Indian Children Present Climate Change Recommendations to UN Chair Mikiko Otani
In New Delhi, over 300 children from India shared their ideas on the UN’s draft General Comment 26 (GC 26) with Mikiko Otani, Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. These children, from various backgrounds, participated in the ‘Inclusive YoUth Negotiations’ to discuss the evolving GC 26, set for adoption in September 2023. The initiative, NINEISMINE, involved consultations with COP 27 participants, UN officials, and experts to refine the ADvocal charter, supported by 3000 children from vulnerable communities.
Mikiko Otani expressed her admiration for the children’s knowledge and promised to review their recommendations carefully. The children also collaborated with UNICEF India to create a new climate change campaign, emphasizing their ecological rights. During preparatory sessions, they analyzed the GC 26 draft using rights-based perspectives.
Kartik Verma, a 17-year-old activist from Uttar Pradesh, will present these recommendations at UN negotiations and the Office of the High Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The IN-U.N. statement will be submitted to the OHCHR by February 15. Steve Rocha, Director of PRATYeK, highlighted the children’s enthusiasm and valuable contributions to the GC 26 draft.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child began drafting a General Comment on children’s rights and the environment in June 2021, focusing on climate change. The draft is informed by various stakeholders, including children from affected communities.
Doubts Revealed
UN Chair Mikiko Otani -: Mikiko Otani is a person who leads a group at the United Nations (UN) that focuses on children’s rights. The UN is an organization where countries work together to solve big world problems.
General Comment 26 -: General Comment 26 is a document that the UN is working on. It talks about how children’s rights are connected to the environment and climate change.
NINEISMINE initiative -: NINEISMINE is a group in India where children come together to speak up about their rights and important issues like climate change.
ADvocal charter -: The ADvocal charter is a special plan or set of ideas that these children and experts have created. It focuses on making sure children have rights related to the environment.
OHCHR -: OHCHR stands for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It’s a part of the UN that works to protect and promote human rights around the world.
Kartik Verma -: Kartik Verma is a young person from India who is actively involved in speaking up about climate change and children’s rights. He will share the children’s ideas at important UN meetings.
