The 76th session of United Nations General Assembly this year concluded in the New York City from 21st to 27th September 2021. While the world leaders met in New York, children from most of the world held their own general assembly in Billund, Denmark. The children’s message to world leaders was clear. Children should have more say in the challenges our planet is facing. According to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, now they will.
Roughly 60% of the world’s young people feel betrayed by world leaders. In recognition of children’s lack of influence on the world’s great challenges children from all over the world held their own general assembly in Billund. More than 500 children from more than 40 nations met physically and digitally. From Billund, Capital of Children, the children presented their ideas for a better future to world leaders.
16 years old Aryan Chaudhary from India was formally invited to Billund, Denmark as Representative of India to attend the first Children’s General Assembly. 80 participants were shortlisted from across 40 nations around the world in the initial round. Out of this, 10 groups were formed and 2 participants from each group were invited to Billund in person. Aryan Chaudhary was the only young Indian to have travelled to Billund for participating in the landmark program.
The Assembly comprised of a special 3-day program. Children met the former president of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft.
Children of the world worked towards formulating a Manifesto that was presented to Mr. Mogens Lykketoft and same culminated in the delivery of the children’s joint Manifesto to the world leaders via livestream in UN General assembly. Through the Children’s General Assembly, the children got a grasp of some of the most important competencies of the future which are crucial and necessary for the individual child and the community to unleash the full potential and contribute to common solutions to the challenges of the world.
The children’s manifesto focuses on climate change, education for all and poverty, and calls for world leaders to spend more time and money on education than on defence. They also request more investment in green energy and technology than in economic growth.
The manifesto was received by official representatives from Canada, South Africa, the Netherlands, France and Denmark.
“As adults, we often think about how we teach children democratic values and processes. However, after listening to the children in Billund today, I think we can learn as much from them as they can from us,” said Mogens Lykketoft, former Chairman of the UN General Assembly, who moderated the discussions with the children.
Aryan Chaudhary is born to Abhay Chaudhary and Rajni Chaudhary, and lives in Delhi NCR.