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The Hon. Alastair Bothwick Nicholson AO RFD QC |
Message from the Founding Patron
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified treaty in human history. Despite the good will of the signatory nations the sad truth is that the basic rights of children are still not universally recognised and children suffer violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination in increasing numbers every day.
Children’s Rights International aims to bring together judges, lawyers, psychologists, medical practitioners, mediators, counsellors, mental health workers, media representatives, child cares, teachers & allied professionals to contribute their specialised expertise in a practical manner through education, legal and other advocacy to promote and protect the interests of the most vulnerable amongst us, our children and youth.
I am proud to have been asked to be the Founding Patron of this new and exciting organisation which is an initiative of the highly regarded World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights and a direct recommendation of the Congress’s Bath meeting in September 2001.
As Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia from 1988-2004 I am aware that the protection of children’s rights requires continued diligence and practical involvement from those with special skills and application. This is the challenge I wish to present you with. Join me to put children’s rights at the forefront of government’s development agendas and importantly to ensure that the Convention is not only ratified but also applied within the countries who are signatories to it.
See: 5th World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights
The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC
Patron of Children’s Rights International
See
Valedictory Address to Mark the Retirement of the Honourable Alastair Nicholson AO RFD
Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Thursday 15 April 2004
By The Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG
(the above link takes you to the High Court of Australia)
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