Tag Archives: child

Elsevier celebrates the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child

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Oxford, November 19, 2009 – Elsevier, the leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announced today the publication of a freely available Special Issue of Child Abuse and Neglect The International Journal 1989-2009 on the 20th Anniversary of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The Special Issue aims to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It provides an overview of two decades of development in the areas of child maltreatment research, data collection, and reporting practice, as required by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and will facilitate information and practice exchange to support governments and professionals in their important efforts globally.

Guest Editors Yanghee Lee, Chairperson, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and Kimberly Svevo-Cianci, President of the Child Rights Protection Consultancy-International, commented: This year is a landmark year for children. It marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of a legally binding human rights treaty—the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the 20th of November, 1989, and became enforceable from September 2 of 1990. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly referred to as CRC) is the first binding instrument in international law to deal with the rights of children. It is the most comprehensive treaty that contains 42 detailed provisions enshrining the rights of children in all areas of their lives, including economic, social and cultural rights, and civil and political rights, providing the highest level of international standards and guidelines for regional and national implementation. The CRC is the only international human rights treaty that has almost universal ratification. It currently has 193 ratifications, still with the exception of only two States: Somalia and USA.

Dan Morgan, Executive Publisher of Psychology at Elsevier commented We are excited to be able to support this celebratory moment for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by opening up free access to this special issue for a year, highlighting contributions by such child rights and protection experts as Dr. Lee, Jaap Doek, past UN CRC Committee chairperson; Desmond Runyan, Professor, University of North Carolina; and Stuart Hart, Deputy Director, International Institute for Child Rights and Development, University of Victoria (Canada). With such a potential broad appeal for this important and timely issue, from the public to policymakers to researchers to social workers and NGO leaders, this should enable key access to valuable information on child rights and protection for all.

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Notes to Editors:

The Special Issue will be freely available online, to all, for a year, along with Part 2 of the Special Issue which will be published in January 2010. Part 1 can currently be accessed free at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/issue/5847-2009-999669988-1554191 The guest co-editor, Kimberly Svevo-Cianci, is available for comment (+1 630 417 4567 [email protected]).

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including the Lancet (www.thelancet.com) and Cell (www.cell.com), and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elseviers online solutions include ScienceDirect (www.sciencedirect.com), Scopus (www.scopus.com), Reaxys (www.reaxys.com), MD Consult (www.mdconsult.com) and Nursing Consult (www.nursingconsult.com), which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite (www.scival.com) and MEDais Pinpoint Review (www.medai.com), which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier (www.elsevier.com) employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC (www.reedelsevier.com), a world-leading publisher and information provider. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

About the Journal

Child Abuse & Neglect The International Journal, provides an international, multidisciplinary forum on all aspects of child abuse and neglect, with special emphasis on prevention and treatment; the scope extends further to all those aspects of life which either favor or hinder child development. While contributions will primarily be from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, medicine, nursing, law enforcement, legislature, education, and anthropology, the Journal encourages the concerned lay individual and child-oriented advocate organizations to contribute. It is the official publication of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN)

About the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect

The International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, founded in 1977, is the only multidisciplinary international organization that brings together a worldwide cross-section of committed professionals to work towards the prevention and treatment of child abuse, neglect and exploitation globally.
ISPCANs mission is to prevent cruelty to children in every nation, in every form: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, street children, child fatalities, child prostitution, children of war, emotional abuse and child labor. ISPCAN is committed to increasing public awareness of all forms of violence against children, developing activities to prevent such violence, and promoting the rights of children in all regions of the world. ISPCAN invites you to join forces with its members around the world to protect children in need: their bodies, minds, hearts and rights. Learn about ISPCANs goals, publications, congresses, professional training events and world-wide activities – visit http://www.ispcan.org

Florida Man Sentenced to 87 Months for Receiving Child Pornography

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WASHINGTON—Jeffrey Robert Libman, 42, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was sentenced to 87 months in prison today for receiving child pornography, Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jeffrey H. Sloman announced.

