Defence for Children International (DCI) is an
independent non-governmental organisation that has been promoting and
protecting children’s rights on a global, regional, national and local level
for 30 years. DCI is represented through its national sections and associated
members in 40 countries worldwide. Its International Secretariat is based in
The DCI movement was founded in 1979, the
International Year of the Child. In
2009, DCI celebrates its 30th anniversary: a birthday it shares with the
20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This highlights DCI’s historical role as a leading advocate for the
adoption of the Convention and one of the first organisations to work from the
concept of children’s human rights.
At the global level, the DCI movement is united
in its commitment to working for children’s rights in juvenile justice. DCI
works to protect, defend and advocate for the rights of children and young
people in conflict with the law.
DCI national sections develop and implement
programmes in response to the needs of children in their countries. In addition
to juvenile justice, some of these include:
•
Child labour.
• Violence
against children.
•
Children in Armed Conflict.
•
Sexual abuse and exploitation.
•
Child trafficking.
•
Access to education.
•
Migration.
• Child participation.
DCI uses the following strategies to promote
and protect child rights:
1- Direct Intervention
DCI provides direct assistance and support to
children in need. Many DCI national sections run socio-legal defence centres
which represent children in conflict with the law and take on cases where
children are being imprisoned without cause. Other DCI sections provide support
and rehabilitation services to child workers and victims of trafficking.
2- Advocacy and lobby
DCI advocates at national and international
level for the development of policies and practices which are in the best
interests of the child. This involves lobbying States to adopt national
policies which reflect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and urging
the Human Rights Council and other UN bodies to take action against gross
violations of children’s rights.
3-Training and capacity building
DCI provides training to members of the
community on the UN Convention on the Rights of the child, including strategies
for promoting children’s human rights. DCI also works with police officers,
judges and other professionals to train them in guaranteeing the rights of
children in juvenile justice systems. In the area of child labour, some DCI
national sections train employers and teachers on methods for ensuring that
child workers have access to a quality education.
COMPREHENSION
1. DCI is an organization
that is primarily interested in:
a) Poverty reduction. q
b) Family matters. q
c) Dialogue among
civilizations. q
d) Cultural issues. q
e) Children matters . q
2. There are some
mistakes in the following summary of the text above. Circle them and correct in
your own words.
3. Decide if these statements are true or false; then, justify your
answer.
a. DCI’s
International
Secretariat is based in
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
b. DCI was the first organisations to
work from the concept of children’s human rights.
Truer Falser
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Match the following words with their definitions
Word |
|
Definition |
1. Anniversary |
a) To try to persuade a
politician, the government or an official group that a particular thing
should or should not happen, or that a law should be changed. |
|
2. Advocate |
b) When someone uses or
treats someone or something wrongly or badly, especially in a way that is to
their own advantage. |
|
3.
Convention |
c) Someone who publicly
supports something. |
|
4.
Rehabilitate |
d) Day on which an
important event happened in a previous year. |
|
5.
Support |
e) To return someone or
something to a good or healthy condition, state or way of living. |
|
6.
Lobbying |
f) A formal agreement
between country leaders, politicians and states on a matter which involves
them all. |
|
7. Abuse |
g) Emotional or practical help. |
5. What does the underlined word in the text refer to?
a. It (paragraph 2) :…………………….……………