges and how the various government departments were responding. The monochrome and predicable presentations by the local and regional government officials were interrupted with a rowdy demonstration by a large group of young people challenging the them and calling on the Forum to find out the truth about how services were being cut in Italy as a result of the Global Financial crisis with an invitation to visit some of their programs and to see for ourselves the extent of the financial cuts. . The audience listened attentively and applauded the voices when they finished their protest.  Without doubt there was much rhetoric spoken by a number of department heads with the demonstrators exposing their lack of substance. The Chair of Euro Child agreed to meet the protestors and to visit programs on behalf of the WorldForum. 

Keynote speakers included; Nadine Liddy the National Coordinator of MYCC-the Multi Youth Advocacy Centre from Victoria Australia, Susan Bissel from the United Nations Children’s Fund, Maipone Ramatlo from the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa, Peggy Healy from Covenant House International for Latin America, Mike Shooter from Children in Wales, Maria Herczog from the UN committee on the Rights of the Child and Jane Hainsworth representing Euro-Child. 

Significant Outcomes for further thought and discussion. 

• The challenges faced buy Non government agencies is on the increase as they face serious cutbacks in government funding. Most of the countries represented at the WorldForum spoke about the discord between government rhetoric and the lack of political will to tackle the needs of families and children. Funding was often piecemeal and for one year. Many counties have initiated inquiries after inquires with little if any tangible increases in funding. In addition agencies are finding it difficult to raise funds from other sources as their traditional philanthropic base is ageing and new sources of funding scarce. 

• A second challenge the agencies face is the increasing control funding from government sources require.  Many speakers complained about increasing demands for accountability by governments which bore little relationship to actual service delivery

• Building the capacity of the NGO agency remains one of the highest priorities for the sector particularly in the developing countries and in countries where there is a large number of children and families seeking refuge status. Issues that need additional support and funding include the human trafficking of children, the impact of violence and conflict on children and the need for an identity. According to the UN there are 22.5 million children in the world today without a birth certificate and an identity. At the same time an increasing number of children are sending their children to other countries alone in the belief that they will be cared for and have a better life. 
• The priority given to economic indicators as the primary source of measurement of how well a country is responding to the needs of children and families do not, according to the experience of service providers reflect the reality of what is happening on the ground. The poorest of the poor are without power and generational deprivation is still alive and well. The demonstrators powerfully described this theme on the first day. 

• Advocacy was a key theme of many presentations including the role of faith and religious organisations, which according to a number of speakers remain the most vigilant in challenging political correctness of the day and critical of the emphasis of much fiscal policy. These bodies emphasize human rights and broad social policy implications while recognising the improvements in living standards in some countries. Improvements in living standards do not necessarily mean the poorest of the poor or the 40 million  people in transition or without a homeland are benefiting. There is a need to find a common universal consensus and agenda as a matter of urgency. As families and childhood are rapidly changing.  

• “Children, childhood challenge and change”, were recurring themes throughout the WorldForum. The themes embraced the increasing separation of families within and across countries as well as family breakdown across all levels of society. Family separation is also increasing among those classified as migrant families. This is a reality here in Australia among some groups who have arrived as asylum seekers or through the governments refugee program. The World Forum affirmed families as the most important foundation for children and the need to prevent children going into institutions should be a key priority for all societies. Families that do not care for their children properly should be identified early and given every opportunity to change.  This latter group is often marked by generations of deprivation. At the present time there are 38 million jobless families in the European Union. These families have 8.1 million children.

• The world’s population is currently 7 billion. By 2050 it is expected to be 9 billion. It is estimated that of the 7 billion in today’s world 1 billion are migrants. The drivers of migration include the following,
1. An ageing north and a youthful south 
2. Disparity in economic terms between the north and the south
3. The impact of media and other forms of communication have opened up opportunities not previously widely known.
4. Natural disasters
5. Degradation of land and the environment
6. The dream of a life with hope and prosperity. 

• The challenges to be addressed include migration weariness and threats to living standards in host countries that lead to anti immigration sentiments, sensational media, fear of religious clashes and closed borders.

• The most harrowing and distressing stories told at the Forum by young people themselves and others involved in programs were the levels of trafficking in children, the numbers involved as boy soldiers and the disregard for the lives of children starving of hunger. Stories were recounted of governments turning a blind eye to such atrocities. 

Where to from here? 

Change does not come about of its own accord. It requires a change of heart, honesty and integrity. It also requires a commitment to a common humanity with a special concern for the other. There is the need to challenge those who claim authority in government and agencies to meet the needs of children. Education, housing and health care are key ingredients. Advocacy and partnership with organisations with similar objectives must remain a strong objective of the non -government sector. Careful and rigorous examination of partnerships with government should remain a high priority. 

There is also the need to know ourselves as individuals and organisations. . What we bring to the table for discussion as well as out own ideology and how we see the world is important in determining how an agency will respond.  How we see the world is often a reflection of who we are and our understanding of the challenges we face. The need to accept that we may be a part of the problem as well as the solution is an important step.  We are not isolated beings but are ultimately relational to others and the environment. 

This years WorldForum provided many opportunities for those who work for children and families to reflect on their own efforts as individuals and agencies. The many shocking and vivid stories reminded all present that statistics do not tell the full story and that the stories of children being sold in to slavery and their treatment as sex objects shame us all.