Politics Prevail Over Children's Rights Again

Reuters reported that Leila Zerrougui included Israel's army and Hamas in the annual "blacklist" of states and armed groups that violate children’s rights during conflicts. But Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moom overrode Zerrougui's recommendation, and left them off this list in the final published report.

Philippe Bolopion, a representative of Human Rights Watch said: "Ban's disappointing decision to override the advice of his special representative by removing Israel and Hamas is a blow to UN efforts to better protect children in armed conflict. Facts and consistency dictated that both be included on the list, but political pressure seems to have prevailed." You can read more of the story here.

Prioritizing the Health and Well-Being of Mothers and Children in Emergencies

Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan relayed the following statistics in a statement at the side event on health and well-being in emergencies during the 68th World Health Assembly:

"Sixty per cent of maternal, 53 per cent of under-five and 45 per cent of new born mortality takes place in humanitarian and fragile settings. Of the more than 80 million people who were in need of humanitarian assistance, in 2014, over 75 per cent of them were women and children."

Medina Maternal Child Health, Somalia, 2013     Photo: AP/Ben Curtis

The side event focused on three aspects: (i) safety and health of health care workers; (ii) reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH); and (iii) mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian emergencies. You can read more about the health and well-being of mothers and children in emergencies here. 

The Deadliest Place for Children

Nicholas Kristof's latest column in The New York Times highlights Angola, where despite being a relatively rich oil and diamond country, has the highest rate of child mortality in the world. This high mortality rate is due to a complicated mix of poor nutrition and lack of access to health care.

Photo: The New York Times

"Voluntourism" and Child Welfare

A new report from Better Care Network reviews and shares existing knowledge on

international "voluntourism" as related to the alternative care of children (e.g., orphanages) in developing countries. This is a very interesting "hot" topic, especially for those of you who have worked or are interested in working with children in global contexts. In fact, the Better Care Network website has some really great resources on this topic. (I find this advertisement slightly amusing, as it initially implies one could "win a youth".)

Ontario Child Welfare Resources

The Child Welfare League of Canada has some great information about vulnerable children in Canada. They don't accept individual memberships, but you can sign up for their newsletter to stay updated on child welfare activities.

OACAS recently announced the official launch of the Ontario Child Welfare Research Framework website. The website provides a brief overview of the legal and theoretical contexts for child welfare research in Ontario, as well as key research principles, datasets, methodologies, and ethical guidelines.

What Really Happened to Baby Johan?

One of the most read articles this month is What really happened to baby Johan?, written by Elizabeth Weil in Matter.

It's the story of a father who dropped his three-month-old son, which became a criminal case. The article highlights the complexities and controversies of child welfare.

Neglect Versus "Free-Range" Parenting

NPR has a report on the debate between neglect and "free-range" parenting in the US. Note the chart with the varying ages that a child can be left alone depending on the state: from 6 in Kansas to 12 in Colorado.