Voices of UNICEF

"I would just like to note that what world leaders do here is being watched. The global pledging campaign for children, called Say Yes, has gathered nearly 100 million pledges from people around the world. Through paper ballots and Internet voting, these 90-million-some individuals have said they support investment in children and expect leaders to keep promises they make. That is a powerful incentive that I hope will add to the momentum of this conference."

"For the first time in the history of the UN they [children] are being heard."

- Carol Bellamy,
UNICEF Executive Director

"[NGO action] is playing a big and growing role in the Global Movement for Children. NGO perspectives are very important in the alternative reports submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. They bring attention to governments working hard for children as well as to those who fall short."

-Kul Gautam,
Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF

"If we think that child development will be achieved by services alone we are wrong. We need to focus on what the enabling environment is through and with families."

- André Roberfroid,
(former) Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF

"Improving children's development contributes to their development and to national development."

- Johann Koss
UNICEF Special Representative for Sports