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The list of demands, our political platform
Save the Children Youth Sweden work for the rights of children and youth, nationally and internationally.
The list of demands contains the organisation’s standpoints and the demands the organisation has in a number of different areas concerning children and youth.
The list of demands are decided by the annual meeting, therefore the whole organisation is behind them.
1. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
2. Power, influence and participation
3. School
4. Leisure time
5. Gender issues
6. Racism and xenophobia
7. Media
8. Health
9. The environment
10. Economy
11. Sexual assault
12. The justice system
13. Asylum-seeking children
14. Disabilities
15. Children and war
16. Global development
1. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The CRC is the foundation for all our work.
The CRC was enacted in 1989 by the UN General Assembly. All nations of the world, except the U.S.A. and Somalia, have ratified the convention and committed themselves to following it. But no nation follows it completely. A third of the ratifying nations have reservations about certain articles.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• Sweden make the convention into national law
• the Swedish government write clear guidelines on how municipalities and county councils should follow the convention
• the U.S.A. and Somalia ratify the CRC
• all nations who have ratified the CRC should follow it
• all reservations against certain articles should be annulled
Knowledge about the CRC is a prerequisite for being able to follow it. Many children and youth are discriminated against because of age. By not knowing their rights they have less opportunity to stand up for themselves and act against discrimination and violation of their rights. Children, youth and adults need to know what rights children and youth have and how these rights are safeguarded.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• everyone who has daily contact with children and youth in their line of work get special training on the CRC
• companies that make products and have activities that affect children and youth have training on the CRC
• information on the CRC should be easy to access and it should be available to everyone
• all employees of municipalities, county councils and public authority have training on the CRC
A world fit for children
In 2002 Sweden and 179 other countries enacted the declaration A World Fit for Children. Declaration is an action plan and a reinforcement of the CRC. Very few people know that the declaration even exists. This is a big mistake by the government.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• information on the declaration as a compliment of the CRC be spread with the information on the CRC
• Sweden follows the declaration
2. Power, influence and involvement
Children and youth do not have much influence in society and this is a direct violation of the main principle of the CRC.
Power and influence
According to article 12 of the CRC all children have the right to be heard, but the opinions, knowledge and experience of children and youth are often ignored. This is not only undemocratic, but it is also a waste of valuable resources.
One big misconception is that children and youth only care about issues like school and free time, but in reality they have opinions and ideas about everything in society. If society can not see this it is a big failure of democracy.
To make sure everyone can participate it takes more than improving the methods of influence. New channels of influence and new democratic methods are needed to guarantee power, influence and participation for all citizens.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the opportunity to leave a citizen’s proposal exist in all municipalities and help for those who need assistance in writing their citizen’s proposal
• channels of influence for children and youth with the power to influence policies in every municipality
• everyone, even children, has the right to be politically active and be able to influence policies without being a member of a political party
• new channels of influence be developed that let children and youth influence national and internationally policies directly
The right to vote
The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights in a democracy. A change in voting age is significant for democracy and an important standpoint from society that they respect and value young people as equal citizens.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the voting age be lowered to 16 in public elections in Sweden
• municipalities be encouraged and allowed to have a lower voting age in local elections
• a state investigation is done about the possibility of letting all children vote
Local child representatives
The Swedish child representative is a public authority that works to guard the interests of children and youth and to point out flaws in society. A few municipalities have also taken the initiative and have their own local child representatives. The municipal child representatives should be implemented in the whole country.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• local child representatives are implemented in the whole country
• the implementation of local child representatives is continually followed up and evaluated
3. School
School plays a major role in the lives of children and youth. They spend at least nine years of their lives there and they have a right to feel safe and happy in school. Skolan spelar en av de viktigaste rollerna i barns och ungas liv. Här tillbringar barn och unga minst nio år av sina liv och de har rätt att känna sig trygga och trivas i skolan.
