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Eastern & Southern Africa
Angola
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| The
music group "As Gingas" at the launch. |
The Say Yes campaign came to public awareness with an official
ceremony on 26 April, jointly hosted by the government’s National
Institute for Children, UNICEF and NGO representatives. Popular
Angolan singing group and special Say Yes advocates “As Gingas”
performed songs and read the ten points of the Say Yes pledge with
some of the 200 boys and girls who participated in the event. The
event culminated in the signing of a large Say Yes banner by all
participants. On the same day, national newspaper Jornal de Angola
published Say Yes pledge forms, and radio and TV round-table discussions
beamed into homes throughout Angola to further spread awareness
of the campaign. A special Say Yes message was read out to all parliamentarians
at the National Assembly in May and a special issue of the UNICEF
publication “EPA!” was distributed widely on the theme
of Say Yes. The campaign included provincial sign-up campaigns,
radio and TV programming to promote Say Yes, special events in June
on the Day of the African Child and other exciting Say Yes initiatives.
Burundi
The First Vice-President launched Say Yes nationwide on 16 June,
the Day of the African Child. The Minister of Social Affairs, who
signed a pledge in the presence of many child artists –dancers,
drummers and actors – who had walked from their respective
neighbourhoods to the launch event, oversaw festivities in the city
of Bujumbura in a “March for Peace”. All ambassadors,
members of government and UN agency representatives attending the
launch also signed pledges.
Eritrea
President Isayas Afeworki launched Say Yes on 5 June by leading
a team of school children, top government officials, diplomats and
UNICEF Asmara staff to a colourful ceremony at the Red Sea Secondary
School. Following the first signature for Eritrea by the President,
all children and adults were asked to Say Yes. At a regional launch
in Zoba Maakel on 22 June, well-attended by a wide cross section
of children and adults, one young boy said he was there “because
Eritreans love children… today we are reminded that our parents
and adults should be good to us.”
A Global Movement for Children Task Force, comprised of representatives
from government ministries of Labor and Human Welfare, Education
and Health, local NGOS, the National Union of Eritrean Women and
the National Union of Eritrean Youths and Students, UNICEF and Save
the Children UK, organized Say Yes in Eritrea. In a special initiative,
the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare, in collaboration with
the Ministry of Education, led a programme to mobilise teachers
and students around Say Yes in schools in all six regions. Say Yes
has been integrated into various events and activities in communities
and regions across Eritrea, including the annual commemoration of
International Children’s Day and the production of over 200
works of art by children for exhibition at the Amazed World Art
Project on display in New York. Ongoing advocacy with NGOs, UN agencies
and others is helping to ensure that the Global Movement for Children
will continue to grow through meaningful action for Eritrean children.
Ethiopia
 |
| Musician
Sileshie Demissie, who teamed up with UNICEF. |
Say Yes in Ethiopia has creatively risen above the challenges of
the terrain, the country’s more adverse economic and social
conditions, and very low levels of Internet access to involve as
many Ethiopians as possible in actively making children’s rights
a priority. The campaign was launched in regions across Ethiopia
beginning 1 June. A series of well-supported public pledging events,
tailored to the pressing issues specific to each region, involved
well-known and influential Ethiopian personalities, and took advantage
of Ethiopia’s rich cultural traditions of dance and drama to
encourage all to Say Yes. Environmental activist, performer and
social mobilizer Sileshie Demessi, greatly respected locally, teamed
up with Say Yes organizers to help in encouraging action by children
and adults alike. With a heavy focus on raising awareness and widespread
mobilisation of children and adults alike, Say Yes drummed up great
support and enthusiasm throughout Ethiopia. Learn
more about the Say Yes campaign in Ethiopia.
Kenya
Say Yes has grown steadily in Kenya since all citizens were invited
to begin pledging on 6 June. Pledge forms have been distributed
and the campaign promoted all throughout the country with help from
NGOs, religious organizations, national media and others. Thousands
of volunteers, mainly from youth groups and NGOs, went on a door-to-door
campaign in some of the most remote areas of the country. A GMC/Say
Yes road show travelled around the country promoting the campaign
and distributing and collecting pledges. Through drama, song and
dance, the Kenya Music and Cultural Festival helped to promote the
campaign in rural communities. Grassroots NGOs made a special effort
to reach out to over 50,000 AIDS orphans. A local broadcaster won
the first-ever 2001 International Emmy Award for the most creative
and original programming for Say Yes. The President, Vice President,
key Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials made their
pledges and committed themselves to support Say Yes and the GMC
in Kenya. Several months into the campaign, as a result of the tremendous
efforts through Say Yes to raise awareness and encourage action
for children in Kenya, people from all walks of life demanded more
pledge forms, hoping to influence government action on poverty,
education and HIV/AIDS.
