General Comment on Article 31:

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child announced in February 2011 that IPA’s request for a General Comment on article 31 had been accepted.  IPA will have a central role in its development.

Background:

IPA members first discussed a General Comment on article 31 in its 2008 Council meeting in Hong Kong.  An ‘action step’ to pursue this goal was approved by Council and included in IPA’s 2008 – 2011 strategic plan. IPA made the initial request to the UN Committee in May 2008.

Support of other international organizations was sought and received.  IPA’s eight supporting organizations are:

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, the European Child Friendly Cities Network, and Child Watch International.

What will the General Comment do?

The General Comment will  provide guidance to ‘States Parties’ (governments of the 192 countries which are signatories to the Convention) with regard to the provisions of the Convention in relation to play and recreation, rest and leisure, cultural life and the arts.  It will raise awareness of the importance of these in the everyday lives of children worldwide.

IPA hopes to position article 31 more centrally within the fuller context of the UN Convention, illustrating the indivisibility of Convention articles, and also to put some emphasis on the role of unstructured or ‘free’ play which is facing increasing challenges.

A fundamental goal of the G.C. will be to influence States Parties to include the provisions of article 31 in their national UNCRC implementation plans, for which all signatories have an obligation to develop. IPA groups all over the world will be invaluable in making this a reality!

The General Comment on article 31 will be a useful tool in harnessing worldwide energy to promote the children’s right to play worldwide. Governments and authorities can play a key role in helping to ensure that children grow up in conditions where they can exercise their right to play and where they have adequate rest and leisure, access to recreation and to culture and the arts.

Next Steps and IPA Involvement

IPA has been asked to take a lead role in the organization of the development of this paper.  The UN Committee focal group been assigned as follows:

• Awich Pollar, Chair (Uganda)
• Yanghee Lee (Korea)
• Aseil Al-Shehail (Saudi Arabia)
• Sanpharit Koompraphant (Thailand)
• Hadeel Al-Asmar (Syrian Arab Republic)

Lothar Krappman (Germany) past member of the UN Committee and strong supporter of the General Comment on article 31, will also be involved in its development.

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 50^th anniversary of IPA’s founding on the 12^th 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 50^th 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:

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 50^th 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)

This 6^th triennial award program is dedicated to the celebration of IPA’s 50^th Anniversary. Projects submitted have included activity programs, public awareness campaigns, media products, implemented national or local legislation, and design of play spaces and play items.

The following 8 submissions have met the criteria for this conference’s IPA Right to Play Award:

• HAZELWOOD PARK PLAY SPACE

  WAX Design – Warwick Keates & Amanda Balmer in association with Ric McConaghy; Contact: Amanda Balmer (amanda@waxdesign.com.au)
  South Australia

  The entire design, development and construction of the project has involved a collaborative process with all members of the design team (including the client and the community) working together to deliver an all abilities adventure play space, set amongst the naturalistic woodland setting of Hazelwood Park.

  The design of the space provides a diversity of physical, explorative, interactive and imaginative play opportunities and draws upon the native surrounding parklands. The play space uses a variety of equipment, play elements, materials and art pieces that combine to create a unique experience for children of all ages, whilst offering comfort and engagement for parents and caregivers

• SPICE (Scottish Play in Creative English)
  Contact: Andrew Swan (andrew@spicekids.com.br)|
  Sao Paulo, Brazil

  SPICE is a private “Play in English” project, based in São Paulo, Brazil.  The focus of SPICE is to offer play-based extra-curricular activities for children, primarily in the acquisition of English as a second language. Parents often choose activities that are academically focused and adult led, SPICE aims to challenge this as both a business and a model of good practice.  Using the play process we encourage and facilitate a range of free play and cultural activities for children aged 3 to 12. The Indoor and outdoor space is a sustainable design in consultation with children and play professionals.

