20 November 2006

Over 3000 Auckland kids show commitment to stamping out world poverty for Universal Children's Day. *

ChildFund's 'Give Us a Hand' campaign ends today with the display of an impressive 65m long banner. Filled with over 3000 colourful handprints donated by kids from all over Auckland, the banner is a visual display of Auckland kids' support for needy children around the world.

The ChildFund campaign has worked to raise awareness of the suffering of children living in poverty around the world, where every three seconds another child dies from hunger or preventable disease. Today, Monday November 20, is Universal Children's Day – an opportunity for all New Zealanders to take a moment and consider what they can do to help.

ChildFund National Director Paul Brown says of the day, "Universal Children's Day is an opportunity for New Zealanders to reflect upon the disparity between the opportunities our own children have, and the conditions that face millions of children living in poverty around the world."

Universal Children's Day is a day of worldwide understanding and fellowship between children, and represents the United Nations Rights of the Child.

In 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day. It recommended that the day was to be observed as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the charter and the welfare of the children of the world.

ChildFund's 'Give Us a Hand' campaign has focused on one of the 54 Articles of the Conventions on the Rights of the Child - Article 6, for Universal Children's Day 2006, which states:

1. Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.

2. Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.

Since its adoption by the United Nations, the Convention has been signed or ratified by more countries than any other international treaty. Over the past decade, the Convention has proven to be a valuable tool for promoting the rights of children everywhere around the world.

"Children are future. They are the leaders, innovators, teachers and workers who will bring growth and change for the better. By sponsoring a child today you can help a child living in poverty realise their true potential and create a better life for themselves." says Paul Brown.

*The Figures:*

20 The number of children who die from starvation and preventable disease every minute (one every three seconds).

1200 The number of children who die from starvation and preventable disease every hour.

3000 The number of handprints gathered on ChildFund's 'Give Us a Hand' banner. Represents only 10% of children's deaths that occur every single day in the world from poverty related issues such as hunger and disease.

*ENDS* **

© Scoop Media