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Interventions (2003) to the Commission of Human Rights, Geneva, on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Commission on Human Rights
Geneva, 17 March - 25 April 2003

Oral statement by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC.

Point 13. Rights of the Child

Madam President, on behalf of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, I would like to make a statement regarding the Rights of the Child as pertaining to religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child has clearly identified the fundamental human right of religious freedom that is established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many other national and international instruments. In particular Article 14 point 1 obliges signatories to make a definite commitment to this basic human right:

“States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

Additionally, Article 30 expands the right to freedom of worship and practice as follows:

In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities or persons of indigenous origin exist, a child belonging to such a minority or who is indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess and practise his or her own religion, or to use his or her own language.

The Adventist Church is concerned that despite such clear and unequivocal language, certain states parties are not complying with these explicit obligations.

Seventh-day Adventists affirm the right of every child to a happy and stable home environment, and the freedom and support to grow up to be the person God intended. We also recognize the positive contribution made by the Convention on the Rights of the Child to assist in making such a situation a reality through its clear commitment to religious freedom. As a Church, we seek to aid children who suffer from the following destructive influences:

Poverty–Poverty impacts children’s development, robbing them of necessary food, clothing, and shelter, and adversely affecting their health and education.

Illiteracy–Illiteracy makes it difficult for the parents to earn wages or care for their family or for the child to reach his or her potential.

Poor health care–Millions of children have no access to health care because they lack the proper insurance coverage or they live where medical care is unavailable.

Exploitation and vulnerability–Children are corrupted and exploited when they are used for cheap labor, sweat shops, armed conflict, and the perverted sexual pleasure of adult predators, and are exposed to sexually explicit materials in the mass media and on the Internet.

Violence–Every year many children die violent deaths. The vast majority of individuals who suffer in armed conflicts are women and children. Children bear deep physical and psychological scars, even after the fighting stops.

In response to the above issues and needs, Seventh-day Adventists stand for the following rights of children:

We conclude by appealing to the States representatives here to recommit themselves and their national governments to ensure that the Convention is not merely a document of good words and intentions, but becomes an instrument that makes a definite and positive difference for good in the lives of children in our world today.

Thanks you Madam President.

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