Applications are now open. ~ Presentations by child members, panel discussions, and about 30 subcommittees. There will also be fun learning events for parents and children~
The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations in 1989 to internationally guarantee the fundamental human rights of children, and has four general principles: the right to life, the right to develop, the right to be protected, and the right to participate. It has now been ratified by 196 countries and regions, including Japan, and is the most widely accepted human rights treaty in the world.
The 32nd Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum 2024 will be held on November 9th and 10th, 2024 at Rikkyo University in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, with the aim of learning about the situation surrounding children in Japan and creating a forum for promoting a broad understanding of children's rights (co-hosted by the Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum 2024 in Tokyo Executive Committee and Save the Children Japan). Applications to participate in the forum will open on September 27th.
Anyone interested in these rights, including parents and children, education and government officials, and NPO staff, can participate, and some parts of the event can be held online.
・Click here to apply for the forum: https://www.savechildren.or.jp/tokyo-crc-forum/program/
The Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum began in 1993 as a place to promote the Convention and to exchange opinions, meet, and interact with people who are interested in children's rights. To date, a total of 31 such forums have been held around the country, including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Fukuoka, Gunma, Aomori, and Chiba, every year around November 20th, International Children's Day (the day the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted).
The year 2024 marks 35 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations and 30 years since Japan ratified the Convention. With the Basic Act on Children coming into force in April 2023 and the Agency for Children and Families also taking action, Japanese society is now taking its first steps towards creating a society in which the rights set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child can be realised.
This year marks a turning point, and we will hold a forum aimed at a wide range of people, including not only children and their guardians, but also policymakers, civil society groups, educators, the media, etc. We will gather the voices of children, whose voices have been difficult to hear until now, and disseminate them to society.
[Overview of the Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum 2024 in Tokyo]
◎Dates and times: Saturday, November 9, 2024, 13:00-17:30, Sunday, November 10, 2024, 10:30-17:30 *Participation will be partially available online
◎ Location: Rikkyo University Ikebukuro Campus (3-34-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo) Approximately 7 minutes walk from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station
◎ Target audience: Anyone (children, young people, parents, educators, NPOs/NGOs, government officials, etc.)
◎ Cost: Free (Some breakout sessions will require fees)
◎ Theme: Let's learn together! Let's create! Let's spread it! ~So that each individual's "voice" doesn't get lost~
◎Organizers: Spread the word! Children's Rights Campaign, Children's Rights Forum 2024 in Tokyo Executive Committee, Save the Children Japan
◎ Sponsored by: Agency for Children and Families, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Toshima City, Toshima City Board of Education
[Forum Contents]
A number of sessions are planned, including the following:
There will also be a portable play park on the venue.
One of the most important rights for children is the "right to play." A play park is a playground where children can play freely and express their true selves. A playground where you can experience that atmosphere will appear at Rikkyo University Nishi-Ikebukuro Park on the 9th with the theme "Play on the Streets!" and on the 10th with the theme "Let's Make and Play with Cardboard!"
■November 9th (Sat) 13:00-16:30
"Play on the road!"
Enjoy traditional play, wooden toys, and rolling balls! Relax and have fun!
Venue: Rikkyo University Ikebukuro Campus, Building 9, next to reception, Piloti (In case of rain, the venue will change to Building 14, D502)
Cooperation: Teshima Children's Wakuwaku Network and others
*To participate in the play park on the 9th, you must apply for the forum.
■Sunday, November 10th 11:00-16:00
"Let's make and play with cardboard!"
Cut and paste cardboard! Create whatever you want to create!
Venue: Nishi-Ikebukuro Park (In case of rain, the venue will change to Building 14, D502)
Co-hosted by Toshima Ward and the Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum 2024 in Tokyo
■Plenary session (November 9th and 10th)
・Greetings from Yumiko Watanabe, Commissioner of the Agency for Children and Families
・Children's Members' Project: "Send out our reality! Spread our action!"
(Operated by Free the Children Japan)
Panel discussion: "What we can do to ensure that each individual's voice is not lost"
Facilitator:
Associate Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, Bunkyo University
Speakers:
Mr. Shigehito Nakahara, Director of the Cabinet Secretariat (General Policy), Planning Officer for Measures to Combat Declining Birthrate, Agency for Children and Families
Tetsuya Nakamura, Deputy Mayor of Setagaya Ward
Ms. Chieko Kuribayashi, Chairperson of the Nonprofit Organization Teshima Children's Wakuwaku Network
Yusuke Arai, Representative Director, NPO Sankakusha
Arisa Yamaguchi, Child Psychiatrist, Child Abuse Prevention Center, National Center for Child Health and Development – Children's group activity presentation
・Children's activity presentations, etc.
■Subcommittee meeting (November 10th)
Approximately 15 subcommittees are planned on topics such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children's participation, and the right to learn.
Approximately 15 subcommittees are planned to be held on topics such as the right to live in peace, advocacy, and children's opinions.
For more details, please visit the official website: https://www.savechildren.or.jp/tokyo-crc-forum/program/
[How to participate]
If you would like to participate, please apply using the form below.
https://www.savechildren.or.jp/tokyo-crc-forum/program/
[Forum details]
We will update the information on our official website and social media.
・Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum 2024 in Tokyo Official Website: https://www.savechildren.or.jp/tokyo-crc-forum/
・Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kodomonokenri2024tokyo/
・Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561568070264
◎We are looking for "Children's Moya" (frustration that children have) and will deliver it to society.
In order to know, listen to, and consider the voices of children, the Tokyo Forum Executive Committee is inviting children to share their daily "frustrating feelings," such as "I don't like something," "Something seems strange," etc.
The gathered frustrations will be shared with many adults and society at large through the forum venue, the panel discussion on the first day, the forum website, social media, and other means.
・Kodomoya application form: https://bit.ly/4d5C0E2
<Organizing Committee of the Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum 2024 in Tokyo>
Executive Committee Chair
・Daisuke Hayashi, Executive Director of the Convention on the Rights of the Child Network
・Akiko Takai, Executive Director, Save the Children Japan
Vice Executive Chairman
・Chieko Kuribayashi, Chairperson of the Nonprofit Organization Teshima Children's Wakuwaku Network
Executive Committee
・28 groups and individuals
https://www.savechildren.or.jp/tokyo-crc-forum/introduction/
[Convention on the Rights of the Child Forum 2024 in Tokyo Executive Committee] Press release
