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Global awakening of conscience for the protection
of children’s human rights
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
November 20, 2014
November 20, 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child, the most widely ratified international convention
on human rights in history. Thanks to the covenant,
children are no longer viewed as helpless recipients
of aid, and people have strived to ensure that no
children are deprived of their particular rights. The
international community has made great progress in
terms of safeguarding children’s rights and improving
the standard of living for children. However, regional
conflicts, unstable geopolitics and economic recessions
have seriously infringed upon the fundamental rights of
children and the situation warrants further attention and
actions from governments.
UN statistics show that the population of children under
age 18 is estimated at more than 2 billion around the
world. The trend of aging populations and low birthrates
is taking shape in the new millennium. Today’s children
will grow up to shoulder much heavier burdens than the
current generation. What can we do to help equip them
with the knowledge and skills to cope with challenges
in the future? Educators and parents with vision should
think deeply what the ultimate competitiveness is and
look beyond competitions to create mutual benefits and
collective prosperities for mankind.
Cultivating children to follow the inner moral compass
is far more important than other things in the upbringing
of children. The compass encompasses many good
qualities such as courage, good communication,
tolerance, forgiveness, wisdom, and peace. Children can
carry the compass inside their hearts for life, and it can
guide them along the right path of life and enable them
