1924 - 2024
A renewed
commitment to
children's rights
Advocate for Children’s Rights
2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child
A Century of Children’s Rights is worth a celebration! Since the 1924 Geneva Declaration, substantial progress has been made with regard to the well-being and protection of children, notably in the health and education sectors. Yet, it’s profoundly troubling that in 2024, these advances are eclipsed by the violence affecting children — a child dies every five minutes according to United Nations statistics, — and by emerging challenges such as digitization and the climate crisis.
It is high time to update the “Geneva Declaration” and mobilize collective consciousness around a renewed commitment to children’s rights: the 2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child.
2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child
Already Committed
A l’heure où les crises se succèdent, comme les impacts de la pandémie, l’augmentation des inégalités, les dérèglements climatiques, les guerres, il est plus que jamais nécessai... +
Christina Kitsos
Maire de la Ville de Genève
Switzerland
A l’heure où les crises se succèdent, comme les impacts de la pandémie, l’augmentation des inégalités, les dérèglements climatiques, les guerres, il est plus que jamais nécessaire de considérer les enfants comme de véritables actrices et acteurs engagé.e.s, d’écouter leurs propositions et leurs révoltes pour avancer en faveur de la justice et de la paix, pour un monde ouvert et solidaire.
Today, by celebrating the 2024 Geneva Declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to uphold the rights of all children. Protecting children’s rights to safety, education, and dignity is not just ... +
Virginia Gamba
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Argentina
Today, by celebrating the 2024 Geneva Declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to uphold the rights of all children. Protecting children’s rights to safety, education, and dignity is not just a moral duty but an imperative. This is crucial for their future and for building lasting peace.
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – so proclaimed Madiba Nelson Mandela. The 1924 Geneva Declaration asserted th... +
Anwarul K. Chowdhury
Ambassador, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and two times chair of the UNICEF Executive Board
Bangladesh
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – so proclaimed Madiba Nelson Mandela. The 1924 Geneva Declaration asserted that humanity “owes to the Child the best that it has to give.” As the world celebrates its 100th anniversary, I am inspired to sign the Renewed Geneva Declaration and take the vow to uphold and ensure the inherent rights of the child in the best interest of humanity.
Our 2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of Rights of the Child is an aspirational call to mobilize and to truly put children at the centre of our collective human concern. But vision without acti... +
Philip D. Jaffé
Professor; Member, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Switzerland
Our 2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of Rights of the Child is an aspirational call to mobilize and to truly put children at the centre of our collective human concern. But vision without action is a daydream, we must now bend political will into concrete steps fulfinling the rights of all children.
By celebrating and ‘updating’ the Geneva Declaration, we pay tribute to the early child rights champions, and we recommit to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of all children en... +
Ann Skelton
Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
South Africa
By celebrating and ‘updating’ the Geneva Declaration, we pay tribute to the early child rights champions, and we recommit to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of all children enshrined in the UNCRC and its Optional Protocols. We remind ourselves there is still an enormous amount of work to be done.
The Declaration of Geneva has provided the foundation for international children’s rights. In today’s world where children face some many challenges and crises, we need to remind oursel... +
Ton Liefaard
Professor, UNICEF Chair in Children's Rights, Leiden University
Netherlands
The Declaration of Geneva has provided the foundation for international children’s rights. In today’s world where children face some many challenges and crises, we need to remind ourselves of the very core of that foundation: Mankind owes to children the best it has to give and all children of today and of future generations are entitled to that.
It is very important at this moment in time to recommit to the re... +
Christina Nomdo
Western Cape Commissioner for Children
South Africa
It is very important at this moment in time to recommit to the realisation of child rights. Not only because we commemorate the global commitment made 100 years ago, but because child rights realisation is still an ideal for many children across the world. Times have changed, requiring us all to reflect on how we evolve our thinking on child rights. But at the same time, the fundamentals have not shifted significantly – we still require child rights champions to promote and protect child rights.
