Simone Hilber: «There is a lack of a national children's rights policy»
Mrs Hilber, why do we need special rights for children?
Children's rights are important because they clearly distinguish children from adults. On the one hand, they signalise that children have a greater need for protection from exploitation or violence and, on the other, they ensure that children are perceived as independent, legal subjects.
What has the Convention on the Rights of the Child achieved in recent years?
The greatest achievement is the recognition of one's own will and decision-making power. Concrete changes have been implemented, for example, in adoption law or in the Child and Adult Protection Act . However, children are also increasingly involved in organisational and decision-making processes in schools and communities. Youth parliaments and children's conferences are increasing the political influence of children and young people.
Simone Hilber is a sociologist and works at the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation as an education and evaluation specialist.
Focussing on the implementation of children's rights: Where does Switzerland still need to improve?
At first glance, children and young people in Switzerland are doing well. At second glance, Switzerland also has some homework to do - especially when it comes to ensuring the rights of all children. It lacks a sustainable, national children's rights policy and strategy. It is regrettable that Switzerland's federal system means that access to rights depends on the canton in which children live.
How can the situation be improved?
This inequality of opportunity can only be eliminated if children's rights and the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child are also systematically implemented in the cantons. There is also a lack of systematic monitoring of children's rights at national level. The data situation is currently too poor, especially for vulnerable, i.e. particularly vulnerable groups. Although efforts are underway to improve the data situation regarding children placed with others and children of imprisoned parents, these should go further - especially for children and young people under the age of 14 in the asylum and migration sector.
What role do organisations such as the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation play in this process?
They help to ensure that children's rights are recognised in Switzerland. The Pestalozzi Children's Foundation is a board member of the Swiss Children's Rights Network, an association of around fifty aid organisations in Switzerland. The network is committed to children's rights and their realisation, for example through its regular reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
What are these so-called «shadow reports» all about?
When Switzerland ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1997, it undertook to report regularly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the state of children's rights in the country. The official Swiss report is accompanied and critically supplemented by the report of the Swiss Children's Rights Network.
What improvements does the Swiss Children's Rights Network call for in its reporting?
The range of topics is wide. Whether it is that new draft legislation in Switzerland is not scrutinised for its compatibility with the Convention on the Rights of the Child or that professionals who work with children know too little about the Convention. The topics range from equal opportunities in education or exploitation of children to child trafficking. Child poverty, suicide prevention and the right of children with disabilities to inclusive education and early support are also discussed.
How can parents strengthen their children's rights in everyday family life?
I think it's a good approach to find out about children's rights together with the children. Families can agree on joint decision-making processes, for example when choosing their next holiday destination. Arguments in favour of or against a place can be discussed together. Framework conditions such as budget or degree of co-determination should be defined. In this way, children learn that they are taken seriously, but also that there are rules that everyone must abide by. After all, co-determination doesn't mean dancing around on everyone's nose and only realising your own ideas.
Picture: Archive Pestalozzi Children's Village Foundation
Celebrating children and their rights
The Convention on the Rights of the Child turns 30 on 20 November and we are celebrating this important achievement together in Bern. The morning programme is reserved for school classes with a walk through the city. The afternoon programme is open to everyone. There will be music and an open mic where children and young people can stand up for their own concerns. Federal Councillor Alain Berset will take to the microphone at 1pm. Registered children and young people will receive a free packed lunch at midday. For the first 40 registered school classes, travel is free. The event is organised by the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation, Child Protection Switzerland, Pro Juventute and the Committee for UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
More information: www.30jahrekinderrechte.ch
To the author:
About the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation
The Pestalozzi Children's Foundation is an internationally active children's aid organisation. Children and young people have been at the centre of its activities since 1946. The Children's Village in Trogen is a place of peace-building, where children from Switzerland and abroad learn to deal with cultural and social differences through exchange. The foundation provides disadvantaged children in twelve countries with access to quality education.
www.pestalozzi.ch
Read more about children's rights:
- The call for change Our young people are now taking politicians to task. And that's a good thing!
- Children have the power! To mark Children's Rights Day 2018, the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation gave boys and girls the floor at a large conference!