PRESS RELEASE: Launch of the Global Study “Faith and Children’s Rights:  A Multi-religious Study on the Convention on the Rights of the Child”

Arigatou International, in close collaboration with UNICEF, the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) and with the support of partners, the International Dialogue Center (KAICIID) and World Vision International, will launch the first ever global study on Faith and Children’s Rights to honor the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), focusing particularly on the role of religious leaders and religious communities in promoting children’s rights and well-being and in preventing violence against children.

The study constitutes a valuable guidance for anyone who is committed to advancing the promotion of children’s rights: it provides a sound resource to support the efforts of religious leaders and religious communities to further expand their advocacy and action, mobilize new partners and engage even more deeply within their own faith communities to protect children from violence and promote their healthy development. 

The study provides perspectives from seven religious traditions: the Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and the Sikh Faith. In total, these traditions have more than 5.5 billion adherents around the globe. 

The multi-religious study highlights the often significant role that the diverse communities of the world’s faith traditions have played in the preparation, adoption, ratification and implementation of the CRC over the past three decades.  It recognizes innovative work and good practices carried out every day to further children’s rights and contribute to child protection by religious groups as a means to carry out their mission.   It also contains new ideas for collaboration and recommendations for further actions by all stakeholders, including fostering interreligious dialogue as a way to facilitate the protection and promotion of children rights.  

Religious leaders and faith-based organizations are in a unique position to champion children’s rights, asserting their moral authority to make a difference in children’s lives. They command extraordinary influence and often serve as role models of compassion, solidarity and justice. They help to bridge differences, foster dialogue, and influence positive social and behavioral change. 

At the same time, around the globe today and throughout history, there are, and have been, harmful practices and actions among religious communities that are deeply inconsistent with both the fundamental values of the world’s major religions and children’s rights. No religious teaching or tradition condones or justifies any form of violence against children.  

The far-reaching influence of religious leaders and faith-based organizations is especially important as we address sensitive social and cultural norms that deny children their rights. 

This study creates a unique and compelling opportunity to put faith into action and promote interfaith collaboration to revitalize the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, inspiring positive change for children, everywhere and at all times. 

The study will be launched at the United Nations on 19 November with a panel discussion featuring high religious leaders, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, the head of UNICEF Europe, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and representatives of the partner organizations. The panel will be followed by a Reception where children will officially hand over the study to religious leaders and provide recommendations to bring it into action in their communities. 

For further information, contact

Arigatou International Geneva

E-mail: geneva(at)arigatouinternational.org

Phone: +41 22 734 94 10 

Rev. Dr. Fred Nyabera Honored with the “2019 Spirit of the United Nations” Award

Rev. Dr. Fred Nyabera, Director of Arigatou International's End Child Poverty initiative, has been honored with the “2019 Spirit of the United Nations” award. The award is presented to members of the UN community including ambassadors, UN Staff, NGOs, and youth representatives, and recognizes efforts to uphold the founding spirit of the United Nations.

Rev. Dr. Nyabera was presented with the award on October 23, 2019, at a ceremony that is the highlight of the yearly celebration of the Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns in New York (CSVGC-NY), which ran from October 23 to 26, 2019. This year’s theme for the Week of Spirituality, “Spirit of the UN: The Call for a Life of Human Dignity – Reframing the Discussion on the SDGs and Agenda 2030,” highlighted the efforts made by the United Nations and its members to improve the lives of people everywhere through the adoption of the UN2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Through the Sustainable Development Goals’ emphasis on “leaving no one behind,” spirituality is gradually becoming a driver for equality and fairness, welcoming opportunities for dialogue that promote sustainable peace and development, including the protection of the dignity of every child. During the week, members of the UN community and the public participated in panel discussions, engagements, interactive workshops and artistic performances on various topics related to the theme. Each year, the candidates for the awards are submitted to the Executive Council of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (NY), which decides on a highly selective roster of awardees.

iWith.org gives way to Help-On

As of October 2019, iWith.org gives way to Help-On, the non-profit association that takes over from the Foundation and manages the services.

We explain it in detail:

Where we come from?

