THIS BOOK WAS CREATED BY
Leyla Namazova-Baranova, president of the European Paediatric Association, director of the Research Institution of Pediatrics of the Scientific Center of Children’s Health, professor
Alexander Baranov, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, director of the Scientific Center of Children's Health
Svetlana Lazurenko, chief of the lab of special psychology and correctional education, Scientific Center of Children's Health, doctor of education, docent
Tatjana Ostapenko, musical pedagogue
Nadejda Avdonina, designer
Veronika Demchenko, artist-illustrator
© Union of Pediatricians of Russia
Dear friends!
In your hands you are holding the book of the European paediatric association’s newest project initiated by The Union of Pediatricians of Russia and supported by National Pediatric Societies. «Why fairy tales?» – perhaps, you are puzzled. «And where do the children's rights come in?» But the answer is simple. We, paediatricians, are the acknowledged advocates of childhood. And the children all around the world keep needing the grownups' protection – from hunger and violence, natural disasters and social upheavals, and, unfortunately, sometimes from the activity (or inactivity) of their own parents. But we believe that good always wins over evil, that the ugly duckling will turn into the beautiful swan, and even Tom Thumb will be victorious over the giant.
We have no doubts that the rights of the child will be observed properly if people know more about the rights of the child. And it means that there will be more happy and merry children – for the joy of us, paediatricians!
Dear readers!
The Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified 25 years ago. But up to now it remains unknown to large parts of the population. The professional paediatric association of the country – The Union of Pediatricians of Russia – has decided to contribute to the changing of the existing situation. While realizing this project we will be able to achieve 3 goals. First, while reading books to their children, parents will teach the children their rights and be imbued with the idea of the necessity to comply with these rights in everyday life. Second, those ones, whom these fairy tales are addressed to, will be parents soon in their turn and will be competent in the issue of children's rights. And finally, there is an important fact that this book is bilingual – Russian and English. So, this project will stimulate the interest of our little readers to learn foreign languages!
Dear Readers!
For the children we serve and the children we once were, what better way than a fairy tale to pass down a culture’s traditions and values from generation to generation? These stories remind us that every child deserves the right to grow up to be all he or she is meant to be.
As a global community of pediatricians and pediatric organizations, we must advocate for every child to have access to health care, education, sound nutrition and safe, nurturing environments and communities. We must be a powerful voice for our most vulnerable populations, and we must speak out about poverty and all issues that affect the life trajectories of children and adolescents.
There is no greater calling in the world – nor greater impact we can make on the world – than to take care of its children.
Warmest Regards,
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Preamble
The States Parties to the present Convention, Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Bearing in mind that the peoples of the United Nations have, in the Charter, reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Recognizing that the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling that, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance,
Convinced that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community,
Recognizing that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,
Considering that the child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in the spirit of the ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity,
Bearing in mind that the need to extend particular care to the child has been stated in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924 and in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly on 20 November 1959 and recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (in particular in articles 23 and 24), in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (in particular in article 10) and in the statutes and relevant instruments of specialized agencies and international organizations concerned with the welfare of children,
Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, «the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth»,
Recalling the provisions of the Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally; the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules); and the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict, Recognizing that, in all countries in the world, there are children living in exceptionally difficult conditions, and that such children need special consideration,
Taking due account of the importance of the traditions and cultural values of each people for the protection and harmonious development of the child, Recognizing the importance of international co-operation for improving the living conditions of children in every country, in particular in the developing countries,
Have