A four-day programme organised by UNICEF, in which schoolchildren participated in an audit poll sharing experience about their rights and their views on rights of their peers belonging to the vulnerable sections of the society, concluded here today.
The aim of the programme, held on the occasion of 25 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), was to create awareness among schoolchildren about their rights.
"This poll aims at providing children with a platform to express their expectations. Children's voices are hardly heard because they don't vote. We believe children have the right to be informed and to have a dialogue on matters that relate to them," said Deputy Representative of UNICEF India David McLoughlin.
"UNICEF wants to work, advocate and fight for the children of India for what is rightfully theirs," he added.
"The presence of children here affirms the belief that schools are not just centre of excellence, it is also asking difficult questions about society. It is telling us that there is more to life than results, that the concern for my brothers and sisters are equally important," said Philip Pinto, one of the special guests at the function.
The closing function of the four-day event saw song and dance performances by the participants at the auditorium of St. Columbus School.
The outcomes of the audit would be released at the time of the UN CRC anniversary. The event was organised in collaboration with students from the 'Nine is Mine' campaign. Nearly 175 children from different schools across India participated in the programme.
