IPA’s purpose: to protect, preserve and promote the child’s right to play as a fundamental human right
Overview: Between the landmarks of the IPA Triennial World Conferences in Hong Kong (2008) and Wales (2011), this has been an exceptional busy period with a strong sense of purpose and membership involvement.
In 2011 we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of IPA’s founding on the 12th of May 1961 in Copenhagen, Denmark. A Special ‘History’ edition of PlayRights magazine* was published in which memories and achievements of IPA’s 50 years are recorded. Celebrations of the 50th anniversary culminate at the 18th Triennial World Conference in Cardiff.
A broad-ranging Strategic Plan and a Communications Plan were implemented via the establishment of Standing Committees, Working Groups and Committees made up of members throughout the world. The Plan gave us the route towards achievement of three major Goals:
| Goal A: To improve the organisation’s visibility as a credible and authoritative world voice on children’s play by strengthening the influencing, lobbying and campaigning role globallyGoal B: To streamline and maintain the management and operation of IPAGoal C: To energise and expand IPA’s membership base |
Progress was made in all areas of the Plan and the term finishes with a sense of accomplishment and with energy for the next stages of IPA’s development.
In May 2008 IPA, with seven international co-signatories, wrote to the UN Committee for the Rights of the Child in Geneva requesting that a General Comment on play be issued. The co-signatories were:
- Right to Play International
- World Leisure Association
- International Pediatrics Association
- International Council on Children’s Play
- World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP)
- International Toy Library Association
- European Child Friendly Cities Network
- and subsequently Childwatch International
In the interim we worked towards this goal through ongoing contact with the UN Committee and presentation of research and project findings (see below).
So, of particular significance was the announcement in February 2011 by the UN Committee that they will indeed draft and adopt a General Comment on the right to play (article 31).
We are delighted that IPA’s 50th year is marked with this achievement and look forward to working with the Committee to inform the content of the General Comment and, with IPA members, to ensure the General Comment has a real impact for children around the world.
The following reflects the goals we have worked towards this term and IPA’s continued commitment to its membership and the children, families and communities they serve:
1. Meetings and Conferences
a) Board meetings were held in Hong Kong (2008), England (2008) Scotland (2009), Sweden (2010);
b) Council meetings were held in Hong Kong (2008) and Sweden (2010);
c) A Special General Meeting was convened in Sweden (2010) to consider and vote on changes to the IPA Structure and Constitution;
d) Working Groups, Standing Committees and sub-groups continued to meet electronically (using email, Skype and the SharePoint programme) and in person when plans allowed;
e) A Board sub-group met with the Play Wales conference organising team in June 2010;
f) The Strategic Plan Implementation and Monitoring Committee met in person annually;
g) A newly formed Strategic Plan Drafting Group met by email and skype to develop in draft form the 2011-14 Strategic Plan for presentation to Council;
h) IPA had official involvement in the programmes of a number on national, regional and international conferences which included Child Games and Toys International Conference, China; International Council for Children’s Play, Portugal; Child in the City, Florence.
2. Financial Reports
Financial statements were circulated by the IPA Treasurer to the membership annually and updates were given at meetings. (Copies of reports can be requested from the Treasurer)
3. IPA Constitutional Change
A Special General Meeting was held in 2010 in Karlstad, Sweden to consider proposed changes to IPA’s structure and Constitution. The meeting was short of the required number of members present to make a formal decision. The meeting moved to discussion of the proposals and suggested further revisions. Revised propositions were therefore circulated on which members will vote at the 2011 General Meeting in Cardiff.
4. Communications
The Communications Officer and Standing Committee handled a large portfolio of internal and external communications tasks and outputs including:
- PlayRights Magazine: two editions were produced per year in accordance with current policy, with overwhelmingly positive feedback;
- The website was redesigned and a members’ only section introduced;
- Email and skype remain convenient, economical forms of communication within IPA, using a previously adopted decision-making protocol when required. Microsoft SharePoint was adopted as the virtual office system and will be evaluated for continuation;
- A section of PlayRights is devoted to IPA organisational news; updates are sent to Council at least twice between mailings; the Council Address List is updated regularly;
- The Council Kit was updated to the extent possible but is due for revision;
- The IPA Brochure was reprinted and circulated; two new banners were produced; the IPA poster was translated into eight languages and is available for download;
- Use of social media is being explored.
5. Special Projects
Children’s Right to Play: an examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide, commissioned by IPA was publish by the Bernard van Leer Foundation, distributed through their international networks and posted on the IPA web site.
IPA Global Consultations on Children’s Right to Play
With funding and support from the Bernard van Leer Foundation an orientation meeting and pilot was held in South Africa in January 2010 followed by consultations in Nairobi, Mumbai, Mexico City, Sofia, Bangkok, Tokyo and Beirut. The final report and the individual country reports are available on the IPA web site.
