Representatives from Asia-Pacific countries to discuss children’s development and rights in New Delhi

A high-level inter-governmental meeting of representatives of countries from Asia and the Pacific will begin in New Delhi, India tomorrow. At the meeting, hosted by the Government of India and supported by UNICEF, participants will discuss cooperation for the realization of children’s rights and share knowledge and information about early childhood development, children in urban environments and opportunities and issues concerning adolescents.

Delegates from more than 30 countries from the Asia and Pacific regions are expected to attend the ‘Second High Level Meeting on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific’ from the 23rd to the 25th of October. They will describe experiences and lessons learned in developing and implementing policies and programmes that support children’s development and rights, and explore future triangular exchanges and South-South cooperation.

The meeting follows a similar High-Level Meeting held in Beijing, China in 2010.

Attendees will include a range of government ministers and high level public officials, including India’s Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge), Her Excellency Mrs. Krishna Tirath... The Executive Director of UNICEF, Mr. Anthony Lake will also attend.

The meeting will discuss four topics: a) Adolescents: Current Rights for Future Opportunities; b) Fulfilling Child Rights through Early Childhood Development; c) Urban settings as an opportunity for realizing all child rights;  and d) progress made on south-south cooperation for children since the 2010 meeting.

The meeting will consider the development of a ‘Delhi Declaration’ which will serve as a roadmap for future South-South cooperation to ensure children’s rights.