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Press Release
World Leaders Descend on New York for Sake of Children
UN Special Session on Children Attracts
A Vast and Diverse Array of Notables
NEW YORK, 7 May 2002 - Some 60 heads of
state and government are descending on New York this
week for the United Nations Special Session on Children,
but the May 8-10 meeting will be a magnet for more than
just political leaders. An extraordinary array of leading
figures from business, culture, the arts, academia,
and religion will enliven UN headquarters as the world
focuses on the future of its children.
In all, close to 6,000 people are likely to participate
in the most important international conference on children
in more than a decade, at which the nations of the world
will commit to a series of goals to improve the health
and well-being of young people.
"The Special Session is all about leadership.
Political leaders are at the vanguard, and their strong
commitment this week to improving the lives of children
heralds a promising new era. They know that if we want
to create a more stable, just and peaceful world, we
must start by investing in children," said Carol
Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF.
"But leadership can and must go beyond politics,"
Bellamy said. "That's why it's inspiring to see
so many other kinds of leaders coming to New York. Their
energy, commitment, expertise and focus will enliven
the UN and hopefully help inspire political leaders.
Together they form a powerful partnership that can truly
change the world."
In addition to nearly five dozen heads of state and
government, some 180 high-level national delegations
will be present. In addition, more than 250 parliamentary
leaders will attend the conference. But the majority
of participants will come from spheres outside of politics
- including business chieftains, cultural figures, Nobel
Laureates, religious leaders, experts on child-related
issues and leading activists for children
The Special Session is expected to conclude with global
agreement on the proposed outcome document, A World
Fit For Children, which contains a series of goals on
child heath, education and protection, and a plan of
action to attain them in the coming decade.
Nobel Laureate Carlos X. Belo, the Bishop of Dili,
East Timor, will be one of a dozen leading religious
figures gathering in an inter-faith meeting. Co-founder
of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates
Jr., will be a featured participant in a roundtable
where a dozen corporate leaders will meet heads of state
to discuss ideas for private-public partnerships on
behalf of children. Delegates from an estimated 800
non-governmental organizations will host and invigorate
scores of supporting events focused on specific children's
issues. Representatives from internationally renowned
organizations like Save the Children will be on hand
along with leaders from small, grass-roots groups quietly
working for children in countries around the world.
Other prominent attendees include hundreds of experts
in the fields of pediatrics, public health, education,
water and sanitation, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, early childhood
development, and other fields important to children.
More than 20 cultural celebrities will play a prominent
role, including UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Harry Belafonte,
Mia Farrow, Roger Moore and others. They will gather
on Tuesday 7 May, the eve of the Special Session, outside
UNICEF headquarters for the unveiling of a statue commemorating
the humanitarian work of the late actress and UNICEF
Ambassador Audrey Hepburn.
Preliminary Events Already Underway
United Nations leaders helped kick off preliminary
events for the Special Session on Children on Sunday
5 May with the Children's Forum. The Forum is a mini-Special
Session, where young delegates representing more than
150 countries are discussing the draft outcome document
and various pressing issues relating to their health,
education and protection. More than 370 children from
around the world are serving as officials delegates
to the Special Session, the most ever for a UN conference.
They will present their views on the outcome document
to the General Assembly when it opens on Wednesday 8
May.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed
the opening ceremony of the Children's Forum on Sunday.
"Your presence here marks a new chapter in the
history of the UN," said Mr. Annan. "So far,
adults have called the shots, but now it's time to build
the world with children. Your voices will be heard,
I promise."
The Special Session starts the morning of Wednesday,
May 8 and concludes Friday, May 10. The goal of the
Special Session is to move children to the center of
the world's agenda and emphasize the link between the
welfare of children and the development of societies.
Governments will review what has been achieved for children
over the last decade and, crucially, what has not.
The series of 21 goals they are expected to adopt will
focus on key issues like reducing infant and maternal
morality, expanding access to clean water and sanitation
and establishing universal primary education.
What is a Special Session?
A General Assembly Special Session is a formal meeting
of delegates from every UN member state, dedicated to
a specific topic of such importance that it requires
concerted international attention and action. It is
also attended by observers and representatives of non-governmental
organizations. On average, the UN General Assembly calls
for a special session once every two years; this will
be the 27th special session.
Because of the importance of the topics addressed at
Special Sessions, and the fact that the countries often
commit themselves to a series of concrete actions and
goals, governments usually send senior officials. When
a head of state cannot attend, often another high-ranking
member of government will attend in his or her place.
***
For further information, please contact:
Liza Barrie,
UNICEF Media Chief, New York (212) 326-7593
Patsy Robertson,
UNICEF Media, New York (212) 326-7270
Laufey Love, UN Department of Public Information, New
York (212) 963-3507
Alfred Ironside,
UNICEF Media, New York (212) 326-7261
Mitchie Topper, UNICEF Media, New York (212) 303-7910
View and order the Special Session video b-roll at http://www.unicef.org/broadcast/brolls/specialsession/
A live satellite news feed will be available twice
daily during the Special Session.
Learn more at:
http://www.unicef.org/broadcast/feeds
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