The findings of these projects were presented to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2010 in support of th4e request for General Comment.
6. Note of thanks IPA is an organisation fuelled by the commitment and energy of its members around the world. The IPA Board wishes to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to them and to our supporters and funders.
* IPA is grateful for the contributions from the City of Copenhagen, RoSPA, Sutcliff Play Ltd., Julian Richter and Kompan to support the production of the Special ‘History’ edition of PlayRights magazine.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Board of Directors 2008-2011
President: Theresa Casey (Scotland)
Vice President: Tom Jambor (USA)
Treasurer: David Yearley (England, Wales, N. Ireland)
Secretary: Margaret Westwood (Scotland)
Communications Officer: Valerie Fronczek (Canada)
Council-Board Representatives:
Kathy Wong Kin-ho (Hong Kong)
Mike Greenaway (Wales)
Regional Vice Presidents:
Europe: Ute Navidi (England)
North America/Caribbean: Kim Sanderson (Canada)
West Asia: Hitoshi Shimamura (Japan)
Australasia: Ric McConaghy
Latin America: Alejandra Rabuini, Graciela Bottini de Barucca (Argentina)
The IPA Declaration of the Child’s Right to Play was produced in November 1977 at the IPA Malta Consultation held in preparation for the International Year of the Child (1979). It was revised by the IPA International Council in Vienna, September 1982, and Barcelona, September 1989. It should be read in conjunction with Article 31 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (adopted by the General Assembly of the U.N., November 20, 1989), which states that the child has a right to leisure, play and participation in cultural and artistic activities.
WHAT IS PLAY?
CHILDREN are the foundation of the world’s future.
CHILDREN have played at all times throughout history and in all cultures.
PLAY, along with the basic needs of nutrition, health, shelter and education, is vital to develop the potential of all children.
PLAY is communication and expression, combining thought and action; it gives satisfaction and a feeling of achievement.
PLAY is instinctive, voluntary, and spontaneous.
PLAY is a means of learning to live, not a mere passing of time.
ALARMING TRENDS AFFECTING CHILDHOOD
IPA is deeply concerned by a number of alarming trends and their negative impact on children’s development.
- Society’s indifference to the importance of play
- Over-emphasis on theoretical and academic studies in schools.
- Increasing numbers of children living with inadequate provisions for survival and development.
- Inadequate environmental planning, which results in a lack of basic amenities, inappropriate housing forms, and poor traffic management.
- Increasing commercial exploitation of children and the deterioration of cultural traditions.
- Lack of access for third world women to basic training in childcare and development.
- Inadequate preparation of children to cope with life in a rapidly changing society.
- Increasing segregation of children in the community.
- The increasing numbers of working children, and their unacceptable working conditions.
- Constant exposure of children to war, violence, exploitation and destruction.
- Over-emphasis on unhealthy competition and “winning at all costs” in children’s sports.
PROPOSALS FOR ACTION
The following proposals are listed under the names of government departments having a measure of responsibility for children.
Health
Play is essential for the physical and mental health of the child.
- Establish programmes for professionals and parents about the benefits of play from birth onwards.
- Ensure basic conditions (nutrition, sanitation, clean water and air) which promote the healthy survival and development of all children.
- Incorporate play into community programmes designed to maintain children’s physical and mental health.
- Include play as an integral part of all children’s environments, including hospitals and other institutional settings.
Education
Play is part of education.
- Provide opportunities for initiatives, interaction, creativity and socialization through play in formal education systems.
- Include studies of the importance of play and the means of play provision in the training of all professionals and volunteers working with and for children.
- Strengthen play provision in primary schools to enhance learning and to maintain attendance and motivation.
- Reduce the incompatibilities between daily life, work and education by involving schools and colleges, and by using public buildings for community play programs.
- Ensure that working children have access to play and learning opportunities outside of the system of formal education.
Welfare
Play is an essential part of family and community life.
- Ensure that play is accepted as an integral part of social development and social care.
- Promote measures that strengthen positive relationships between parents and children.
- Ensure that play is part of community-based services designed to integrate children with physical, mental or emotional disabilities into the community.
- Provide safe play environments that protect children against abduction, sexual abuse and physical violence.
Leisure
Children need opportunities to play at leisure.
- Provide time, space, materials, natural settings, and programmes with leaders where children may develop a sense of belonging, self-esteem, and enjoyment through play.
- Enable interaction between children and people of all backgrounds and ages in leisure settings.
- Encourage the conservation and use of traditional indigenous games.
- Stop the commercial exploitation of children’s play, and the production and sale of war toys and games of violence and destruction.
- Promote the use of co-operative games and fair play for children in sports.
- Provide all children, particularly those with special needs, with access to a diversity of play environments, toys and play materials through community programmes such as pre-school play groups, toy libraries and play buses.
Planning
The needs of the child must have priority in the planning of human settlements.
