NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has opened the first U.N. children’s summit with a stinging rebuke to world leaders for “failing deplorably to uphold the rights of children.”
In comments to several dozen world leaders and representatives from more than 180 countries Wednesday, Mr. Annan said young people in every country have the right to grow up free from poverty and war, be protected from infectious diseases and receive a quality education.
Two young girls: 17-year-old Audrey Cheynut from Monaco and 13-year-old Gabriela Azurdy Arrieta from Bolivia – are also addressing the assembly. More than 60 heads of state and thousands of official delegates and representatives from non-governmental organizations are taking part in the three-day U.N. General Assembly special session.
Participants are expected to adopt a plan of action for the next 15 years on such issues as children’s health and education, AIDS, child soldiers and prostitution.
In a recent report, the U.N. Children’s Fund, UNICEF, noted that one in 12 children in the world will die before reaching age five, while one in four live in abject poverty.