The Geneva Declaration continues to be an inspiration for our moral obligation that we owe to children over generations. Enormous challenges to children in today’s world urge us to work harde... +
Mikiko Otani
Member & Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; President, Child Rights Connect
Japan
The Geneva Declaration continues to be an inspiration for our moral obligation that we owe to children over generations. Enormous challenges to children in today’s world urge us to work harder for realizing their rights. The centenary of the Geneva Declaration is the moment to renew our commitment as global citizens in solidarity with all including children.
Il y a cent ans, Eglantyne Jebb a déclenché un mouvement universel : celui des droits de l’enfant ! Sa Déclaration, officialisée par la Société des Nations, symbolise la révolution du statut ... +
Jean Zermatten
Ancien président, Comité des droits de l'enfant de l'ONU
Suisse
Il y a cent ans, Eglantyne Jebb a déclenché un mouvement universel : celui des droits de l’enfant ! Sa Déclaration, officialisée par la Société des Nations, symbolise la révolution du statut de l’enfant, devenu personne, qui ne doit pas seulement être protégé et éduqué, mais qui détient ses propres droits ! Saura-t-on assez la remercier ?
« Je crois que nous devrions revendiquer certains droits pour les enfants et œuvrer pour leur reconnaissance universelle »
EGLANTYNE JEBB
2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child
Stand up for Children's Rights!
Every signature counts, yours more than any other.
If you do not sign the Declaration, it is as if you have chosen not to make your voice heard.
Explore the list
of signatories
Dignitaries
Jean Zermatten - Ancien président, Comité des droits de l'enfant de l'ONU- Amihan V. Abueva - Regional Executive Director, Child Rights Coalition Asia
- Ton Liefaard - Professor, UNICEF Chair in Children's Rights, Leiden University
- Renate Winter - Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Yanghee Lee - Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Jo Becker - Children's Rights Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
- Anwarul K. Chowdhury - Ambassador, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and two times chair of the UNICEF Executive Board
Prominent endorsers
- Chris Quinn - Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
- Bharti Ali - Child Rights Defender
- Jo Becker - Children's Rights Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
- Naim Qelaj - Ombudsperson, Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo
- Hans Kumar Sharma - Professor of Law, ICFAI University, Jaipur, India
- Ursula Kilkelly - Professor
- Patricio Cuevas-Parra - Director, Child Participation & Rights, World Vision
All signatories
- Mia Dambach - Executive Director, Child Identity Protection
- Sarah Psomotragos - Grade 6 Teacher/ Wellbeing Curriculum Team Leader, Albert Park Primary School
- Ariel Rosita King - President, Ariel Foundation International
- Ina Televca - Main consultant, Peoples Advocate Office from Republic of Moldova
- Lauren McGregor - Children Team Leader and IDAA, Committed to Ending Abuse (CEA)
- Laura Victoria Bonhôte - Poder Judicial de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
- Rocio Cifuentes - Children Commissioner for Wales
Enfants
- Aldis, 15 years, Iceland
- Alex, 17 years, Armenia
- Alla, 17 years, Armenia
- Alvin, 11 years, Kenya
- Anna, 17 years, Armenia
- Annette, 13 years, Kenya
- Arina, 17 years, Armenia
- Arpi, 17 years, Armenia
- Bakhita, 12 years, Kenya
- Ben Berisha, 7 years, Kosovo
- Benjamin, 12 years, Kenya
- Bifon, 12 years, Kenya
- Blessing, 12 years, Kenya
- Bobana, 17 years, Montenegro
- Brilliant, 12 years, Kenya
- Bruno, 15 years, Switzerland
- Cecilia, 14 years, Switzerland
- Celestine, 13 years, Kenya
- Charline, 16 years, Switzerland
- Cicilia, 15 years, Kenya
- Clarice, 12 years, Kenya
From a Visionary’s Inspiration to Global Action
Celebrating 100 Years of the Children's Rights Declaration
The spirit of Geneva, imbued with values of humanism and social justice, continues to inspire today, urging us all to celebrate a century of children’s rights.
« Il n’y a clairement aucune impossibilité intrinsèque à sauver les enfants du monde. Ce n’est impossible que si nous le décidons, par notre refus de le tenter. »
EGLANTYNE JEBB
2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child
Stand up for Children's Rights!
Every signature counts, yours more than any other.
If you do not sign the Declaration, it is as if you have chosen not to make your voice heard.