Child Participation at the United Nations General Assembly Thematic Debate on Inequality

CHENNAI, India - July 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Through the collaborative efforts of World Vision India and WVI’s Global Advocacy Team, Nisha Das, a 15-year-old girl, represented the voices of children and youth at the thematic debate on Inequality at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York on July 8, 2013.  The event, titled “The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order,” was convened by the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić.  Although children and youth have previously participated in side events to official meetings at the UN, this marks the first time that a child took part in an official event.  Nisha was invited to be the sole representative of the youth and gave a statement during the interactive debate on “Reducing Inequality: Perspectives from Civil Society.”  She is part of World Vision India’s North Kolkata Area Development Program and a leader of the National Forum of Children with Disability in India.

Addressing Members of States and civil society, Nisha spoke on her personal observations and experiences with inequality both as a girl and as a child with a disability.  Due to a birth defect, one of her legs is much shorter than the other and she uses an artificial leg for mobility. She expressed her hope for children everywhere to receive the same opportunities “whether they are rich or poor, boy or girl, disabled or not.”  She recommended that governments need to make sure that all children attend school and be allowed to participate in decision making.  She also talked of the need to recognize the thriving talents and abilities of children, noting that her favorite thing to do is dance despite her disability.  Her statement ended with this question to the audience, “Will you really listen to the voices of children?” and was the only statement from the entire panel to be met with applause.

The event opened with a speech by President Jeremić, followed by the Secretary-General of the UN, H.E. Ban Ki-moon and the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), H.E. Mr. Jose Miguel Insulza.  The high level session featured statements from speakers such as Mr. Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of UNICEF and Ms. Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).  In the closing remarks, the Secretary General of the OAS expressed the significance of having had the representation of youth at this debate.  After the event, Nisha was approached by members of Permanent Missions and civil society organizations, who thanked Nisha for her words and said that the voices of children and youth were heard.