New partnership between UNICEF and the Football Federation of Macedonia

Skopje, 19 September 2022: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Football Federation of Macedonia announced a new partnership around World Children’s Day to promote the importance of inclusion, non-discrimination and equality of children and young people in all aspects of life including sports and play.

This year, World Children’s Day takes place the same day as the football World Cup kicks off which creates a unique opportunity to use the power of football to unite and remind the world that there can only be one team when it comes to children’s rights.  

“No matter which nation we support in the World Cup, when it comes to children's rights, we are all on the same team. Every child deserves to feel safe, protected and celebrated,” said Patrizia DiGiovanni, UNICEF Representative. “Sport and play are more than just having fun. For children they are a chance to belong to a community, to share in success or failure and to learn important life lessons about respect, inclusion, cooperation and leadership.“

“We are glad that this year, on the occasion of World Children's Day, in partnership with UNICEF, and before the start of the World Football Championship, we have the opportunity to send a joint message about inclusion, non-discrimination and respect for children's rights,” said the President of the Football Federation of Macedonia, Muamed Sejdini. “The message that our football players will send is a reminder for each of us to respect children's rights, give equal opportunities to every child, quality and inclusive education, life in a healthy living environment and good mental health. We are trying to make football a model place where children's rights will be respected and all children will be given a chance, but also a platform from which other actors in our society will be called to do the same."

The initiative will include joint multimedia campaign under the slogan “All on the same team for children” with football players from the national teams and children from various background, sharing together positive messages of equality and inclusion for every child. A friendly football match between football players of the national North Macedonia team and children will take place on World Children’s Day, on 20 November.

Through this partnership UNICEF and FFM aim to initiate public discussion and raise the awareness on the right to play for children with disabilities, girls in sports, championing the rights of all children in sports and the importance of sport and play for the wellbeing and mental health resilience of children and young people.

About World Children’s Day

Taking place every year on 20 November, the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, World Children’s Day highlights critical issues affecting children’s lives and supports the engagement of children and young people as advocates for their own rights.

In previous years, UNICEF North Macedonia has successfully organized high-level children take over events in collaboration with the Government, key ministries as well as the Cabinet of the President of North Macedonia. This year, building on the global excitement surrounding the football World Cup, World Children’s Day is  focusing on community engagement around play, sport and child rights.