29 policies nominated for Future Policy Award 2015
Hamburg/Geneva/New York, 1 June 2015 – Twenty-nine laws and policies that contribute to securing the rights of children have been nominated for the Future Policy Award 2015. This has been announced by the World Future Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UNICEF to coincide with today’s International Day for Protection of Children (Children’s Day).
Children have a fundamental right to protection, care and education so they can reach their full potential and make their voices heard. Yet despite some progress, children still struggle with poverty, gender inequality, homelessness, abuse, preventable diseases and unequal access to education. Approximately 300 million children suffer from hunger or malnutrition. Environmental degradation and conflicts have forced some 20 million children under the age of 18 to flee their homes surroundings and live as refugees. About 85 million children are forced into labour exploitation and cannot exercise their right to education. These are problems that occur in both industrialised and non-industrialised countries.
Robust laws and policies – and their stringent implementation – are the foundation for securing the rights of boys and girls as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. The Convention has since been ratified by all UN Member States except South Sudan and the United States and its 25th anniversary was widely celebrated in November 2014.
The Future Policy Award will highlight laws and policies from all over the world that secure children’s rights most successfully. The Award was inaugurated in 2009 as the “Oscars for good policies” and is conferred to a different policy field each year. The 29 nominated policies were put forward by international organisations, NGOs and renowned experts in the field. They represent all continents and a wide range of policy dimensions: from international treaties to national action plans and local policies. They will now be analysed in a thorough evaluation process and assessed by a high-level panel.
The World Future Council will announce the winners in October 2015, in partnership with the IPU and UNICEF. The award ceremony will be held at the IPU’s 133rd Assembly in Geneva, at which more than 1,200 delegates from 166 national parliaments will gather.
For the full list of all nominated policies and the composition of the jury, see www.worldfuturecouncil.org/fpa_2015.html.
Future Policy Award
The Future Policy Award is designed to alert policymakers and the public to the importance of best practice in lawmaking and highlight outstanding examples of regulatory vision. The Award draws attention to existing sustainable policies and demonstrates that when political will is asserted, positive change can happen. Celebrating visionary policies raises public awareness, encourages rapid learning and speeds up policy action towards just, sustainable and peaceful societies. For more information, see here.
Previous Future Policy Award Topics:
2014: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
2013: Disarmament
2012: Oceans and Coasts
2011: Forests
2010: Biodiversity
2009: Food Security
Media Contacts
World Future Council
Alexandra Schiffmann
Media and Communications Manager
+49 4030 70 914-19 (Hamburg, Germany)
alexandra.schiffmann@worldfuturecouncil.org
IPU
Jemini Pandya
Director of Communications
Tel: + 41 22 919 4158 (Geneva, Switzerland)
jep@ipu.org
UNICEF
David Ponet
Parliamentary Specialist
Tel: +1 212 326 7660 (New York City, USA)
dponet@unicef.org
The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy-making. Its up to 50 eminent members from around the globe have already successfully promoted change. The Council addresses challenges to our common future and provides decision makers with effective policy solutions. In close cooperation with civil society actors, parliamentarians, governments, business and international organizations the World Future Council identifies “best policies” around the globe. The World Future Council is registered as a charitable foundation in Hamburg, Germany. As the global organization of national parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) works to establish democracy, peace and cooperation among peoples by uniting members to drive positive change. Its focus on gender equality and in particular, women’s political participation, addresses a key component of democracy. Since 2008, IPU has also been working with parliaments to end violence against women through advocacy and awareness-raising activities and the introduction and implementation of legislation to tackle the issue. Find out more at: http://www.ipu.org UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.orgThe World Future Council
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
UNICEF
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