It was the first time that the Assembly had addressed the issue of children in a special session. Bellamy, speaking at the second plenary meeting, said that child rights, women’s rights and people-centred development were now widely regarded as ideas whose time had come. While the rights of children were obvious, grown-ups had failed deplorably in upholding many of them, he said. Several speakers pointed out the paradox that extreme poverty existed side by side with unprecedented global wealth and technological innovation.ĭuring the opening meeting of the session, Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed himself directly to the world's children, emphasizing that they had a right to expect the translation of words into action and the building of a world fit for children. The problem of child soldiers, the impact of armed conflict on children, the effects of poverty on child welfare and the spectre of HIV/AIDS were recurring themes throughout the special session. In other business this afternoon, the Assembly adopted the report of its Credentials Committee. The Secretary-General had repeatedly recognized that children were not only an investment - investing in them was the first essential step towards breaking the cycle of poverty.ĭiscussion during this afternoon’s final meeting focused on such topics as trafficking in children, including for purposes of child prostitution and child pornography child labour the disparity between boys and girls in access to education and female genital mutilation. It had eventually led to the international community agreeing on a plan for the future of children in a world where their basic needs would be met and their rights respected and promoted.Ĭarol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), making concluding remarks on behalf of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said the three-day event marked the first General Assembly session where children were not only seen but also heard. Rather, he said, it was a milestone in a long journey that had begun in 1990 with the World Summit and gathered momentum during the 1990s. But the session should not be seen as an end in itself, he cautioned. Summing up the special session, he said a record number of side events had taken place, with Member States, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, religious leaders, parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations and the private sector sharing their experiences and vision with children. Building on the lessons learned since the 1990 World Summit for Children, it took into account the emerging challenges and opportunities of today’s world. He said the Plan of Action the document contained established new goals for children and set out specific targets in the fields of health, education, protection against abuse, exploitation and violence, as well as in the struggle against HIV/AIDS among children. Significant national efforts, including the mobilization of human, financial and material resources, were essential for achieving the targets outlined in the document. It was a practical and achievable checklist, not only for a better future, but also for immediate action that would improve child well-being today. He said the Declaration described very clearly the steps to be taken in building a new world fit for children. The document, which was adopted without a vote, contains a Declaration and a Plan of Action, which together aim to chart a course for a global movement that would strengthen international actions for the promotion of children's rights in the twenty-first century and beyond.Īssembly President Han Seung-soo (Republic of Korea), in concluding remarks following the text’s adoption, applauded the work of government leaders, civil society and children themselves. GENERAL ASSEMBLY, CONCLUDING SPECIAL SESSION ON CHILDREN,ĪDOPTS OUTCOME DOCUMENT - ‘A WORLD FIT FOR CHILDREN’Ĭoncluding its special session on children tonight, the General Assembly adopted the final outcome document - “A World Fit for Children” - which reaffirms the commitment of governments to complete the unfinished agenda of the 1990 World Summit for Children.
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