‘We the Children’ Press Conference Calls for Action on Child Welfare

Delhi, November 21, 2024: In a powerful display of advocacy, children from 20 states across India gathered for a first ever press conference: of, for and by children organized by PRATYek on November 20 to celebrate Child Rights Week and urge political parties to prioritize child rights. The young delegates, representing over 400 million children in the country, expressed gratitude to both the ruling (NDA) and opposition (INDIA) parties for including child rights in their manifestos. At the event, children shared their observations and recommendations on the current status of child rights, seeking media support to highlight pressing issues affecting the nation’s youngest citizens.

The week-long consultations, starting on National Children’s Day, enabled the child advocates to review the status of child rights in their communities and across India. They analyzed the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations provided to India by world leaders and assessed the political manifestos of various parties. Engaging in creative methods like puppetry and comic strips, the children designed their own child-friendly reports and formally presented their findings to diplomats from The Holy See, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, and Iraq, as well as residents from France, Singapore, the UK, and Hong Kong.

The recommendations, focused on the urgent need for child-friendly policies, were also directed at the Government of India, opposition parties, civil society organizations, and the media. The delegates called for a collaborative approach to create a world fit for children. Notable speakers included the first Secretary of the High Commission of Ghana, Mr. Nana Kojo Asiedu, who praised the children’s passion for child rights, and Sriram, Prime Minister of the National Children’s Parliament from Telangana, who expressed concern about children’s access to education and child rights platforms.

Issues such as the plight of children from migrant tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh and the alarming pollution levels in New Delhi were highlighted. Nikita, President of the National Inclusive Children’s Parliament, stressed the need for improved air quality and safer environments for children. The children also took part in the electoral process by encouraging voters to "vote for children" as they launched their manifesto ahead of elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

Despite facing challenges like the poor air quality in Delhi, which forced participants to wear N95 masks and stay indoors, the children’s resilience and commitment were evident. Ima Mishra, Assistant Operations Manager of PRATYeK, emphasized that while the road to achieving child rights in India is long, the support from embassies, civil society organizations, and the media offers hope. The event concluded with the children’s powerful declaration: "We may be masked but we won’t be silenced."

By Catholic Connect Reporter