Children Who Do Not Exist
“The United Nations Children's Fund estimates that approximately 41 percent of all births each year in the developing world (excluding China) go unregistered, denying the rights of over 50 million children to an official identity, name, and nationality.” (Source) Francia Simon is a girl who lives in the Dominican Republic and fights for the right of children to registration, name and nationality. Earlier in her childhood, Francia found herself faced with possible exclusion from education in the Dominican Republic, she knows what it feels like to be in that situation, so she decided to take action and carried out extensive research and pursued her own registration, then she decided that she wanted to help others fight for the right of children to registration, name and nationality therefore leading them to a better education and providing them with hope.
Because there are so many children who do not have birth certificates, Francia has been fighting for the right of children to registration, name and nationality. "Francia wants all children to have the right to be registered, and to have a name and a nationality. Many children in the Dominican Republic, and in particular children who have fled neighbouring Haiti, do not have a birth certificate. Officially these children do not exist. As a result they cannot go to school, use health facilities and they have difficulty getting a job later in life,” (Source) Now that she has been successful in registering herself, she is now trying to help other children gain their rights to registration, name and nationality by using some of her prior knowledge of when she herself was fighting for her right to registration. “Since then, Francia has been using the knowledge and strength she acquired during the complicated registration process to help other children without birth certificates to obtain state recognition.”(Source) These children do not have many people helping them to gain this right that can lead them into a brighter future. Francia’s efforts of helping children gain this right has already helped over 130 children to receive an official name and nationality.
Because she herself, was once almost excluded from education, she is now fighting for the children to have the right to registration, name and nationality in order for them to get a good education. As stated before, Francia herself was faced with the possibility of being excluded from education because she did not have a birth certificate. “Francia found herself faced with possible exclusion from education. In response, she carried out extensive research and showed great perseverance in pursuing her own registration. She succeeded and gained lasting access to secondary education.” (Source) Without having a birth certificate, Francia was almost excluded from education. Francia used to be like them, she understands what it is like to go through all that desperation. “It is my wish to go around the world looking for children without a birth certificate, to help them get it, so that they can achieve their goals of becoming engineers, architects, etc. I hope my story spreads around the world.” , “campaigns for the right of children to registration, name and nationality – both for children born in the Dominican Republic as for refugee children from Haiti. It is only after official registration that children can gain access to essential rights such as health care and education.”, “In response, she carried out extensive research and showed great perseverance in pursuing her own registration” (Source) Francia has been fighting for these children by campaigning and researching. These children need Francia to fight for them to have the right to registration, name and nationality in order for them to get a proper education at least up till secondary school.
Because she was once in the position of the children who do not have the right to registration, name and nationality, she understands what it feels like. The desperation, the hardships, that these kids go through. “Francia found herself faced with possible exclusion from education. In response, she carried out extensive research and showed great perseverance in pursuing her own registration. She succeeded and gained lasting access to secondary education.” (Source) She succeeded and now wants to spread the hope. She wants them all to not give up and she is leading by example. She didn’t give up. She researched and researched and pursued her registration. “By doing this, Francia increases the children’s own self-esteem and gives them the chance to lead a more secure and fulfilling life.” (Source) Francia has been increasing the children’s self esteem levels as well as giving them hope.
After succeeding with registering herself and getting her right for education back, Francia Simon’s work has helped over 130 children to receive an official name and nationality. Although she has only helped 130 children out of the 50million+ children, by fighting for children to gain their rights to registration, name and nationality, she has given them a lot of hope and for those 130 children that she has helped already, she has given them a better education.
Sources:
"Migration Information Source." The Migration Information Source. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=888>.
"Dominican Francia Simon Wins International Children's Peace Prize." Dominican Francia Simon Wins International Children's Peace Prize - DominicanToday.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/poverty/2010/11/30/37800/Dominican-Francia-Simon-wins-International-Childrens-Peace-Prize>.
"2010 International Children's Peace Prize Winner." N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://www.kidsrights.org/Portals/1/downloads/2010_KidsRights_ICPP_Newsletter.pdf>.
"Childrenspeaceprize." 2010 Francia Simon. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://childrenspeaceprize.org/childrens-peace-price/prize-2010/>.
