WONDERFUL THING ABOUT CHILDREN IS THEIR VIEW OF RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE TO LIVE IN FREEDOM, PEACE 'AS SOMETHING OBVIOUS', SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

10 December 1998

Press Release
SG/SM/6830
HR/4397

WONDERFUL THING ABOUT CHILDREN IS THEIR VIEW OF RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE TO LIVE IN FREEDOM, PEACE 'AS SOMETHING OBVIOUS', SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

19981210 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY 'I Want You To Keep Believing That', Kofi Annan Stresses During Presentation of Children's Universal Declaration of Human Rights Passport

Following are remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the presentation of the children's passport version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to him by the United Nations Messengers of Peace, in New York today:

Thank you, Michael [Douglas]. I am so grateful to you, Luciano [Pavarotti] and Anna [Cataldi], for the tremendous help you are giving the United Nations as messengers of peace, and I want to thank all the others who have joined us today.

I am especially happy to see you children here. When the United Nations was created more than 50 years ago, our founders wrote as their very first words that they were "determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war". Succeeding generations: that means you.

Our forefathers did something important for us when they made that promise to future generations -- and when they wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose anniversary we are celebrating today. I think we owe it to them to do what we can to make the world a better place. To carry on their work. To pick up the baton, like in a relay race.

And so I want you children, instead of waiting until you grow up, to start getting ready now for the time you take over the baton. That's why you're being given these passports here today.

The wonderful thing about young people like you is that you regard the right of all people to live in freedom, justice, tolerance and peace as something obvious.

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Something nobody has the right to take away. I want you to keep believing that.

These books are not only your passports to the future: they are your guidebooks, your diaries, and books for your dreams. That way, each of you can really feel that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is there for you. That it is part of your life. And if you feel that, how could you not want to do all you can -– now and when you grow up -– to make it a reality for others?

Today, one million children around the world are being given these passports, just like you. One million: that's a lot of kids. Just imagine what you can do if each and every one of you works to make at least one of the rights in the Declaration become reality for another million.

You'd have the world's nearly 6 billion people covered in no time!

And so I want you to take this passport with you wherever you go. Read it; write in it; use it; show it to your friends. And when you are not sharing it with others, keep it close to your heart. It will give you strength. Young friends, I know I can count on you. The very best of luck to you all.

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