FICE Congress : Sarajevo : September 2006
Theme: Shaping a positive future despite a difficult childhood

FICE Declaration of Sarajevo : Draft

FICE is a major international organisation promoting child and youth care. It was founded in 1948 under the auspices of UNESCO and is a non-governmental organisation having consultative status with UNESCO, the Council of Europe, UNICEF, and ECOSOC. FICE observes strict political and religious neutrality, and rejects all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion or social origin. FICE bases its work on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

At the FICE Congress in Sarajevo, 6 - 8 September 2006, it is proposed that the participants adopt a declaration on the theme “Shaping a positive future despite a difficult childhood“ to serve as a guideline for the further work of FICE International and the other signatory organisations. This Declaration is in draft and will be subject to revision. Suggestions for additions or revisions will be welcome.

Article I
It is our goal to concentrate to the utmost on the need of children in personal crisis situations or in crisis areas to re-establish security, safety, and a sense of belonging for them.

Children mostly find themselves in crises and traumatic situations due to the impact of their environment. In such cases they depend on protection as parents normally provide it. Children without such parental protection need third persons and often professional, socio-pedagogical care, which recognizes their special circumstances and provides fast relief measures for safety and health and against abuse and exploitation.
FICE promotes the provision of such needed expert care and its professional quality. It advocates providing children who find themselves in crisis situations without parents quickly with reference persons who are able to give them consistency and a sense of belonging. Such measures strengthen the personal resilience, the long-term ability of these young persons to overcome difficulties and continue to develop positively despite difficult circumstances.

Article II
We promote targeted educational and vocational support measures. For children in crisis situations without parental support these are of particular importance in providing assistance with integration and personal development.

High-quality educational and vocational support multiplies opportunities for finding perspectives and shaping one’s future more positively. It enhances self-confidence and social competences, creates a sense of security and provides every-day routines and structures. Special attention needs to be paid to the particular needs of disabled children.

Article III
It is a key long-term professional goal of FICE to give children the opportunity to find out their own origins or to find accepting orientation with their own parents and family despite past difficulties.

Children must have trust in adults who are close to them, in particular in their parents, and must be able to build feelings of respect and esteem. It is therefore important, if at all possible, to support parents in their parental role and to strengthen their competence and stability in educating their children.

Article IV
Appropriate therapeutic aid helps in coping with traumatic experiences and promotes the development of personal strengths and abilities to cope with adversity. Particular attention needs to be paid to the needs of disabled children.

Article V
The experiences and the suffering of innumerable persons with difficult childhoods motivate us to strive for additional preventive efforts, to permit children to grow up in reliable relationships, in security and peace, and not in permanent conflict, in poverty or war.

For the preparatory group
Roland Stübi, FICE CH