|
Inter-American
Children’s Institute |
 |
“WE
WANT TO LIVE”
1.
Presentation
The
Inter-American Children’s Institute, with financing from the ICBF
(Colombian Institute for Family Welfare) produced a video on the
Right to Life entitled “We Want To Live”, as part of a series
related to the promotion and dissemination of the rights of children
which are established by the Convention.
The
original idea for the creation of the video belongs to Julio
Rosenblatt, who is the Coordinator of the
Child and Family Inter-American Information Program
of the Inter-American Children’s Institute.
“We
Want To Live” is a music animation video that lasts one minute and
30 seconds, produced in Spanish (lyrics) and in English (with
captions), featuring Colombian singer Andrea Echeverry. Walter
Tournier was in charge of its production.
2.
Contents
The
Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes every child’s
right to life as one of its general principles. Along this line,
article 6 states that “...every child has the inherent right to
life. States Parties shall ensure
to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the
child.”
Although
during the last years certain social indicators such as child
mortality rate and maternal mortality rate have continued to improve
in the region, the probability of dying from birth to the age of
five is still of 34 per one thousand live births.1
On the other hand, the annual number of women who die from
complications related to pregnancy and delivery is 190 per 100,000
live births2
With
regard to this, it is important to mention that there are enormous
social inequalities between each country in the region. It is the
case of Haiti, where the child mortality rate of children under 5 is
almost 18 times higher than Canada’s child mortality rate (123 and
7 respectively). Such a disparity becomes increased more than 110
times if we analyze the estimates for maternity-related mortality in
both countries (6 deaths per 100,000 live births in Canada against
680 deaths per 100,000 live births in Haiti).3
Every
human being has the right to fully develop and maintain their
biological and social existence according to their physical and
moral dignity and integrity. In order to guarantee this right, we
need all of society’s support. Everyone, operating from his/her
sphere of action, should find the way to give priority to the full
and harmonious development of children above all things; and this
should include the spiritual, moral and social aspects, in which
education plays an essential role.
Therefore,
we should also aim at the development of comprehensive policies to
combat poverty, which is a structural problem that many times
underlies critical situations to be faced by children, such as the
need to live on the streets, commercial sexual exploitation,
malnutrition and maltreatment, amongst others.
According
to information from the ECLAC4,
by the year 2000 18.5% of Latin American and Caribbean population
was extremely poor, 11% showed some degree of malnutrition (about 54
million people) and almost 8% of children under five years of age
were below their normal weight.
These
clearly alarming figures for Latin America and the Caribbean also
show that no less than 6 million children suffer severe maltreatment
and 80 thousand die every year as a result of violence erupting
within the family nucleus5.
On
the other hand, both the situation of children living on the streets
and child sexual exploitation are clear signs of poverty, and the
increase in these activities added to the growing incorporation of
children as workforce in different societies increases the degree of
vulnerability and exposure of these same children to sexual
exploitation networks.
It
is fundamental that countries adopt the necessary measures to
effectively protect children, for they belong to one of the groups
who are most vulnerable to poverty. As one of society’s
fundamental institutions, family plays a primary role in this
process, since it constitutes the first social environment that
children become acquainted with, and is, for them, irreplaceable.
Only
by reading the Convention’s Preamble it is clear that much
importance is given to this institution, since the text recognizes
that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or
her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an
atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.
Likewise,
the Convention specifically places emphasis on family’s
responsibility to provide its younger members with protection and
assistance, as well as on the States Parties’ commitment to
answering the needs of every child who is deprived of a family
environment.
The
Convention also recognizes the right of a child to have adequate
living conditions; which includes right to housing, feeding, and the
highest attainable standard of health.
“States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is
deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services,6
while at the same time, are encouraged by the Convention to take
measures “to combat disease and malnutrition, including within the
framework of primary health care…”7.
All these elements are essential in order to tackle the issue of the right to life from a comprehensive perspective that seeks to find ways in which to work so that this particular right can be fulfilled.
3.
Target Audience
“We Want
To Live” is aimed at all children from countries in the region.
The idea is to generate a communication strategy that focuses on the
importance of the right to Life.
