The history of the Pan American Child Congress goes back many years, prior to the creation of the Inter-American Children’s Institute itself.
In the early part of the 20th century, international congresses to discuss issues related to children began to be held in Europe, and this practice later spread to the Americas as well. Thus, in 1910 an International Scientific Congress held in Buenos Aires adopted a proposal to hold an American Congress on Children under the auspices of the Argentine Scientific Society.
On October 30, 1915, a special assembly of members in Buenos Aires decided to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Argentine independence with the First Pan American Child Congress. It was divided into seven sections: law, health, psychology, education, assistance for mothers and children, sociology, and industrial legislation.
The Second Pan American Child Congress held in Montevideo in 1919 adopted the proposal presented by Dr. Luis Morquio to create an International American Office for the Protection of Children.
At the third Congress, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1922, Dr. Luis Morquio stressed the importance of establishing this office. Two years later, at the Fourth Congress in Santiago, Chile, a committee was set up to negotiate the creation of the International American Office for Children—today known as the Inter-American Children’s Institute--with the Uruguayan National Council of Administration.
The Fifth Congress held in Cuba in 1927 marked the inauguration of the International American Institute for the Protection of Children, which would later be formally incorporated into the OAS on April 22, 1949. It has kept its original headquarters in Montevideo, Uruguay ever since.
After 1927, subsequent Congresses were held in Peru (1930), Mexico (1935 and 2004), USA (1942 and 1984), Venezuela (1948), Panama (1955), Colombia (1959), Argentina (1963 and 1999), Ecuador (1968), Chile (1973), Uruguay (1977), and Costa Rica (1993).
Over 90 years have gone by since that First Pan American Child Congress held in Argentina. The focus and efforts of states have been to work together to improve the conditions and the quality of life of children and adolescents in the Americas. Conceptual approaches and issues involving childhood and adolescence have changed over the years, along with social, political, cultural, and economic transformations in the region and with progress in developing international agreements in the area of human rights--including the landmark Convention on the Rights of the Child--as well as in keeping with the demands of the member states themselves for public policies on children.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, member states decided that it would be appropriate for this Twentieth Pan American Child Congress to analyze progress achieved and to make recommendations in those areas regarded as critical for development of rights-based public policies on children and adolescents.
In this context, the themes to be discussed at this event include the following: public policies for comprehensive protection systems; the participation of children and adolescents in developing civic-mindedness and values, and their impact on the activities carried out by states; and finally, the development of international, regional, and bilateral cooperation to strengthen public policies related to children.
The theme of participation of children and adolescents was included in the 20th Congress because of the impact of effective citizen participation on public policies. This is the reason underlying the organization of the First Pan American Forum for Children and Adolescents to be held alongside the Congress, to provide an opportunity for an exchange of views and experiences among participants and between them and the representatives of member states. This dialogue is expected to further strengthen the commitment to the development of children and adolescents in the Americas.