Imagine a world in which the rights of every child are realized

Imagine this scene. You are taking a walk through your neighbourhood. Background sounds are the chatter of children’s laughter. They are happy. They are playing. You stop and watch the next generation playing. They are free. They are secure. In this world, these children are living out their full potential. They have a decent place to sleep, enough food, a classroom filled with sensory inputs which will allow them to learn, and grow and thrive. This is a world where the rights of every child are realized, AVA Diplomatic reports.

On 11 August, a group of children from Qazvin province came to Tehran and delivered a petition to the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Gary Lewis

You are taking a walk through your neighbourhood. Background sounds are the chatter of children’s laughter.  They are happy.  They are playing.  You stop and watch the next generation playing.  They are free.  They are secure.  In this world, these children are living out their full potential.  They have a decent place to sleep, enough food, a classroom filled with sensory inputs which will allow them to learn, and grow and thrive.  This is a world where the rights of every child are realized.

According to UNICEF, in today’s world, “nearly 250 million children live in areas affected by prolonged, violent conflict.”

This is the sad reality of our times.  It is also the reason why, today, 11 August, a group of children from Qazvin province took a 2-hour bus ride to come to Tehran and deliver a petition to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Iran, Mr. Gary Lewis, so that he can pass it on to the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

The petition calls upon the UN Secretary-General to invite world leaders to promote peace and prevent war because they wish to see a world in which children live in security and are not affected by war.

The event took place at the UN Common Premises in Tehran, where 11 children (ranging in age from 7 to 14) as well as a number of parents and teachers and representatives from the Cultural and Sports Organization of Qazvin Municipality, spent over 90 minutes in a conversation with Mr. Lewis and his team.  The children and their parents and guardians spent time talking about the state of the region – where there are ongoing wars – as well as what needed to be done to make the lives of its children healthier, more empowered, more secure and happier.

The event took place at the UN Common Premises in Tehran, where 11 children (ranging in age from 7 to 14) as well as a number of parents and teachers and representatives from the Cultural and Sports Organization of Qazvin Municipality

At the event, Mr. Abolfazl Akbari, a representative from Qazvin Municipality said: “The hope of every parent and guardian, and every nation in the world is to see their children happy and safe.  The same wish that we have for the children of Qazvin, we share for all the children of the world.  We want them to be happy in their own homes and generally to grow up in peace, security and happiness.”

The children present in the room also shared some of their concerns with the UN Resident Coordinator.  One said: “Just like myself, I wish for all children to have happy and healthy parents in their lives and not lose their family to war.”  Another said: “I wish upon a peaceful world in which all children of the world – regardless of their race, class and background – are happy and healthy.”

The children were excited to have been welcomed into the United Nations common premises in Iran and to be able to share their feelings and concerns with the Resident Coordinator and his team.

Mr. Lewis warmly welcomed the special visitors: “I am very proud and honoured that the UN is the place that you have chosen to come and give your petition to.  Your wish is my wish – one of a vision of a world free of war.  As you grow older, I hope you will yourselves be able to contribute to achieving this vision.”

Mr. Lewis then accepted the petition from the children and took the opportunity to thank them once more for traveling from Qazvin to Tehran.