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High Level Cross-Regional Meeting
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African Union Commission, Commissioner for Social Affairs The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 54 countries in Africa. The AU aims at strengthening African integration and development process. The African Union Commission is the Secretariat of the Union entrusted with executive functions. The AU Commission is made up of Portfolios, one of which is Social Affairs. African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child of the African union (AU) monitors State compliance with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, a regional human rights instrument safeguarding children’s rights. The Committee examines reports issued by States concerning the implementation of the Charter, and also has the mandate, among others, to receive and issue recommendations on individual complaints/communications. African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child website Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration, which committed the signatory States to cooperate for the purpose of economic growth, social progress, cultural development, and regional peace and stability. The Member States of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. ASEAN is currently in the process of building the ASEAN Community, which comprises of three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). ASEAN aims to transform Southeast Asia into an inter-connected Community of peace, stability and prosperity—a caring and sharing community with unity in diversity. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Central America Integration System (SICA) The Central American Integration System (SICA) aims at realizing regional integration in Central America. SICA promotes regional peace, political freedom, democracy and economic development. Current member States are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic. SICA also adopted a democratic security approach for the Central American region. SICA is led by a Secretary General. Central America Integration System website Central America Integration System (SICA) The Central American Integration System (SICA) aims at realizing regional integration in Central America. SICA promotes regional peace, political freedom, democracy and economic development. Current member States are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic. SICA also adopted a democratic security approach for the Central American region. SICA is led by a Secretary General. Central America Integration System website Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), Children’s Unit The Council of the Baltic Sea States is a political forum for regional inter-governmental cooperation. The role of the Council is to serve as a forum for guidance and overall coordination among the participating states. The Members of the Council are the eleven states of the Baltic Sea Region as well as the European Commission. The Children’s Unit at the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat aims to create a safe and secure environment for children in the Baltic Sea Region by promoting cooperation on child rights and protection issues. Council of Europe The Council of Europe is Europe’s leading human rights organization. It includes 47 member states. All of them have signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The programme "Building a Europe for and with children" was set up to secure and promote children’s human rights, and to promote children from all forms of violence.
European Union (EU), European Commission The European Union is an economic and political partnership between 28 European countries that together cover much of the continent. The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. It represents the interests of the European Union as a whole. The European Union has a Treaty objective to promote the protection of the rights of the child (Article 3.3), and the rights of the child are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 24). European Commission: Rights of the Child website EU acquis and policy documents on the rights of the child Institute of Public Policy on Human Rights of the MERCOSUR (IPPDH) Mercado Común del Sur (MERCOSUR, Common Market of the South) is an economic, social and political agreement between South American States. The Institute of Public Policy on Human Rights of the MERCOSUR (IPPDH) provides technical cooperation and assistance in the formulation, design, implementation and articulation of public policy on human rights to the members of the Southern Common Market. Latin American and Caribbean Movement for Children (MMILAC) The Latin American and Caribbean Movement for Children (Spanish acronym MMI LAC) is a strategic alliance of civil society organizations, international agencies, and multilateral and regional organizations and networks covering Latin America and the Caribbean, working with and for children and adolescents, for the promotion, protection and defense of children’s rights in the region, under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights Conventions. The movement is currently integrated by sixteen full members of the main child protection organizations and networks of children and youth in the region, including: the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), ChildFund Alliance, Child Helpline, Defence for Children International (DCI), ECPAT, ICMEC, the Inter-American Children’s Institute of the Organization of American States, Marist International Solidarity Foundation, Plan International, Red ANDI International, REDLAMYC, Red Viva, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages International, UNICEF and World Vision International. League of Arab States Secretariat, Women, Family and Childhood Department The League of Arab States (LAS) is a regional inter-governmental organization comprising 22 states that promotes closer ties among its member States, and helps coordinate their policies and their economic, cultural and security plans with a view to developing collective cooperation throughout various fields. The Women, Family and Childhood Department (WFC) at the LAS Secretariat is one of the Social Sector's Departments, and is considered to be the Technical Secretariat for three committees; the Arab Women Committee, the Arab Family Committee, and The Arab Childhood Committee. These committees work on the technical issues regarding the status and rights of women, families, and children in the Arab region with the member States. The Arab Social Affairs Ministerial Council adopts resolutions concerning those matters. Organization of American States (OAS) The Organization of American States brings together all 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere. In addition, it has granted permanent observer status to 69 states, as well as to the European Union (EU). The Organization uses a four-pronged approach to effectively implement its essential purposes, based on its main pillars: democracy, human rights, security, and development.
Pacific Community (SPC) The Pacific Community (SPC) is an international organisation established by treaty in 1947. It has 26 members, comprising 22 Pacific Island countries and territories and four metropolitan members: Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States of America. The broad mandate of SPC includes the provision of scientific and technical assistance to its members on matters relating to economic development, social development and environmental sustainability. The Conference of the Pacific Community, which is held every two years, is the governing body of SPC. Pacific Islands Forum The Pacific Islands Forum consists of 16 independent and self-governing states with membership from Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) provides policy advice and coordinates the implementation of decisions by the heads of government. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC – a SAARC Apex Body) The South Asia Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) is an inter-governmental body that has the unique distinction of having civil society and children within its governance framework. SAIEVAC is also the only SAARC Apex Body for children with a vision that all children throughout South Asia enjoy their right to an environment free from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination. SAIEVAC provides a forum for bilateral and multilateral sharing of information, experience, expertise and good practices. |