The Government of Israel believes that anachronistic social and traditional values, which persist both in our own society as well as in many others, are a major obstacle to improvements in the treatment and development of children on a global scale. It is precisely for this reason that we believe the World Summit for Children to be such an important event. Tragically, children in virtually every corner of the globe suffer on a daily basis from abuse, neglect, and a lack of proper care. Children are all too often exploited and deprived of their basic rights. The practice of beating children remains widespread, jeopardizing their personal development, and violating their basic human dignity.
Children continue to be involved in violent conflicts in a number of areas of the world.
Poor health care, poverty, and disease threaten millions of children, impairing their ability to grow and develop from their first days of life. Israel urges all States and NGO's to make greater efforts in promoting children's rights. Respect for the dignity of all human beings, including and especially children, should be a common denominator among all cultures and traditions, providing a normative and moral framework for action. We intend to participate fully in the upcoming World Summit for Children and will lend our experience and expertise to the fullest extent possible. A coordinated effort by all nations is the only way to restore the lost paradise of childhood to all the children of the world.