[child-rights] UN General Assembly adopts visionary plan of action to help world's children

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS VISIONARY PLAN OF ACTION TO HELP WORLD'S CHILDREN
New York, May 13 2002 11:00AM

Concluding its three-day special session on children, the United Nations
General Assembly has adopted "A World Fit for Children," setting out goals
and a specific plan of action to help millions of young people across the
globe to receive adequate education, health services and standards of living.

The document, which had been negotiated intensively over the course of the
special session, was adopted on Friday evening without a vote, signaling
that delegates had bridged their differences over sensitive language in the
text. At the same time, several participants voiced their reservations and
clarifications regarding specific provisions, including those related to
reproductive health services.

The text confronts pressing issues of child mortality, AIDS, exploitation
and poverty. Building on promises made at international conferences during
the 1990s, the document's goals aim to pull hundreds of millions out of
poverty within a generation, while including new targets in the areas of
HIV/AIDS and child protection, reflecting the changing nature of the
challenges facing the world's children.

Hailing the adoption of "A World Fit for Children," Assembly President Han
Seung-soo of the Republic of Korea said the document's Declaration
constituted a "practical and achievable checklist," not only for a better
future, but also for immediate action that would improve young people's
well-being today.

The text's Plan of Action, the President added, established new goals for
children and set out specific targets in the fields of health, education,
protection against abuse, exploitation and violence, as well as the
struggle against HIV/AIDS. Building on the lessons learned since the 1990
World Summit for Children, it took into account the emerging challenges and
opportunities in today's society, he said.

While lauding the achievements of the special session, President Han
cautioned that the event should not be viewed as
rather as a milestone in the long journey to secure children's rights.

In concluding remarks on behalf of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Carol
Bellamy, the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), said
the child delegates participating over the past three days had captured the
hearts and minds of the world leaders gathered to deliberate their futures.
She hailed the adoption of the outcome document, calling it "strong and
action-oriented."


UN News Service