International Year of the Child - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1979 - 60 Pfennig

On 21 December 1976, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 1979 the International Year of the Child. By putting the child at the center of world public opinion, the United Nations seeks to strengthen, support and reawaken efforts to promote the well-being of children worldwide. The International Year of the Child should prove convincingly not only by words, but by deeds, that the well-being of today's children is the concern of all citizens throughout the world, and that it is inextricably linked to the peace and prosperity of tomorrow's world. In particular: - to encourage countries to review their child support programs and initiate new action programs according to the needs and interests of children, - to promote understanding of the specific needs of children in public and political decision-making bodies, - to trigger action that sustainably improve the situation of children at local or supraregional level. As 1979 also marks the 20th anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the United Nations, with the International Year of the Child, also hopes that efforts to achieve these rights will continue. Unlike previous International Years, World Children's Year is not geared towards a major world conference. Bearing in mind the different national problems and the different types of assistance needed to solve them, the preparation and implementation of measures for the benefit of children are focused on national action programs. However, significant discussions will take place at international level, such as at United Nations Regional Meetings and at the General Assembly itself. Based on the United Nations' suggestion that each country should establish a broadly representative commission for the International Year of the Child, and Taking into account the statements made in the Government Declaration of December 1976 that all social forces are called upon to help make the Federal Republic of Germany more child-friendly and to make it easier for families with children in many fields than before, in December 1977 it was chaired by the Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health constituted a National Commission, which includes free associations and organizations, federal, state and local authorities. The purpose of the National Commission is to: - adopt proposals by the organizations representing events and activities in the Year of the Child represented by the Commission, prioritize them and develop an action program based on them, - work towards coordination through action and cooperation meaningfully supplementing different carriers, - approaching decision-makers who can influence the well-being of the child in the course of their tasks, suggesting improvements and advocating their realization. (Text: excerpts from texts of the Federal Ministry for Youth, Family and Health, Bonn)