Madagascar
In launching Say Yes on 6 April, President Didier Ratsiraka declared,
“we continue to affirm today that the child is king!”
He made a personal commitment to ensure the realisation of children’s
rights in Madagascar, to protect children from discriminatory treatment,
and to ensure the continued existence of establishments set up for
the welfare of children.
A National Task Force established in February 2001 and comprised
of various government ministries, NGOs, youth groups, UNICEF and
civil society drove the campaign. A number of events were tied to
the Global Movement for Children and Say Yes as part of the ongoing
effort to renew the drive for children’s rights in Madagascar.
For the first time since its inception 8 years ago, the International
Festival of Music and Culture, held 30 May – 3 June, created
space for the participation of children in all events. In addition
to dedicating 1 June to children’s games and activities, the
programme for each day began with a group of young artistes, dressed
in T-shirts bearing the 10 points of the Say Yes pledge. Throughout
the month of June, a musical project involving 40 primary school
children from a deprived community, a French artiste and local musicians,
produced an album with 7 songs on the rights of the child, two of
them reflecting points of the pledge. In July, a National Children’s
Forum ended with a call by the President of the National Assembly
to “concentrate all efforts on upholding the best interest
of the child”, and a concrete proposal to institute a Youth
Parliament in Madagascar to give real meaning to the right of children
to participate in decisions affecting them.
Malawi
Over 1,000 women, men and children started Say Yes in Malawi by
making their pledges at the national launch of the campaign on 10
May. In June, the Speaker of Parliament and 110 MPs were sensitized
and made their pledges, while the President of Malawi held discussions
with children and young people on child rights, the 10 points of
Say Yes and the Special Session on Children. The Global Movement
for Children in Malawi is growing in momentum with renewed and strengthened
commitments to children’s welfare at all levels of society,
political support, and the active participation of civil society
and children and young people. In collaborative efforts with the
Ministry of Education, local and international NGOs, the media and
the private sector, Say Yes brought in hundreds of thousands of
pledges, while widespread awareness-raising activities have helped
to refocus attention on children’s rights. In August, 62 children
from across Malawi convened at the first Children’s Parliament
to debate and document their concerns, which will be conveyed at
the Special Session on Children.
Mauritius
The Prime Minister of Mauritius launched the Global Movement for
Children and the Say Yes campaign on 16 May, at an official ceremony
in the presence of several government Ministers, members of the
diplomatic corps and some 500 representatives from public institutions,
civil society, religious leaders, service clubs, UN agencies, media
and children themselves. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the determination
of the government to “uphold the rights of children” in
Mauritius. A group of children performed a colourful sketch advocating
the rights of the child, which they demonstrated in various regions
of the island to help promote Say Yes and mobilise other children
and young people.
Say Yes has had strong support from government, NGOs and civil society.
The Ministry of Education organized a special pledging day in all
schools, and designed a special illustrated form for the participation
of pre-primary school children. Daily radio spots on Say Yes invited
inviting all Mauritians to Say Yes for Children. National NGO CEDEM,
in collaboration with their Youth Committee, has been instrumental
in mobilising support for the campaign and raising awareness of
children’s rights with their production of sketches, costumes
and books. On 18 August, 700 people of all ages and from across
the island came together for “Everybody is Saying Yes for Children”
- an inspiring one-hour show also organized by CEDEM.
Mozambique
Say Yes took off in Mozambique on 26 April at a lively and well-attended
launch event, marked by the participation of 150 students, the promise
of governmental support by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare,
and the lively performance of top female vocalist Julia Mwithu.
The campaign gained tremendous momentum following the launch. Taking
into consideration the terrain of the country and the low levels
of access to the Internet, national and international NGOs distributed
forms and collected pledges all over Mozambique. On 1 June, International
Children’s Day, President Joaquim Chissano made his pledge
before thousands gathered in Maputo and encouraged all Mozambicans
to Say Yes. Julia Mwithu made a special contribution to Say Yes
by visiting schools and neighbourhoods around the country to generate
support for the campaign. Read more...
