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Global Youth Summit delegate Yongqian Li explains a drawing made by one of six subgroups to complement the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Disabled.
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At first glance, the Special Olympics Global Youth Summit's (GYS) consultation session with UNICEF representatives looked like a party littered with markers and coloring books. But in reality, the summit's 30 delegations were hard at work assisting the United Nations organization by offering their well-received suggestions for a child-friendly version of the new Convention on the Rights of the Disabled.
"These are the hands of all of us," Special Olympics China Unified
SportsŪ Partner and Global Youth Summit delegate Yongqian Li said while explaining a drawing made by one of six subgroups to complement the Convention's text. "And they overlap one another to show that we are all one, our hearts are always connected with each other's."
Li and his counterparts from 15 other countries didn't fail to impress.
"I'm speechless," UNICEF Associate Programme Officer Helen Schulte said following an hour's worth of presentations. "Your recommendations are outstanding and we hope to continue working with you as we move closer to finalizing the child-friendly version of the text."
The session came on the heels of a groundbreaking partnership
announcement made today by UNICEF and Special Olympics at the Global Policy Summit on the Well-being of People with Intellectual
Disabilities. Bolstered by the Convention on the Rights of the Disabled
released earlier this year, the two organizations have pledged to
jointly advocate for health care, education, recreational sports and
employment policies that will benefit children with intellectual
disabilities.
"I am happy when I can study," Special Olympics Korea athlete and Global Youth Summit delegate Yoonah Kim said in a poem written for the occasion. "I am happy when I know I have rights and I will be treated well."
Earlier this week, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman visited with the Global Youth Summit, taking the time to discuss the Convention and hear what delegates had to say about issues facing children with intellectual disabilities.
UNICEF anticipates the final version of the child-friendly text of the
Convention to be released in 2008 following another round of revisions
and the addition of several creative elements, many of which were
suggested today by GYS delegates.
by George Srour |
