Press Centre 2008/11/20 (1): Child Protection
On Universal Children’s Day, UNICEF Welcomes New Initiative to Aid Children Affected by Conflict
Photograph by Metin Özhayat © UNICEF Turkey 2008
NEW YORK, 20 November 2008 – As the world commemorates Universal Children’s Day, UNICEF today welcomes the launch of a new group that aims to amplify the voice of those suffering as a result of conflict. The group has been established by young people with first-hand experience of the hardship children face in conflict zones.
The new network, led by UNICEF Advocate Ishmael Beah, will be launched today at a press conference at the United Nations in New York, hosted by the Special Representative of the Secretary–General for Children and Armed Conflict and UNICEF.
It is the brainchild of Ishmael Beah (Sierra Leone), Emmanuel Jal (Sudan), Grace Akallo (Uganda), John Kon Kelei (Southern Sudan), Zlata Filipovic (Bosnia Herzegovina), and China Keitetsi (Uganda). By working together, they will seek to raise awareness of the plight of children in conflict zones, to advocate for an end to hostilities and to serve as role models for children who are currently struggling to recover from war.
Each of these young people has a story of overcoming great personal hardship,
said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman, welcoming the launch of the network. This new network can draw attention to the suffering of children caught in conflicts and demonstrate how young people themselves can help dramatically rebuild their lives.
For further information, please contact:
Geoffrey Keele, UNICEF Media, New York, +1 212 326-7583
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media, New York, +1 212 326-7452
Sema Hosta, UNICEF Turkey Communications Officer, +90 312 454 1000
Previous page
|
Next page
Skip to the page footer menu or select an item from this list ▼
OTHER PRESS RELEASES ON CHILD PROTECTION ISSUES
- Enthusiastic launch for EU–funded child protection project.
- The closing ceremony of the first phase of the EU–backed project was marked by frank personal statements from project beneficiaries.
- The closing ceremony of the first phase of Towards Good Governance, Justice and Protection for Children in Turkey, the Government’s multi–sectoral project, which is funded by the EU and implemented with the technical support of UNICEF will take place from 14:00 to 16:00 on the 14th of May at the Dedeman Hotel, Ankara.
* How to use RSS …