The iWith.org Foundation was born almost 20 years ago to help organizations use the Internet. At that time Google was little known and with us were born projects with a new social character such as Hazloposible, Idealist and Wikipedia.
In this environment we did an indispensable job transmitting knowledge, providing training and developing the Abcore integrated services platform with which many projects started on the Internet.
Over the years, the situation is very different, knowledge is in the network, there is a sufficient training offer, there are many companies, organizations and consultancies willing to accompany NGOs on their way through the Internet, and many programs have been developed with those who make websites, blogs, campuses, stores and all kinds of tools to establish communication in the networks. We have seen Facebook, Twitter and Skype born, and we have seen Fotolog, Tuenti and Google Wave disappear.
In this environment many things change, and we also have a good proposal.

We are proud to have been among the pioneers, to have participated in hundreds of non-profit projects, to have managed important private and public resources, and in summary to have worked with so many good people in the digitalization of the non-profit sector.

What do we change?

We give way to Help-On, a new non-profit association that concentrates all the experience and values of iWith.org, and maintains the same services with a more agile structure.



How have we prepared the short term?

Our plan includes absolute respect for all stakeholders, volunteers, collaborators, partners, donors, users, suppliers and all who have accompanied us in these two decades.
Together we have developed the Integrated Internet Services Platform Abcore Cadí, and now we return it to society in the form of open source free software
Many of us who have made iWith.org grow are helping Help-On be born and will continue to support it. Help-On is led by David Soto that you probably already know.
You don't have to worry about anything, same service, same conditions, same machines, same technical team and a new opportunity to move forward.

How do we see the future?

Undoubtedly, the world will continue to evolve and bring surprises, and everything indicates that the Internet together with civil society and non-profit projects will play an important role in the development of society.
We are sure that the new more flexible and dynamic structure will continue to respond to the new challenges that you pose from organizations.

More about us

If you want to contact or simply keep track of the people who have been in the last stage of iWith.org you can visit their profiles. I will personally give way to the new generation, take care of the grandchildren, and continue as I have always been involved in non-profit projects.
Although the support service@iwith.org is still operational, you can go to support@help-on.org for any need.

Faith and Children’s Rights: A Multi-religious Study on the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Celebrating the 30^th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

To mark the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Arigatou International is preparing Faith and Children’s Rights: A Multi-religious Study on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This study examines the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) from the perspective of seven major religions, identifies the important role played by religious communities in advancing the rights and well-being of children over the past 30 years, seeks to identify the common values shared among different religions and the CRC and promotes continued action by religious communities to further implement the CRC in the future. 

The full report on the results of the CRC Study will be released on November 20, 2019, the 30^th anniversary of the adoption of the CRC.  This is also the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, an Arigatou International initiative. 

Arigatou International presented a Preview of the CRC Study during the Kofi Annan Faith Briefing, a side event of the recent UN High Level Political Forum in New York on July 15 and we are pleased to share it:

Preview to the CRC Study, July 15, 2019. English.

The Neuroscience Foundation wins the iWith.org Web Health Award

This entity has patented an implantable device, in the phase of approval and experimentation, to try to stop the evolution of Alzheimer's disease. 





 

With this award granted by iWith.org, it is wanted to give presence and visibility to the Neuroscience Foundation.



The main objectives of the association are research and dissemination of neurodegenerative diseases. The organization is made up of a team of neurologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons and neurobiologists.

The award consists in the creation of the web page on the Abcore Cadí platform and the accompaniment to the project until 2022.

The iWith.org Scholarship Committee has selected the best proposals.



Entities that have taken part in the second phase and have received advice from iWith.org in the field of Internet are:

Atenpace, APADO Foundation, Parkinson Granada, Amate Project, Acovasta, Asociación Tempo, Asociación Andaluza de Hemofilia, Acmah, Sol del Solsonès, Asociación TEA, Apafer, Cartografía de Conocimemts, Migraciones y Refugio LGTBI, Fundación Juntos por el Autismo, Asociación Hepa , Federation of Parents of Children with Cancer and Adela Social.

Congratulations to all the entities that have participated in the 2019 Health Web Award!