World Conference: "Children Without Parental Care"

World Initiative for Orphans (WIO) will sponsor a four-day World Conference on "Children without Parental Care" May 21-24, 2007, in The Hague,
Netherlands. It will host representatives from over 100 countries. Participants will include government officials, NGO representatives and scientists. A wide
range of distinguished speakers, children's advocates and experts in various fields will discuss the long needed reforms in world child welfare policies.

Why specifically children without parental care?

There are more than 150 million children without parental care right now. Thirty thousand precious children will die today, tomorrow, and the next, the
overwhelming number of them will be orphans, without the help of people who can make a difference. In order to make our mission/vision a reality we need the help of everyone willing to stand up for these children throughout the world, because we must remember that our world's children are just that-OUR children.

Children who are deprived of the guidance and protection of their primary caregivers are more vulnerable to health risks, violence, exploitation and
discrimination and they are often deprived of education. The conference will be an opportunity to exchange ideas and concerns on critical issues
pertaining to these children, and thus identify the best approaches to serve this disadvantaged group.

What are WIO's goals and ambitions?

WIO is a registered non-profit organisation based in The Hague, The Netherlands, which strives to safe-guard the fundamental needs of the 150 million
orphaned and abandoned children worldwide. By means of this large and international conference, they will create momentum for increased global awareness,
renewed dialogue, dissemination of research results and sharing of knowledge on the needs of children without parental care.

Who is the target audience?