Right of the Child

RightChild Sharing life directly with the poor, marginalised and oppressed is the guideline for all interventions of the Community of Pope John XXIII.

The most profound needs of children, and of every person, are knowing that someone cares about them and their life, and of being loved in a unique, personal, individual and continuous way.

The distinction between the receiver and giver disappears: everybody shares his/her own abilities and difficulties, building a community which deeply renews relationships among people.

Sharing life goes beyond assistance: instead of giving bread to the hungry, they are invited to sit at the table with us; instead of placing children in institutions, they are welcomed into our families.

Sharing life with children implies guaranteeing and safeguarding their rights. It also implies helping the child to develop individual awareness, self-determination abilities, positive relationships and solidarity with others.

Through its methodology, particularly with reference to children, the Association has developed different forms of interventions through the years. Some of those have been widely experimented with and can be considered to be ‘exportable models of intervention’ which can be implemented in different parts of the world. These are:

  • Family homes: A family-home is a residential and educational community which is organised just like a family. It is characterised by the continual and stable presence of parental figures who becom- temporarily or permanently – father and mother to people with different kinds of needs.

  • Open families: These are families which, besides taking care of their own children, are ‘open’ to welcoming other children in need for a limited or permanent period of time.

  • Day Centres: Where children and teenagers are welcomed during the day. Recreational and educational activities are carried out in order to develop their abilities and social skills and to increase their selfesteem. These centres have also proved to be an effective way to support families in difficulty.


Documents

APG23: Association Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII

  1. CRC General Comment on right to health - APG23 contribution
    Contribution of Apg23 to the CRC General Comment on Children's Right to health

  2. Children of Imprisoned Parent
    Written Statement submitted by the APG23 at the 58th CRC's Day of General Discussion (Geneva, 30 September 2011)

  3. Right to Education and Most Vulnerable Children
    Written Statement submitted by the APG23 at the High Level Segment 2011 (Geneva, 4-7 Luglio 2011)

  4. Restoring Dignity of Children Living and/or Working on the Street. Recommendations drawn from a grassroots experience
    Written Statement submitted by the APG23 at the 16th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council - Annual Full Day Meeting on the Rights of the Child (Geneva, 28 February-25 March 2011)

  5. The right to education of children living and/or working on the street
    Joint Written Statement cosigned by APG23 and other NGOs, presented at the 16th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council - (Geneva, 22 February 2011)

  6. Preventing the Phenomenon of Children Living and-or Working on the Street
    Joint Written Statement promoted by APG23 and co-signed by other NGOs, presented at the 16th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council - Annual Full Day Meeting on the Rights of the Child (Geneva, 28 February-25 March 2011)

  7. A matter of urgency: preventing violence against children
    Intervention of the APG23 at the 13th session of the Human Rights Council (Geneva, 1-26 March 2010).

  8. Access to medicine for children living with HIV and HIV/TB coinfection
    Intervention of the APG23 co-signed by other NGOS at the 13th session of the Human Rights Council (Geneva, 1-26 March 2010).

  9. The roots for the full development of the child lie within the family
    Intervention of the APG23 co-signed by other NGOS at the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - October 2009

  10. Relevance of early HIV testing in severe malnourished children
    Intervention of the APG23 at the VI African Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect: Early Childhood Development and Education - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 4-6 May 2009.

  11. The right of the child to education in emergency situations
    Intervention of the APG23 at the CRC's Day of General Discussion - September 2008

  12. Children without parental care
    Intervention of the APG23 at the CRC's Day of General Discussion - September 2005

  13. Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood
    Intervention of the APG23 at the CRC's Day of General Discussion - September 2004