This
video seeks to tell children that this right is an inherent right
for all individuals, and intends to highlight the importance of
guaranteeing the survival, protection and development of all
children to the maximum possible extent. As part of the strategy
devised for approaching the target audience, this video uses a
communicational and visual language that is at the same time
familiar, entertaining and didactic.
4.
Broadcasting
We live in an increasingly media-oriented society in which the media (chiefly radio and television) reach everyone, even the most marginalized sectors of the population. The rational use of those tools is a good way to promote the rights of children in the region.
In
order for this video to be able to reach its target audience, we
suggest that “We Want To Live” be mainly broadcast at times when
children are able to watch it.
5.
Dissemination
·
“We
Want To Live” will be broadcast on open-access and cable
television in different countries throughout the region
·
This
video can be used by both the public and private school system of
each country as a didactic tool for the conceptualization of the
Rights of the Child.
·
Workshops
will be organized for people involved in child-related issues to
discuss the different topics addressed by the video.
6.
Lyrics: “WeI
Want To Live"
the
sky is all red from the bombing raid
the earth is shaking
the wind is burning
the
solitary street asking for help
the broken corner eating garbage
and
the world is fragile like that child
who tenderly looks to some future
and
the world is hard like that stone
that breaks the glass even though I can’t hear its sound
today,
a girl’s voice
asked for warmth
death passed by
the girl’s cries
made silence explode
nothing
is yours, everything is mine,
nothing is ours, or anyone’s
nothing
is certain, everything is shady,
the air shaking, cold burning
hope
in dribs and drabs
it’s never too late, it still stands
never too late to change,
to
shake this hard world, to look for what’s tender
to look for what’s good, there’s much left of it
to save life, which is a right
to save life,
all of it
to live all of life, to feel its goodness
6.
Information on the Inter-American Children’s Institute
The Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN) is a specialized organization of the OAS founded in 1927 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The new 2005 – 2008 IIN Strategic Plan was approved on the occasion of the Extraordinary Meeting of the IIN Directing Council held in Brasilia in April 2005. Amongst other strategic objectives, this Plan includes the development of a communicational strategy that promotes a culture based on the Rights of children.
It is precisely in connection with these strategies that, for the last four years, the IIN has been promoting the development of short videos of approximately one minute in duration, on issues related to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These videos are being shown on open-access and cable television channels all over Latin America.
The activity of the Inter-American Children’s Institute revolves around three substantial programs:
a. Program for the Integral Promotion of the Rights of the Child
The Program for the Integral Promotion of Children’s Rights (PRODER), based on the development of a Prototype of Targeted Public Child Policies, is engaged in promoting actions and intervention projects to address the problems and needs of children in situations of vulnerability, risk and social exclusion.
PRODER has developed its Prototype of Targeted Public Policies to address the problems mentioned in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically Article 23 (Disability), Article 32 (Child Labor), Article 33 (Drug Abuse) and Article 34 (Sexual Exploitation).
b. Inter-American Child and Family Information Program (PIINFA)
PIINFA’s main objective is the production and promotion of information systems aimed at persons and institutions working in the field of child affairs, in order to create pools of comprehensive information that will help change the living conditions of children in the Americas.
PIINFA’s projects provide targeted services to deal with the primary needs of institutions, decision-makers and planners working in the field of child and family affairs. This Program has also developed flexible tools for processing information, which generate data on the system itself, thus facilitating continuous evaluation, adjustment and change. All the projects are tailored to the specific needs of each country, avoiding the rigidity of information-technology solutions which would seek to provide a generic answer to wide-ranging, diverse realities.
PIINFA’s activities are centered on:
- The Inter-American Child Information Network (RIIN)
- The Information System for the Monitoring of Rights
- The updating, professionalization and computerization of the civil registries of the Region, to ensure that, among other rights, the right to identity is upheld and respected.
c. Legal Program
The Legal Program (PROJUR) provides OAS Member States with services such as training, information, monitoring, research and specialized technical assistance to reinforce and support national child protection systems in the hemisphere.