Namibia
Following the introduction of the Global Movement for Children in
Cabinet in early May, and on 14 June in Parliament, the two houses
of Parliament met jointly to make their pledges for Say Yes and
to join the GMC as Namibia celebrated the Day of the African Child
on 16 June. Fifty children from various schools represented all
Namibian children in Parliament, where they asked Members to sign
pledge forms.
Rwanda
The President of Rwanda and an array of senior government officials
initiated an unprecedented national drive for pledges on behalf
of Rwandan children on 26 February 2002. President Paul Kagame and
First Lady Janet Kagame pledged their support and called upon all
Rwandans to rally behind the ten points of Say Yes and to demonstrate
their commitment by taking some positive action. President Kagame
declared, “Today we think of our children as the foundation
for our country’s development, both now and in the future.
Let everyone act on these ten imperative actions by first committing
to the protection and promotion of children’s rights."
South Africa
On 1 June, in a festive all-day celebration that saw the launch
of five major child-rights initiatives, more than 500 children,
parliamentarians, teachers and care-givers gathered as four South
African Cabinet Ministers logged on to fill out South Africa’s
child-friendly version of the pledge, called “Hear My Voice”
(www.children.gov.za),
and to launch Say Yes on the new web site of the Office on the Rights
of the Child in the Presidency. Several Cabinet Ministers vowed
their support for the campaign. At a special “debate on children”
that followed at the National Assembly, one Minister declared, “Today
is a day when we celebrate children and commit ourselves to the
hearing of the voices of all children in all spheres of life.”
Local pop stars later released a new child rights song, which has
aired widely on national media along with other Hear My Voice promotions.
Hear My Voice, which reflects issues relevant to South Africa, was
carried nationwide in partnership with telecommunications giant
Telkom, the Office on the Rights of the Child in the Presidency,
the Department of Education, public broadcaster South African broadcasting
and a number of NGOs. The campaign took its main thrust through
some 10,000 schools, reaching initially over 1 million children.
Telkom facilitated Internet pledging by children nationwide, while
those in rural areas were given a chance to pledge through community
outreach initiatives. An extensive media campaign included a radio
promotion that provided children with cell phones to call in their
pledges, as well as live pledging via Webcam, radio and TV by a
number of celebrities.
Swaziland
Say Yes organizers teamed up closely with local churches to promote
the campaign in Swaziland, which was launched on 30 June. Clergy
and congregations helped to spread awareness of the ten points of
the pledge and encouraged everyone to Say Yes. Pledging took place
in churches and various other locations throughout the country during
July and August. Specific to the situation for children in the country,
the campaign focused on specific principles of the pledge seen as
the most urgent – Fight HIV/AIDS and Stop Harming and Exploiting
Children.
Tanzania
 On
28 April, President Benajamin William Mkapa officiated the launch
of Say Yes at the State House Grounds in Dar es Salaam. Despite
a heavy downpour of morning rains, more than 250 children and young
people from 20 regions of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar made their
way to the event in a 15-minute procession. In a statement read
to the President, the children asked the government to abolish education
fees and give poor children a chance to attend school. The statement
touched on several other issues of importance to the children, including
HIV/AIDS and orphans, poverty and child labor, gender-based discrimination
and substance abuse. The Ministry of Community Development, Women
Affairs and Children organized the event, in collaboration with
UNICEF, Save the Children Fund, PLAN International and a network
of NGOs working on children’s issues.
Uganda
On 6 June, Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi pledged his support for
Say Yes and assured his audience that he too was a child at heart.
Children and young people all over Uganda were called to participate
in Say Yes, in collaboration with national, district and community
networks, including the Girl Guides and Scouts, Interact clubs and
teachers’ associations. The pledge form was simplified and
made more child-friendly – featuring colorful cartoon characters
– and translated in 4 local languages for non-English speakers.
As part of media outreach, a national programme organized by children
and young people called “Know your Rights” ran every week
for several months on one of the top local radio stations.
Zambia
Zambian youth declaration: Aspirations for
the Special Session on Children [word format]
This declaration was delivered to UNICEF Executive Director Carol
Bellamy by Auxillia Lungu, a Zambian youth activist.