Student influence
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• children and youth are educated on their rights
• the government gives schools support in quality-proofing student councils and school conferences
• existing channels of influence are reviewed and improved upon and that new channels are created
• education on the CRC are written into the curriculum as a compulsory subject
Adults in school
The number of students per student counsellor, student nurse, student therapist, student doctor and guidance counsellor has increased and the children who are already struggling are hit the hardest.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the number of teachers per student in elementary school and high school is increased
• the number of student counsellors, student nurses, student therapists and student doctors per student in elementary school and high school is increased
• the number of special teachers and guidance counsellors per student in elementary school and high school is increased
• continuous training on the CRC for school staff
Bullying and harassment
Many children go to school everyday fearing bullying and harassment. Bullying can stunt the child’s development, self-esteem and its trust in other people. It can scar people for life.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• preventative measures are made against bullying and harassment from day-care and pre-school to high school
• involvement and education of parents in the work against bullying
• there is compulsory training on bullying for people training to work with children
• there are special centres for victims or offenders of bullying
• there are decrees and resources to prevent and act on sexual harassment
• there are resources for supporting and helping both the victim and offender where both parties participate in finding a solution
Grading system
The grading system in elementary school and high school is built upon an old view of knowledge and the evaluation of knowledge. It is more about short-term achievements than long-term learning and some skills are overvalued and others not valued at all. This creates stress in students and moves the focus to getting grades than learning.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the grading system in elementary school and high school is reviewed and reworked
• all students can appeal their grades to an independent authority
• teachers are educated on the grading system
• other forms of evaluation are developed
• grades on good behaviour are not implemented
Life knowledge
Life knowledge is aimed towards boosting the self esteem and ability to make independent decisions of children and youth. It deals with ethics and morals, stress, sex and relationships, values, conflict resolution, democracy and human rights.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• life knowledge is made a compulsory subject in elementary school and high school and it is not graded
• life knowledge is taught at all levels of school
• the compulsory qualifications for a life knowledge teacher are the same as for teachers
4. Leisure time
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• there are increased resources for leisure time activities for children and youth
• there are more opportunities for all children, regardless of financial and social background, to have access to more leisure time activities
Leisure time activities
It is especially important for sports leaders to know about the CRC.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• adults who have some sort of leadership within sports have knowledge on the CRC and how to implement
• preventative measures are taken to prevent elitism in sports
• no child is discriminated against in sports due to social class, gender or ethnicity
• leaders are encouraged to talk about the problematic stereotypes in sports so that each child is seen as an unique individual
5. Gender issues
Education and development
Article 6 and article 28 make it clear that children have the right to survive and develop, but children are still being stopped from getting an education and developing simply because they are the ”wrong” gender.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the right to education is respected for all children in the world, both boys and girls
• the Swedish school actively works to make sure that girls and boys get the same educational opportunities
• all school books in elementary school and high school is reviewed from a gender- and equality perspective in order to find and change materials that show stereotypical views and values
• the Swedish pre-school and elementary school works actively for the use of children’s books with a gender perspective
• free time activities and sports are encouraged and that they get financial support regardless of majority of either gender.
Honour-related violence
Honour-related violence, oppression and lack of freedom are big problems in many countries and they exist in Sweden too. It can be everything from not being allowed to participate in school activities to violence and in some extreme cases even murder. Many times this oppression remains hidden. Oppressive traditions and values that violates the rights of the child and the human rights and must never be tolerated.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• projects working with the honour problem get active support, but is reviewed like other projects
• the government encourages schools to discuss and raise awareness of the issue in a creative and open way
• families are more involved in the work against honour-related violence and oppression
Female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation is severe torture. A girl who is a victim of genital mutilation gets life-long injuries, both physically and mentally. The problem exists in Sweden too.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the government takes more responsibility for the work against female genital mutilation
• the children and women who are victims of this have a right to get help
• Swedish public authority makes more of an effort to working with countries where there is female genital mutilation in order to influence them into cooperating in finding a solution
Heteronormativity
We live in a heteronormative society that is built on the assumption that there are only two genders, male and female, that live in heterosexual couple relationships. Today’s society is influenced by a heterosexual norm that breeds prejudice and discrimination. To be bisexual, homosexual, transperson or in any other way different from the norm is difficult even now in the 21st century. It is even more difficult for a child fighting against the demands society makes. School plays an important roll in the fight against prejudice and ignorance.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• an amendment protocol to the CRC abolishing discrimination due to sexual preference is created and ratified by all nations
• education and school books promote multitude and question the heterosexual norm
• teachers get training in prejudices that exist concerning non-heterosexual and the problem that they may encounter
Adoptions
A child has a right to a family and the welfare of the child should always be in focus, not the sexual preferences of the parent.
