WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY 2022: UNICEF PARTNERS COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN GABON

18 November 2022, Libreville: ''Imagine a world, a Gabon, in which all children can fulfil their potential, and in which the rights of every child are respected. This world is possible thanks to corporate social responsibility, shared accountability, and our willingness to invest in children.” Noel Zagre, UNICEF Representative, shared his vision with a room of officials, business leaders and media at a ceremony on Universal Children’s Day at the Radisson Blu in Libreville.

The event was also attended by Gwen Madiba, the first Goodwill Ambassador appointed for UNICEF Gabon.

UNICEF counts on its partners to support it in promoting the rights of every child in Gabon. Many members of the private sector, including the Gabonese Federation of Enterprises, have shown their willingness to establish solid partnerships with UNICEF. This has helped to support children’s rights in the country. The private sector plays an essential role in the development of the country and in ensuring that local communities are taken care of.

Key actors, including the media, ensure that information and awareness about children’s rights is disseminated. This ceremony was an opportunity to reward the journalists who entered the Media Competition on the Rights of the Child. A total of 27 candidates entered the competition and tackled the issue from different angles, and there were 5 overall winners. The objective for UNICEF and the Ministry of Communication was to promote the rights of the child through several channels (including TV, radio, and written press).

While expressing the wish to see each day the improvement of the conditions of blooming of our children, I modestly invite to a convergence of the energies of all the actors, namely the Government, the International Partners, the Local Authorities, the Civil Society and the religious groups, reminded the Minister of Communication who announced the release of a new government communication to broadcast for free all communications related to the promotion of the rights of the child on the public media.

In addition to this, the celebration in Port-Gentil focused on reducing discrimination and increasing the inclusion of children living with disabilities.

During this celebration, children were given a platform through which to express their ideas so that public policies and the private sector can take in account their needs and expectations.