MARIA HERCZOG PH.D. MEMBER OF THE UN CRC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT OF EUROCHILD TARTU, 19 JULY 2012 Child rearing in a large family, Child’s perspective

Growing up in (large) families – child’s perspective Families differ and not primarily based on the number of children Growing up in a family is the natural form of care, parents need a lot of support to develop their parenting capacities, fulfilling their other tasks, harmonise personal, family and working life Children need emotional and physical nurturing, cognitive stimulation, safety, security, (brain research) Respect of their personality, dignity Opportunity to learn and exercise their rights

“Children are not mini adults with mini human rights” UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Almost universal ratification – implementation monitored but limited follow up (NGOs role) Comprehensive set of values and principles Monitored by the Committee on the Rights of the Child “The EU and its 27 Member States need to make sure children are protected and that the best interests of the child are our guiding principles. said Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner

Exercising child rights Every child has a right to be provided with all the needed opportunities to develop his/her evolving capacities to the fullest possible Every child has a right to be protected from all forms of violence and harm – if needed support to rehabilitation, healing the damage Every child has the right to participate actively, listened to, his/her views taken into consideration in all matter affecting them

Special issues in large families Large families can be good models of community life Learning co-operation, negotiation, conflict resolution, respect, responsibility, accountability Risk of poverty, exclusion, discrimination, stigmatisation, prejudice, lack of personal attention Raising children is also a contribution to community well-being, it has to be valued and acknowledged

Good families, bad families Parents have the primary responsibility to raise their children Parents are entitled to support in all forms to fulfill their task – parenting capacity building, financial, in kind help, The State has an obligation to provide support and services (not blaming and shaming) Child rights based approach but also best interest of the family, community – joyful, successful children Not only well-becoming, future for children but also wellbeing and joyful childhood for all

Why rights, rights based? Learning and exercising rights means respecting others’ rights and taking their viewpoint also into consideration, becoming responsible and accountable It helps developing resilience in vulnerable situations Adults need to be aware of their own rights and exercise them to be able accepting and supporting human rights and child rights – human right education essential, good (common) ground for discussion and negotiation

Thank you for your attention! Thanks for your attention!