‘Boys and girls live in a world increasingly hostile to their rights’

New York, November 20, 2023 – “Every year on November 20, we celebrate World Children’s Day to commemorate the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, the most ratified human rights treaty in history. By ratifying this international legal framework, world leaders recognize All children have inalienable rights. They pledge that the government will ensure the protection and respect of these rights.

“Unfortunately, today’s children live in a world that is increasingly hostile to their rights.

“This is most evident in the situation of boys and girls who suffer the consequences of conflict.

“We estimate that 400 million children, about one in five, are currently fleeing or living in conflict zones. Many have been injured, killed or are victims of sexual violence. They have lost family and friends. Some have been driven by armed forces or Recruited and used by groups. Many people become victims of multiple displacements, risking separation from their families, loss of important educational opportunities, and deterioration of relationships with their communities.

“The United Nations has verified that more than 315,000 serious violations of children’s rights occurred in conflict zones between 2005 and 2022. And these are only verified cases, which means the true number of violations is almost certainly much higher.

“Alongside conflict zones, children’s rights are also at risk.

“This coincides with other crises that violate children’s rights and is deeply worrying. These include rising poverty and inequality, public health emergencies and, of course, the global climate crisis.

“Climate change in particular poses an existential threat to the health and well-being of this and future generations. Across the world, more than 1 billion children currently live in countries at “extremely high risk” of the impacts of climate change. This means that as the planet continues Warming, half of the world’s children could suffer irreparable harm. They could lose their homes or schools to increasingly violent storms… They could suffer severe waste as local crops wilt in drought… or they Deaths can occur from pneumonia caused by heat waves or air pollution.

“Since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 34 years ago, children’s rights have never been at greater risk.

“That is why we must act. I urge all of us – from UNICEF and partners in the child rights community to governments, civil society organizations and the private sector – to become stronger advocates for the realization and protection of children’s rights. Advocates and facilitators. This means supporting the alignment of national legal frameworks with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international standards, and putting these standards into practice.

“It also means reaffirming the status of children as distinct and independent rights holders and ensuring accountability for violations of children’s rights wherever they occur.

“Today should be a day when we should celebrate the progress that has been made in the rights of children around the world, but these rights are being violated. We must not be discouraged but are more determined than ever to ensure that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is fulfilled for all children. promise.”