Social Policy 2009
Social Policy and Children
Children - happiness and joy, but also a great
responsibility for parents. Children are the hope and the duty
of society. This is the most general way in which the sense and
the aim of activities towards children can be described. In the
first case, children are considered the most fundamental value;
a condition of a happy life and a source of joy and satisfaction.
Their presence in the family shapes the roles of husband and wife
as mother and father, it unifies the family around its most important
aim in life. It is parents who are primarily responsible for providing
favourable conditions for the development of a child that would
ensure his or her readiness to enter into an adult life.
In the second case, we consider children with respect to their role in society. Children ensure continuity of society and nation. The future development of the State and society depends on them. It is in the interest of society to improve the quality of childhood.
On November 20, 1989 the Convention on Children’s rights was adopted, and entered into force in Poland in 1990. It highlights the importance of spiritual, moral and social upbringing. There is a detailed account of the scope of rights that children enjoy in the area of healthcare and rehabilitation (Article 24), the right to education and equal opportunities (Article 28), the right to recreational activities and participation in cultural life (Article 31), the right to be covered by social security scheme (Article 26). Basic responsibility in this respect lies on the shoulders of parents. The basic responsibility to support the family is on the part of the State, which should undertake actions by using the maximum of its resources to ensure that children can fully enjoy their rights.
It needs to be remembered that those rights have their consequences for the future
of society, nation, State, but their realization is necessary today. As Gabriela
Mistral, a winner of the Nobel Prize, points out: We can wait for many things
we think we need. But children cannot wait. It is right now that their bones
are growing, their blood maturing, their mind developing. We cannot tell them
"tomorrow". The name of the child is "Today!"
The convention has been adopted in Poland at the time of the thorough political and economic transformation in Poland. One of the reasons for the reform was to ensure better living conditions for young generation. Regrettably, children are among the groups least favored by the changing conditions. There has been a number of threats for both orphaned children and children raised in full families.
It has been often said that radical political transformation was a reason for the poor situation of the children. Currently, however, children are still the most vulnerable group. What is more, within many environments the negative tendencies have ossified making any improvements almost impossible.
It has been recently emphasized that Poland is entering a new phase of socio-economic
modernization, a post-modern, or a global, phase. This phase reshapes the threats
and challenges for the youngest. The quality of today’s childhood will influence
the quality of future progress and determine the success in the new stage of
development.
The quote from Gabriela Mistral can thus be completed in the following way: It is the activities towards children Today that will shape our Tomorrow.
The following issue of "Social Policy" is an expression of concern with the conditions of life and development of children in Poland. It concentrates on the problems experienced by young generation to prove that in spite of the general progress and improvement in many areas of life children are still subject to many dangers. Social policy institutions are often insufficient or inept in preventing those threats and creating positive changes.
There are a number of questions and perspectives on children’s wellbeing presented in this issue. Starting with demographic changes, continuing through general living conditions, environmental and health-related factors and their consequences, we finish with an analysis of social policy, institutional framework of childcare and the participation of central and local governments in family policy and social assistance.
The general message of all the papers is not only to draw attention to the most important problems that involve children but also to underscore the necessity of a public debate and action on the part of all the institutions and organizations and with respect to individual initiatives in this area. All this should be aimed at improving the living conditions of children and at providing them with equal opportunities for future happiness and self-fulfillment, on which the future of the whole society depends.
"Social Policy" 2009 Contents - Special Issue
EDITORS NOTE- Bożenna Balcerzak-Paradowska
THE YOUNGEST POLES PHYSICAL CONDITION
THE DEMOGRAPHY OF CONTEMPORARY POLISH CHILDHOOD - Piotr Szukalski
CHILD POVERTY IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF ŁÓDŹ) - Wielisława Warzywoda-Kruszyńska
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES IN THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF RURAL FAMILIES IN YEARS 1967–2001 - Teresa Łaska-Mierzejewska, Elżbieta Olszewska
CHILDREN FROM RURAL AREAS - THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS - Krystyna Gutkowska, Anna Murawska
INSTITUTIONAL FORMS OF CHILD AND FAMILY PROTECTION
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL POLICY FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - Elwira Gross-Gołacka
THE SOCIAL AND HEALTH-RELATED DETERMINANTS OF CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT - Stanisława Golinowska
EQUAL, MORE EQUAL, THE LEAST EQUAL: ON SOCIAL BARRIERS IN THE ACCESS TO EDUCATION - Marta Zahorska
COPING WITH PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN: ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGIES OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENTS IN POLAND - Bożena Kołaczek, Aneta Wójcik
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