The core organizing group that has come together to help promote
children’s rights in Zambia consists of the Ministry of Sport,
Youth and Child Development, UNICEF, PLAN International, CARE Zambia,
World Vision, Youth Media and the Family Health Trust. Some 60 representatives
of governments, NGOs and CSOs attended the official launch of the
Global Movement for Children and the Say Yes campaign on 16 May,
aswell as 60 young people who had gathered for a National Youth
Forum on the GMC. In this Forum, which commenced after the launch,
the young people selected what they thought were the three priority
areas for Zambia: Fight Poverty: Invest in Children, Educate Every
Child, Care for Every Child. They also resolved to form a national
network to take the Global Movement and the Say Yes campaign forward.
Outreach for support among grassroots communities included widespread
distribution of pledge forms by provincial liaison officers, promotional
activities and efforts to increase awareness of the issues behind
the campaign.
Zimbabwe
During the national launch of Say Yes on 12 May, children marched
from Townhouse to Harare Gardens to make their issues known and
have their voices heard. Presided over by Her Excellency the First
Lady, Mrs. Grace Mugabe, the launch was a lively and colorful event
with speeches, entertainment and performances by children, marching
bands and drum majorettes depicting the points of the pledge –
which were tailored for Zimbabwe and translated into five local
languages. All Say Yes activities were spearheaded by an inter-ministerial
committee with significant NGO support and by Zimbabwean children
themselves. Through a Consultative Children’s Forum, children
of various backgrounds – from street children and orphans to
child parliamentarians – helped to plan the national launch
of Say Yes. Children continued to be an integral part of the campaign
and helped in countrywide activities to raise awareness and encourage
support for Say Yes.
West & Central Africa
 West
Africa: Traditional Chiefs say YES
At a symposium in Niger, some 300 traditional chiefs from Burkina
Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal
said Yes for children by signing the Rallying Call of the GMC. These
chiefs are the arbiters of moral and religious authority in their
countries and often hold considerable de facto civil authority.
Often seen as conservative, they spoke out frankly for child and
women’s rights, including for girls’ education and against
early marriage. A strong delegation from the northern Nigerian states
of Borno, Dass, Daura, Gwandu, Kano, Katsina and Sokoto was particularly
outspoken in calling for continued collaboration of traditional
chiefs in the interest of children.
West Africa: First Ladies say YES
In May, First Ladies from Mali, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Benin, Burkina
Faso, Nigeria and Senegal signed the Bamako Declaration – the
outcome document of the Forum on Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal
Mortality in West and Central Africa, organized by the government
of Mali with support from UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID and WHO. Answering
the call of UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director Andre Roberfroid
to everyone in the region, the First Ladies - who committed to developing
a Plan of Action to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the
region - also said Yes for Children.
Benin
On 26 April, banners displaying messages for the respect of children’s
rights lined the main road of the city of Cotonou. That morning,
some 300 guests, including Members of Parliament, NGOs, the clergy,
and a host of children from secondary schools all over Cotonou,
attended the launch of Say Yes, held under the patronage of the
State Minister. In a key part of the event, five young students
of the local Committee of Democrat Children engaged eight personalities
on subjects ranging from the Convention on the Rights of the Child
to the trafficking of children. In another, guests watched internationally
known singer Angelique Kidjo via video, who advocated for increased
commitment and action for children. At the end of the launch ceremony,
the State Minister and other participants signed a visitor’s
book in which was printed the ten points of the Say Yes campaign.
Burkina Faso
Musical star and UNICEF Ambassador Youssou Ndour invited everyone
to Say Yes on 24 February, before more than 40,000 people and over
1,000 journalists of national and international press. The event
coincided with the opening of the Panafrican Movie and Television
Festival (FESPACO) of Ouagadougou. Several filmmakers present at
FESPACO met on 1 March to exchange ideas during a symposium on the
GMC and left their handprints in clay to Say Yes for Children. The
Association of African Media Professionals was invited to Say Yes
on 20 March during a workshop. Say Yes was celebrated during the
Day of the African Child and the national media have been involved
in promoting Say Yes.
