Global dignitaries and leaders gathered in New York City during the 78th United Nations General Assembly for a remarkable UNICEF event titled “Champions for Children: Child Rights at the Heart of the SDGs.” The event, dedicated to children’s rights, featured the First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, and was hosted by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. Among the distinguished guests were Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Amina J. Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General.
Highlighting Children’s Rights:
The primary objective of this event was to draw attention to the rights and well-being of children. Organizers aimed to ensure that high-level commitments within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework translated into real action and improvements for the world’s youngest citizens. The event celebrated achievements in child rights and presented concrete solutions to meet sustainable development goals, placing children at the center of these efforts.
A Global Call to Action:
Hosts emphasized that over 100 million people worldwide, nearly half of whom are children, have been forcibly displaced. Additionally, more than a billion children face the dire consequences of climate change, including hunger, drought, extreme heat, and water scarcity.
Diplomatic Conversations:
Prior to the official conference, Poland’s First Lady, Agata Kornhauser–Duda, engaged in discussions with the First Lady of the United States, the Queen of Belgium, the First Lady of the Comoros, and UNICEF Executive Director. The meeting also saw the participation of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, actor Orlando Bloom.
Poland’s Presence:
The First Lady of Poland was accompanied by Krzysztof Szczerski, Poland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, during the UNICEF event.