Some
60 heads of state and government leaders descended
upon New York for the United Nations Special Session
on Children from May 8-10. In all, close to 6,000
people are likely to participate in the most important
international conference on children in more than
a decade, at which the nations of the world will
commit to a series of goals to improve the health
and well-being of young people.
The
meeting that is pitched to be a magnet for more than
just political leaders aims to move children to the
center of the world's agenda and emphasize the link
between the welfare of children and the development
of societies. Governments will review what has been
achieved for children over the last decade and, crucially,
what has not.
"The Special Session is all about leadership," said
Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF. "Political
leaders are at the vanguard, and their strong
commitment this week to improving the lives
of children heralds a promising new era. They
know that if we want to create a more stable,
just and peaceful world, we must start by investing
in children."
The series of 21 goals that the governments
are expected to adopt will focus on key issues
like reducing infant and maternal morality,
expanding access to clean water and sanitation
and establishing universal primary education.
In addition to nearly five dozen heads of
state and government, some 180 high-level national
delegations will be present. In addition, more
than 250 parliamentary leaders will attend
the conference. But the majority of participants
will come from spheres outside of politics
- including business chieftains, cultural figures,
Nobel Laureates, religious leaders, experts
on child-related issues and leading activists
for children.
Nobel Laureate Carlos X. Belo, the Bishop
of Dili, East Timor, will be one of a dozen
leading religious figures gathering in an inter-faith
meeting. Co-founder of the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation, Bill Gates Jr., will be a
featured participant in a roundtable where
a dozen corporate leaders will meet heads of
state to discuss ideas for private-public partnerships
on behalf of children. Representatives from
internationally renowned organizations like
Save the Children will be on hand along with
leaders from small, grass-roots groups quietly
working for children in countries around the
world.
Other prominent attendees include hundreds
of experts in the fields of pediatrics, public
health, education, water and sanitation, nutrition,
HIV/AIDS, early childhood development, and
other fields important to children.
The
Special Session is expected to conclude with
global
agreement on the proposed outcome
document, "A World Fit For Children," which
contains a series of goals on child heath,
education and protection, and a plan of action
to attain them in the coming decade.
"But leadership can and must go beyond
politics," Bellamy said. "That's
why it's inspiring to see so many other kinds
of leaders coming to New York. Their energy,
commitment, expertise and focus will enliven
the UN and hopefully help inspire political
leaders. Together they form a powerful partnership
that can truly change the world."
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