In a month’s time, children from around the world will be taking over key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to voice their support for millions of their peers who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted, UNICEF said today. The takeover, set for November 20, marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the mobilisation of the first World Children’s Day.
“From Auckland to Amman and from New York to N’Djamena, we want children to campaign in their schools and communities to help save children’s lives, fight for their rights and fulfil their potential,” said Justin Forsyth UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “World Children’s Day will be a day for children, by children.”
In the run-up to November 20, UNICEF is inviting children around the world to speak up against bullying, discrimination and unfairness. Despite tremendous progress over the past decades, according to the latest data:
- 385 million children live in extreme poverty.
- 264 million children and youth are out of school.
- 5.6 million children under the age of five died last year from preventable causes.
To help give a voice to the millions of children whose voices remain unheard, high profile stars and world leaders are lending their support to the initiative, including:
- UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham will quiz children about their views of the world in a short film to be released for World Children’s Day.
- French music group Kids United will release an empowering new music video recorded for UNICEF and World Children’s Day.
- Global takeovers of government, sport and business, including legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Spanish footballer and New York City FC captain David Villa, South Korean actor and national ambassador Ahn Sung-ki, and Lego Foundation and Qantas.
- Logan actress Dafne Keen and Isabela Moner from Transformers: The Last Knight and Nickelodeon will join 150 children to take over United Nations Headquarters where singers, songwriters and musicians Chloe x Halle will debut a specially penned track to mark the day.
“We are asking children to take part, online and offline, for a world where every child survives and grows up healthy, educated and protected from harm,” said Forsyth.
In schools around the world, children will ‘takeover’ classrooms and assemblies to raise their voices and fundraise for the issues facing their peers around the world, such as migration, early marriage and missing out on school.
Actors and philanthropists Debora-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman will support a mass Move the World fundraising activation – Workout for Water – taking place in gyms in over 100 countries. On November 18, instructors and gym goers can participate to help children and their families access safe water, healthcare and food in some of the world’s poorest nations.
