A renewed
commitment to
children's rights

Déjà un siècle et encore tant à faire. Réaffirmer la volonté de respecter les droits de l’enfant doit interpeler chacun d’entre nous. Chaque adulte peut et doit contribuer à les mettre en pratique, où qu’il soit. Il n’y a pas d’excuse. C’est la responsabilité de chacun.

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.

As we commemorate the centennial of the Geneva Declaration and affirm the universality of children’s rights, it is our duty to overcome the challenges that we face in translating these ideals into action. We must draw deeply from our collective wisdom and resolve as only through the respect, protection and fulfilment of child rights can we ensure that all children get the best that humanity has to offer.

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 ?

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. 

En ces temps incertains, il faut rappeler que, en plus du droit humanitaire, Genève est aussi le berceau des droits de l’enfant. Alors que tous deux sont bafoués à travers le monde, un nouveau souffle provenant de Genève ne sera jamais de trop!

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.

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.

While we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Geneva Declaration, we are determined to strengthen our commitment to the promotion and protection of children’s rights around the globe, and to bring the UN Convention on the rights of the Child and its optional protocols to the fore front of the world attention.

100 years after the Geneva Declaration, digital technologies are transforming children’s lives for better and worse. Today’s powerful actors – the digital innovators – must protect the full rights of children impacted by the digital environment. The global effort to assert, promote and embed children’s rights in national laws, policies and practices remains vital. I therefore greatly welcome this renewal of the Geneva Declaration, for today’s generation of powerful actors is greatly in need of its message.

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.

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.

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.

Rewriting the Geneva Declaration is an important step in reaffirming that children everywhere are the actors of tomorrow. This Declaration should be a tool to enable them to amplify their voice, to give them a voice, to offer them the means to build a fairer and more united future.

Les droits de l’enfant sont plus que jamais menacés et bafoués, à la vue de tous. Je suis sidérée et indignée. Cette nouvelle déclaration nous rappelle à l’essentiel et renouvelle notre engagement pour protéger les enfants qui sont les graines d’espoir d’un futur plus solidaire.  Il y a urgence : signons vite la Déclaration 2024 de Genève et agissons.

As we commemorate the centennial of the Geneva Declaration and affirm the universality of children’s rights, it is our duty to overcome the challenges that we face in translating these ideals into action. We must draw deeply from our collective wisdom and resolve as only through the respect, protection and fulfilment of child rights can we ensure that all children get the best that humanity has to offer.

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.