Sign the Petition by International Pediatric Association

I would like to high-light a Petition by the International Pediatric Association, that children deserves hope and a safe environment.
I ask you all to sign it.

Every day we are reached by horrifying news from wars around the world, through news agencies and social media. Children are among the most vulnerable in today's military conflicts.

Despite a public and political awareness what's going on, the civic society has yet been unsuccessful in its peace-making efforts. However, there is no alternative to peace. Not only children and their families, but all civilians in war zones deserve hope and a safe environment.

The current situation in Aleppo in Syria is a prime but not the only example of a military conflict where civilians are victimized. Further, health care premises are not only struggling with limited resources, but have also become ”accepted” bomb targets. This new military strategy to target hospitals, against international agreements, must come to an end immediately. Health care professionals in war zones should be able to work in their facilities without risking their own lives.

Although cynical ones may argue that words carry no "weight" in today's war zones, the public opinion supports countries and organisations like the UN.

The community of health care professionals working with children and families, neonatal staff included, can add to the public voice that action is needed. That's why I think the Petition of the International Pediatric Association is an important initiative.

The petition reads: 

Quote

 

As health care providers, we believe that all children deserve hope in a safe environment. 

The petition asks governments to: 

• The UN convention on the Rights of the Child, which all countries of the world have signed, must be fully implemented everywhere, especially in conflict zones. 
• We call upon the UN Secretary General to take the strongest action possible for protecting children and families in conflict zones and for ensuring that the at-risk families and children of Aleppo be evacuated to save them from becoming innocent victims of war. We call upon the UN to fully enforce the laws protecting civilians, women and children and health care workers in such settings. 
• We urge the UN agencies and global community to recognise the risk of a lost generation in the war zones of the world, especially Syria and Iraq, and in addition to the immediate measures listed above, to ensure that adequate facilities and support for mental health and long-term psychosocial support are provided to all families at-risk. 
• We condemn the deliberate targeting of hospitals and health-care workers in these settings; these must be absolutely protected by all warring factions and depoliticised. 

 

 

 

Please sign it here and share widely in your own networks and work places.