• THE TREEHOUSE PROJECT
  Islington Play Association; Contact:Wendy Jeeves (wendy@islingtonplay.org.uk)
  London, England

  Islington Play Association’s three year Treehouse project funded by the Big Lottery Playful Ideas Programme, is currently entering its’ final year.  This exciting project gives children the opportunity to use tools to build their own dens and tree houses or play structures. The project is driven by the children’s desires, be it building a tree house, making play weaponry or simply hammering or sawing for the fun of it, the important thing is everything is made by the children not adults.  The project challenges the fears parents and play workers face around activities connected with risk.

• PROMOTION OF ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT JAPAN
  Contact: Noriko Kajiki (norikajiki@suma.kobe-wu.ac.jp)
  Japan

  The Japan Adventure Playground Association is established in 2003 as a registered nonprofit organization. Its mission is to create the playful communities, with which the association works for realizing the society where children and adults can live a lively life through guaranteeing rich play environments for children. The association holds thenetwork of 270 adventure play organisations over the nation supporting local networking,holding events, providing playwork training and so on. With the national conference of every three years and seasonal newsletters, the association advocates for the importance of outdoor play towards the national government and local authorities. Thus the association contributes to promoting the rich outdoor play environments for children.

• MAKE SPACE FOR CHILDREN: LET’S CREATE A PLAYFUL WORLD
  Contact: Wilmar Vlaskamp  (Wilmar@OBB-Ingenieurs.nl)
  The Netherlands

  The poster is offered to people who influence the public space. Think of officials of green / roads / water / environmental planning, urban engineers, designers of outdoor space,politicians, developers, teachers and students. It is time that we promote the child’s right to play in public space. It is unreasonable that 20% of the population doesn’t have its own place in public space. With a few simple measures we can create a playful world by sharing of space. The poster is designed to provide and expand the playability of the entire public space.

• FREE2PLAY
  Midlothian Association of Play (MAP); Contact: Susan McIntyre (susan@map-midlothian.org.uk)
  Midlothian, Scotland

  Midlothian Association of Play runs the Free2Play project in Midlothian, Scotland, which aims to ensure that children aged 5-13 have access to more and better ‘free play’ opportunities. The main project element is the professional support given to play providers to develop their practice, which is tailored to meet individual group’s needs – for example, developing ideas for making better use of limited space in support of children’s play, or observing practice and engaging in reflective discussion. Significant improvements to play opportunities have been achieved.

• ADVOCATING FOR A CHILD’S RIGHT TO PLAY: FROM THE CLASSROOM INTO THE COMMUNITY
  Rowan University, Teacher Education; Contact: Dr. Karen Hutchison (Hutchison@rowan.edu)
  Glassboro, New Jersey, USA

  A multi-faceted service learning advocacy piece was conducted by upper division early childhood majors at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Beginning with age appropriate toy donations during the holiday of 2010, students prepared toy tags connecting NJ educational standards and descriptions of “how to play” for parents. Then in the Spring 2011 semester, the same students designed and created play pamphlets focused around Article 31, which were distributed during student Power Point presentations to community forums about unstructured play and its benefits. The first community Play Day was held as a culminating event for parents/educators to play with their children.

• WALES – A PLAY FRIENDLY PLACE
  Play Wales, Baltic House; Contact: Mike Greenaway (mike@playwales.org.uk)
  Cardiff, Wales

  Since 1999, those in Wales who have an interest in children’s play and a belief in children’s rights, have joined in a strategic political and practical project to make a Wales a play-friendly place to live.   This has included politicians, administrators, funders, campaigners and grassroots workers – we hope it will soon include many more of those whose actions impact on children’s right to play.  The project is ongoing and the results will not be seen for decades, but it is making positive progress – including establishing a play association in every region and the first national play policy in the world.

A primary goal of the IPA Right to Play Award Program is to present projects & activities that can serve as a model for replication in communities around the world. We urge you to engage in dialog with submission representatives. All program projects are on display in the exhibition area.

Enjoy!

Tom Jambor, Award Program Coordinator