Ett barn har rätt till familj och barnets bästa ska stå i fokus, inte föräldrarnas sexuella identitet. Save the Children Youth Sweden believe that the sexual preference of the parents does not in any way harm the child or violates its rights. A child should therefore have the same opportunity to be adopted by homosexual parents as being adopted by heterosexual parents.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that
• the child’s welfare comes first in adoption proceedings
6. Racism and xenophobia
Racism and xenophobia can thrive in a society where respect for people is lacking. When knowledge is small and fear big, there is a breeding for prejudice.
The responsibility of the government
The government has a responsibility to work against racism and xenophobia. Politicians responsible for anything from housing policies to employment policies have a larger responsibility. It is the children that are most affected by irresponsible governing. Segregation can lead to crime and violence.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• Sweden’s integration policies are made to have a clear child rights perspective
• Article 2 of the CRC is followed
• policies concerning housing and city planning promote integration
Racism and xenophobia in school
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• all levels of the education system actively work to fight xenophobia and racism
• teacher training contains training on how racism and xenophobia can be prevented and stopped
• in every school there is an action plan for students, teachers and other staff for bullying because of racism and xenophobia
7. Media
Media has a big impact on children and youth, today maybe more than ever. For better or worse.
Influence
In today’s society there are many channels that make children believe that they need to be and look a certain way in order to be accepted. The media projects an image of how children should be in order to be accepted and toy companies reinforce this with stereotypical toys.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• there are clear guidelines for preventing the sexualisation of children’s’ clothes
• there are clear guidelines for the media that is for children to prevent the reinforcement of gender stereotypes and sexism
• there are clear guidelines for companies that have products or advertisements aimed at children so they promote violence
• the government works actively to make sure that the abolishment of advertising to under-12s that exists in every EU country is followed
Child pornography
A very big problem is that paedophiles have easy access to child pornography on the Internet.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• persons under 18 are considered children in all child pornography cases, regardless of the child’s physical development
• the definition of child pornography crime is changed so all children 18 are protected
• parents and children are educated on the risks of children being on the internet
• there is increased international cooperation to discover and prosecute possession of child pornography
• stronger protection for child pictures is put into law
• there are more resources for police and justice system that work with against child pornography crimes
8. Health
HIV/Aids
HIV/Aids drabbar barn och unga, särskilt flickor, hårt (Läs mer). In Africa nearly 10 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 and 3 million unde-15s are infected. Millions of children have become orphaned because of this disease.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• there are increased resources to children infected or orphaned by the disease
• there is more of an effort on information about HIV/Aids by increasing donations for UNAIDS
• there are more donations for research
• there is more work to reduce stigmatisation av people with HIV/Aids
• there are free condoms in high-risk areas together with information on HIV/Aids and how it spreads
• there is increased access to medicin so that everyone has access, regardless of financial and social status
Drug abuse
We want a drug-free environment for children and support for children and youth who have come into contact with drugs.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the government reviews the information given in schools on drugs and its impact on people and society
• there is a commitment to increasing the number of drug abuse clinics specialised in children and youth and that more money is spent on actions in high-risk areas
Eating disorders and obesity
Children that are overweight, obese or have an eating disorder can get into serious trouble. It affects both their physical and mental health.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• there are preventative measures and more work in helping children and youth suffering from eating disorders and obesity in schools
• there is more information aimed at homes and families about eating disorders and obesity so they are detected early
• there are more resources given to rehabilitation of children and youth suffering from eating disorders and obesity
Mental health
All children have the right to an adult they trust and can talk to.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• no child in need of help has to wait for help
• psychiatric treatment is reviewed for good quality
• there is a child rights perspective and child perspective in child psychiatry
• all children and youth have a right to being followed up on for at least 1 year after finished treatment
• children and youth that have family who need help have the right to get professional support
• there are active preventative measures against mental unhealth among children and youth
Sports and health in school
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the subject ”Sports and health” is made compulsory for all students, with at least two hours a week of classes
• the subject ”Sports and health” makes clear the connection between health and lifestyle
• all municipalities give swimming classes
• all children, regardless of social, financial and cultural background, have equal opportunity of participating in school activities
9. The environment
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• a clear child rights perspective permeates all work regarding children’s environment and health
• children at an early age learn to take the environment into consideration and how to work practically for the environment
Knowledge, development and international cooperation
It is very important that children and youth are involved in this work.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• knowledge and information about environmental issues is spread and is made accessible for all citizens
• children and youth are involved in the work for the environment on the local, national and international levels
• on issues concerning city planning, the distribution of natural resources, housing and other areas that affect children’s’ health and environment there is a clear child rights perspective and that children and youth are involved in the decision-making
• all nations that have ratified/signed international environmental conventions live up to their commitments
10. The economy
When politicians make decisions on finance policies and other issues that do not directly involve children, the child rights perspective is often forgotten. But all political issues, not just child care and education, affect children.