It
also seeks to provide governing bodies on child affairs with key
legal information, facilitate research, train system operators in
areas that are important for institutional development and
enforcement of rights, and provide direct technical assistance in
the still-unfinished task of harmonizing national legislations with
the principles of international law in the field.
7.
Production:
“We Want To Live”
Credits
| General Coordination | Julio Rosenblatt |
| Direction | Walter Tournier |
| Art Direction | Lala Severi |
| Animation | Pablo Turcatti Juan Andrés Fontán |
| Puppets | Martín
de Rossa Carlos Solís |
| Music | Leonardo Croatto |
| Drums | Osvaldo Fattorusso |
| Bass | Popo Romano |
| Keyboards | Andrés Bedó |
| Electric Guitar | Carlos da Silveira |
| Guitar and arrangements | Leonardo Croatto |
| Percussion | Leslie Patten |
| Singer | Andrea Echeverry |
| Voice production | Felipe López |
| Lighting | Diego Velazco Santiago Epstein |
| Post-Production | Pablo Fernández |
| Editing | Guillermo Casanova |
WALTER
TOURNIER – Director
Uruguay
(1944)
Educated in Uruguay and Peru
Animator, Director of Animation
FILMOGRAPHY:
| 1974 | “EN LA SELVA HAY MUCHO POR HACER.” Animation, 35mm, 17 min. Uruguay. |
| 1980 | “EL CÓNDOR Y EL ZORRO.” Animation, 35mm, 10 min. Peru. |
| 1981 | “EL CLAVEL DESOBEDIENTE.” Marionettes and animation, 35mm, 10 min. Perú. |
| 1983 | “EN EL PAPEL UN SUEÑO.” Documentary, 16mm, 11 min. Peru. |
| 1986 | “LOS CUENTOS DE DON VERÍDICO.” Marionettes and animation, video, 4 chapters, 7 min. each. Uruguay |
| 1988 | “OCTAVIO PODESTÁ.” Documentary, video, 21 min. Uruguay. |
| 1990 | “LOS ESCONDITES DEL SOL.” Animation, 35mm, 40 min. Uruguay. |
| 1992 | “LA RAMBLA MONTEVIDEANA.” Documentary, video, 30 min. Uruguay. |
| 1992/99 | Animated commercials for several clients |
| 1997 | “LOS TATITOS.” Animation, videos, 7 one hour and thirty minutes chapters.Uruguay. |
| 1998 | Director and marionette designer for the movie “EL SIGLO DEL VIENTO,” directed by Fernando Birri |
| 1999 | “EL JEFE Y EL CARPINTERO.” Animation 13 min, chapter of the series: “Cuentos Animados del Mundo.” |
| 2000 | “Yo Quiero” (“I Wish”). Public Service Announcement – Animation on the Rights of the Child |
| 2001 | “NAVIDAD CARIBEÑA – Special half-hour animation in co-production with Wales S4C and the Children's International Television Foundation. |
.
AWARDS:
1978
Bilbao International
Festival (Spain)
1979
Jean Vigo Prize (France)
1980
Prize awarded by the Peruvian Episcopate (Peru)
1981
CETUC Prizes (Peru)
1983
Prizes of the Association of Filmmakers of Peru
1980/84 Two Prizes at the International Latin American Film Festival (Havana,
Cuba)
1990
SODRE Prize (Uruguay)
1990
Latin American Video Prize (Rosario, Argentina)
1990
Latin American Video Prize
(Asunción, Paraguay)
1992
Prizes at the International Children’s Film Festival (Uruguay)
1992
Prize at the Latin American Film Festival (Caracas, Venezuela)
1992
Prize at the International Children’s Film Festival (Chicago, USA)
1992
Short Film Prize (Oberhaussen, Germany)
1998
UNESCO Prize, International Children's Film Festival (Uruguay)
1999
“Campana de Oro, a
campaña mayor un minuto” (Uruguay)
2000
Golden Prize for Advertising Film Production (FIAP – Argentina)
2000
Best Short Film, Best Latin American Film, UNESCO Prize and Children's
Jury
Prize for "EL Jefe y el Carpintero,” at DIVERCINE,
International Film Festival for
Children and Youth
(Uruguay)
LEONARDO
IVÁN CROATTO
Composer,
Performer, Sound Engineer
Born in Montevideo in 1959. Completed his studies in music in Argentina and Italy, at the University of Bologna in the Music Department of the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, receiving the degree of "Doctor of Arts, Music and Entertainment” in 1987.
