REMARKS BY THE UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE

AT THE CHILDREN IN FOCUS PHOTO COMPETITION AWARDS

November 18, 2014

Distinguished Guests, Partners, Children

I am delighted to be here today as we celebrate the power of photography.

I was so impressed walking around this evening and looking at the wonderful award winning photos that are showcased here. It makes me sad that we can only award the top three prizes when really, looking around us, all these photos are winners.

And they are winners because they tell the story of joy, of hope, of resilience, of change. They tell, in fact that story of 25 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

As many of you know, this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This Convention is all about a promise to our children. A promise that that we, as adults, would work on behalf of children so that survive, thrive and develop.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was and is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights for children.

We cannot claim that the Convention has achieved all that needs to be achieved for all children everywhere. But it has provided us with an essential foundation to change the world for and with children and we sincerely believe that events like this, that enable children and the general public around Sri Lanka to how us the key moments in a child’s life, remind us all of the journey behind us and the one we have yet to make for and with children.

I would like to thank our partners, Cannon-Metropolitan, the incredible Rotaract-Shutterbugs, Noor in particular and my colleagues in the office who have spent tireless hours putting this wonderful exhibition together.

I would also like to thank you, Honorable Minister for gracing this event and for the media for sharing these photos far and wide. I would especially like to congratulate the winners – indeed every photo here and note that we at UNICEF will be using these photos in the years to come to tell the story of Sri Lankan children, where ever and who they are.

Thank you