Child poverty in Sweden
Financial differences between children have increased in the last ten years and it is the largest between children of foreign extraction and children with Swedish parents, and between children in different urban parts. These differences lead to poorer conditions for some children, which violates one of the main principles of the CRC, that no child is to be discriminated.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the government writes an action plan for how to eradicate child poverty in Sweden
• every county council analyzes child poverty thoroughly and take urgent steps to help families in need
• no child be stopped from participating school activities in elementary school and high school in Sweden because of poverty
• fees on school meals in elementary school and high school in Sweden be abolished
• there are increased resources for leisure time activities so that all children can participate
Reduction of financial aid
In several county councils the financial aid of a family is reduced if the children work, forcing the children to use part of their salary to support the family. This system means punishing children already living in poor financial situations and is a violation of the CRCs principle that no child be discriminated.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the government take urgent steps to change the Social Services Act so that county councils are not allowed to reduce a family’s financial aid if a young member of the family works
• county council politicians in the county councils where the income of a child or youth reduces the family’s financial aid, while waiting for the law to change, urgently change the procedure of the county council so that this does not occur
11. Sexual assault
To be sexually assaulted is a gross violation and not something anyone, least of all a child, should have to endure.
Sexual assault
In Sweden about 7 % of all girls and 3 % of all boys between the ages of 0 and 14 have been victims of sexual assault. The sexual assault of children between the ages of 15 and 18 is now a part of the adult statistics and is not counted separately.
An assault is a traumatic experience with strong feelings of shame, guilt and fear of people not believing you. This leads to children being afraid to tell about the assault.
This feeling is reinforced by an incompetent justice system that economizes child psychology resources and where many perpetrators go free. Today we know that 8 out 10 police reports about assaults on children do not lead to prosecution. Children need professional help to tell about their experiences and to process them.
In the new Sexual Offences Act of 2005 the coercion requirement was removed if the victim was under the age of 15. This means that all sexual offences committed against children is classified as rape. This is because children under the age of 15 can not normally consent to sexual actions. The coercion requirement was also lessened for victims over the age of 15. We think this is a step in the right direction.
The law has however proved ineffective as the Supreme Court time and time again acquit offenders of rape and instead judge the crime to be sexual abuse, a lesser crime, because the child was not coerced. This undermines the law and defeats its original purpose.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• a revision of the law is made to further clarify the view on children and consent
• the statistics on sexual assault against children include children up to the age of 18
• there is special training for all levels of the justice system (police, judge, prosecutor and lay assessors) that deal with cases of sexual assault against children
• courts re-evaluate sexual offences and in a larger part use the higher part of the sentence scale
• all evidence opportunities be exhausted before an investigation is closed
• the blame is never put on the victim
Trafficking
Human trafficking is a horrible crime and a growing problem in the world. The UN estimates that 1,2 million children are victims of trafficking every year. Between 120 000 and 500 000 women and children are brought into Western Europe each year. These children live in slave-like conditions with threats, assault, rape and torture.
Children who are the most vulnerable are also the most sensitive to assault and violence. The assaults are a serious trauma with severe psychological scars, many never fully recover. Those who manage to escape often face a tough reality when they return home and have a hard time readjusting. Because of shame and gossip they are not accepted by their families and become social outcasts.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• children who have been victims of trafficking get professional help to process their experiences
• children discovered being in the sex trade be given permanent citizenship and rehabilitation at the child’s request
• Sweden takes responsibility in following up on the children who have been victims of trafficking and have returned to their home countries, and provides financial aid to ensure a humane return
• more centres for sex buyers be started in Sweden to help the people who buy sex from children to change their behaviour
• the government investigates the occurence of all forms of trade with children in Sweden
• there is extensive work to change the power structures that allow people to buy sex
12. The justice system
The justice system is one of the pillars on which a democracy rests. But despite the fact that the best interest of the child should permeate the Swedish justice system a child does not have the same rights or opportunities as other citizens do.
