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
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 ?
In a time where Human Rights are declining in the view of State parties and individuals , where violence in all forms, insecurity, disasters and man-made declining of environment are threatening ch... +
Renate Winter
Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Austria
In a time where Human Rights are declining in the view of State parties and individuals , where violence in all forms, insecurity, disasters and man-made declining of environment are threatening children, I will do what I can to especially fight for equal rights for girls, as traditions and religions prevent their opportunities for a fully self-determined life.
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 end... +
Aneeta Ghoorah
Ombudsperson for Children
Mauritius
The endorsement of this Renewed Declaration is a must. Over the last 100 years, some progress—but only some—has been made with regard to the protection and safeguard of the several rights of children. The second reason responds directly to an evolved context where new challenges have emerged, especially with the rapid progress in technology. It thus behooves us all to commit ourselves to fulfilling our universal obligations that are so succinctly captured in the 2024 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Geneva Declaration, we must all ask ourselves if we have done our utmost to give every Child the best we have to give. Adoption of the Declaration was... +
Yanghee Lee
Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
South Korea
As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Geneva Declaration, we must all ask ourselves if we have done our utmost to give every Child the best we have to give. Adoption of the Declaration was a watershed moment for all children: Recognition of the human rights of every child. And that the society had an obligation to protect, promote, and provide ample circumstances and opportunities for every child to realize their inherent basic human rights here and now. We must all recommit our pledge to fulfill what we had promised 100 years ago to every child in the present and for future generations.
« 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
Virginia Gamba - Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict- Anwarul K. Chowdhury - Ambassador, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and two times chair of the UNICEF Executive Board
- Ann Skelton - Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Jo Becker - Children's Rights Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
- Amihan V. Abueva - Regional Executive Director, Child Rights Coalition Asia
- Renate Winter - Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Ton Liefaard - Professor, UNICEF Chair in Children's Rights, Leiden University
Prominent endorsers
- Ursula Kilkelly - Professor
- Sabine Saliba - Secretary General
- Karin Morrison - Experienced Educator, Leader of Janusz Korczak Australia Janusz Korczak Association Australia
- Faith Nimineh - Senior Advisor, Humanitarian Affairs, ChildFund Alliance
- Juliet Harris - Director, Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights)
- Bharti Ali - Child Rights Defender
- Laura Korhonen - Professor, Head of Barnafrid, the Swedish National Centre for Knowledge on Violence Against Children at Linköping University, Barnafrid, the Swedish National Centre for Knowledge on Violence Against Children at Linköping University
All signatories
- Jo Becker - Children Rights Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
- Nikka Gerona - student/member, YOUNGO
- Anny Nathaly Roa Pabón - Educadora popular y profesional de apoyo en incidencia, Fundación CECUCOL-centro cultural comunitario las colinas
- Fraser Sutherland - Chief Executive, Humanist Society Scotland
- Elina Pekkarinen - Ombudsman for Children in Finland / Chair of ENOC, Office of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland / European Network of Ombudspersons for Children ENOC
- Sakshat Singh - Outreach executive, Aasraa Trust
- Dux Brisvany Rojas Pino - Educadora Popular, Coordinadora de proyectos, estudiante, activista, Colectiva Autónomas
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.