United Nations
General Assembly
Special Session on Children
New York, 8 - 10 May 2002
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
5 – 10 May 2002
(DRAFT, as of 11 April 2002)
FONT Keys for various type of events
Official programme.
Supporting Events sponsored by Governments, United Nations entities and other international organisations. (Thematic Clusters & Best Practices and Constituency Commitments)
NGO Supporting Events coordinated by the NGO Steering Committee.
Other activities related to the Special Session.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON CHILDREN
Sunday, 05 MAY 2002
TimeEventVenue
9:30–10:30 a.m.Children’s Forum: Opening ceremonyConference Room 4
of the three-day event. The opening ceremony is open to guests. Some 300 under-18 delegates to the Special Session on Children will gather at the Forum to explore the issues of the draft Outcome Document of the Special Session, 'A World Fit for Children', in the framework of the ten points of the Rallying Call of the Global Movement for Children. Young delegates to the Special Session will also prepare for their participation in the Session itself and discuss their role in implementing the Outcome Document.
10:40 a.m.–5:00 p.m.Children’s ForumConference Room 4
Plenary and workshops.
Closed event, by invitation only
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Monday, 06 MAY 2002
TimeEventVenue
9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.Children’s ForumThe Manhattan Center
Plenary and workshops (311 West 34th Street, NYC) Closed event, by invitation only
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Tuesday, 07 MAY 2002
TimeEventVenue
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Children’s ForumThe Manhattan Center
Closed event, by invitation only(311 West 34th Street, NYC)
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.International Health Awareness10H,Church Centre
Network, National Council of
Women/USA: Health and Human Rights
Of Girl Child and Women.
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.International Confederation ofDHL,Church Centre
Free Trade Unions, Education
International, Global March
Against Child Labour: A workshop on what NGOs can do to promote the world-wide fight against child labour.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Religious Leaders SymposiumCarriage House Center
(World Conference on Religion and Peace) on Global Issues
( 149 East 38th Street
. New York City)
Distinguished religious leaders will lend moral legitimacy and urgency to the agenda of the Special Session, and will issue a joint declaration of religious committments for children. Participants will emphasize the need for concerted and concrete action and challenge both governments and religious communities to increase their efforts to ensure the well-being of all the world's children.
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m..Panel:First Global Meeting of IndependentConference Room 5
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.Human Rights Institutions for Children
This closed meeting will bring together for the first time independent national institutions established to monitor, promote and protect the human rights of children across the world. A variety of organizations that share a common purpose in promoting the fullest implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child will participate. A final statement will be issued.
12:30 - 3:00 p.m.Orientation forLabouisse Hall, UNICEF
Non Forum Children
(Under 18 Participation Task Force)
This session will introduce children
unable to attend the Children’s
Forum to the Special Session
on Children, the Outcome document,
Global Movement for Children and
media training and provide an opportunity
for networking before the Special
Session begins.
12:30 – 4:00 p.m.Children’s ForumThe Manhattan Center
Closed event, by invitation only
12:45 – 1:45 p.m.Orientation for Accompanying Adults2nd Flr. Conference Room
of Non-Forum ChildrenChurch Centre
2:30 – 3:00 p.m.Media Briefing on Independent(UN) Room 226
Human Rights Institutions for Children
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.Panel:Reclaiming Our Children: TheConference Room 2
UN Responds to the Situation of the
Child Soldier
The event will highlight the recruitment of child soldiers as one of the more lasting and destructive effects of war. The panel will feature the Secretary-General, a former child soldier and several high-level UN speakers. A short film on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration activities will be shown. Participants will include government and NGO delegates to the Special Session, youth delegates, and media. The event is open to all participants. The main organizers are the OSRSG for Children and Armed Conflict and UNICEF, with support from NGOs.
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.NGO OrientationConference Room 4
Offering an overview of logistical
and substantive aspects of the Special Session, this session is especially relevant for NGOs attending a General Assembly
Special Session for the first time.
3:00 - 4:30p.m.Women in Law and Development10H,Church Centre
in Africa : Roundtable discussion
based on presentations by girls from
different parts of Africa, on issues
relevant to their sub-regions.
