CONGRESSES THROUGHOUT TIME

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At the beginning of the 20^th century it was frequent in Europe to hold international congresses for dealing with those issues concerning children, who were then generically referred to as `infants’. During the second decade of the century that practice was adopted in the American continent. Amongst the most significant developments that were the background to the first Pan-American Child Congress, the following are worth mentioning: 

1905, Paris: Congress on Child Nutrition
1907, Brussels: Congress on Early Childhood Protection
1909, Washington: National Child Congress
1910, Buenos Aires: International Scientific Congress, in which the proposal to hold a Child Congress within the American continent under the auspices of the Argentine Scientific Society was approved
1911, Paris: First International Congress of Juvenile Courts
1912, Brussels: First Congress on Child Protection
1913, Buenos Aires: First National Child Congress
1915, Buenos Aires: An Extraordinary Assembly resolved that the First Pan-American Child Congress be convened in commemoration of the centenary of Argentina’s independence. 

The First Pan-American Child Congress included seven sections: Law, Health, Psychology, Education, Assistance to mothers and children, Sociology and Industrial Legislation. 

As part of the Historical Analysis of the activities carried out by the IIN from 1985 to 1995, which was submitted to the Extraordinary Meeting of the IIN’s Directing Council that took place in Santiago (Chile) in 1996, an Analysis concerning Pan-American Child Congresses was presented. The following are some of the conclusions that were drawn from that analysis:

“In addition to being an opportunity for reflection and exchange of experiences, Pan-American Child Congresses have constituted a space in which the different levels that countries in the American continent have reached with regard to the development of their children-oriented policies and the existence of several different perceptions adopted by the multiple cultures in the American continent when regarding children, have been reflected. Congresses are a potential space which would act as a point of reference for experience and knowledge in case they should be used in the same evaluation terms as other OAS’ decision-making bodies and policies implemented by the governments of each one of the member states. But they are also a particular point of reference to assess the level of progress or stagnation concerning children-oriented policies in the Americas, and –in so far as this is possible– an Inter-American forum for the formulation of these same policies”.  

1.      WHAT IS THE PAN-AMERICAN CHILD CONGRESS? 

The Pan-American Child Congress is a regional instance and seeks to promote the feeling and state of art concerning a specific subject.  

2.      WHAT IS AN INTER-AMERICAN SPECIALIZED CONFERENCE?

In accordance with Article 24 of the IIN’s Statutes, the Pan-American Child Congress could be considered an Inter-American Specialized Conference when it should deal with special technical issues, or when it should develop certain aspects concerning Inter-American cooperation, provided it is convened by a resolution passed by the General Assembly (GA/RES.1961 (XXXIII-O/03).

The following specifications appear in Chapter XVII of the OAS’ Chart (Chapter XVII is the one in which Specialized Conferences are analyzed):“Article 122: The Specialized Conferences are inter-governmental meetings to deal with special technical matters or to develop specific aspects of Inter-American cooperation. They shall be held when either the General Assembly or the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs so decides, on its own initiative or at the request of one of the Councils or Specialized Organizations.

Article 123: The agenda and rules of procedure of the Specialized Conferences shall be prepared by the Councils or Specialized Organizations concerned and shall be submitted to the Governments of the Member States for consideration”.

3.       THE XVIII PAN-AMERICAN CHILD CONGRESS

The XVIII Pan-American Child Congress was held in the city of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Three Master Conferences were held as part of this same Congress:

·         “The Media and the Protection of the Rights of Children and Adolescents”, Lecturer: Canada’s Senator Landon Pearson

·         “The Right of Children and Adolescents to Protection of Information and Privacy”, Lecturer: Argentina’s Vice-Minister of Human Rights Alicia Pierini

·         “The Right of Children and Adolescents to Information, Participation and Expresión”, Lecturer: UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Per Engebak

There were eight work teams that carried out activities in parallel:

1.      “Comprehensive development from the Point of View of Health and Media Influence”

2.      “The family: Primary agent to ensure protection and access to information”

3.      “Critical Thinking Skills for the Internet”

4.      “Media, Technology and the Ethics of Information”

5.      “Information and Psycho-Social Development of Children and Adolescents”

6.      “Confidentiality of Information: its legal regulation”

7.      “Participation of Children and Adolescents in the Political Process”

8.      “Role of International Agencies and Children’s Right to Information”

The XVIII Pan-American Child Congress originated Declaration IIN/DEC.01/99 (XVIII-99) – Exploitation of Children and Adolescents and the following resolutions –which were passed by the 75^th Meeting of the IIN’s Directing Council, gathered in Ottawa (Canada) in June 2000:

IIN/RES. 1 (XVIII-99):The Family: A Primary Agent to ensure Protection and Access to Information 

IIN/RES. 2 (XVIII-99): Strengthening of the Inter-American System on the Promotion, Participation and Advocacy of the Rights of Children and Adolescents 

IIN/RES. 3 (XVIII-99):Internet literacy for young persons 

The following countries were represented at the Congress: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela. Spain, the Holy See and Portugal participated as observers. Amongst the bodies forming part of the Inter-American system, the following are the ones that participated: Inter-American Juridical Committee, and also representatives from the OAS’ Head Office and PAHO. There also participated representatives from UNESCO, UNICEF, Fundación Niños Unidos para el Mundo and Federaçao Nacional das APAES.