New York – November 21, 2014
Delivered by Ambassador Arthur Kafeero, Chef de Cabinet
Excellency Denis Antoine, Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to join you today to deliver a message on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Sam Kutesa, as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
I thank the Permanent Mission of Grenada to the United Nations in collaboration with Friends of Education for African Children Orphaned by AIDS, University of the District of Columbia Washington, D.C and Medgar Evers College, New York for organizing this event.
Yesterday, as the General Assembly commemorated the adoption of the Convention, we recalled the remarkable progress that has been made in the respect and promotion of children’s inalienable rights.
The lives of millions of children have been improved, and indeed saved, thanks to the efforts of Governments, civil society, the private sector and other actors; many of whom have worked tirelessly to uphold their obligations under the Convention. As a result, we have seen significant advances in key areas such as child survival, education and access to clean water.
Yet, too many children still face uncertain futures because their rights remain unprotected. The cost of these inequities is paid most immediately – and most tragically – by children themselves. The long-term impact of these disparities will affect generations to come, undermining the strength and potential of communities and societies.
We must therefore strengthen our efforts to effectively address these inequalities. It is not only a moral imperative to honour the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is also a wise investment in our collective future.
As we begin to formulate the post-2015 development agenda, dismantling the financial, political, institutional and cultural barriers that stand between children and their rights must be a central priority.
In this context, investing in education is of utmost importance. Education is more than a human right – it is a ticket out of poverty, a condition for economic growth, and the cornerstone of healthy and peaceful societies.
The virtues of education are often described in economic terms, yet the benefits of education extend far beyond the economy. Education influences health, family structures, empowerment, tolerance and civic engagement. There is no other single investment – social or physical – that can have such wide-ranging impacts.
From breaking cycles of poverty to bridging the gender divide and building inclusive communities, education has the power to shape and transform the future of individuals, their families and entire societies.
This will require sustained efforts, resources and commitments from all corners of society. The welfare of the children of the world is indeed a shared responsibility: from parents and families to teachers and community leaders, from local and national governments to international organizations and development partners, from civil society to the private sector, we all have a duty to work toward a better world for our children.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
By 2050, estimates indicate there will be nine billion people worldwide – nearly a third of them under the age of 18. Many children born today will enjoy opportunities thought to be impossible 25 years ago.
As we embark on formulating our future development agenda, let us ensure that each and every child will have an equal chance to grow up healthy, educated and fully capable of enjoying their inalienable rights as envisioned in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
I thank you for your kind attention.