Aims and Objectives

FICE's main aim is to promote child and youth care throughout the world.

FICE:

• Recognises the individuality of children, young people and their parents, and does not seek to force them to conform with pre-determined norms.
• Supports the family as the basic social structure for the upbringing of children.
• Advocates the highest quality of care and education for children and young people unable to live at home.
• Seeks to find individual solutions to match the needs of each child or young person.
• Encourages the ongoing development of services for children through research and theoretical innovation.
• Bases its work on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Observes strict political and religious neutrality.
• Values diversity and rejects all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political opinion or social origin.

In order to achieve its aims, FICE-International:

• Works through national organisations whose members are engaged in providing services for children and young people, or work in support services such as staff training or the management of services.
• Supports national member organisations through the creation of networks of contacts.
• Organises major international Congresses, usually every two years.
• Supports projects which involve international contacts between children, young people and those who care for them, such as the Balkan Friendship Camps.
• Encourages international exchanges of workers and/or children and young people.
• Provides the Professional Exchange Programme for experienced workers.
• Organises international seminars, expert workshops and working parties on issues concerned with services for children and young people.
• Consults with UNESCO, the European Union, the Council of Europe, ECOSOC and other international bodies.
• Provides information and the opportunity for networking through its website.
• Disseminates new ideas and research findings through its publications.

The organisations which are FICE's National Members

• Bring together various professions concerned with the welfare and education of children and young people regardless of status and other interests.
• Examine and analyse problems and other issues concerning children and young people.
• Develop new initiatives to meet the needs of children and young people.
• Educate the public and those in positions of power and influence in the country about the needs of children and young people.
• Support individual and organisational members, encouraging them to set high standards of practice.
• Encourage the creation of supportive networks of members.
• Organise seminars, conferences, educational trips and professional training.
• Assist other FICE National Members (and others) at times of crisis and natural disasters.
• Publish books, journals, magazines and other materials.
• Are open to individuals and / or organisations (including agencies providing services, colleges offering professional training.
• Local authorities and other associations) concerned about the welfare and social education of children and young people to join.
• Elect their officers through democratic processes.