“Light Up for Children” event for World Children’s Day 2022

A recording of the remarks, provided by the organizer, can be found on YouTube and Tencent Video

Children present at today’s event,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the Chaozhou Municipal Government and the Teochew International Youth Federation, for the invitation to address this “Light Up for Children” event for World Children’s Day.

World Children’s Day is celebrated every year as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children, devoted to promoting the welfare of the world's children.

The date 20th November marks the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

The Convention, as the most widely ratified international human rights treaty, sets out a number of children’s rights, including the right to life, health, and education, to be protected from violence and discrimination, and to have their views heard.

China signed the Convention in 1990 and ratified it in 1992.

President Xi Jinping once said: “Our society needs to understand, respect, care about and offer help to children, provide a favorable environment for them, and oppose and prevent violations of their rights and damage to their physical or mental health.”

This is a significant statement on the importance of nurturing and caring of our children – everywhere in the world.

Through this year’s theme, “Inclusion, for every child”, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sets out to highlight the children and young people who are raising their voices on the issues that matter to their generation and calling for adults to help create a better future.

Indeed, the state of today’s world threatens decades of progress that have shaped the lives of children for the better. COVID-19, climate change, and conflict, among many global challenges, are having a profound impact on children and, tragically, on their education.

Children still suffer disproportionately from poverty, violence, inequality, and exclusion. Emerging issues such as mental health also present risks to their development and well-being.

Recovery and progress are possible. But we are again reminded that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without the full realization of children’s rights. Only by bringing about their full participation and potential can we ensure that we leave no one behind.

This week, the world’s population reached eight billion people, 25 per cent of which, according to the United Nations Population Fund, are aged between 0 and 14 years old. 

Children embody hope, as the future leaders and changemakers of our world. But we need to invest in children, as we invest in the future.

Children should be free from poverty, hunger, or fear. Children should be listened to, have their needs met and be respected equally.

This also requires a broad coalition to raise awareness and push for action to ensure that children’s rights are respected fully, every day and everywhere.

Here, the United Nations Country Team in China will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders, to address the needs and development of children in China, and beyond through South-South Cooperation, in order to accelerate global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Let’s stand up with children, for a more equal, inclusive, sustainable, and child-friendly world, for all. Today, as we light up our cities and communities in blue, let us be reminded of our responsibility to listen to their demands and ideas for a better world.

As a father of a young boy myself, I hope to see a world which matches the ideals set forth by President John F. Kennedy. He said, “Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future."

Let’s work together to protect their future.

Happy World Children’s Day.