The future of childhood - Christopher Clouder

Children create our future with their gifts and talents, yet what does childhood mean for us today? Is childhood vanishing under the impact of poverty, commercialism, stress, social breakdown and hot housing? And, given such threats to childhood, how can we create a healthy world for bringing up children? The "Alliance for Childhood" is a forum where individual and organisations can work together out of respect for childhood, in a world-wide effort to improve children's lives. The Alliance has covened a conference in Brussels to explore the following questions: what is childhood for today's children?; What rights do children have?; How are parents, professionals and policy makers shaping children's lives?; How are commercialism and the media affecting children?; What is the impact of hunger, violence, discrimination and abuse? Child labour and prostitution?; What guidelines will help form a new environment for children? This collection of articles by conference presenters offers stimulating insight for dialogue about how we can give due respect to children. There are useful references, contacts and resources for networking.