Makati City, 25 October 2005 --- UNICEF Philippines commemorated the International Year of the Child (IYC) with the launch of a book entitled, “1979: Remembering the International Year of the Child, Dr. Estefania Aldaba Lim’s Two-Year Campaign for the Welfare of Children.”

The International Year of the Child was a global campaign to raise awareness and political commitments for the well-being of children all over the world.

“The International Year of the Child paved the way for the extraordinary success of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the only international treaty that has near-universal acceptance and ratification today,” declared UNICEF Country Representative in the Philippines, Dr. Nicholas Alipui.

One of the goals was to set up 50 National IYC Commissions all over the world. A total of 148 National IYC Commissions were set up.

“The International Year of the Child was the turn-about year,” remarked the Executive Director of the Philippines Council for the Welfare of Children, Undersecretary Lina Laigo, “when children were recognized to be distinct, important and critical by world leaders, non-governmental organizations, and the United Nations.

Dr. Estefania Aldaba Lim, a Filipino educator and social activist, was appointed as the United Nations Special Envoy for the International Year of the Child, with the rank of Assistant Secretary General.

As IYC’s most prominent and visible advocate, Dr Aldaba Lim travelled to more than 60 countries in two years, meeting with world leaders and other influential persons in each country.

UNICEF and its partners also gave recognition to the contribution of Dr Aldaba Lim, now in her late eighties. Dr Alipui said, “On behalf of the millions of children whose lives and hearts you touched in Africa, in Asia, in Europe, in the Americas, and right here at home in the Philippines – we honour and thank you.”

Copies of the book are available at UNICEF through telephone number 9010175.

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For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Dale Rutstein
UNICEF Manila, 901 0177 or 0917 866 4969, drutstein@unicef.org
Alexis Rodrigo
UNICEF Manila, 901 0173 or 0917 858 9447, arodrigo@unicef.org