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.

100 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, we celebrate significant advances for many children around the world. We also recommit to addressing the threats and obst... +
Jo Becker
Children's Rights Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
United States of America
100 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child, we celebrate significant advances for many children around the world. We also recommit to addressing the threats and obstacles that continue to rob children of their rights. As we move into a new century of advocacy, our child rights community is more important than ever.

One Hundred Years of Working for Children’s Rights. As we commemorate the first 100 years since the Geneva Declaration, it is good to remember we are part of a long chain of advocates; our wo... +
Amihan V. Abueva
Regional Executive Director, Child Rights Coalition Asia
Philippines
One Hundred Years of Working for Children’s Rights. As we commemorate the first 100 years since the Geneva Declaration, it is good to remember we are part of a long chain of advocates; our work to defend children’s rights is never completely done but every effort counts, there will be new leaders who will continue to work with children to face new challenges worldwide.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
Amihan V. Abueva - Regional Executive Director, Child Rights Coalition Asia
Ann Skelton - Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Virginia Gamba - Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Jo Becker - Children's Rights Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
Mikiko Otani - Member & Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; President, Child Rights Connect
Jean Zermatten - Ancien président, Comité des droits de l'enfant de l'ONU
Yanghee Lee - Former Chair, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Prominent endorsers
Chris Quinn - Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
Patricio Cuevas-Parra - Director, Child Participation & Rights, World Vision
Ursula Kilkelly - Professor
Jaejun Park - Policy advisor to the Minister of Health and welfare of the Republic of Korea, Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea
Karin Morrison - Experienced Educator, Leader of Janusz Korczak Australia Janusz Korczak Association Australia
Jo Becker - Children's Rights Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
Sabine Saliba - Secretary General
Organizations
Plataforma 3 Voces
Humanist Society Scotland
European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ESCAP)
Associazione Franca
Réseau Suisse des droits de l’enfant
Salvatorian Pastoral Care for Children Inc. (SPCC)
Save the Children
Ombudsman fir Kanner a Jugendlecher
ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child
Family, Child, Youth Association
All signatories
Sara Ramirez Gomez - Technical Secretary, Plataforma Colombiana de Organizaciones Sociales y Populares por el Protagonismo de Niñas, Niños y Jóvenes (Plataforma 3 Voces)
Christine Trültzsch-Wijnen - Professor for media education, Salzburg University of Education Stefan Zweig
Samuel Gordon - Membership Manager, Keeping Children Safe
Letícia Carvalho Silva - Alana Institute
Sampson Hlaing - Executive Director, Equality Myanmar
Andreas Jud - Prof. Dr., University of Ulm; Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Ema Meçaj - Gender and climate advocate
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.