130,000 Girl Guides for child rights

Girl Guides and UNICEF join forces on 30th anniversary of CRC

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 January 2019 – The Girl Guides Association of Malaysia and UNICEF today joined forces to harness the power of 130,000 girl guides to gather opinions on social media on children’s rights in Malaysia. The signing kicks of a series of events planned throughout the year as part of the CRC@30 campaign to mark the 30th anniversary of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989.

The objective of the partnership is to turn the 130,000 Girl Guides across the country into child rights advocates. UNICEF will provide and facilitate access to U-report, an online platform which gathers the opinions of young people through SMS and other social media channels such as FB Messenger and WhatsApp on issues affecting children and young people in Malaysia.

By participating in U-Report, the Girl Guides will improve their knowledge on a broad range of child rights issues, including education, protection and health whilst having the opportunity exchange their knowledge and views with others on the platform.

The MoU was signed by Duli Yang Amat Mulia Raja Puan Muda Perak Darul Ridzuan Tunku Soraya Binti Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, Deputy President of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia; YBhg Dato’ Jeyadhevi Subramaniam, Chief Commissioner, Girl Guides Association Malaysia and Marianne Clark-Hattingh, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and witnessed by over 100 Girl Guides from across the country.

“Every child should be given an opportunity to get education, enjoy optimal health, bond with others of their own age, and in the process, becomes more mature and know what they want for themselves,” said Duli Yang Amat Mulia Raja Puan Muda Perak Darul Ridzuan Tunku Soraya Binti Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, Deputy President, Girl Guides Association Malaysia.

“This initiative harnesses the power of 130,000 girls to use social media to promote and protect children’s rights for a generation that is growing up with the benefits and pressures of life online,” said Marianne Clark-Hattingh, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia. “This year, on the 30th anniversary of the rights of the child, we are proud to join forces with the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia. The future of every child in Malaysia is brighter, and for many, it will be because a Girl Guide showed them the way.”

The 30th anniversary of the CRC (CRC@30) is an opportunity to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, and for Malaysia as a signatory to reaffirm their commitment to it. Malaysia ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1995 to uphold its commitment to the protection and welfare of children.

Notes to Editors:

About CRC@30

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted on 20 Nov 1989. While much has been achieved for children in 30 years, today’s children face new threats to their rights, but also have new opportunities to realize their rights.

About Girl Guides Asociation Malaysia

Girl Guides Association was founded in 1916. Currently we have about 130,000 members nationwide. Our vision is to take the lead in girls and women for change and our mission is committed to develop girls and women of caliber through internationalization of Girl Guiding knowledge, skills and values to benefit the society and country.