Kindernothilfe in Ecuador is committed to and supports a new education

In Ecuador, a country with nearly 17 million inhabitants and where 35% are children and adolescents between 0 and 17 years old, the Public Presentation of the National Agreement for Education took place, in which Kindernothilfe was part of the agreement. Text: Mauricio Bonifaz, National Coordinator of Kindernothilfe Ecuador With a party and jubilation in the capital city of Quito, civil society organizations, international cooperation organizations, civic and citizen movements, movements and groups of children, collectives, state institutions, and people who are committed to and demand better conditions for the education of children in Ecuador, were brought together to celebrate what would be the beginning of a new moment of commitment and joining efforts for the Right to Education.

Kindernothilfe not only participated with the Afro-Ecuadorian cultural group that created the festive and celebratory atmosphere, but also firmly committed to generating contributions that would involve all actors in such a national agreement.

The meeting sets a common objective in the face of the need to dialogue and reach consensus that mobilizes all actors to develop actions for the benefit of Ecuadorian education, with concrete proposals and short, medium and long term goals. The agreement in its proposal contemplates working in the so-called thematic tables: - Human rights and education; - Technical education, youth and employability; - Education in values; - Education for sustainable development; - Interculturality and education; - New school and education for life. KINDERNOTHILFE SUPPORTS THE REFORM OF ECUADORIAN LAWS IN FAVOR OF CHILDREN In Ecuador, Kindernothilfe has joined the collective "Commitment to Children and Adolescents" a group that has committed itself to the common goal of generating concrete proposals for reform of the current Code of Children and Adolescents CONA; reform that is being discussed in the National Assembly and that for many groups and social movements is very necessary, since since its promulgation in 2003 it has been identified that several of its contents do not align with the principles and statements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

For Kindernothilfe, such a process requires special consideration of listening to the voices of girls and boys, as well as taking into account the various documents that have been the result of reflections by children over the years. Thus, they are essential inputs to influence whether the new code includes them within these regulations. This is part of the task we have since, based on this, priorities have been defined from the children's own perspective, which, among others, aim at the fight against all forms of violence, the eradication of child labor, the fight against poverty, the protection of children in situations of human mobility, teenage pregnancy, among others.

In order to carry out the work, collective actions were defined that involve making local and national impacts, proposing reforms to the law, making presentations before the legislative body, working to place the public debate, participation in legislative commissions, and others that allow for effective achievements for and on behalf of the Rights of children and adolescents in Ecuador.