GA/SM/123
HR/4440

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO KEEP WELFARE OF CHILDREN UPPERMOST IN MIND

Following is the text of introductory remarks of Theo-Ben Gurirab, President of the General Assembly, at the special event marking the tenth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights on the Child:

It is my pleasure now to introduce this special segment to mark the tenth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, over which I have the honour and the pleasure to preside.

In addressing the General Assembly�s formal commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which we just concluded, I stressed the unique importance of the Convention in inspiring virtually universal recognition of a comprehensive set of standards and values, adopted by the governments of Member States to guide their policies and actions with regard to the welfare of all children under their jurisdiction.

I also referred to the major obstacles that are impeding the implementation of the Convention -� obstacles that include the process of globalization, uneven and volatile economic growth and environmental degradation in developing countries, debt burden, gender discrimination and violence, HIV/AIDS, and armed conflict.

I have made a personal pledge that, for the duration of my Presidency of the General Assembly, I will keep uppermost in my mind the plight and, no less, the protection and welfare of our children at all times.

In this, our common effort, I will always work in concert with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, as well as with various non-governmental organizations throughout the world.

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United Nations