The court system
Legal experts within the court system, such as judges and prosecutors, have a big responsibility in cases that involve children and should according to the CRC be looking out for the best interest of the children. This takes expertise. The child’s right to be heard, established in the CRC, should be facilitated in the court process. This is regardless of whether they were victims of a crime or suspects.
The procedures and environments are not always child-friendly, and the adults do not always have the necessary knowledge of child development and how to speak to children. The result is that children have a lower level of legal security than adults.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• legal experts within the Swedish court system be given special training on the children’s needs and behaviour
• children have the right to their own legal council in all cases that involve the child
• the needs of the child be more considered when children are a part of the legal process, as victims, witness or perpetrator
• all children are treated equally within the justice system and not discriminated against because of their background or age
Child houses
Child houses have been created to fix the shortcomings of investigation and care of children who have been victims of violence and assault. It is a method for giving children a child-friendly, legally secure investigation and support in a child-friendly environment. The child does not have to be shipped around different organisations, everything is in one place and the child gets a better and safer experience of the legal process.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• regional child houses be built across the country so that all children who have been victims of violence and assault have access to this legal help
• child houses are expanded to accommodate for other cases that involve children, such as children who have witnessed domestic violence
Children who have witnessed domestic violence
Children who have witnessed domestic violence are not considered victims of a crime. That means that they do not get the protection, support or help that they are entitled too. Child who witness domestic violence have poorer legal security and can not speak for themselves in court.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the government takes initiative in strengthening the law so that children who witness domestic violence are considered victims of a crime
• children can be plaintiffs in the legal process and can speak for themselves
• the police in every report on domestic threats and violence note if there are children in the family, and take their statement
• guidelines are written on how police and social services should act in cases where children witness domestic violence
• all affected children get protection and help based on their needs
Children’s right to be protected
The Parental Law lays down parental rights and obligations towards the child. However, there are parents who have shown themselves to be unfit parents by physically and/or psychologically harming their child. The child’s right to protection must supersede the parents’ right to seeing their child. Children can be forced to see their parents, but parents can not be forced to see their children, which is a clear signal on how society views children from a from-above-perspective.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the Parental Law be changed so that the children’s right to protection supersedes the parents’ right to seeing their children
• children are being given the opportunity to apply for contact with their parents
13. Asylum-seeking children
Asylum-seeking children should have the same rights as Swedish children, but this is not the case in Sweden. Many asylum-seeking children are hurt during the asylum process. Long periods of waiting create psychological suffering for the children and hinder their right to a good childhood. A child waiting to be deported can be taken into custody and locked up by Swedish authority to prevent the child from going underground.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the right to education and child care for hidden asylum-seeking children and the right to medical care is written into law
• no children are taken into custody
• asylum-seeking children get individual treatment in practice and that their personal reasons for asylum are noted in the reason for the decision
• employees involved in the asylum process have special training on children’s situation and that interviews with children occur in a child-friendly environment
• prioritization of families with children and children arriving alone in the asylum process
• right to permanent citizenship for parents and siblings of all children who get permanent citizenship at the child’s request
• immediate investigation in every case where asylum-seeking children arriving alone and asylum-seeking families with children disappear
• a child psychologist is available at all asylum centres where there are children and that there is access to psychiatric help for all asylum-seeking children
• students and teachers are taught about the refugee situation in Sweden to raise awareness
14. Disabilities
For children with physical and psychological disabilities it is apparent that rights are not always matter of course. Half of all elementary schools in Sweden do not meet minimum standards of accessibility, which means that some children and youth do not have the same right to go to the school of their choice and are forced to travel long distances to get to school.
Playgrounds, shops, amusement parks and after-school clubs are other places that exclude children and youth with disabilities.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the county councils make all pre-schools, elementary schools, high schools and after-school clubs accessible to all
• public transportation is made accessible to people with disabilities
• all children and youth who need it should have a personal assistent that is not used by the school during school hours, but is just for the child
• continuous training for school staff, school authorities and politicians on children and youth with disabilities
• compulsory training on disabilities at teaching colleges
• all students with physical and psychological disabilities have adjusted schooling and an individual development plan
• permanent aid displays and pools where seasonal aids can be borrowed by disabled children
15. Children and war
Today’s wars affect the civilian population like never before. The absolute majority of armed conflicts now occur within countries and not between countries. In wars children’s rights are disregarded even more. That is when children need support and protection from their environment the most.
