More than 50 countries have pledged to put children's rights at the centre of their policies, in a commitment being agreed at the Paris Peace Forum. About 20 non-governmental organisations and philanthropic groups have also signed on, and several multinational companies are expected to join the pledge this week.
Children's rights are a focal theme of this year's forum, and the pact is one of the main outcomes being pursued in Paris. The initiative brings governments, civil society and private-sector partners together around a shared undertaking to make the wellbeing and protection of children a priority in decisions that affect them.
The pledge comes as UNICEF's leadership sets out its position on the issue. In an interview broadcast on France 24 under its Perspective programme, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said that the organisation and its partners are all committed to the importance of children. The headline of the interview quotes her directly on that commitment.
Because the pledge spans states, non-governmental bodies and companies, its reach depends on how far each signatory follows through in practice. The notes available for this report do not set out the specific measures each country or company has committed to, so the scope of the obligations remains to be seen as the agreement is finalised.
The Paris Peace Forum is an international gathering that brings together policymakers and organisations from around the world, and the presence of children's rights on its agenda reflects growing attention to the place of young people in global policy. The pledge is being agreed during the forum, with additional signatories expected in the days ahead.
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