Children's Rights to Nature --Highlights Dr. Taddeo Rusoke
Rtn. Prof. Taddeo Rusoke (PHF), Ph.D, MSc, BSc, CEPA, CNbS
Professor | Conservation Scientist | Executive Director | Consultant | Multi-Award Winning Sustainability Scientist | Author | Rotarian | Ecotourism Enterprise Development Specialist | Tour Operator | CUNCR Alumni,
Background
The World Conservation Congress of IUCN adopted the resolution "Child's Right to Connect with Nature and to a Healthy Environment" on 11 September 2012. The significance of the resolution is 1. a broad international endorsement of the child's right to connect with nature and to a healthy environment.
Henstra (2016) during the General Discussion 2016 on “Children’s rights and the environment” noted that "Connecting children and nature is an immensely important topic. This perspective should not be missing on the 2016 Day of General Discussion on “Children’s rights and the environment”. Why this subject is so important will be explained in this article. It also advocates an independent right of the child to connect with nature and to a healthy environment. The Committee on the Rights of the Child is requested to draft a General Comment on Children’s rights and the environment, including connecting children and nature as a follow-up of the 2016 DGD. This contribution concludes with a successful example of good practice in the Netherlands in the field of connecting children and nature".
Henstra (2016) further highlighted "A great loss for childhood and a dangerous trend for humanity if children are not connected to nature" Does it matter that many children today encounter substantially fewer opportunities for direct experience with nature? You may find my personal story not particularly shocking. You might think: that there are worse things in the world than the disconnection between children and nature. You're probably right. Refugee children, child prostitution, serious environmental pollution, and the consequences for the health of children, all of this require our immediate attention. But let us also open our eyes to the silent, creeping tragedy of the disconnection of children (and adults) and nature. I consider it a great loss to childhood. Furthermore, I fear that this alienation trend is in the long term an outright threat to humankind.
Should the old connect first with nature?
YES: When we connect with nature, we understand nature, we can research about nature and write about nature.
How are the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda connecting children to nature through Clubs? The answer is within the photos attached.
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How about Children's Green Infrastructure (CGI)?
GGI derives from the Children's Infrastructure concept but it puts at the center of the debate the idea of connecting children to nature where they live, learn, and play. CGI is based on the assumption that nature should be transversal in urban planning processes and that it must be perfectly integrated within urban infrastructures, ensuring access to all. Understanding children's needs and integrating their voices in urban planning and design processes are necessary conditions for moving forward to a fairer, more inclusive, and truly collective children's environment (Guedes and Seixas, 2022).
About the Author
Dr. Taddeo Rusoke (Ph.D.) The Executive Director at Wildlife Clubs of Uganda, a Conservation Scientist by Profession and Practice, and a Senior Fellow. Reach out via [email protected]
Filmmaker & Director at General Strike
7 个月Children are an afterthought in urban planning - confined to dedicated zones such as schools and sometimes playgrounds (where they exist). Putting children and their needs - for accessible public space to explore and connect with nature - is a radical challenge to the status quo that puts the wants and influence of business and cars above that of some of our most vulnerable citizens. A measure of society should be how they treat the most vulnerable - and on that criteria most of the world's cities are failing our kids.
President des conseillier de administration chez President de group
8 个月The childrens are the future
President des conseillier de administration chez President de group
8 个月Very good to learn earlier to the childrens
Indigenous | Legal | Innovations
8 个月Dr Rusoke. Excellent initiative. Hardly it is considered we have (and especially children) collective right to nature and its attributes. All the best in what you do. When kids start demanding it, we are in a good place! ?? ??
I Help Save the Lives of Vulnerable and Impoverished Women and Children from War-torn Conditions.
9 个月Such an important discussion! Can't wait to learn more about children's rights to nature. ??