This page is background information, last updated in May 2002 and still available for reference. For the latest on the Special Session on Children, please go to the Special Session index.

With Mandela and Machel present, Children's Forum ends

7 May 2002, NEW YORK - "Rub your hands together and feel the energy," the hundreds of youth delegates whispered urgently to each other as they gathered today to officially close the Children's Forum.

They were building their energy to give a thrilling welcome to Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, inspirational leaders of the Global Movement for Children.

They chanted "Nelson Mandela!" as the former president of South Africa and anti-apartheid leader entered the banquet hall with Mrs. Machel, one of the world's pre-eminent experts on children in armed conflict. Greeted with such enthusiasm and affection, these two great advocates for children broke out into a dance.

Mr. Mandela and Mrs. Machel received from the delegates the current tally of Say Yes for Children pledges collected from people around the world. Mr. Mandela, Mrs. Machel, Carol Bellamy, the Executive Director of UNICEF, and Nane Annan, wife of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, then took a seat behind the children as they closed their historic Forum before a packed audience at the Manhattan Center in New York.

"We worked hard on issues concerning youth participation, HIV/AIDS, education, war, exploitation and poverty," said the UK's Ellen Leaver, who recently turned 18. She who was one of three young people who worked together as 'Masters of Ceremonies' during cultural performances by delegates to the Children's Forum.

Young people from Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Pakistan and the Philippines, among other countries, performed traditional folk songs and dances from their countries to cheers and passionate applause from the crowd.

"This may be the end of the Children's Forum," said Ellen, "but it's the beginning of our work to make children's lives better and to turn our hopes into reality."

Monique Anthony, 13, from South Africa could not agree more. "This is a first step," she said. "We resolved quite a lot at this Forum. We really took on the issue of HIV/AIDS and the exploitation of children. We made it clear what governments need to do to make progress, and we all plan to continue talking to our governments throughout the Special Session."

Yemen's Saleem Al Hailany, who recently turned 18, thinks that governments may actually listen. "Now, at least, everyone all around the world will hear about these issues," he said. "I think they will listen."

Three young delegates chosen by their Children's Forum peers will read a statement at the opening of the Special Session on Wednesday. This is a historic first -- the first time ever that children address the UN General Assembly.

Press Conference by youth delegates