International Catholic Child Bureau

The International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE) is a child-rights protection association founded in 1948 at the call of the Pope. It is an NGO under French law that works for the integral development of every child, without discrimination or proselytism. With its local partners, BICE supports vulnerable children in around thirty countries, reaching on average more than 50,000 children and 30,000 parents and relatives each year. It supports children in extreme poverty, children affected by armed conflict, children in conflict with the law, children kept out of school, children with disabilities, and children who are victims of violence. BICE works through an international network of 80 organizations worldwide committed to defending children's dignity and rights.

BICE was founded in 1948: religious and lay people from 8 countries came together to work in a network for the protection of children in the aftermath of the Second World War. In 1952, BICE successively obtained consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. In 1959, BICE actively participated in the drafting of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child. In 1963, the 9th BICE international congress was held in Beirut on the theme of "children's rights and their realization", bringing together 1,100 participants from 22 countries and 3 religious confessions; from 1953, BICE congresses became key meetings for organizations and experts working for children's rights worldwide. In 1979, at BICE's initiative, the year 1979 was declared International Year of the Child by the United Nations. In 1980, BICE was appointed coordinator of the group of NGOs participating in the drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a mission that ended in 1989 with the adoption of the Convention.

A child-rights protection association founded in 1948, working in around thirty countries without discrimination or proselytism.

1. 1BICE. Une ONG de protection des droits de l’enfantbice.org
2. 2Histoire du BICE, fondé en 1948bice.org
3. 3L' Histoire des droits de l’ enfant à travers les sièclesbice.org
4. 4Histoire du concept de résilience | Le BICEbice.org
5. 5International Catholic Child Bureauwikidata.org