World for Children - Global
In 2001, the BBC World Service Education and UNICEF hosted a programme in which children across the globe reported on their rights. Over 250 radio programmes were produced in 22 languages. The purpose of this broadcasting initiative was to promote a worldwide debate on children's rights in line with the United Nations Special Session on Children, which took place in New York (USA) in May 2002. The project consisted of radio programmes and a website, both of which focussed on two areas: children's rights and "children's millennium dreams".
Communication Strategies
This initiative used radio and the Internet to address questions such as: What are our responsibilities to children? How are governments worldwide protecting and ensuring their well-being? And how are they failing?
The participation of children was central to the effort. Organisers claim that at least half of the voices in every programme were those of children; in total, over 1,380 children were featured on air.
A special website was set up to increase the reach of the project. Visitors could (and still can) click onto links in the following categories to listen to the radio programmes and read scripts, access learning materials, visit related links, and learn more about The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
Children, Rights, Health, Education, Conflict.
The participation of children was central to the effort. Organisers claim that at least half of the voices in every programme were those of children; in total, over 1,380 children were featured on air.
A special website was set up to increase the reach of the project. Visitors could (and still can) click onto links in the following categories to listen to the radio programmes and read scripts, access learning materials, visit related links, and learn more about The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
- Health: "Read and listen to four reports about a child's right to the best health care available."
- Care and Protection: "Find out how a child is entitled to safety from violence."
- Identity: "All children have a right to a name, a nationality and a cultural heritage."
- Education: "Governments should ensure children receive a good education. Are they?"
- Inclusion: "The youngest of citizens should take part in cultural and sporting activities."
- A Voice and Information: "Children are entitled to express their opinion and have access to information."
Children, Rights, Health, Education, Conflict.
Key Points
Project organisers state that, "Despite the progress that has been made since 1989, when the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child came into being, children's rights continue to be neglected in many areas...."
The May 2002 United Nations Special Session on Children was a meeting of the UN General Assembly dedicated to the children and adolescents worldwide. Click here for further details on that event. Organisers state that, "Despite the progress that has been made since 1989, when the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child came into being, children's rights continue to be neglected in many areas...."
According to the BBC World Service Trust, the project website was accessed by over 4,500 users in less than 3 months.
The May 2002 United Nations Special Session on Children was a meeting of the UN General Assembly dedicated to the children and adolescents worldwide. Click here for further details on that event. Organisers state that, "Despite the progress that has been made since 1989, when the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child came into being, children's rights continue to be neglected in many areas...."
According to the BBC World Service Trust, the project website was accessed by over 4,500 users in less than 3 months.
Partners
BBC World Service Education, UNICEF.
Sources
Letters sent to The Communication Initiative from Joanne Edwards (on March 5 2004) and Hayley Sillence (on March 30 2004); and project page on the BBC World Service Trust website.
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