Côte D'Ivoire
An estimated two thousand children, traditional chiefs, private
sector leaders, government representatives and various others packed
the Palais de Congres in Abidjan on 19 April for the launch of Say
Yes, presided over by President Laurent Gbagbo. A lively and colorful
event featured young artists from the Abidjan circus, traditional
dancers and singers, and children as young as three singing and
reading poems. Appeals to the people and government of Côte
D’Ivoire on behalf of children came from the President of the
Children’s Parliament and the Minister of Family, Women and
Children. President Gbagbo made the country’s first pledge.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The GMC and the Say Yes for Children campaign were launched on 27
March by the Minister of Social Affairs and Family, in conjunction
with the establishment of DRC’s preparatory committee for the
Special Session on Children. Six priorities were identified in the
framework of Say Yes: the unification of families while sensitising
parents to their responsibilities to protect children’s rights;
increased access for children to basic education; the convening
of a children’s forum to develop a national declaration for
presentation at the Special Session on Children; the participation
of young people in HIV/AIDS awareness-raising; an early childhood
health campaign; the ratification of certain international agreements,
and the amendment of national ones geared towards DRC’s children.
In spite of the conflict affecting the country, the government promised
to respect its commitment to put an end to the painful “cry
of the child congolais”.
Gabon
On 6 July, President Bongo ceremonially launched the GMC and Say
Yes for Children. Over 100 children sang a song that called on adults
to put an end to conflicts that endanger children’s lives daily
and to keep promises and commitments made on their behalf. All day,
children and adults pledged for Say Yes at a dozen cyber cafés
in Libreville and Port-Gentil and at radio and TV stations.
Gambia
The Vice-President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs
launched Say Yes on 21 March, during a UNICEF Program Review meeting
with the government. A wide and varied attendance included NGOs,
children’s and youth organizations, traditional and religious
leaders, members of the business community and the media. Say Yes
has been seen in Gambia as an opportunity to build on the kind of
vision and partnership that UNICEF and governments have been developing
over the years and which encompass a broad range of issues affecting
children. Say Yes in Gambia has been used to draw attention and
support from far-reaching appeals with and to children of local
schools and to professionals of key sectors. Major events tied to
Say Yes for Children included the monthly gathering of the Business
Executive in May, the National Youth Conference in June, and the
joint commemoration of the Day of the African Child and the National
Forum on Children, both in June. In an important initiative, the
National Assembly formed a committee on the GMC with a membership
of 12 parliamentarians.
Ghana
Hundreds of Ghanians assembled for a fund-raising launch of Say
Yes by the President of the Republic on 24 April. As a Children’s
Parliament debated on the current situation of children in Ghana,
the President spontaneously responded to their concerns by promising
a full commitment to education reforms with the implementation of
a national policy for free, compulsory basic education and an expanded
teacher training programme, as well as to urgent actions to halt
child labour and fight child abuse. Almost US$20,000 was raised
at the launch event for a Children’s Fund in Ghana - signalling
a positive first step for turning words of determination into action.
Guinea
Under the theme “Let us Protect the Refugees and Displaced
Children”, the month of the Guinean child and the Say Yes campaign
were launched on 1 June in Kissidougou. The ceremony – the
very first of its kind in Guinea – was marked by the decision
to raise the curfew every Saturday to allow children to enjoy their
right to play and leisure, and for entertaining and cultural activities.
The governor of the administrative region of Faranah, the prefect
of Kissidougou, various opinion leaders and numerous children were
part of the audience. The ceremony was followed by the departure
of the caravan for childhood “Let’s Say Yes for Children”
– which crossed six prefectures and several rural villages
to sensitize residents on the need to protect children, particularly
refugees and those displaced.
Guinea-Bissau
Say Yes was officially launched on 1 June, the first day of the
month of the Guinean child, in Canchungo. The Prime Minister encouraged
members of parliament, the government, NGOs, regional administrative
structures, journalists, children, women and all other participants
to Say Yes for Children. Promotional activities have included radio
spots on the ten points of the pledge and a national drawing contest
for children in primary school.
Liberia
The Day of the African Child, 16 June, was celebrated in Liberia
over a lively week of festivities including a children’s art
exhibition, a street-wide parade by students adorned with Say Yes
for Children T-shirts and banner, and an indoor programme that brought
together children, an array of dignitaries, and NGO representatives.
Her Excellency Jewel Howard-Taylor officially launched Say Yes,
and special ballots were filled by hundreds of the participants.
The call was made for concerted action by the national government,
the donor community and civic groups to alleviate the suffering
of children in war-torn Liberia.