Libman was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga to lifetime supervised release, following his prison term. He was indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on April 28, 2009, for child pornography offenses.He pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography on Sept. 8, 2009. As part of his plea agreement, Libman admitted he received images that depict prepubescent children and children engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct.

Libman was first identified by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the FBI during an investigation of Webe Web Corp., a Florida-based company. According to court documents, during the execution of a search warrant at Libman’s residence in Fort Lauderdale, USPIS and FBI seized large volumes of computer media.

Libman, Marc Evan Greenberg and Webe Web Corp. were also indicted in November 2006 in a separate case in the Northern District of Alabama for conspiracy to produce images of child pornography and transportation of images of child pornography.That case is still pending.

An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Chief Alexandra R. Gelber and Trial Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Marie Villafaña of the Southern District of Florida. The case was investigated by USPIS, the FBI and the CEOS’ High Technology Investigative Unit.

Source: FBI

Lack of communication with child’s school could be putting their education at risk

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An extensive report, commissioned by Becta into Online Reporting, involving 2,000 parents and 1,000 teachers from around the U.K shows that over half of parents are in contact with their child’s teacher just once a term or less and for various reasons are taking a back seat in their child’s education.
A considerable proportion of teachers (42 percent) involved in the report felt that the reason some parents have so little contact with their child’s school is due to a lack of confidence in talking about their child with teachers. Nineteen percent of the parents involved said that they are worried about taking up teacher’s time and bothering them, with twenty-two percent saying that they don’t want to add to the teacher’s workload. This lack of confidence and break-down in communication could be putting children’s education at risk as parental support is vital to a child’s learning development.
The report also reveals that some teachers believe parents are a great source of support but they don’t always know the best ways to get in contact. However, some of the teaching staff said they would welcome ways to show parents how they could contact the school and teachers.
“Parental engagement is vital to a child’s learning and known to help raise attainment. To do this effectively, there needs to be a meaningful dialogue between parent and school, keeping the parent informed and updated,” said Niel McLean, Executive Director of Becta.
Becta is the government agency, which aims to encourage the creative use of technology throughout a child’s learning experience. It aims to make use of technology in order to create a more exciting, rewarding and successful experience for children no matter of their age or ability, enabling them to achieve their potential.

The report is part of Becta’s ‘Next Generation Learning’ campaign, which urges parents to talk to their child’s school and find out how and if technology is already being used, and how it can help improve communications between parents and schools in future. The use of new technology should enable parents to improve communications by keeping track of their child’s work, by viewing their reports, attendance records and grades at any time of the day via Online Reporting.
To read the Schools & Parents: A New Partnership report in full or for more information regarding Becta and the ‘Next Generation Learning’ campaign log on to www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk
For more information, please contact:
Sophie Jackson 0207 025 6412 / Sophie.jackson@redconsultancy.com
Catherine Sharrott 0207 025 6589 / Catherine.Sharrott@redconsultancy.com
Kate Cox 02476 797146 / Kate.Cox@becta.org.uk

Source: WEBWIRE

Project Shiksha leads over 96,000 children accessing education

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Project Shiksha leads over 96,000 children accessing education

Continuing its corporate focus of supporting the right to education of marginalised children in India, P&G India closed Shiksha ’09 with the largest-ever contribution of Rs.3.5 crores to its partner NGOs Child Rights & You (CRY), Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Bharti Foundation and a few others impacting over 96,000 plus children. The money is contributed towards children’s education. Bollywood Superstar Sunny Deol w pledged his support to the cause.

Project Shiksha is part of P&G’s global philanthropy program ‘Live Learn & Thrive’ that is committed to improving the lives of children. P&G improves the lives of over 70 million children in need around the world each year.

In India, Shiksha, P&G’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme is today a National platform and has donated over Rs.11 crores over that last 5 years towards helping children access education. Project Shiksha works with the State Education Departments to re-look at existing education policies; creates awareness to build more schools with better infrastructure and basic amenities like water, electricity, health; enrolls more children into formal schools; and works for all-round development of children. In association with AWWA, in also works towards better development of the ASHA schools that support children from Army.