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.Pathways to Peace : WorldBoss Room
Peace Flag Ceremony for theChurch Centre
Children of the World
Participants raise the
flags of their countries, sending
the message “May Peace Prevail
on Earth” to every nation.
The World Peace Flag Ceremony will
acknowledge youth as peace builders.
It has been part of the
UN International Day of Peace
youth events organized by DPI since 1997.
4:30–5:30 p.m. Closing Ceremony of the Children’s ForumThe Manhattan Center
Closing ceremony is open to guests
5:15 - 6:15 p.m.Latin America NGO CaucusBoss Room,
Church Centre
5:30 – 6:45 p.m.Interfaith ServiceChurch of the Holy Family
(315 East 47th Street, NYC)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.RECEPTION-NGOU.N. Visitors Lobby
Open to all NGOs accredited to the Special Session on Children, this event will offer an informal environment for networking opportunities for NGOs and contact with government delegates.
*Audrey Hepburn Sculpture unveiling
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Wednesday, 08 MAY 2002
TimeEventVenue
7:30 – 9:00 a.m.Welcoming ReceptionNorth Lounge
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.Africa Regional NGO Caucus10H, Church Centre
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.South Asia Regional NGO Caucus2nd Flr., Church Centre
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.CEE/CIS Regional NGO CaucusDHL, Church Centre
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.Caribbean Regional NGO CaucusHardin Rm, Church Centre
9:00a.m – 1:00 p.m.Plenary DebateG.A. Hall
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.Save the Children Alliance, PlanHardin Room, Church centre
International: National Plans of
Action
This workshop will address lessons learnt in
developing NPAs during the 1990s and discuss
how NGOs and young people can work with
governments to develop NPAs after the
Special Session. It will also link the development
of the NPAs to the CRC and its reporting process,
drawing on the experience of monitoring and reporting
on the CRC.
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.Mother-Child Wellness and Nutrition10H, Church Centre
Association : Children’s Health,
Environment & Safety
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.“Youth NGOs consultation for the SpecialDHL, Church Centre
Session on Children Follow Up”
The event aims to help youth NGOs
forge partnerships for implementation
actions of youth for children
International Youth and Student
Movement for the UN
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.Academy for Educational Development,2nd floor
Save the Children, PlanChurch Centre
International, : Basic Education
Students conversation with U.S.
Congressman Earl Pomeroy
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.Living under Occupation; the status22nd floor633 Third Avenue of Palestinian children. Panel
discussion with a video and slide
Show. Al Haq - Law in the
Service of Man
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.Street Kids International:Beekman Tower Hotel
Microenterprise for Street InvolvedBallroom (49th/1st Ave)
Youth - Linking Safe Health
Practices And Economic Choices
Street Kids International works
across borders to help street kids
help themselves, working with those
who respect street kids’individuality
andunderstand their dilemmas. The event
will share innovative approaches to both
urgent needs and their underlying causes.
9:00 - 11:00 am“Girls As Their Own Advocates”. Episcopal Church (43rd & 2nd)
At this event five outstanding girl leaders from around the world will speak about their personal and national situations related to girl’s rights. The panel will highlight the relevance of human rights conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the importance of girls acting as their own advocates.
UN/CEDAW representatives, ambassadors,
ministers of women’s affairs, and other policy makers will respond. Discussion will follow presentations. Organized by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Zonta International, International Council of Jewish Women.
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.Southern and Eastern AfricaBaha'I Conference Room
Regional Forum Meeting866 UN Plaza (48th St/1st Ave)
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.Education in Emergencies10H, Church Centre
Tens of millions of children are
uprooted by war and other crises, some for
decades at a time. Only a fraction of them
have access to any form of education —
particularly in the crucial early phase
of a crisis. Panelists will present
material from their field experience,
focusing on approaches that have had
some success in bringing a modicum of
normalcy to children and their families
and communities.
Organized by the International Rescue
Committee, CARE International, Women’s
Commission for Refugee Women and
Children
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Ad hoc Committee of the WholeConference Room 2
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.Panel:A Smart Start for Children: TheConference Room 4
Network for the Sustained Elimination
of Iodine Deficiency
Universal salt iodization protects children’s learning ability. The creation of a unique partnership with the salt industry will be announced, that will help ensure that no child will ever again be born iodine deficient will be announced. Heads of State, celebrities and industry leaders will address the meeting. (Convened by the Network for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency and UNICEF)
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.Panel: Prevention of Mother-to-ChildDag Hammarskjöld
Transmission of HIV Auditorium
This panel will present lessons learnt from ongoing successful pilot programmes to reduce mother to child transmission, showing that these can be scaled up to ensure the achievement of global goals and targets. UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, the UNAIDS Secretariat and the Rockefeller Foundation are the hosts.
