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Controversial Issues Within UNICEF's Special Session on Children 2001
10/09/2001
The concerns to be addressed through the U.N. Document (Rev 4) that is to be ratified by the member countries during the Special Session on Children, September 19th - 21st, are summarized in the following points:
1. The role of religion
2. The role of family
3. Gender
4. Sex Education
5. Reproductive Health Services
6. AIDS
7. Empowerment of children
The Islamic and Vatican viewpoints regarding these issues as well as the secular liberal perspective and the U.N.'s vision are presented in the following tables:
Table 1: The Role of Religion
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The U.N.'s Vision
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Islam
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The Vatican
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Secular Liberal
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| To shrink the role of religion from that outlined in the International Declaration of Child Rights that was signed in 1990.
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Emphasizes the role of religion because Islam encompasses binding legislation.
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Emphasizes the importance of religion while condemning all extremist religious and secular phenomena that negatively impact children.
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Considers religious fundamentalism as the primary reason behind the oppression of society's weaker groups (including women and children).
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Table 2: The Role of the Family
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The U.N.'s Vision
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Islam
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The Vatican
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Secular Liberal
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| Marginalizes the role of the family and attempts to exclude the child from a family
context.
Only mentions "family" a few times, which is inconsistent with its central role in children's lives.
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Very much recognizes the paramount and central role that the family plays in the lives of children. Seeks to emphasize that role.
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Does not recognize an alternative to the family role; therefore, opposes its being marginalized.
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Views traditional religious and ethical practices as being reinforced by the family, and as the major barrier to women and children enjoying their essential rights and complete freedom.
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Table 3: Gender Concerns
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The U.N.'s Vision
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Islam
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The Vatican
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Secular Liberal
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| Advocates recognition and full acceptance of homosexuals; favors the use of the term "gender" as being neutral.
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Emphasizes the complementary nature of males and females; does not see gender differences as a basis for differential and unfair treatment of people based on their sex. Opposes the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle.
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Expresses suspicion of the recent use of the term "gender" in international documents as it is considered to be vague.
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Advocates recognition and full acceptance of homosexuals; favors the use of the term "gender" as being neutral.
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Table 4: Sex Education
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The U.N.'s Vision
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Islam
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The Vatican
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Secular Liberal
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| Emphasizes the importance of sex education, and the need for its spread by educational institutions and the media, particularly for teens and pre-teens.
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Recognizes its necessity, but believes that the family's values should be upheld and respected by those providing it who should be competent and qualified to do so.
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Points out the right of parents to choose what they consider to be the most suitable kind of sex education for their children.
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Recognizes no need to cooperate with with parents in the
matter.
Calls on other institutions such as the media and schools to play a greater role in sex education.
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Table 5: Reproductive Health Services
| The U.N.'s Vision
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Islam
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The Vatican
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Secular Liberal
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| Includes in the term "reproductive health services" the right to a safe abortion.
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Rejects the use of the term because of its vagueness. Based on religious legislation and moral grounds regarding its negative impact on society, Islam rejects the use of abortion as a means of contraception.
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Strongly condemns the use of abortion, and its justification in the case of rape.
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Considers the choice of abortion as personal, including for pregnant teens based on the belief that females should have total control over their lives as their male peers are believed to
have.
Supports new legislation to remove all obstacles and penalties that hinder the practice of that "right".
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Table 6: AIDS
| The U.N.'s Vision
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Islam
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The Vatican
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Secular Liberal
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| Regards AIDS as a very paramount health
concern.
Does not mention the importance of morality and ethics in AIDS prevention. Simply focuses on medical means to combat the disease.
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Calls clearly for a return to the culture of "chastity" and the adoption of moral
values.
Criticizes the marginalization of other health problems that children face in throughout the world.
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Calls for a return to the culture of ethics and modesty.
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Is increasingly supportive of homosexual "human
rights".
Seeks to completely distinguish between the treatment of AIDS and other STD's, and moral positions regarding homosexuality.
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The U.N. document (Rev 4), paragraph 34, lists as a goal:
Access to the primary health care system for all individuals as soon as possible and no later than 2015.
Paragraph 44 reads:
By 2005, ensure that at least 90 %, and by 2010 at least 95%, of youth men and women aged 15-24 have access to the information, education (including peer education and youth specific HIV education) and services necessary to develop the life skills required to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection in full partnership with youth, parents, families, educators and health care providers.
Table 7: Empowerment of children
| The U.N.'s Vision
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Islam
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The Vatican
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Secular Liberal
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| Emphasizes
the necessity of enabling children to reach positions of decision-making on matters that concern them on international as well as national levels in order to guarantee that their desires and ambitions are fulfilled.
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Supports the participation of children, but differs regarding the extent of their involvement in decision-making.
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Did not focus much attention on the matter.
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Considers children as a part of those "wretched" groups within society that need strong support in order to be empowered. Believes that they will not be reached unless they are a part of the decision-making process.
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Paragraph 31 of the U.N. Document (Rev 4) reads:
"We will strive to develop and implement
programs to promote meaningful participation by children, including adolescents, in decision-making processes, including in families and schools and at the local and national level."
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