With the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 and the World Summit for Children in 1990, the international community clearly articulated its commitment to the fundamental human rights of every child.

The Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) has made child rights a central priority since its inauguration in May 2000.

In May 2002, the United Nations General Assembly convened for a Special Session on Children to review progress over the decade since the World Summit and call for renewed commitment to full implementation of the CRC. Speaking at the Special Session on behalf of the GNRC, Rev. Takeyasu Miyamoto, President of the Arigatou Foundation, made a statement to the UN General Assembly proposing the formation of the Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children, expressing the GNRC's further commitment to work for the eradication of poverty, and pledging the devotion of religious people to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The GNRC has a key role to play in helping to mobilize religious leaders, communities and grassroots workers around the world to make the international community’s commitment to children a reality in the lives of children everywhere. As part of its effort to fulfill this role, the GNRC conducts training in child rights for faith-based NGOs as well as for children and young people themselves. GNRC Arab States has held a number of child rights training workshops for youth. The GNRC also invites the full participation of children and youth in all of its initiatives. Young people play a leading role in shaping the grassroots work of the GNRC.

In addition to encouraging people of faith to prioritize child rights in their work, the GNRC, drawing on the deepest teachings of the world’s great religions, also contributes a spiritual foundation and compelling moral force to the child rights movement. The GNRC helps to connect ancient religious teachings on the inherent worth of every child with the modern humanitarian principles of human rights and dignity.

GNRC members work together with local child rights advocates from civil society and cooperate closely with UNICEF and other UN agencies both globally and locally.

By implementing ethics education for children and young people, the GNRC empowers them to make an even stronger contribution to building a world that is truly fit for children. This work is an essential part of fulfilling the child’s right to education set out in the CRC. Visit the GNRC youth site to find out what young people around the world are doing about their own rights.

Child rights are a central part of regional GNRC initiatives. More information is available from the “Regional Networks” menu above.

More information on the Special Session on Children is available at: http://www.unicef.org/specialsession.