Rechten Van Kinderen (Rights of Children) Lecture on the Ombudsman for Children in Costa Rica; Lecture on the Latin American Child and Family Network. Studie- en Documentatiecentrum voor Rechten van Kinderen Cahier 7

These two lectures discuss children's rights and the role that government can play in helping to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by children in developing nations, focusing on the situation in Costa Rica, specifically, and Latin America, in general. The first lecture examines some of the economic and social problems in Costa Rica, their impact on children, and the Costa Rican government's decision to create the office of Ombudsman for Children. This official will be charged with instituting studies on the needs of children, examining and recommending for revision laws and legal procedures related to children, and promoting the rights of children. The second lecture addresses some of the common difficulties faced by Latin American countries, the lack of educational communication and exchange among Latin American nations, and the development of the Latin America and Caribbean Child and Family Network to improve communication and exchange on family and educational issues. Included are two speeches by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez made in Oslo, Norway, in 1987 upon his reception of the Nobel Peace Prize. (MDM)