Say Yes was used to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and education among
children under the age of 18 years through collaboration with Rotary
International and UNICEF Sports Ambassador George Weah. Football
teams for under-18 year olds were organized in six of Liberia’s
13 counties. The games were used as vehicles to teach young people
about HIV/AIDS. The children organized school and community clubs
to discuss and share information
Mali, Republic of
Following the commitment made by African First Ladies in May 2001
in Bamako to help in the fight to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality
in West and Central Africa, the Say Yes campaign was officially
launched in Mali on 21 June,in the city that has been dedicated
to children by Mali authorities. Several members of government and
ministerial cabinets, members of parliament, elected local officials,
artists and academics, representatives of traditional chiefs and
the media, heads of UN agencies, NGOs and a large audience of children
from various backgrounds attended the launch. Various personalities
present put their signatures on a giant banderole – an intricately
designed cloth with an inscription of the 10 points of the pledge
– the work of several of Mali’s artists and painters.
Mali’s Children’s Parliament led a caravan throughout
the Republic, collecting signatures on the banderole.
Nigeria
Following zonal launches over the summer and the steady gathering
of hundreds of thousands of pledges, over 1 million pledges had
been collected by the end of August. 16 cross-sectoral focal groups
worked with UNICEF Nigeria to popularize the campaign, including:
the Presidency, the 36 Governors, key government Ministries, secondary
and tertiary institutions, media networks, women’s organizations,
churches and mosques.
In June, activities to celebrate the Day of the African Child –
ranging from rallies and religious services to football matches
and essay competitions – were used to promote campaign. Further
into the summer, State Governors, legislators, top government officials
and civil servants attended Say Yes rallies, fairs and outdoor celebrations.
2,000 children and youth volunteers were enlisted across Nigeria
to mobilize support for GMC and canvas for Say Yes pledges in a
door-to-door campaign co-ordinated by partner NGOs, Ministries and
agencies. It included visits to churches, mosques, market places
and schools. 200 women marched and collected thousands of pledges
at a Say Yes Rally organized by private sector organization in Nigeria’s
commercial capital of Lagos.
At an official presidential launch on 5 September, during the opening
of a federal executive cabinet meeting, President Olusegun Obasanjo
pledged support for the Global Movement for Children, made his pledge
for Say Yes, and declared, “Fighting poverty and educating
our children is the best investment we can make for the future of
Nigeria.” The first 7 days of September brought in over 600,000
pledges.
Senegal
Prime Minister Madame Mame Madior Boye officially launched Say Yes
for Children on 29 June, at a ceremony organized by the Ministry
of Family and Early Childhood in partnership with UNESCO, PLAN International
and UNICEF. The audience of 1,200 guests included several Ministers,
representatives of the National Assembly, members of the diplomatic
corps, UN agencies, private sector and NGO representatives, the
media, civil society and many children. “Paths of Children”
was introduced as an initiative to mobilise broad support for the
Global Movement for Children and to sensitise families and the general
public on their responsibilities for children. The Prime Minister
urged everyone to take an active role in Say Yes, children of a
national theatre company staged a colorful performance of sketches,
dances and poems, and various speakers encouraged respect for children’s
rights and called for direct action. Say Yes and the Global Movement
have since been actively supported. Visual endorsements came from
several leaders and celebrities, including the President and famous
singer Youssou N’Dour. Religious chiefs, associations of young
people and women, private sectorcompanies, teachers and others were
mobilised to help generate support for the campaign.
Sierra Leone
On the eve of the country’s 40th Independence Day, the government
launched the Sierra Leone Partnership, which promised to “sensitise
the whole nation about the importance of educating our children”
and “galvanise the entire populace into action”. Through
the Partnership, Say Yes has responded to one of the country’s
most persisting challenges – the child’s right to be assured
a quality basic education. The pledge form was tailored to secure
commitments for the specific goal of “Quality Basic Education
for All” and was widely distributed. Since January 2001, the
Sierra Leone Partnership has been actively committed to building
a movement for children in the country, and comprises community
leaders, local and international NGOs, youth organizations and government
representatives. Children have organized a National Forum to help
consolidate support for the Global Movement for Children among policy
makers and their peer groups.