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.Centre for African SettlementBeekman Tower Hotel
Studies and Development (CASSAD)Ballroom (49th/1st Ave)
NGO-UNICEF Partnership in promoting
Child-Friendly cities in Nigeria -
The achievements of the UBS Programme.
10:15 – 11:00 a.m.Young Journalists WorkshopBaha’I Conference Room
866 UN Plaza (48th St/1st Ave)
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Dialogue Between Heads of DelegationsConference Room 9
and Children from Latin America and
the Caribbean
The intergenerational dialogue between Heads of Delegations and children who have attended the Children’s Forum will offer an opportunity for more in-depth discussions on topics related to the Special Session on Children and its follow-up actions. Closed event, by invitation only.
11:00 am - 1:00 pmInternational Planned ParenthoodDHL, Church Centre
Federation : Panel- Children as
Decision Makers.
11:00 am - 1:00 pmProgram for Appropriate Technology4th floor
(PATH), CARE International, SaveEpiscopal Church (43rd/2nd Ave.)
the Children, UNICEF: NGOs’ role in
reaching children with life-saving
vaccines and immunisation
11:00 am - 12:00 pmLoretto Community: Peace isBaha'I Conference Room
Possible: How Theatre as a Healing866 UN Plaza (48th St/1st Ave)
Art can help. This session traces the
development of a programme enabling
children to tell their stories of
peace and conflict in their lives
through drama, dance and music.
11:00 am - 12:00 pmThe Children's Art Performing22nd floor
Workshop : Children's arts,633 Third Avenue
education and development in the
context of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, in Zimbabwe.
11:00 am - 1:00 pmMaking Educationand Health Free Beekman Tower Hotel
for all Children.An End to User Fees.Ballroom (49th/1st Ave)
Research commissioned by ActionAid is
establishing the costs to households of
basic education and health care, and
identifying reforms needed to ensure that
people living in poverty can exercise
their rights to these basics. Civil society
speakers from the South will present the
findings to-date of the research, and discuss
policy implications. Questions and open
discussion will follow the presentation.
Action Aid, UK.
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.The Last Mile to End Polio, A Partnership for ChildrenU.N. Visitors Lobby
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Congregations of Saint Joseph : 10H, Church Centre
Quality Education for Quality Global
Neighbourhoods – This is an interactive
workshop on sustainable educational
programmes to ensure quality learning and
livelihoods.
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Panel: Education For all: AchievingConference Room 4
Gender Parity
To help draw attention to the urgent need to prioritize
the EFA and Millennium goals of gender parity in
education by 2005, this event will hear three leading
speakers draw on field experiences to discuss the
challenges and successful strategies. Three high-level
panelists will then discuss the issues raised. Observers
are welcome.
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Panel: Child Friendly Cities: Working toDag Hammarskjöld
Fulfil the Rights of ChildrenAuditorium
How can we build child friendly cities? All are welcome to attend this panel, to hear ideas, examples and innovations from mayors, municipal experts and civil society leaders, showing practical ways to advance the rights of children and women in urban areas. There will also be suggestions for follow-up actions to implement the goals of the outcome document of the Special Session, A World Fit for Children.
Convened by UNICEF
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.CEDEM – Inspiring Thoughts on Baha'I Conference Room
the Say Yes Campaign866 UN Plaza (48th St/1st Ave)
12:00 - 2:30 p.m.Taking Charge! Youth ActionQuaker House (247 E. 48th St.)
