Children's rights take centre stage at UN

The 74^th United Nations General Assembly has seen an unprecedented involvement of children and young people in debates affecting their lives. Several child delegates addressed global leaders such as António Guterres, UN Secretary-General and UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore at the commemorative event to mark the 30^th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in which SOS Children’s Villages International also took part.

For SOS Children’s Villages International, the participation in and around this year’s General Assembly provided an opportunity to reach government officials and other stakeholders to share insights about quality care solutions for children without parental care.

The SOS delegation 

SOS Children’s Villages International co-organised a high-level event on 26 September, entitled “30 Years of Children’s Rights, Opportunities and Threats: A Time to Act”. The event, jointly organised with World Vision International, ChildFund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children International and UNICEF, addressed children’s rights and challenges that are still faced by children around the world every day.

The SOS Children’s Villages International delegation highlighted the importance of the principle “leave no one behind” in all debates and events attended, as well as the specific needs and rights of children without parental care including young people who leave care and children at risk of losing parental care.

Norbert Meder, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages International and a member of the Board of the Generation Unlimited partnership, also attended its third meeting. The UNICEF-initiated partnership aims to help build a future for young people so they become active citizens. “Let’s be guided by the principle of 'leave no one behind' in all our actions. Mobilizing the power of young people, we can co-create youth-led solutions to the challenges they face,” Mr Meder said.

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