World Leaders in Child Advocacy and Policymaking to Discuss New Approaches to Child Placement Policies and Practices

Policymakers and child advocates from 28 countries are gathering in Boston next week to discuss the long needed reforms in Child Placement Policies and Practices worldwide.

(PRWEB) November 6, 2005 -- Policymakers and child advocates from 28 countries are gathering in Boston next week to discuss the long needed reforms in Child Placement Policies and Practices worldwide. A collaboration of Harvard Law School, University of Massachusetts' Center for Adoption Research, International Advocates for Children and Focus on Adoption, the 2005 World Conference On Children Without Parental Care is titled Children's Services in the new Millennium - Applying Action to Declarations is held Nov 9 - 12 at the University of Massachusetts and Harvard Law School. The more than 100 participants from a wide range of distinguished speakers are expected to share their own insights and expertise through working groups and roundtable discussions.

Lynda Lee Smith, Executive Director of International Advocates for Children, states:

"Whenever adults make life-altering decisions for children, there is a simple and universally agreed upon rule to help guide them: their decisions should correspond to "the best interests of the child." This principle is, in fact, codified in the U.N.'s Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that: "In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration." And yet, across the world today, that standard is rarely upheld as the sole arbiter determining the course of a child's life. Part of the problem is our definition of "the best interests of the child", or - to be more accurate - the lack of it.

At this conference we are determined to form an International coalition of Child Placement Professionals, Policymakers, Researchers and Legal Experts tot focus on developing clear definitions of the standard as well as methodology for applying it in all types of child placement decisions. This in turn will help us develop efficient decision support tools and significantly advance the child placement procedures worldwide".

The conference will encourage open discussion and a collaborative approach to solutions for children without parents between governments and relevant NGO's.

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