History
KiRA has been committed since 1995 to the implementation of basic rights for children in Africa based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
1995
December:
Inaugural meeting in Lahr, Germany, for the organisation “Zukunft für Kinder in Not e.V.” (“Future for Children in Need”).
Recognition of being a non-profit organisation (for “benevolent purposes”) by the tax office in Lahr.
1996
February:
Start of the involvement in projects aiding children in jail, street children, children with disabilities, domestic helpers and slaves in Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Zaïre (today the Democratic Republic of Congo).
December:
Awarded the medal of honour of the French human rights commission by the French president Jacques Chirac for the programme in African jails promoted by BICE/Zukunt für Kinder in Not e.V.
1997
July: Start of our involvement with Liberian child refugees.
1998
November:
Participation in an event for World Children’s Day in Cologne with Minister Claudia Nolte, premiere of WDR (“West German Broadcasting”) film “Kinder Hinter Gittern” (Children Behind Bars), replayed on the German TV station ARD and at the big Human Rights Night.
2000
Arte Film “Wir werden alle freikommen” (“We will all be set free”, about children in jail) broadcast in Germany and France.
October:
Allgäu Peace Prize awarded to Dr. med. Peter and Maria Stingl.
November:
Concept design and opening of the travelling exhibition “Children Behind Bars in Africa”, Faculty of Philosophy S. J. München, Patron Dr. Hans-Jochen Vogel, Bundesminister a. D.
2001
April:
Change of name to Bice Deutschland e.V. – international children’s rights organisation.
June:
Commended as an exceptional initiative on the occasion of the 6th “Internationale Berliner Begegnung” (“Berlin International Congress”) with 300 participators from the fields of politics, society and representatives of African countries.
July:
Start of our involvement with child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2002
August:
Awarded for the first time with the DZI label (German Central Institute for Social Issues).
December:
Publishing of the Series of minors' rights protection laws: Analysis and comments on legislation applicable to minors
in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2003
October:
Formal separation of the finance structures of Bice Deutschland e.V. and the African delegation of Bice, although the work unit still existed. The office of the delegation stayed in Lahr with the German organisation.
2004
August:
Autonomy of BICE Deutschland e.V.: BICE Deutschland e.V. no longer a branch of Bice, but a privileged partner organisation.
November:
Start of intensive involvement with child soldiers and victims of the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2005
September:
Prof. Dr. med. Stingl, Chairman of Bice Deutschland e.V., is elected by the Board of Administration as 2nd Vice President of Bice.
November:
Exhibition “Rights for Children – Future for Children“, Patron Helmut Rau, Minister for Cult, Youth and Sport in the German Federal State Baden-Württemberg, Action Week for Africa in Lahr and surrounding area for the 10 year anniversary of the Bice Deutschland e.V., Film “Ich werde es nie vergessen” (“I’ll never forget”), the child soldiers in BUPOLE (Village of Peace), Congo.
2006
March:
Draft and concept design of setting up and strengthening an environment which protects children’s rights – the contribution from Bice.
September:
Concept design of a travelling exhibition on child soldiers – exhibition in the Sparkasse in Ettenheim, Germany.
October:
Broadcast of the film "Der Fluch des Tötens" (“The Killing Curse”). The film depicts the rehabilitation work of BICE for child soldiers in the D.R. Congo with help from the fates of two children.
November:
Publication of the 10th annual balance: Contribution from Bice Deutschland e.V. towards effective, sustainable implementation of children’s rights in Africa.
2007
Increased involvement in Togo and Mali, particularly in support of girls who are financially exploited, sexually abused and in situations of particular emergency – with financial support from the European Commission, the Belgian government, the German CARITAS association and from Women’s World Day of Prayer.
2008
March:
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Stingl elected as Honorary Chairman of the Organisation by the founder member and founders’ board; Lothar Hainz (voluntary worker) elected as 1st Chairman.
2009
October:
Change of name to KiRA (Kinderrechte Afrika e.V. in German).
2010
January:
Publishing of the Mali series of minors' rights protection laws: Analysis and comments on legislation applicable to minors in
Mali.
June:
Beginning of KiRA's commitment in Cameroon with the conduct of a study on the exploitation and sexual abuses of girls in the extreme north of the country.
September:
Beginning of project activities in Benin for the protection of girls against violence and sexual abuses.
2011
January:
KiRA becomes member of the network "Gemeinsam für Afrika" (Together for Africa).
March:
Beginning of KiRA's commitment in Cameroon towards children in conflit with the law.