'CHILDREN'S RIGHTS' EXHIBITION OPENS IN STRASBOURG

( Editorial: --> 7281 ) STRASBOURG, Jan 26 (Hina) - An exhibition called Children's Rights opened in Strasbourg Monday. On display are paintings by primary school children from former Croatian front-line areas, as well as photographs documenting the suffering of children during the war in Croatia, and scale models showing demolished houses and houses children would like to live in. The exhibition was opened by Croatian vice premier Ljerka Mintas- Hodak. Council of Europe Secretary General Daniel Tarschys was also in attendance. The purpose of the exhibition is the promotion of children's rights, the creativity of children, and the truth on the violation of children's rights during the Homeland War, as well as the promotion of a programme on the welfare of children in Croatia. "The Council of Europe is certainly one of the most appropriate places for staging this silent, but incredibly powerful children's call," said Mintas-Hodak, adding this was not only a call to the respect of the children's rights, but the respect of human rights in general. The exhibition was first staged in Zagreb on 11 December 1996 on the 50th anniversary of UNICEF, then visited those Croatian towns which witnessed the highest suffering on the children's part. It was also staged in Trieste, Milan, Budapest, Antwerp, London and The Hague. After Strasbourg, the exhibition will travel to Bern, Copenhagen and Oslo, before reaching Australia and Canada. After the tour, it will be permanently staged in Vukovar in eastern Croatia. (hina) ha jn 261610 MET jan 98