FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2007

CONTACT: Kelly Castagnaro, kcastagnaro@iwhc.org, 212.979.8500

     Young Advocates Propose Revisions to Declaration on Children's Rights

This week, UN delegates are meeting to review progress made since the 2002 Special Session on Children.  The Assembly's two-day high-level meeting will examine advances and setbacks in child well-being, and is expected to conclude with the adoption of a declaration reaffirming global and national commitments to the goals set in 2002.

In preparation for this meeting, the International Women's Health Coalition hosted an "Advocacy in Practice" workshop for sixteen young advocates from fifteen countries working on reproductive rights and health worldwide. During the workshop, participants critiqued the draft declaration of the high level plenary follow-up. The young advocates felt that the language in the proposed draft declaration failed to include specific measures to address some of the biggest challenges faced by youth, including HIV, unwanted pregnancy and violence and coercion. As a result, they made revisions to the declaration and prepared to advocate for the changes during the two-day meeting.

• Click here for a proposed re-write of the declaration (with changes tracked and indicated in bold). 

To arrange an interview with a young advocate, please contact Kelly Castagnaro at 212.979.8500.