He has been teaching at the University School of Music since 1989 and at the School of Communications, where he teaches "Music and Sound in Film and Television" since 1997. He was a collaborator for the magazine "Musica/Realtà" in Milan, Italy between 1984 and 1987, and a music critic for the weekly publications "Alternativa" and "Brecha" in Montevideo between 1988 and 1992.
Staged music for theatrical plays: "Varela, el reformador," "Los Grillos,” "La secreta obscenidad de cada día,” "Veinte años no es nada,” "Ah Machos,” “Raúl aprende a bordar,” "Peer Gynt" (music nominated for the Florencio Award 1991), "Rompiendo Códigos" ( Florencio Award 1994), "Paquete de mentiras.”
Music for audiovisual productions: ”Bañados, el secreto de las aguas,” ”Pantanal,” "India muerta,” “La quimera de la costa” (documentaries by Hilary Sandison, prod.); "Imágenes,” 1990-1996; "Color de Tristecías" and "Dudosa Pasión” (short films by Pablo Rodriguez, Producciones del tomate, 1990-1991).; "Amigo invisible,” from the series of short films of animation "Madre Tierra”; "Imágenes,” 1991; "Tierra Olvidada,” "Arrinconados,” “El camino de la madera,” “Gente en obra” (documentaries by Mario Jacob); "Imágenes,” 1991-1992; “Héctor” (in co-authorship with Rubén Olivera, Directed by José Pedro Charlo, 2000).
Other compositions: "Mina" and "L'immaginario erotico nell'arte,” background music for a fine arts exhibition in Bologna, Italy 1986-1987. Electro-acoustic works: "Digital number one for violin and tambourine" and "Digital number two for bandoneón shows,” Premiere at Núcleo Música Nueva, 1995-1996. "Entrelíneas,” for Marimba (1998), premiered in Buenos Aires by percussionist Ángel Frette.
Active in the popular music scene, performing as a guitarist and singer with different groupings in various cities of Europe, United States and Latin America from 1980 to 1987. Recorded two records, in Puerto Rico (1984) and in Italy (1985), published in Italy (1984 and 1985) and Peru (1987). Musical arranger and instrumentalist for Uruguayan recordings (Eduardo Darnauchans, Esteban Klisich, Mauricio Ubal, Washington Carrasco and Cristina Fernández, Antimurga BCG, Javier Cabrera and Julio Brum, Jorge Bonaldi, Laura Canoura, and Rubén Olivera).
In 1992 Leonardo Croatto and Carlos da Silveira founded a company ("Mambo/Sonus") to provide postproduction audio services for films and videos, as well as musical productions for advertisements. Since 1992 they have worked with large advertising agencies and firms in this medium.
Other
musical productions by Mambo/Sonus include: "Distracción
Fatal,” fiction directed by Mayda Moubayed; “El jefe y el
carpintero,” from the Series ANIMATED TALES OF THE WORLD, directed
by Walter Tournier, co-production of RAL (Latin American Network)
with S4C-Wales, United Kingdom, and Discovery Kids, USA, 2000; “Yo
Quiero”
(“I Wish”), Rights of the Child campaign, animation, directed by
W. Tournier and produced by RAL with the support of the
Inter-American Children's Institute, 2000; “Porto Alegre – Una
experiencia de autogestión,” documentary directed by Hilary
Sandison, Uruguay-England co-production, 2001; series of
micro-programs in animation: “Los Tatitos,” Artear-Color 9
co-production, Montevideo-Buenos Aires, 2001.
1
2002.
Source: State of the World’s Children 2004
2
2000. Source: State of the World’s Children 2004
3
State of the World’s Children 2004
4
ECLAC. Social Panorama 2003. Chapter 2
5 UNICEF. Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
6
Article 24.1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
7
Article 24.1 d) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child