With it’s motto of ‘Padhega India Toh Badhega India’ Shiksha believes that the secret to a brighter India lies in children attaining their right to a good quality education.

India has the world’s largest number of children out of school. Every child in India has the right to good quality education, but still one out of every two children, (close to 200 million) do not go to school.

Speaking about Shiksha, Shweta Shukla, Head-External Relations, Procter & Gamble India said, “Shiksha has grown from strength to strength over the past five years. Today it has gone beyond a company-NGO initiative to a national consumer movement that enables consumers to make a difference to lives of thousands of children.

Puja Marwaha, Regional Director, Child Rights and You said, “The Shiksha programme has made it possible for people from all walks of life to make a difference to the rights of India’s children.

Mrs Sudesh Hooda, Wife of Major General Hooda (GOC – Southern Command )AWWA said, “It is great to be associating with P&G’s project Shiksha this year as their vision to support uneducated children is in sync with our vision. We look forward to a stronger partnership to make Shiksha better and stronger in the coming years.”

Shiksha Supporter and Leading Actor Sunny Deol said, “There can be no doubt that education is one of the most important inputs a child can get while growing up.

Lack of communication with your child’s school could be putting their education at risk

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An extensive report, commissioned by Becta into Online Reporting, involving 2,000 parents and 1,000 teachers from around the U.K shows that over half of parents are in contact with their child’s teacher just once a term or less and for various reasons are taking a back seat in their child’s education.
A considerable proportion of teachers (42 percent) involved in the report felt that the reason some parents have so little contact with their child’s school is due to a lack of confidence in talking about their child with teachers. Nineteen percent of the parents involved said that they are worried about taking up teacher’s time and bothering them, with twenty-two percent saying that they don’t want to add to the teacher’s workload. This lack of confidence and break-down in communication could be putting your child’s education at risk as parental support is vital to a child’s learning development.
The report also reveals that some teachers believe parents are a great source of support but they don’t always know the best ways to get in contact. However, some of the teaching staff said they would welcome ways to show parents how they could contact the school and teachers.
“Parental engagement is vital to a child’s learning and known to help raise attainment. To do this effectively, there needs to be a meaningful dialogue between parent and school, keeping the parent informed and updated,” said Niel McLean, Executive Director of Becta.
Becta is the government agency, which aims to encourage the creative use of technology throughout your child’s learning experience. It aims to make use of technology in order to create a more exciting, rewarding and successful experience for your children no matter of their age or ability, enabling them to achieve their potential.

The report is part of Becta’s ‘Next Generation Learning’ campaign, which urges you as parents to talk to your child’s school and find out how and if technology is already being used, and how it can help improve communications between you and the school in future. The use of new technology should enable you to improve communications by keeping track of your child’s work, viewing their reports, attendance records and grades at any time of the day via Online Reporting.
To read the Schools & Parents: A New Partnership report in full or for more information regarding Becta and the ‘Next Generation Learning’ campaign log on to www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk
For more information, please contact:
Sophie Jackson 0207 025 6412 / Sophie.jackson@redconsultancy.com
Catherine Sharrott 0207 025 6589 / Catherine.Sharrott@redconsultancy.com
Kate Cox 02476 797146 / Kate.Cox@becta.org.uk

Source: WEBWIRE

Food shortages incapacitate and kill millions of children each year – UN report

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An astonishing 200 million children under the age of five, almost all in Africa and Asia, suffer from the debilitating impact of stunted growth resulting from a lack of food and the right nutrients, a new United Nations report warned today.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report, Tracking Progress on Child and Maternal Nutrition, also stressed that undernutrition contributes to a third of deaths of all children under five each year, which in 2006 stood at almost 10 million globally.

“Undernutrition steals a child’s strength and makes illnesses that the body might otherwise fight off far more dangerous,” said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman.

“More than one-third of children who die from pneumonia, diarrhoea and other illnesses could have survived had they not been undernourished,” she added.

The report underscored the critical importance for a child’s development of the 1,000 days from conception until the second birthday, when nutritional deficiencies can reduce the ability to fight and survive disease, and damage social and mental aptitude.

