Ceremonial start with children and adolescents worldwide: United nations present child rights for a healthy environment
Geneva, September 18, 2023 - On September 18, 2023, the United Nations Children's Rights Committee in Geneva officially posts the "General Note No. 26", the General Comment No. 26, before. In the new guidelines for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Children, the right of children on a clean, healthy and sustainable environment are recognized for the first time. The presentation is accompanied by children all over the world through events and environmental campaigns.
In a live meeting in the Geneva Palais of the Nations, the committee for the rights of the child will officially present the guidelines in the afternoon. The document, the "General remark No. 26 on the rights of the child and the environment with special consideration of climate change", urges states and companies to take decisive measures against climate change and pollution.
The presentation of the document marks the preliminary climax of one and a half year old global consultations organized by the international child law organization Terre Des Hommes . Fach expert for environmental and children's rights as well as a "Children's Advisory Team", a consulting committee consisting of twelve children and young people from all over the world, worked closely with the child's rights committee over the entire process. A total of 16,331 children from 121 countries were received: Consultations thus represent one of the largest children's participation processes in the history of the United Nations.
In his speech at the opening event, Joshua Hofert, board spokesman for terre des hommes Germany: »Today is a good day for children worldwide - and for the planet. With the right to a healthy environment, the Children's Rights Committee has made it very clear today: Anyone who causes climate and environmental damage violates children's rights. States have to listen to the children and they are no longer allowed to make decisions at their expense - they have to act! «
And the 17-year-old Aniva, who lives on the Pacific Islands and is a member of the Children's Advisory Team, explains: »Our participation and our contribution have shaped this general comment. The committee immediately incorporated the view of children. And you know first -hand how environmental damage and climate change affect us. The children of the world demand something to be done. We demand that the governments are now going on the climate crisis. "
The development of general remarks No. 26 was greeted equally by children and adults. Their importance against the background of increasing environmental problems is underlined by the persistently great participation of children in global climate strikes as well as the growing number of children who sue climate and environmental rights in court. As part of the official kick -off event in Geneva, versions of the general remark created for children are also published, which are intended to help young people of all ages better understand their rights.
»This general remark gives us hope that we will play a role in how the environment will be protected in the present and in the future. It is we children who fight for our future. If you are here to help us if you are there to support us, then we have hope for this document , «explains Elizabeth,
17 years old, member of the Children's Advisory team from Rwanda.
Members of the Children's Rights Committee and the Children's Advisory Team will plant a tree as part of a ceremony in the city of Geneva in order to symbolically celebrate the start of the implementation of the general remark. The event in Geneva is accompanied by children around the world's actions: The aim is to make the general remark known and to request the rights defined in it.
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Further information
The International Child Rights Organization Terre Des Hommes acted as an official partner of the UN Committee for the rights of the child when developing the general remark.