The child welfare committee

• Noted that:

  Poverty and hardships can be faced in all nations (including those with overall economic stability)

  When adults suffer, so do children (often to a greater extent)
• Especially urgent during the 1920s and 1930s, as WW1 left lots of refugees and orphans.

  Improvement = long term strategy aimed at ensuring peace

  • If kids were well educated, fed and cared for, they would be:

  1. Less likely to turn to political extremism, crime and violence as they grew, League believed these children would in turn support the League as adults.
• Many other L of N commissions also worked with children's issues for example the ILO - (International Labour Organisation).

  + Non League groups and charities, such as the ISCF - (International Save the Children Fund).
• The CWC was an umbrella organisation for other committees and organisations focussing on welfare of children.
• Many countries saw child welfare as a national issue and resented the CWC's recommendations.

  Many considered Sex Education and contraception unsuitable for League intervention.

  Other topics covered by L of N included:

  • State benefits for families
  • Physical activity
  • The rights of illegitimate children
  • Children with disabilities
• Later on, the CWC focussed on other issues to do with Child welfare, such as social problems, child nutrition, juvenile crime, etc. Contribution to work of UNICEF.

  Success: Impact = not great, established approaches to child welfare

  GDRC stated children's needs differ from adults and they must be protected and satisfied.

  Established children's requirement for basic rights.