アジア里親大会開会挨拶

Opening address of

the Asia Conference on Child Rights and Foster Care

アジア子供の権利と里親会議2006（アジア里親大会）開会挨拶

Dr. Kang, Soon-Won

President, Korean foster Care Association

September 15, 2006

　Many Asian countries, including India and Malaysia, for example, advertise themselves on media channels, such as the BBC and the CNN, and allure world travelers to "come experience the Real Asia", and "experience difference and diversity". Asia is, in fact, too large to know what represents the true Asia, and perhaps diversity can be the word that best defines Asia. When we hear "Africa", we mostly think of skin color and cultural homogeneity.

However, in the case of Asia, there exists such diversity of skin color, culture, economic development, and political organization that no one can confidently claim to be an expert on Asia. Perhaps due to this reason, Asian regional bodies experience difficulties from early stages of discussion, unlike European, African, and South American regional bodies, which are organized relatively effortlessly. Subsequently, to speak of Asia requires careful consideration of each State’s standings and a patient approach.

Likewise with the International Foster Care Organization (IFCO). The IFCO International conference is organized biennially, and a Regional Conference is recommended in the in-between years. Regions with continental organizations have been organizing such regional conferences, but none has been organized in Asia until now. In that sense, the opening of this Asia Conference on Child Rights and Foster Care in Korea, with the participation of ten Asian countries, is a cause for much commendation to all parties involved. My wishes are that all of us will open the doors of our hearts, listen to the stories from other countries, and reflect upon the circumstances of each nation.

Asia is truly diverse. Economically, on one hand, there is the extremely modern and developed Japan, while many other countries are still in deep poverty. This is also the place of coexistence of socialist and capitalist nations. Also coexisting are Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, and just about all religions of the world. Some enjoy the benefits of the amazing educational fervor in Asia, while in others, illiteracy rate still remains high. Some are armed with nuclear weapon, while others struggle to meet minimal living conditions. From the perspective of child rights, there are the "little emperors" on one hand, coexisting with children in child labor, prostitution, and abuse, and overprotection of children

along with neglect and mistreatment. However, from the perspective of foster care, in most Asian countries, institutional care is still at a higher priority than foster care. Subsequently, in the field of foster care, it is crucial that a common ground be found, tasks for cooperation be drawn, and a search be made for ways to achieve inter-country cooperation and support. As if the Korean government and civil organizations have worked together in these efforts. And thus significant progress could be accomplished. In fact Korea has overcome the majority of Asian nations’ common road of hardship of colonization, post-colonial political turmoil. Foreign dependent development, and other internal and external difficulties through the peoples’ power and has yet to travel further in the road to democratization.

Foster care does not require a mere change in governmental policy. But instead, a gradual progress from institutional care to foster care through popular support of the alternative family-friendly care and transitions in public awareness. From that perspective, foster care cannot succeed without voluntary participation of the civil society. No national policy can succeed without the movement to temporarily take into foster care those children who have been absent from the birth parents ’protection. For this purpose, a model of cooperation between the State and civil society, cooperation between wealthy and needy nations, and a road of cultural harmony to a mutual understanding are what I hope we can discuss and accomplish today.

I would like to thank Mr. Keith Henderson from IFCO, who traveled the long journey from Ireland to Korea to speak to us about the importance of foster care. Ireland is on the international spotlight as a country with an active foster care policy at the State level. I would like to also thank all who cooperate and support in the preparations for this conference, and in particular to the Minister of Health and Welfare and the Team for Population and Children’s Policy.

September 15,2006

Soon-Won Kang

President, Korean Foster Care Association

英文の著作権は韓国里子養育父母協会にあるので、使用に当たっては承諾を得ていただきたい。