– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
20 November 2019
Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General,
Ms. Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF,
Special Representatives,
Mr. Andrew Morley, CEO of World Vision,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Esteemed youth participants,
Welcome.
Today is World Children’s Day, so it is only right that the General Assembly Hall has been taken over by children and young people. This is your General Assembly Hall.
I extend a warm welcome to the youth joining us online. This is one of many events taking place around the world and I thank you all for championing the rights of the child.
Thirty years ago, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted. It is a milestone which extended the impact of children in a rules-based international order. The fact is: our children have rights too.
Member States have taken steps to uphold these rights to protect and empower the children who had been told for too long that they should be seen, and not heard.
The policies and concrete actions that have been taken to fully implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child have led to higher child survival rates due to the progressive realization of rights and fulfillment of obligations enshrined in the Convention, namely in relation to health, nutrition, education, and protection. Yet, we have more work to do as sadly, not every child enjoys his or her childhood.
Millions of children today continue to face obstacles in realising their rights to the most basic social services including adequate healthcare, education and protection from violence. In particular, we must work to reach zero hunger and achieve nutrition for all by ending childhood obesity and stunting; the latter of which affects one in five children worldwide.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Youth,
We are facing a crisis of learning and need to radically improve equal access to quality education for children everywhere. Current estimates show that some 265 million children are out of school at this very moment. This is a scandal. We must remove all barriers to education. We must ensure, at a minimum, universal access to basic education for every child, everywhere.
We can ensure access to education. We can ensure qualitative education for every child.
In a rapidly and ever more complex world we must ensure that ICT is integrated in curricula so that young people are not just literate, but digitally literate. These skills are essential to future success and full engagement in society.
The digital gender gap is stark: today one billion girls and women lack the skills to succeed in an increasingly digital world and to develop expertise through the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
We need to prioritise the girl-child among national priorities, especially as a total of 650 million girls, globally, are reported to have been married before attaining the age of 18.
It is crucial that girls are encouraged to stay in school and attain necessary capacity for mental and human capacity development.
Congruent to this, is the need to provide second chance education programmes, sanitation facilities and safe path to school for our girls.
While access is one problem, another major problem is quality. More than half of the students who are enrolled in school are not meeting minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics. The situation is more dire in poorer countries and in countries in conflict.
Of the children who are out of school, one in four live in crises-affected countries including those affected by the climate emergency.
Today, there are more countries experiencing violent conflict than there has been since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We must ensure that international humanitarian law is upheld and that schools are never a target.
We must ensure that all efforts are made to work towards Target 16.2 of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development which calls on Member States to “…end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against, and torture of, children”.
Indeed, as we enter the Decade of Action on the Sustainable Development Goals we must ensure that all actions towards the SDGs are made, whilst upholding the rights of all children, everywhere.
To our distinguished youth,
You understand the challenges facing your generation better than the rest of us. You took to the streets to call on us to take action on climate and other issues which are of key importance to you as it is also to us.
Let me tell you: we hear you.
You are stakeholders in your own future. Cynicism can only be overcome through action. I urge you to take action in your own communities, and to speak up when you face challenges.
Excellencies,
We are the guarantors of the future of our children. We are duty-bound to act together to ensure that they not only survive, but also, thrive.
I commend all Member States who have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, I trust that you will recommit to the full implementation of the Convention. I call on those remaining to ratify the Convention, without delay.
To our distinguished youth,
You understand the challenges facing your generation better than the rest of us. You took to the streets to call on us to take action on climate and other issues which are of key importance to you as it is also to us.
Let me tell you: we hear you.
You are stakeholders in your own future. Cynicism can only be overcome through action. I urge you to take action in your own communities, and to speak up when you face challenges.
In this Hall, you are surrounded by people who are listening to you and who want only the very best for you. This feeling is not limited to today. It is our responsibility to listen to you, and to uphold your rights. This is also an affirmation of our humanity.
I thank you.
