All over Cambodia teachers’ demands for “informal fees” are forcing children to quit classes because their parents cannot afford to pay. Seng Hong of NGO Education Partnership, an umbrella grouping of Cambodian education organizations, says research shows sending one child to school uses up almost a tenth of the average family income. “This increases if […]
On November 7th, 2007, Priority Films, much anticipated film “Holly”, had its world premier at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Honorary Committee members include: Susan Sarandon, Sen. Hilary Clinton, Ron Livingston, Lisa Ling, Ally Sheedy, congressman Mark Udall and others. The movie screening was followed by a reception to benefit the Somaly Mam […]
The Energy Bills – First, before we get to the reading opportunities, there are rumors in the blogosphere that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are going to offer up the renewable portfolio standard and renewable tax credits as sacrificial lambs to the gods of fossil fuel and nuclear power. See Bye, bye, Ms. Renewable Pie […]
Many eyes and ears have been on Chad as the child trafficking case gets underway. The children, most of which proved to have family, the majority of which contained at least one parent, have been left in limbo. The children who have all been placed in protective custody of the Chadian Social Services, may have […]
The UN Human Rights Council has decided to appoint a Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, or a three-year period, to replace the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. This will include examining its causes and its consequences, the Special Rapporteur focus principally on aspects of contemporary forms of slavery which are not […]
The defense team for a Canadian citizen held at Guantanamo Bay on terrorist-related charges said the U.S. government withheld essential evidence in its effort to rush ahead with the tribunal in an attempt to validate its existence. Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler said the government withheld information obtained from several witnesses in his defense of […]
I honestly didn't want to write anymore about toxic toys, as I felt I had covered it well enough, and there a many other issues regarding children's rights which need to be covered, however I am prompted to bring light to the newest discovery. The outcry over toy recalls has been from lead paint or […]
The United Nations Population Fund, will now benefit from the international communities efforts to make maternal health a global priority. Over the last 7 years the US has withheld funding for the agency, which was appropriated by Congress, amounting to $204 million. According to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) $34 million has been […]
The status of a Canadian citizen accused of murder, conspiracy, and other terrorist related charges will be determined by a military court Thursday at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Omar Khadr, 21, will face a Military Commissions Review board to determine whether he is eligible for prosecution by the war crimes tribunal sitting at the naval detention […]
Please see Bill Hewitt's Climate Change Blog for his recent post on Children and Climate Change and the recent report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Under Article 37(a) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, child executions are a clear violation of international law. ” [No] capital punishment… shall be imposed for offenses committed by persons below eighteen years of age” Iran Revokes Death Sentence in Juvenile Case, as Dubious Conviction Based on Recanted Testimony Requires Re-Trial […]
Can a laptop really change the future of a child in the developing world? IT professor Nicholas Negroponte, believes so, and it was his vision 5 years ago, which has now begun production. One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), has it's first order to fill, thanks to Uruguay, who ordered 100,000. Some are surprised that production […]
I had the opportunity this summer to write on how American airports are embracing sustainability. I found a pretty great story: a really smart, passionate and committed corps of professionals are creating a very brave new world indeed at our airports. See the story, The Only Way to Fly, from "Planning," the magazine of the […]
The war crimes trail for the chairman of the Serbian Radical Party resumed at the international court in the Hague Wednesday. Vojislav Seselj, 52, is one of the most senior officials of the government of the former Yugoslavia to face prosecution for war crimes during the Bosnian wars. Seselj faces prosecution for murder, persecution, inhumane […]