“Those who survive undernutrition often suffer poorer physical health throughout their lives, and damaged cognitive abilities that limit their capacity to learn and to earn a decent income,” said Ms. Veneman. “They become trapped in an intergenerational cycle of ill-health and poverty.”

The UNICEF report noted that a stunted child is likely to experience a lifetime of poor health and underachievement, pointing to prevention as the only effective strategy to tackle the problem.

It highlighted the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the child’s initial six months which significantly improves the chances of survival and reduces the likelihood of stunting, as well as potentially slashing child mortality rates by 19 per cent in developing countries.

While 90 per cent of children who are stunted live in Asia and Africa, the report noted that progress has been made on both continents. In Asia the prevalence of stunting dropped from about 44 per cent in 1990 to an estimated 30 per cent in 2008, while in Africa it fell from around 38 per cent to 34 per cent over the same period.

“Global commitments on food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture are part of a wider agenda that will help address the critical issues raised in this report,” said Ms. Veneman. “Unless attention is paid to addressing the causes of child and maternal undernutrition today, the costs will be considerably higher tomorrow.”

Have you thought about your Child’s Future?

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Bajaj Allianz helps you plan your child’s future

November 3, 2009 /India PRwire/ — The most important responsibility for parents around the world is taking care of their child. Parents have to plan a secure future for their child. A well thought out financial plan that covers the important aspects of a child’s life lay in the hands of the parents. This is the time when thoughtful financial planning can help fulfil the aspirations for your children.

A child goes through so many stages in life – schooling, college, career, marriage and further vital events. A plan to secure finances for the landmarks in your child’s life is required for smoothing out the wrinkles that may hinder your child’s opportunities when the time comes. These are high priority life goals which require the stability of a good financial background.

The right way to prepare for securing your child’s future is by starting to save and invest in a good insurance plan. Insurance is a critical instrument that helps you plan for your child’s needs. Just saving for your child isn’t enough, investing early in a child insurance plan will help provide a financial security blanket to cover any eventuality that may arise.

Investing in a child’s plan is simple and rewarding. The importance of an investment in a child plan is to secure for future expenses that will come their way in the form of college fees, studying abroad, wedding and career decisions. Such high goals that are part of your child’s life can be successfully reached with the help of a child plan. Wouldn’t you love to see your child passing each milestone successfully? A child plan makes this vision a reality.

Keeping your child’s future in mind, Bajaj Allianz has come out with four unique plans to help you give the best that your child deserves:

  1. Bajaj Allianz New UnitGain Plan
  1. Bajaj Allianz ‘ChildGain’ Plan
  1. Bajaj Allianz YoungCare
  1. Bajaj Allianz YoungCare Plus

Some common features of a child plan are:

  1. Maximum flexibility
  1. Free Guaranteed Life Cover

  1. Investment in child plan are tax exempted

  1. The term period is normally of 10-15 years

Each of the Plans have unique features and benefits. You can scan through the details of these helpful plans for your Child and you by visiting http://www.bajajallianzlife.co.in/ChilDplanMicroSite/index.html The Bajaj Allianz Child Plan helps you enjoy the joys of parenthood responsibly, with the reassurance of a secure future for your child.

Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire

Notes to Editor

About Bajaj Allianz:

Bajaj Allianz is one of the leading Private Sector life & general insurance companies in India. Bajaj Allianz is a union between Allianz SE, the world’s leading insurer and Bajaj Finserv Limited (recently demerged from Bajaj Auto Limited, one of India’s most respected names). Allianz SE is a leading insurance conglomerate globally and one of the largest asset managers in the world, managing assets worth over a Trillion Euros (over Rs. 55, 00,000 crores). At Bajaj Allianz, customer delight is our guiding principle. Ensuring world class solutions by offering you customized products with transparent benefits supported by the best technology is our business philosophy. Bajaj Allianz began its operations in 2001 and today has a pan-India presence over 1100+ towns across the country.

For more information, please contact:

  • Windchimes Communications
  • Private Limited Organization
  • (L) 26518610