Looking back at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children 2002

Seventeen years ago, Caroline Barebwoha Muhwezi represented Ugandan children at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children -UNGASSOC, a historic event that marked the adoption of ‘A World Fit for Children’ and world leaders committing to promoting the rights and welfare of children everywhere. 

What was your experience as a child?

It was an exciting and humbling experience meeting over 400 children from across the world and heads of states all discussing how to make the world better for children. We the children then, came up with a statement to the General Assembly called ‘A World Fit for Us’ and an outcome document by the Heads of States called ‘A World Fit for Children.’

What were those pressing issues that children presented at the meeting?

The issues presented then included prevention of exploitation and abuse, protection of children from harm especially the most vulnerable - street children, children affected by war and orphans of HIV/AIDS. We also raised issues related to quality education and health care and demanded that their voices are heard and considered. We wanted a world fit for children, because a world fit for children is a world fit for everyone.

Seventeen years later, do you think the world is fit for children?

I think we have come a long way from where we were then. Today most governments are offering free primary education for all children and the focus is slowly shifting to the quality of education and life skills training to better prepare young people for work in the future. 

Today we also see increased respect for the rights of the child, governments and adults having a real and effective commitment to the principle of children’s rights and applying the articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to all children. However, we continue to see exploitation, abuse and violence against children were some laws meant to protect children are not implemented. We continue to see refugee children and child victims of war not protected and not having the same opportunities as all other children. 

However, efforts have been made by governments to improve health care and fight HIV/AIDS although more needs to be done to ensure affordable and accessible life-saving drugs and treatment for all children.

Today with platforms like U-Report engaging over 7 million people globally we see the active participation of children, raised awareness and respect among people of all ages about every child’s right to full and meaningful participation. In the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, young people are actively involved in decision-making at all levels, in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating of their programmes as well as in all matters affecting the rights of the child. 

U-report is a free SMS-based platform that allows Ugandans to report on issues affecting them and their communities as well as to get real-time information and feedback on new initiatives or campaigns

Have nations and leaders delivered on the commitments made 17 years ago?

I think most countries and leaders have delivered on the commitments made 17 years ago, however more needs to be done in ensuring better health, quality education, safety and security in all environments in and out of school, good nutrition for children, access to water and good sanitation and increased opportunities to make their voices count at all levels of decision making. 

This year we are celebrating 30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on World Children’s Day – 20 November and the theme is ‘Kids are standing up for their rights, what will you do?’ Do you think children today are standing up for their rights more than they did 17 years ago?

Yes, I think children today are more empowered and courageous. They are protesting climate change and actively participating in the issues that concern them using various platforms – online and offline. These platforms are being used a lot more today with increased internet connectivity and mobile coverage; Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, Facebook and U-report some of which did not exist then.

Promoting and respecting child rights requires collective efforts. What can we all do to create a Uganda or world fit for children?

To create a Uganda or World Fit for Children, all stakeholders need to pledge an equal partnership in the fight for children’s rights. Leaders need to renew their commitment and support for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. They should look at children and young people as the resources to solve the problems and not the problem. Increased investments in all areas concerning all children especially the most marginalised and often excluded is paramount. 

Children and young people all need to treat each other with dignity and respect and continue to demand for their rights and actively participate in activities that improve their well-being and make them better community members and good citizens. 

Lastly share with us how you have been advocating and promoting the rights of children since your experience at the UNGASSOC

After participating in the UNGASSOC, I came back home with a strong determination to continue to work with other children and young people in my community through school clubs and local youth networks. I took part in several activities where we identified out of school children and encouraged them and their parents to go back to school through the Girls Education Movement then. After completing my studies and becoming a lawyer and advocate of court, I actively engaged in activities and proceedings fighting for justice for children until I joined UNICEF Uganda as a Youth Participation Consultant in 2011, which further gave me an opportunity to travel across the country, training over 200 youth in different organisations and networks on children’s rights, youth participation and life skills. This also opened another opportunity for me to serve as the U-report Partnerships Consultant when the platform was introduced in Uganda. The platform gives a voice to young people using mobile phones to speak out on issues that concern them. I have now worked in three countries on this amazing project for young people empowerment reaching almost 4 million young people registered in Uganda, Italy and Nigeria.  It has been a great honour to use all that I learnt and inspired to do from the UNGASSOC, in my day to day work as an adult. As I continue to meet other children and young people advocating for change and making a difference in their communities, this continues to be my strongest motivation to date in all I do as a development worker and for which I am eternally grateful to UNICEF.