International commemoration –
The Geneva Declaration on the Rights of Children reread and modernized
For its 100th anniversary, the founding text – written by Eglantyne Jebb – was updated to meet contemporary needs.
Published today at 9:02 p.m.
Geneva 2024 Declaration exhibited Wednesday at the Palais Eynard. An update of the 1924 text written by the pioneer Eglantyne Jebb.
LORRAINE FASLER
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A hundred years ago, the British Eglantyne Jebb made Geneva the capital of children’s rights. The author of this Declaration and co-founder of the Save the Children organization thus laid the basis for the international protection of this fragile population.
The text, adopted on September 26, 1924 by the League of Nations at the Palais Wilson, thus became the first text recognizing specific and universal rights. A necessity that arose following the First World War.
One hundred years later, the City of Geneva, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and three NGOs recognized for their commitment to children’s rights – Save the Children, Enfants du Monde and Terre des hommes – have undertaken a rereading of the text of 1924 in light of current issues.
A new version available in ten articles which notably promotes a safe experience in the constantly evolving digital environment, protection against all forms of violence (physical, psychological and sexual) in all contexts, including within their home, or even access to justice systems adapted to children.
Urgent action
On Wednesday, on the occasion of International Children’s Rights Day, the original of the 1924 Declaration, normally kept in the cantonal archives, as well as the 2024 Declaration were exhibited at the Palais Eynard where an official ceremony was held. Among the many personalities who responded to the call, let us note the presence of the former President of the Confederation Ruth Dreifuss or that of the psychologist and member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Philip Jaffé.
The new Declaration has already been signed by renowned figures including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. Everyone is also invited to become a signatory by visiting the site Declaration2024.org, on which we find the text translated into more than 25 languages.
There is an emergency
The Mayor of Geneva, Christina Kitsos, recalled the urgency of acting for children’s rights in view of the climate crisis, international conflicts, regressions in certain countries (such as the marriage of young girls in Afghanistan) or even the growing precariousness, including in Geneva. She did not fail to quote Eglantyne Jebb: “Humanity must give the child the best it has.”
Finally, the ceremony was punctuated by several interpretations of the opera “Les enfants du Levant” by voices from the Maîtrise du Conservatoire populaire. A poignant work dedicated to young audiences which tells the little-known but true story of a children’s prison on an island in the Mediterranean. Words and universal suffering that resonated particularly.
Ruth Dreifuss, the former president of the Confederation, Philip Jaffé, psychologist, and Christina Kitsos, mayor of the City of Geneva. Surrounded by children from the Maîtrise du Conservatoire populaire who performed excerpts from the opera “Les enfants du Levant” on Wednesday.
LORRAINE FASLER
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