According to UNICEF the children with no credited documentation are in danger of being refused from the benefits of what being a citizen brings. “The child who is not registered at birth is in danger of being shut out of society” ( Birth Registration). These undocumented children are denied rights to an official identity, a recognized name and a nationality. Recent statistics claim that an estimated 50 million babies are born without registration each year (Birth Registration). This problem closes the door to many of the opportunities that a registered child would benefit including the enjoyment of an education and health care, participation and protection. It is important that people around the globe fight for the rights of all who are born to enjoy the benefits of being a registered member of society. Francia Simon is a young girl from the Dominican Republic who fights for the kids who have no name and no nationality. She now helps hundreds of kids without a birth certificate from the Dominican Republic and from Haiti . Almost being denied a proper education because she was unable to prove her nationality, Francia Simon fights for the rights of all children who also struggle to prove their nationalities.
Having no name and no nationality means no rights for people in the Dominican Republic. By helping kids get birth certificates, Francia is giving them the rights they deserve. Francia campaigns for the right of kids so that they can access national education systems, so that they can grow up and have good jobs. “Francia... campaigns for the right of children to registration, name and nationality” (ICPPA). This means that Francia wants to fight for kids and that she wants to give the kids the rights that they need. Francia not only helps children get rights but also to access education and healthcare. “It is only after official registration that children can gain access to essential rights such as healthcare and education” (ICPPA). Francia had no rights to education or health care, this means that she could not go to school and if she got really sick, she couldn’t go to the hospital. When she finally obtained those rights, she wanted to help other people in the same situation as her. It is by these methods, Francia has been able to help 136 kids without a name and nationality, and will be able to continue helping kids from both Dominican Republic and Haiti(Portret Francia).
Because she was almost denied a proper education, Francia will not allow other children to be given the same mistreatment, so she continues her fight for their rights.When unable to show proper documentation regarding her nationality or citizenship Francia finds herself having problems gaining access to schools.“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.”(ICPPA) With her education in jeopardy Francia did not just give up but fights for her right to the same education that all citizens enjoy. Francia uses the knowledge she gained in school to help other kids get the knowledge that they need. “gained lasting access to secondary education. Since then, Francia has been using the knowledge and strength she acquired during the complicated registration process to help other children without birth certificates”(ICPPA) After having won her battle to be provided an education, Francia realized that she can make a difference for others and fights for the rights to a proper education for all kids who struggle proving their nationality and or citizenship. Francia enjoys helping kids and wants to continue helping kids that were in the same situation as her.
Francia continues to help kids who have trouble to show their nationality. Having the experience of having trouble to demonstrate her nationality and knowing all the things that are withheld from children without a birth certificate. By helping these children get a birth certificate she not only gives them a name, but she gives them all the rights that a kid should have such as education, health care and hope. It is because of this that Francia has won the International Children's Peace Prize, 2010. Francia is an inspiration for kids with and without birth certificates, she inspires them to help other kids and that it is always good to fight for your rights. All kids should have rights, which include a name and a nationality. Francia is determine to help other kids and to give them the rights they deserve.
Sources:
http://childrenspeaceprize.org/childrens-peace-price/prize-2010/
http://www.kidsrights.org/InternationalChildrensPeacePrize/Winners.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5nEIzfP00Q&feature=youtu.be
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