Children to ‘Take Over’ Media on World Children’s Day

Children to ‘Take Over’ Media & Entertainment on World Children’s Day

November 20, child heroes and media across the Pacific rally with UNICEF to give a voice to the most disadvantaged

SUVA, 17 November 2017 – Three days from today, children from around the Pacific will kick off World Children’s Day and take over key roles in media and entertainment to voice their support for millions of their peers who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted. 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.

In the lead up to November 20, UNICEF is working with media across the Pacific to ensure children are included in the planning and preparation for the day.

“On the day itself, they will join children from Auckland to Amman and from New York to N’Djamena, and campaign through the media, in their schools and communities to help save children’s lives, fight for their rights and fulfill their potential,” said UNICEF Deputy Director Justin Forsythe. “World Children’s Day will be a day for children, by children.”

“Thanks to our geographical location, the Pacific kicks off the global celebrations in many countries and over a number of days, not just on the 20th,” said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett.

Activities around the Pacific which will take place from November 20, include:

• Children taking over the air waves on Magik FM in Samoa

• In Fiji, children hosting an hour on the morning show and an hour on the afternoon show on all five radio stations (Legend FM and FM96 in English, Viti FM in Fijian, Navtarang and Radio Sargam in Hindi) of Communications Fiji Limited.

• The Fiji Times November 20 edition to feature stories written by children and young people

• In Solomon Islands, children hosting segments of radio programmes throughout November 20 on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation.

• Children engaging in live reporting and activities on Kiribati Broadcasting and Publications Authority

• Sports Festivals with Just Play and Oceania Football Confederation in Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga

“Never before have we had so many partners in government, media and NGOs come together to celebrate a day for children, with children. We are also encouraging them to bring their child or children to work, even if for an hour and show them what you do,” said Mr Yett. “You never know how inspired they may be from watching and learning on the day.”

“We want children to be included wherever possible and to document this online and offline. We want a world where every child survives and grows up healthy, educated and protected from harm,” said Mr Forsythe.

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 climate change, ending violence, early marriage and missing out on school.

UNICEF is also inviting children around the Pacific to use their social media channels, public and civic networking channels to speak up against these issues. Evidence shows that 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.

• 5.6 million children under the age of five died last year from preventable causes.

ENDS

About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visithttp://www.unicefpacific.org

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