Three international NGOs organized a seminar in Geneva, Switzerland to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The seminar provided formation and awareness-raising for ten child rights defenders from Latin America and Asia on strategies for welcoming, accompanying, rehabilitating and reintegrating street children according to the Convention. It featured presentations from experts at the United Nations and NGOs on implementing the Convention and collaborating with the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

1. In connection with this year’s 20th
anniversary of the Convention on
the Rights of the Child, three
international NGO’s working for the
development of women and children,
namely: BICE, VIDES Internazionale
and IIMA, organized a seminar in
Geneva, Switzerland.
Title of the seminar:
Educational Strategies for
welcoming, accompanying,
rehabilitating and reintegrating
street children in accordance with
the Convention on the Rights of the
Child
Formation and Awareness-Raising
session for ten child rights
defenders from Latin America and
Asia
United Nations,
Geneva, Switzerland
March 4 - 11, 2009

2. Sr. Maria Grazia Caputo, FMA
FMA Office of Human Rights
IIMA (Organizer)

3. Sr. Leonor Salazar, FMA
Director General
VIDES Internazionale (Organizer)

4. Ms. Alessandra Aula
BICE (Organizer)

5. Moderator: Fr. Olivier Poquillon, OP
Director, Dominican Network
Reference Document:
Guidelines Prepared by the Organizers

6. Resource Persons:
(left) Dr. Alfred Fernandez
Director, OIDEL
(right) Jorge M. Dias Ferreira
UN Representative,
New Humanity

7. With co-participants from IIMA:
Sr. Nguyen thi Hon Van Theresa, FMA and
Sr. Nguyen thi Nga Maria, FMA (Vietnam)

8. Reporting on the output of the Workshop
for India, Africa and Philippines

9. Sharing the work of VIDES Philippines
to the community of La Salesienne

10. Meeting of the participants at
the International Catholic
Migration Commission (ICMC) Office
1 Rue de Varembe, Geneve

11. Meeting of the participants at
the International Catholic
Migration Commission (ICMC) Office
1 Rue de Varembe, Geneve

12. Meeting of the participants at
the International Catholic
Migration Commission (ICMC) Office
1 Rue de Varembe, Geneve

13. Meeting of the participants at
the International Catholic
Migration Commission (ICMC) Office
1 Rue de Varembe, Geneve

14. Working languages:
English and Spanish
(Participants intently listening to the
input of the experts on their headsets.)

15. Ugo Cedrangolo
Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR)
Topic: Functions of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
How can field organizations best collaborate with the Committee
and use its country observations?

16. Veronica Birga
Human Rights Officer
Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights
Focal point for the issue of violence against children

17. Vernon Muñoz
Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council
on the right to Education
Topic: The Special Procedures System

18. Ms. M. Francisca Ize Charrin
Director, Research and Right to Development Department
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Moderator, Side Events at Sala XXIII, March 9-10, 2009

19. Audience at Sala XXIII, UN Geneva
Venue of the Side Events – March 9-10, 2009

20. Panel of Speakers (L-R):
Ms. Adriana Bordarampe (BICE, Argentina)
Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB (Councillor for Youth Ministry, Salesians of Don Bosco)
H.E. Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba (Mexico)

21. Speaker
Arch. Silvano M. Tomasi, C.S.
Holy See Permanent Representative to the UN

22. Speaker
H.E. Ambassador Alejandro Artucio
Uruguay

23. Speaker
Sr. Celmira Serna, FMA
IIMA Medellin, Colombia

24. Speaker
Sr. Ma. Josefina Carrasco, FMA
Delegate, VIDES Philippines

25. Evaluation of the Seminar
Sr. Graziella Curti, FMA (DMA News)
Sr. Anthony Mary Isabelle (IIMA, India)

26. Evaluation of the Seminar
Sr. Runita Borja, FMA
Pastorale Giovanile (Rome)

27. Translator:
Sr. Antonietta Cedrone, FMA
Provincial Secretary, USA

28. H.E. Ambassador Erlinda F. Basilio
Philippine Mission
Vice President, Human Rights Council
UN Geneva

29. With Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB at the
10th Session of the
Human Rights Council
(He visited the Salesians in the Philippines
before his trip to Geneva.)

30. 10th Session of the
Human Rights Council

31. To VIDES
Internazionale,
Istituto Internazionale
Maria Ausiliatrice, BICE
and FMA Philippine
Province,
Thank you very much!