Video can be downloaded here
24 October 2017 – In a month’s time, children from around the world will be taking over key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to voice their support for millions of their peers who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted, UNICEF said today. The takeover, set for November 20, marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the mobilisation of the first World Children’s Day.
“From Auckland to Amman and from New York to N’Djamena, we want children to campaign in their schools and communities to help save children’s lives, fight for their rights and fulfil their potential,” said Justin Forsyth UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “World Children’s Day will be a day for children, by children.”
In the run-up to November 20, UNICEF is inviting children around the world to speak up against bullying, discrimination and unfairness. Despite tremendous progress over the past decades, according to the latest data:
- 385 million children live in extreme poverty.
- 264 million children and youth are out of school.
- 6 million children under the age of five died last year from preventable causes.
To help give a voice to the millions of children whose voices remain unheard, high profile stars and world leaders are lending their support to the initiative, including:
- UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckhamwill quiz children about their views of the world in a short film to be released for World Children’s Day.
- French music group Kids United will release an empowering new music video recorded for UNICEF and World Children’s Day.
- Global takeovers of government, sport and business, including legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Spanish footballer and New York City FC captain David Villa, South Korean actor and national ambassador Ahn Sung-ki, and Lego Foundation and Qantas.
- Loganactress Dafne Keen and Isabela Moner from Transformers: The Last Knight and Nickelodeon will join 150 children to take over United Nations Headquarters where singers, songwriters and musicians Chloe x Halle will debut a specially penned track to mark the day.
“We are asking children to take part, online and offline, for a world where every child survives and grows up healthy, educated and protected from harm,” said Forsyth.
In schools around the world, children will ‘takeover’ classrooms and assemblies to raise their voices and fundraise for the issues facing their peers around the world, such as migration, early marriage and missing out on school.
OutRight is Unicef UK’s annual school’s campaign that empowers children and young people to speak out about children’s rights on World Children’s Day, the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is a campaign for children, by children that helps them to promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and around the world.
Actors and philanthropists Debora-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman will support a mass Move the World fundraising activation – Workout for Water – taking place in gyms in over 100 countries. On November 18, instructors and gym goers can participate to help children and their families access safe water, healthcare and food in some of the world’s poorest nations.
—ENDS—
For more information please contact:
Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]
About Unicef
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk