We see children as current citizens of the world. As active and capable community participants, their perspectives can inform our thinking about rights.
– World Forum Working Group on Children’s Rights

Thanks to Martha Llanos, Peru, part of the World Forum Working Group on Children’s Rights and lifelong advocate for and with children, for sharing today’s message from her blog Resiliencia:

It was 1988 in the South Cone: we were completing important research about child rearing practices and nutrition patterns in the poverty areas of three countries: Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. The results were shared in a meeting with about 25 children from 6 to 9 years of age, boys and girls.

Children got together in groups to reflect about the results. They were going to address those issues to the Committee for the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The boys and girls were so dynamic and they presented us with the “Letter from the Poor Children of the South Cone to the Adults that Will Decide about Our Rights and Future.”

When I asked, “Children do you feel like adding a photo or something that can represent all of you?” the answer came immediately and unanimously: Mafalda!

Mafalda is an Argentine cartoon character that represents a girl of 6 years of age with very determined with opinions and questions.* She sees the topics from a child’s view and a refreshing way to see world problems. Created by cartoonist Quino, Mafalda has been translated into more than 30 languages and has become an icon for children in Latin America and others.

Unfortunately, the adults in the bureaucratic system edited the letter in an official memorandum and took out Mafalda because they felt it was not appropriate for the high level decision makers. After 30 years, I ask forgiveness since I could not defend the voices of children.

Martha Llanos Resiliencia blog may 2021

“Ma, are we leading a decent life?” – “Of course!” – “And where are we leading it to?”
© 1964, Joaquín S. Lavado (Quino)

*According to Quino’s website, Mafalda “is six years old, she loves the Beatles, democracy, children’s rights, peace (and changing the order of her passions things do not change). She hates soup (see “children’s rights”), weapons, war, James Bond.”