CMS backs global children’s care charter
Why we support the UK Government’s Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform
Photo: Former beneficiaries of children-at-risk charity ReVive, who became staff members. The organisation, founded by the current Church Mission Society CEO, pioneered a fostering programme in north-east Brazil
Church Mission Society has announced its backing for the UK Government’s Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform.
At its core the Charter calls for the rights of a child to a family and the progressive ending of the institutionalisation of children in favour of family-based care models like fostering. Church Mission Society joins UNICEF, Tearfund Ireland, World Vision and the Wonder Foundation in backing the Charter which in total has received support from organisations in 32 countries for its campaign.
This visionary initiative lays out a groundbreaking framework to transform the lives of children globally so that all children are cared for in families, free from violence, exploitation and other harmful practices. Inspired by the then Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, the Charter calls on governments, civil society, faith groups and individuals with lived experience of care systems to join with world leaders to harnesses decades of international progress to ensure all children can grow up in a safe, nurturing and loving family environment.
Church Mission Society is an experienced operator in this field and supports mission partners like Elise and Jon Fletcher who live in Khlong Toei, Bangkok’s biggest slum community. They said, “Poverty is the biggest cause of children ending up in orphanages in Thailand and we work with the Thai government advocating for reform of the care system. Our aim is that every child in Thailand can grow up in a safe and nurturing family.”
Collectively, the vision of the signatories and supporters of the Charter is to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary separation, ensure safe, family-based alternative care and end the use of institutions for children around the world. Industry experts, academics, civil society groups, UNICEF, the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children and young people with lived experience of living in care have all contributed to bringing the Charter to life and turning the vision into reality.
The Charter urges world leaders to act together to uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, invest in families, children, care leavers, and inclusive services, and end violence against children and harmful practices like orphanage tourism with the aim of delivering lasting change for future generations.
Andy Roberts, CEO of CMS, said: “Every child deserves the best start in life within caring families and communities, but globally, there are over five million children living in institutions which harm their short-term and long-term development. The majority of children living in institutions are not orphans – they are there due to poverty, lack of services and other solvable factors. Care reform is an investment in human capital and national growth as well as being more effective and cost-efficient than using institutions.”
Prior to becoming Director of Mission and more latterly CEO of CMS, Andy Roberts was co-founder of Revive International, a pioneering charity providing a home and protection for abused and vulnerable girls in Olinda, north-east Brazil. When the charity was given the green light to launch a ground-breaking fostering service, Roberts said, “From the moment we set up ReVive, our vision has been of a day when we could close down our children’s shelter homes because children were being cared for within a strong, quality, fostering service. We strongly believe that children should be brought up in families, where their hope can be restored and they can look forward to a future free from abuse inside a loving, caring family.”
Andy concluded: “As a global community, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind and that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and supportive environment. CMS pledges its full support to the UK Government’s Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform and commits to working alongside other stakeholders to make these principles a reality to create a brighter, safer, and more equitable future for children around the world.”
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