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Part One of Two - Governments Must Renew Political Will To Offset Gaps In Child Well-Being, Says General Assembly President As He Opens High Level Commemorative Session; United Nations, National Officials Underscore Importance Of Fulfilling Collective Promise To Create World Fit For Children.

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M2 PRESSWIRE-12 December 2007-United Nations: Part One of Two - Governments Must Renew Political Will To Offset Gaps In Child Well-Being, Says General Assembly President As He Opens HighLevel Commemorative Session; United Nations, National Officials Underscore Importance Of Fulfilling Collective Promise To Create World Fit For Children(C)1994-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:11122007

Despite the great strides made in meeting targets to boost child survival rates and improve education and health care, United Nations officials said today that if Governments were serious about creating a better world for girls and boys, they must renew their political determination to offset gaps in child nutrition, maternal mortality and sanitation, especially given the fast-approaching 2015 deadline for realizing the Millennium Development Goals.

Unless the investment in children is made, humanitys most fundamental long-term problems will remain unresolved, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said as he opened the world bodys landmark two-day conference to review progress towards A World Fit for Children, the Plan of Action to improve the lives of young people approved by Governments at the Assemblys 2002 twenty-seventh special session. The sessions outcome supported the Millennium Goals and urged action in four target areas: promoting healthy lives; providing quality education; protecting against abuse and exploitation; and combating HIV and AIDS.

If we are serious about our collective promises, then we have a great responsibility to deliver on them for our children, the Assembly President said, urging delegations to set an example to stand up for what we believe in - to ensure that we pass on to them a better world - a safer, cleaner and more equal world. Climate change drew those strands together, and if the global community did not address that growing threat, instability would increase and the environment would deteriorate. Further, the worlds poor would be left struggling to build a better life for themselves and their children.

Together we can and must do better by our children by making the world a better place not only today but in future, he declared, adding that the task was a unique and continuous commitment that meant thinking ahead and, at the same time, acting now. Over the next two days, Member States had an opportunity to celebrate the important progress made since 2002, but they also had a responsibility to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. There was reason to be optimistic about the plenary sessions chances to further States commitment to making the world a better place for all children.

Longeni Masti, a child representative from Namibia, read out a statement on behalf of the Youth Forum sponsored by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) -- which has been meeting in New York since Saturday - saying that 37 boys and 56 girls, aged 11 to 18 and representing 51 countries, had gathered at United Nations Headquarters this week. We are united for one cause -- to create a world fit for children. The Youth Forum was expected to deliver an outcome document to the plenary at the sessions close.

He went on to recall that, five years ago, children had addressed the world, and had since taken actions to make it fit for them. Indeed, children had raised their voices on issues directly affecting them, becoming increasingly involved in such organizations as childrens parliaments. They had fought for equality in all aspects of gender, age, ability, race and religion, and believed their rights were universal. They also had undertaken projects in their own countries to address child trafficking, HIV and AIDS, as well as malnutrition. They had denounced all forms of exploitation and abuse against children. Promises had been made and children were eager to hear what had been achieved. This meeting is a time for honesty. It is time to come together, and listen not only with your ears, but also with your hearts.

Picking up that thread, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M....

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