INTERNATIONAL CHILD WELFARE It is convenient to consider international child welfare work under three divisions. Firstly, there is the history of its develop ment, which includes Children's Charters; secondly, there is the organization and scope of the work under the League of Nations; and, thirdly, there is the specialized subject of the regulation of child labour, which falls within the province of the International Labour Office.
Development of International Child Welfare.—Several international congresses were held in Belgium between 1890 and 1911, which were known as Congres des Patronages. These "Patronages" were semi-official associations which dealt primarily with the after-care of prisoners; but, so far as child welfare was concerned, they early began to interest themselves in the particu lar type of child who was in moral danger or who was delinquent. Switzerland, in 1911, was the first country to plan the institution of a central office to deal with all branches of child welfare on an international basis. The Belgian Government also interested itself in the matter and organized the First International Congress for the Promotion of Child Welfare at Brussels in 1913. The Congress resolved to found an international child welfare associa tion, but the outbreak of war in 1914 prevented any immediate realization of this project.
The second International Congress for the Promotion of Child Welfare was held in Brussels in 1921, and resulting from this Congress the International Association for the Promotion of Child Welfare was founded in Brussels. It was established to facilitate study by centralizing all information on child welfare work, to assist co-operation between one country and another, and generally to further and encourage international interest and progress. The new office did not, however, obtain the full meas ure of support that had been anticipated, since some countries desired, as a matter of principle, to see its work carried on by the League of Nations. This principle was finally accepted, and the Council was asked to recommend to the Assembly that the League of Nations should undertake international child welfare work. The recommendation was made, and was agreed to by the Assem bly in 1924. The Association continues its activities as a private organization serving as a link between voluntary child welfare work in different countries.
The famine and privation in many lands after the World War told especially heavily upon the children. Relief was organized by the Save the Children Fund, and branches of the society were established in many countries. Starting at first as a relief organi zation the Save the Children Fund gradually enlarged its scope to include general child welfare work. The headquarters of the Save the Children Fund (International Union) was established in Geneva in 1920, and under its auspices the First General Child Welfare Congress took place in Geneva in 1925. In America, also, a general Child Welfare Association was set up in Montevideo in 1924, as a result of Pan-American Congresses for Child Welfare. It is known as The American International Institute for the Pro tection of Children.
Children's Charters.—National measures for the protection of children are generally found embodied in a special child welfare law, and this legislation is often popularly described as a Children's Charter. The term has, however, been applied specifically to a new development in the field of child welfare. It seems to have been felt that though in theory child welfare had been accepted as an international responsibility, yet practical results would not follow unless a clear statement was drawn up as to what that responsibility represented. To meet this requirement a Children's Charter was enunciated by the International Council of Women in 1922. This Charter sets forth under headings, and in some detail, the minimum rights which should be accorded to childhood. The form of the Charter is general, but it is intended that each nation shall remodel the Charter for its own use, and make it an exposition of practical child welfare aims capable of being worked out locally. The National Council of Women of Great Britain, in conjunction with the Save the Children Fund, have followed this lead, and issued in 1924 a Children's Charter for Great Britain.
Akin to these Children's Charters is a shorter and more general ized expression of the duty of humanity to childhood known as the Declaration of Geneva. This Declaration, published in May 1923, was drawn up by the Save the Children Fund (International Union) and has been translated into many languages. The League of Nations has recommended the Declaration as a guide to the principles which should inspire child welfare work.