Krakow Statement - East-Central European Forum of NGOs on Child Issues

This Forum was held to bring attention to and exchange experiences from the first ten years since the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly and to pay tribute to its creators, promoters and all those who care about the harmonious future development of children. Participants from children’s rights organisations from Belarus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Yugoslavia, and various districts of Poland reported on their efforts to promote children’s rights. Additional presentations were made by experts from the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United States, as well as members of local and national governments. Child representatives from Swidnica, took part in discussions about expectations for children in the 21st century. The Forum addressed the impact of the Convention in general and in particular on East-Central Europe during the difficult times of political, social and economic transformation and how to ensure governmental respect and support for the rights of the child in the 21st century.