When the lights go out*

Before I became a mother, I thought that as long as a child was wanted and loved then he or she would blossom and thrive no matter what the circumstances. Obviously, I didn't think very deeply about the issue. I now know better. Of course, love is of vital importance. You could even say that it is crucial. But I've come to realise that food, clothing, shelter and security are vital as well. What chance does a child have if she can't concentrate at school because she hasn't eaten breakfast? What hope does a child have if he doesn't have clean, warm clothes and a safe place to sleep at night? All the love in the world isn't enough if our children aren't given the basic necessities of life - fundamental human rights to which every child is entitled.

I've taken the following passages from the UNICEF website because they clearly and effectively describe the role of The Convention on the Rights of the Child in protecting and realising children's rights (as enshrined in the Convention).

The Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights that must be realized for children to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. It reflects a new vision of the child. Children are neither the property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are human beings and are the subject of their own rights. The Convention offers a vision of the child as an individual and as a member of a family and community, with rights and responsibilities appropriate to his or her age and stage of development. By recognizing children's rights in this way, the Convention firmly sets the focus on the whole child.

The Convention and its acceptance by so many countries has heightened recognition of the fundamental human dignity of all children and the urgency of ensuring their well-being and development. The Convention makes clear the idea that a basic quality of life should be the right of all children, rather than a privilege enjoyed by a few.

Despite the existence of rights, children suffer from poverty, homelessness, abuse, neglect, preventable diseases, unequal access to education and justice systems that do not recognize their special needs. These are problems that occur in both industrialized and developing countries.

The near-universal ratification of the Convention reflects a global commitment to the principles of children's rights. By ratifying the Convention, governments state their intention to put this commitment into practice. State parties are obligated to amend and create laws and policies to fully implement the Convention; they must consider all actions taken in light of the best interests of the child. The task, however, must engage not just governments but all members of society. The standards and principles articulated in the Convention can only become a reality when they are respected by everyone—within the family, in schools and other institutions that provide services for children, in communities and at all levels of administration.

You might be interested to know that the United States and Somalia are the only countries in the world that have not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. You can read more about this here.

In Australia, 14.7% of our children continue to live in poverty. In Canada the figure is 14.9%, it is 15.4% in the UK, 16.3% in NZ and 21.9% in the US.** Somehow, because we live in rich countries where there is plenty to "go around", it seems all the more appalling that so many of our children are impoverished. My pledge in 2007 is to donate more of my time and money to local organizations that help children in need. By doing so I hope to make a small difference in the worldwide fight against child poverty.

***

I was going to end my child poverty post at this point - it was all ready to go - but then yesterday, without warning, my power got cut off. I used my mobile phone to call our electricity company and was informed that it had been cut off by mistake. It took 17 hours to be switched back on. I have to admit that this event added some extra sting to my post and my pledge.

My life was instantly thrown into chaos. All of my modern conveniences were rendered useless - the air conditioner, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, television, telephone, radio, microwave, stove, fridge ... even my mobile phone had run out of life before the evening was over.

Admittedly, at first, there was an element of excitement that comes with the novelty of a new situation. We lit candles as darkness fell and sat around and talked instead of watching television. I didn't read stories to the children, instead I made up tales about possums dancing in the light of the moon, and little boys who went searching for wombats in moonlit bushland.

But once the kids were in bed and I struggled to wash my dishes in the dark, I began to imagine how it would feel to have your power or phone line cut off because you couldn't pay the bills. I thought about how hard it would be to raise children when you weren't able to make ends meet.

When our pastor came over to talk about our daughters' baptisms (which are being done on Christmas Eve) I felt embarrassed that we had to talk in the shadows. I could easily imagine how quickly embarrassment would turn to shame and hopelessness. With no television, radio, television or computer, I felt isolated from the world and very alone.

When I went to bed last night I realised that I had forgotten to write about the emotional side of poverty - the uncertainty, the worry, the shame, the despair, the social isolation and the embarrassment. I realised how lucky I was knowing that my power would be connected next morning, that my easy, comfortable life would continue. Last night, I went to bed by candle light, but I also went to bed even more determined to seek out opportunities and occasions to make a difference in someone's life. In this day and age, in a wealthy country such as Australia, no-one should be living in poverty, whether they are young OR old.

*This post is written for Jen and Mad - on the occasion of their marriage of minds.

**I got these figures from a 2005 UNICEF publication entitled "Child Poverty in Rich Countries".