Planning on Landmines and Small Arms: Join us for this exciting and interactive YOUTH ONLY workshop! Learn more about landmines, small arms, how to campaign against their use and take creative actions! New to campaigning or already working on these issues but need new ideas and inspiration? Come to this session with an open mind, some creativity, and leave with a campaign action plan for your school or community! Lunch is provided. Session facilitators speak English, Spanish and French. If you require translation into another language please make your own arrangements. Convened by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Quaker UN Office and UNICEF
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.UNICEF Daily Press Briefing(U.N.) Room 226
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.Adolescents at the Crossroads:Delegates Dining Room
Learning About Health and Rights
Panelists will share their experience in designing and implementing programmes that support adolescents to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to make the transition to adulthood in good health. Sponsored by UNFPA, WHO, the World Bank, Aahung (Pakistan), Action Health Incorporated (Nigeria), the Youth Coalition and the International Women’s Health Coalition. By invitation only.
1:15 – 2:45 p.m.NGO Lunchtime PlenaryConference Room 4
Going Forward – Broad-based NGO approaches. This plenary will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the Outcome Document, the process of developing national plans of action, global commitments made by governments, the role of NGOs and other key actors at the international level.
1:15 – 2:45 p.m.Panel: Promoting Children’sConference Room 2
Participation
This event aims to show the benefits of and increase commitment to young people’s participation in public life by enabling young people themselves to present examples of what they have been able to achieve and how.
1:15 – 2:45 p.m.Panel: Children Deprived of PrimaryConference Room 3
Care Givers
Children have the right to be cared for by their family, as far as possible, according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and institutional care should be a measure of last resort for the shortest duration possible. Unfortunately, many children today are deprived of the care of their families. All are welcome at this panel/event, which will present arguments on this issue. It will take the form of a court session, with complainants and defendents and in which children themselves will have the last word. (Convened by the Governments of the Netherlands, Romania and the Philippines)
1:15 – 2:45 p.m.Panel: Healthy Mothers, Healthy BabiesDag Hammarskjöld
Auditorium
This panel will call the world’s attention to the deaths each year of four million babies in the first 28 days of their lives and the ways in which governments, NGOs and others can help prevent this tragic toll. The panel will present the situation of newborns in developing countries; the strategies of WHO in Africa to save newborn lives; UNICEF's efforts to promote breastfeeding; and experiences in Pakistan, of the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and Save the Children/Saving Newborn Lives in reducing newborn tetanus.
(Convened by UNICEF, WHO, Save the Children/Saving Newborn Lives, DFID, USAID, and the Academy for Education and Development)
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.Dialogue Between Heads of DelegationsConference Room 9
and Children on the Effects of War
This dialogue will engage children from war-affected countries in a discussion on Children and Armed Conflict, together with Heads of Delegations. The discussion will focus on how war affects the lives of children and what can be done about it. Closed event, by invitation only.
3:00 – 7:00 p.m.Plenary DebateG.A. Hall
3:00 – 6:30 p.m.Roundtable 1ECOSOC tbc
3:00 - 4:45 pmGlobal March Against Labour, Child10H,
Workers in Asia OPCION, Anti-Slavery Church Centre
International, Manitese, Education
International, ICFTU: Children's
Struggles against Child Labour
3:00 - 4:00 amNorth America Regional NGO CaucusGrumman Room,
Church Centre
3:00 - 5:00 pmGlobal Health Council: US CoalitionDHL, Church Centre
for Child Survival Briefing : for
delegates, NGOs and media on an
exciting new child survival initiative.
3:00 - 4:30 pmPresbyterian Church (USA) : Hardin Room
Religions for Children: ChallengesChurch Centre
and Practices. Representatives of
religions who have expertise in
areas covered in the outcome
document, including children's
health, education, protection from abuse,
prevention and treatment of HIV-AIDS,
and the mobilization of resources,
will discuss how their NGO and religious
community will assist in the implementation
of the plan of action agreed upon at
the Special Session.
3:00 - 4:00 pmMarch of Dimes: Focus on Babies, Baha'IConference Rm
online resources and global 866 UN Plaza (48th/1st Ave)
partnerships for healthy babies.
This event will provide information
about the March of Dimes web-based educational
resources, the March of Dimes Information
Center, and international partnerships
that utilize these resources for improving
birth outcomes worldwide.
3:00 - 5:00 pmEmerging issues for girls, HIV/AIDS Beekman Tower Hotel
amd Tobacco.Ballroom (49th/1st Ave)
This session’s topic is empowering
girls to deal with HIV/AIDS and tobacco-
two of the greatest threats to the health