Togo
Under the patronage of the President of the Republic and presided
over by the Prime Minister, the Global Movement for Children and
Say Yes for Children were officially launched on 20 June. The wide
range of attendants included members of government, parliamentarians,
members of the diplomatic corps, traditional chiefs, national and
international NGOs, representatives of the private sector, religious
groups and young people and children themselves. The roles of each
sector and level of society were articulated, and colourful sketches
encouraged and reminded the audience of the need to realize children’s
rights every day.
North Africa
Algeria
Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, and Algeria’s
Minister of Education launched Say Yes in Algiers on 19 May. Throughout
the life of the campaign, Say Yes pledges have been distributed
to schools, health and youth centers and recreational clubs throughout
the country. Several ministers and local and national NGOs participated
actively in the distribution of collection of pledge forms. The
Ministry of Post and Telecommunication and the Algerian airline
“Air Algeria” distributed two million pledge forms. Internet
pledging was made possible at various cyber cafés, popular
meeting place for young people in Algeria. Pledges were distributed
at the Youth and Students World Festival, held in Algiers, which
attracted some 15,000 participants from around the world.
Dijibouti
Say Yes was launched by the Minister of Women’s Affairs on
16 June, to coincide with the celebration of the Day of the African
Child. Following the national launch, Ministries, the media, students
and other groups of young people helped to promote the campaign.
Focused efforts on points of Say Yes included the initiation of
a national strategy for Early Childhood Development; a qualitative
study on girls’ education; and a project agreement signed with
the Ministry of Youth for various HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives
aimed at young people.
Egypt
The PANAF Forum on the Future of Children was the starting point
for Say Yes, launched on 28 May. UNICEF, NGOs and young volunteers
advocated for Say Yes during the Forum, where a booth for Internet
pledging was set up with help from the Regional Information Technology
and Software Engineering Center. As mobilisation efforts spread
all over Egypt, a number of NGOs and the National Council for Childhood
and Motherhood helped to raise public awareness of the GMC and Say
Yes and to distribute and collect pledges.
Libyan Arab Jamahirya
Coinciding with a weeklong celebration of the Day of the African
Child, Say Yes was launched on 23 June, in collaboration with the
Libyan High Committee for Children. The driving force behind the
Say Yes campaign comprised members of the Libyan Scouts and Girl
Guides Movement, the National Youth Union, the High Committee for
Children and other local NGOs working with youth and children. The
Libyan Scouts and Girl Guides Movement organized the distribution
and collection of pledges. Special activities and promotions organized
around the campaign included the inauguration of the first Libyan
Child Rights organization; convening of the first National Child
Rights Seminar; distribution of pledges at exhibitions, book fairs
and carnivals; implementation of an HIV/AIDS awareness programme,
and the production of a periodical magazine containing news and
regular campaign updates.
Morocco
Presided over by Princess Lalla Meryem, Say Yes was launched on
25 May, coinciding with the National Session of the Youth Parliament
and the country’s observation of National Child Day. Morocco’s
campaign was marked by a widespread drive for support and pledges
among and by the Moroccan government, Parliament, the private sector,
NGOs, the media, the public and children and young people themselves.
The youth Parliament, the Scouts and other youth organizations distributed
and collected thousands of pledges. In one initiative, young scouts
criss-crossed different regions for 3 weeks, using railroad stations
and trains to gather support for Say Yes; in another, Scouts travelled
on bikes to take pledge forms out to rural areas. Popular actress
Naima Lemcerhqui and world athletic champion Hicham El Guerrouj
were among numerous celebrity supporters; the Prime Minister and
key Ministers pledged support, and members of the Royal Family who
said Yes included King Mohammed VI and Prince Moulay Rachid. Following
the distribution of millions of pledges to Moroccan schools, the
country’s grand total rose to 6 million pledges made in support
of Say Yes.
Sudan
Leading actor and child advocate Ali Mahdi, in collaboration with
the governors of Gezira and Khartoum states, led a 180-kilometre
march to Say Yes to Peace for Children on 27-28 July. President
Omar al-Beshir joined thousands of marchers, including children,
politicians and actors carrying banners reading “Yes to Peace,
No to War”, on their arrival in Khartoum, the capital.
In southern Sudan – a region recognized as one of the most
conflicted and isolated – paper pledge forms were distributed
and collected through schools, medical outreach and immunization
programmes under the umbrella of the emergency airlift programme
Operation Lifeline Sudan. Pledges were also collected in 500 “Child
Friendly Villages” in the states of Kordofan, Darfur, River
Nile, and Gedarif.
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