The International Forum for Child Welfare IFCW invites delegates and speakers at 19^th WorldForum 2008 to comment on and sign-up to this declaration which calls for countries across the world to put children and young people at the heart of their societies and ensure that services are provided to support them.

We, over 280 participants of the 19^th WorldForum 2008 from more than 30 countries call upon our Governments to:

• FULLY COMMIT THEMSELVES TO THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: To sign up to and ratify the Convention if they have not already done so, to withdraw any reservations to the Convention, and to educate children and young people in their rights under the Convention.

• PLACE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF SOCIETY: to listen to them and respect their views and to involve them in designing policies and programs and in monitoring their effectiveness.

• DEVELOP SERVICES APPROPRIATE TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: To intervene in their lives at the earliest possible opportunity in order that children and young people may achieve their fullest development and social integration.

• PREVENT ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: To safeguard their rights to education, to shelter them against exploitation at work, and to protect them against physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect, within the family and in the world outside.

• ENSURE EQUIALITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: To eradicate poverty and other forms of deprivation, to provide support to all those made vulnerable by the lack of parental care, and to ensure that no child or young person is discriminated against by reason of race, national origin, religion, culture, age, language, gender, sexuality, disability, and political circumstance.

If you would like to comment or sign-up please email: worldforum2008@childreninwales.org.uk