Tom Taus Jr. is an advocate of children's rights through The Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Southeast Asian Foundation for Children's Television (SEACTV), the Council
for the Welfare  of Children (CWC), UNICEF, the World  
Vision Development Foundation.

WHY the need for the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
                    
Because children are increasingly exposed to violence, separation of families, wars and other forms of danger and abuse. They are vulnerable and therefore require greater care and attention.
The Convention was ratified by almost 90 percent of the world's countries or 191 countries, a level unprecedented in the history of international human rights. The Philippines was among the first signatories and today, only Somalia and the United States have yet to ratify. 

Most governments have began promoting child rights by including the 
Convention's principles in national law. This includes removing 
legislation that discriminates against children or creating new 
legislation that promotes children's rights. An example is Colombia 
which has a new Minor's Code that gives minors the crusade for peace 
was also recently launched by Colombia's children. Japan's 
legislation prohibits commercial sex with children under 18. The 
Chinese government has enacted a law that grants all citizens, 
regardless of ethnic group, race, sex, age, occupation or religious 
belief, the right to receive an education Botswana, the Dominican 
Republic, Honduras, Kenya, and the United Kingdom have enacted 
Children's Bills, Acts of Codes. Angola, Ethiopia, Nepal, Norway, 
Paraguay, South Africa, Togo and Uganda have made the Convention 
a part of their country's legal framework. In the Russian Federation, 
family support mechanisms such as family counseling and volunteer 
parents' networks have been established. In the former Macedonia, 
the Lifestart programme targets families without access to pre-school 
care. Parenting initiatives in Turkey help rural families care for 
pre-school children. In Costa Rica, newborn babies have to stay with 
their mothers immediately after birth. In Ukraine, "youth-friendly" 
health care and educational services are provided. Satellite schools 
in Burkina Faso teach 7-9 year olds in their local language and give 
them life skills training to foster self-esteem. In South Africa, the 
government has reformed its juvenile justice system. 

In France, elected students sit on the National Board of Education.
Slovenia has created schools parliaments that give children a forum
to express opinions. In Mozambique, elections were organized for 
children even before adult election. In Lebanon, children between 8 
and 16 took the place of parliamentarians during a regular session. 
One of the most impressive examples of child participation was the 
Global March against Child Labor held in the Philippines in 1998. 
Similar campaigns were held in North America, Latin America, Africa and Europe. Other campaigns, declarations and conferences against child labor were held in, Benin, Pakistan, Denmark, Tanzania and Kuwait. In Egypt, a hundred community schools for boys and girls are in operation. "Floating schools" with a double shift to serve communities that move with the fishing season were established in Cambodia. Temporary truces with warring factions in Afghanistan, Congo, Lebanon and Sudan were negotiated on the basis of children's rights to health care and nutrition.  Access to primary health care through a community management set-up is assured for children in Nigeria, Niger, Cameron, Gambia and Mauritania. Classrooms on the Middle East and North Africa promote tolerance and cooperation among teachers, pupils and parents. In Zambia, children are trained as counselors in the fight against AIDS. Interactive workbooks enable Somalian children to express themselves. The International
Children's Day of Broadcasting every December affirms the right of children to seek receive and impart information. In Mali, Brazil and Gambia, radio programs for children and created by children highlight children issues. 

These developments and more demonstrate growing commitment of many nations to sustainable development. Indeed, it is by ensuring children's rights to survival, protection, development and participation that we are able to ensure the survival of future generations.