- Ensure that children and young people can participate in making decisions that affect their surroundings and their access to them.
- When planning new, or reorganizing existing developments, recognise the child’s small size and limited range of activity.
- Disseminate existing knowledge about play facilities and play programmes to planning professionals and politicians.
- Oppose the building of high-rise housing and provide opportunities to mitigate its detrimental effects on children and families.
- Enable children to move easily about the community by providing safe pedestrian access through urban neighbourhoods, better traffic management, and improved public transportation.
- Increase awareness of the high vulnerability of children living in slum settlements, tenements, and derelict neighbourhoods.
- Reserve adequate and appropriate space for play and recreation through statutory provision.
AFFIRMATION
IPA is determined to sustain the momentum created by the International Year of the Child in 1979 to arouse world opinion for the improvement of the life of children, and;
AFFIRMS its belief in the United Nations’ Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which in Article 7 states “The child shall have full opportunity to play and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavour to promote the enjoyment of this right;” and endorses its belief in Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
RECOGNISES that the population of children in developing countries is three quarters of the world’s total child population, and that efforts directed at the promotion of education and literacy, and the stopping of environmental deprivation would improve the capacities of the poorest.
AFFIRMS its commitment to working with other national and international organisations to ensure basic conditions of survival for all children in order that they may fully develop as human beings.
ACKNOWLEDGES that each country is responsible for preparing its own courses of public and political action in the light of its culture, climate and social, political and economic structure;
RECOGNISES that the full participation of the community is essential in planning and developing programmes and services to meet the needs, wishes and aspirations of children.
ASSURES its co-operation with UN agencies and other international and national organizations involved with children.
APPEALS to all countries and organizations to take action to counteract the alarming trends which jeopardise children’s healthy development and to give high priority to long term programmes designed to ensure for all time:
THE CHILD’S RIGHT TO PLAY.
_____________
Note on the IPA organization. (4 paragraphs)
For further information contact:
(Back Cover)
IPA AND THE UNITED NATIONS
In 1971 the IPA Board decided that it was important to cooperate with the UN organizations. We are recognized by ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) and UNICEF, and work in agreement with their principles. They give a context to our work as follows:
- Our focus on human rights, specifically the Child’s Right to Play as stated in the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of the Child and now embodied in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Our feeling of solidarity with children all over the world.
- Our involvement in peace education. IPA has been appointed as a Messenger of Peace by the United Nastions.
- Our commitment to the development of each individual to the maximum of their potential, the protection and enhancement of their culture, and the importance of the family and the community.
IPA is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961.
It provides a forum for exchange and action across disciplines and across sectors.
IPA’s purpose is to protect, preserve and promote the child’s right to play as a fundamental human right. ~Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
“That every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
That member governments shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.”
Our Structure
IPA has a small administrative Board of Directors, five Regional Vice Presidents and a Council of national representatives.
[Board of Directors] [Regional Vice Presidents] [IPA/UN Liaison] [World Council]
Member Groups
IPA has members in close to 50 countries, and active groups in
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Germany
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Spain
- N. Ireland
|
- Australia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Portugal
- Sweden
- USA
|
- Belgium
- Denmark
- India
- Netherlands
- Scotland
- England
- Wales
|
IPA member groups initiate a wide variety of projects that promote the child’s right to play. These include seminars, conferences, study tours, research, publications, playground design, playwork training and the organization of play programs and Play Days. National groups often collaborate with other organizations which promote the well-being of children and children’s rights.
Contact your national representative (see Council list) for further information or check their websites (see Links)
Triennial Report 2005-2008
Click here to Read the Triennial Report 2005-2008
IPA was born in Scandinavia in 1961 and held its first conference in Copenhagen that year.
Barriers to children’s play were recognized in Scandinavia as early as the 1930s when to counteract the effects of increasing urbanization and motor traffic, specific areas with trained play workers were designated for children’s play.
Interest in providing quality play opportunities for children gradually increased and in 1955 a major seminar on playgrounds was held in Europe. The need for international action was evident. In 1961 IPA was born.
The United Nation’s International Year of the Child in 1979 injected IPA with new energy and a desire to become truly international. That year it held its first triennial conference outside Europe (in Ottawa, Canada). Since then, triennial conferences have been held worldwide and a global perspective has been realized.
Though IPA began its life with an emphasis on adventure playgrounds it gradually changed its focus to play itself and to the child’s right to play. In the 1980s IPA was effective in establishing the word “play” in article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Presidents of the Organization from 1961 – 2011:
- C.T. Sorensen, Denmark
- Jens Sigsgaard, Denmark
- Valia Tanon, France
- Arvid Bengstsson, Sweden
- Polly Hill, Canada
- Nic Nilsson, Sweden
- Robin Moore, USA
- Jan van Gils, Belgium
- Michael Paris, Germany
- Theresa Casey, Scotland
