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Advocacy - World Vision sees advocacy as intrinsic to its role of serving the poor. World Vision has advocacy programmes which address issues that affect the poor in four main areas: children gender economics conflict. World Vision's core advocacy goal is to work for a world that no longer tolerates poverty.
Child Rights - World Vision has a long standing history of child rights related advocacy. World Vision is a strong proponent of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and is a member of the NGO Group on the Rights of the Child and interim Co-Chair of NGO Committee on UNICEF. World Vision is also a member of the Steering Committee for the International Campaign to Ban Child Soldiers.
Working Together - The World Vision partnership of NGOs has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (UN) and is in consultative status with a range of UN groups such as the World Health Organisation International Labour Organisation UN Development Programme and UNICEF. World Vision is also recognised as an ecumenical organisation by the World Council of Churches. World Vision is a signatory to the The Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief the Sphere Humanitarian Charter. and has endorsed the UN Declaration of Human Rights. In Europe World Vision partners are also members of coalitions such as BOND EU-NGO Liaison Committee National Platforms and VOICE. In Australia World Vision is a member of ACFOA and in the United States World Vision is a member of the Interaction coalition of NGOs and the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organisations.
History - World Vision was founded by an American war correspondent to help orphans during the Korean war and during the 1950-1960s it worked mainly in Asia. In 1978 World Vision went through a process of internationalisation into a federal partnership of equals which worked through a common implementing arm to be known as World Vision International. In 1992 the partnership adopted a plan for restructuring which included full inclusion of southern partners as equal members of all governance structures
World Vision Advocacy
World Vision chooses to work:- on issues that directly affect the children and families we work with
- where we believe we can effect policy and practice change that will have a positive impact on children and families in the developing world and
- on the underlying causes that perpetuate poverty inequality and the violation of children's rights.
World Vision adopts public policy related positions through four main avenues:- A statement issued by the International President
- A position passed by a policy formation committee
- A consensus position passed by a Partnership public policy network and approved by the Partnership Office
- A position taken as part of a coalition or NGO grouping
All positions adopted by World Vision must be consistent with our core documents and with the underlying framework of Board policy. Due to World Vision’s engagement on issues of justice and involvement in inter-agency coalitions it is inevitable that new public policy positions will be adopted on a regular basis and some existing positions will be amended. These public policy positions are often explained in greater detail in World Vision publications.
Principles
Advocacy flows from listening to and consulting with the poor and victims of injustice. World Vision’s response to what it hears includes challenging those who withhold justice as well as working for policy change.
Developing policy positions and advocacy campaigns- World Vision policy positions are based on biblical/theological reflection a clear and informed understanding of the specific issue being addressed as well as a respectful understanding of alternative perspectives.
- World Vision policy positions and advocacy initiatives promote solutions in contrast to formulating only descriptions of problems or statements of fact.
- World Vision policy positions and advocacy campaigns are issue-oriented and specific. World Vision does not make blanket endorsements or condemnations of individuals organisations or governments.
- World Vision undertakes advocacy in a way that is critical yet constructive involving and respecting the poor policymakers donors and those who create tolerate and perpetuate injustice.
- Partnership-wide policy positions are consistent with policy positions approved by the International Board and are agreed to using the process outlined in “A Common Voice: Partnership Positioning on International Issues.” (Adopted by the August 1999 Strategy Working Group.)
- Policy positions reflect the International Board’s affirmation of and support for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child the United Nations Declaration of Human rights and any other international declarations affirmed by the International Board.
- World Vision policy positions and advocacy campaigns are developed with the widest possible partnership consultation and coordination.
- World Vision prefers to work in strategic advocacy alliances with church bodies other partner agencies and allies from other sectors of society who share a common position.
Advocacy in a federal partnership
Each partnership entity is responsible for policy positions and advocacy work concerning its own country and government. Policy positions and advocacy campaigns of one World Vision entity directed at the policies of the government of another entity are only undertaken with the agreement of that entity. |
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