Weapons and mines
About 15 000-20 000 people are killed or injured by mines every year. In over 80 countries mines, that can be active for up to 50 years, have been spread out of control. The information to the civilian population in several of these countries is poor and children are often badly affected either by being injured or killed themselves or the provider in the family being injured or killed.
In 1998 Sweden ratified the Ottawa Treaty which abolishes the manufacturing and possession of anti-personnel mines. But certain nations, such as the U.S.A., Russia, China, India and Finland have not yet signed the treaty.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• all nations ratify the Ottawa Treaty
• Sweden increases its support of mine removal
• Sweden stop exporting weapons and weapon parts
• That all nations dismantle their armies
Child soldiers
According to Save the Children there are about 300 000 child soldiers in the world. The CRC permits soldiers to be from the age of 15 and up. Since 2002 there has been an amendment protocol that abolishes forced recruitment of people up to the age of 18, and this has been ratified by 70 nations, including Sweden. Voluntary recruitment is allowed as long as it is nations that are recruiting. However, no child should have to serve in a war, regardless of who recruits them.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• all nations raise the age of being able to serve in armed combat to 18
• all nations ratify the amendment protocol to the CRC about child soldiers
Children living under occupation
In many parts of the world people are forced to live under occupation by other nations. In occupied territories the political situation is often very complex. Old societal structures break down and new are prevented from being built.
The right to an education, health care and legal security is often impossible when the infrastructure and societal structure do not work. Everyday life changes day by day, to the children uncertainty is reality. When conflict is what everything revolves around, children and their rights are not noticed. Regardless of how extensive the conflict is, children’s rights should never be violated.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• Sweden takes a stand against all forms of occupation
• where occupation occurs Sweden should work actively to make the welfare of the child the focus
• foreign aid that goes towards a party in an occupation conflict in full goes towards helping children
• all parties of the conflict prioritize children’s rights to an education, health care and working infrastructure
16. Global development for a sustainable world
The most common definition of sustainable development is ”a development of society that satisfies the needs of today without jeopardizing the opportunities of future generations to satisfy their needs”. Sustainable development consists of several dimensions, such as financial, social, cultural and environmental. The promotion of equality, education for all, increased democratization and fighting poverty are all ways towards a sustainable society.
International development cooperation
The UN’s millennium goals has several points that involve children, such as the goal that all children should have a primary school education by the year 2015 and that infant mortality should decrease. To make these goals come true the world’s richest nations have to finance it. Since 2006, Sweden’s goal is to have 1% of the state budget be given in foreign aid. It is a first step, but not enough in a long-term perspective.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• Sweden increase the foreign aid to 2% of the state budget
• aid work is reviewed for good quality with a focus on the welfare of children
Children and work
There are no reliable statistics on how many children in the world work. UNICEF estimate that around 246 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 work. 120 million of those work full-time. Children from the age of 4 can work up to 16 hours a day. About 70% of all child labourers have jobs that are dangerous for them. According to the CRC a child has a right to a safe childhood. Work should not hinder the child’s right to play, rest, have leisure time or to go to school.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• all children be protected from being exploited for labour
• the child’s right to an education be respected
• nations and corporations take responsibility to ensure that no child has to work to survive
Agriculture
The agricultural policies of the European Union now give a lot of support to different agricultural producers within the union. This means that more agricultural products are produced than the people of Europe need. The surplus is sold to poorer nations at prises lower than the cost of production.
This means that the European Union is putting local farmers out of business because they can not compete with the subsidized products from Europe. That the European Union works against the UN millennium goal of poverty cut in half can not be accepted and ultimately it is the children that are hit the hardest by poverty.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the European Union changes its agricultural policies immediately so that it does not destroy the living conditions of people in poorer nations
Debt write-off
The burden of debt of many nations is a big obstacle in the fight against poverty. At the same time that millions of people die of malnutrition and poverty-related illnesses, money is being used to repay loans to the IMF, the World Bank, lending nations and commercial banks. But debt payments can never be allowed to supersede people’s right to food, health care and education.
Save the Children Youth Sweden demand that:
• the IMF (International Monetary Fund), World Bank, lending nations and commercial banks write off the debt of poorer nations in the cases where debt payments are in conflict with satisfying basic human needs and the fulfilment of the Millennium goals
• the foreign aid levels of lending nations are not decreased to finance the debt write-off
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