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Say Yes for Children
In preparation for the Special Session, a public campaign
deemed the largest pledge drive of its kind took place around
the world. As part of this Say Yes for Children campaign,
nearly 100 million people pledged to change the world, affirming
that "all children should be free to grow up in health,
peace and dignity." One by one, beginning in April 2001,
people of all ages added their voices to what has become a
resounding and unprecedented plea for action on behalf of
the world's children.
Those who pledged Yes also called for action to be taken
on 10 imperatives for children, rating the relative importance
of each (as of August 2002) as follows:
1. Educate Every Child - 14.8%
2. Leave No Child Out - 11.7 %
3. Fight Poverty: Invest in Children - 10.4%
4. Care for Every Child - 10.1%
5. Stop Harming and Exploiting Children - 10.0%
6. Fight HIV/AIDS - 9.8%
7. Listen to Children - 9.1%
8. Put Children First - 8.2%
9. Protect the Earth for Children - 8.0%
10. Protect Children from War - 7.8%
But Say Yes was far more than a simple sign-up campaign.
Behind the numbers was a campaign that seized the imagination
of communities worldwide, inspiring and driving a massive
mobilization of human resources and will.
Say Yes rallied the support of human right advocates, parliamentarians,
students, grass-roots action groups, community leaders and
families around a common hope for the world's children. New
and strengthened working alliances in the NGO community joined
efforts into common aims and tasks.
And over and over again, children and young people lent these
efforts their vibrant energies and innovative ideas, shaping
and directing campaigns and inspiring community support.
In a special ceremony at the close of the Children's Forum
on 7 May, children entrusted the global results of the Say
Yes campaign to Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, time-honored
activists for children and inspirational leaders of the Global
Movement for Children. Flanked by children holding a symbolic
string of actual pledge forms, a 12-year-old Children's Forum
participant implored Mr. Mandela and Mrs. Machel:
"When you talk with government leaders here at the Special
Session or in your travels around the world, tell them that
you know there are 94 million people [the number of pledges
recorded as of 7 May] with sleeves rolled up and ready to
help. Tell them millions of people are expecting leadership,
looking for leadership and are ready to support leaders who
are committed to children. Tell them, please, that this is
the first step of a long journey that we are ready to make
with them."
Two days later, Mr. Mandela handed over the results of Say
Yes to the President of the UN General Assembly, Dr. Han Seung-soo,
at the opening of a gala concert to celebrate leadership for
children.
Read more about the historic events related to the Say Yes
campaign that took place at the Special Session.
Read more on the Say Yes for Children
UNICEF page
To get more information on the record-breaking campaign for
children's rights and to see a detailed breakdown of results
by region, country, age, and gender, go to the NetAid
website.
Continue to pledge support for these 10 principles online
at the Global Movement for Children
website, or by e-mail to pledge@netaid.org
, or through the participating organizations.
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