By Xinhua writer Bai Jie
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hollywood actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lucy Liu on Thursday called on the international community to take action to protect children from threats, saying it is "the only thing to do" for the future.
 |
|
(R to L) Ann M. Veneman, executive director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and actor Lucy Liu and Grace Akallo, former child soldier from Uganda, show "The State of the World's Children" reports to the media during a news conference at the UNICEF headquarters in New York Nov. 19, 2009. The UNICEF on Thursday launched a special edition issue of the agency's flagship "The State of the World's Children" report, which focuses on the ground-breaking human rights covenant for children, and tracks the impact of the Convention on the Rights of the Child ( CRC) and the challenges that remain. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
At the occasion to mark the Universal Children's Day and the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child that both fall on Nov. 20, Liu said at UNICEF headquarters in New York that children should have the same basic rights as adults, like the rights to survive, to develop, to be protected from harm, and to be treated equally.
Calling the anniversary an "urgent reminder to place children at the heart of human development," Liu said she hoped that the whole society could take steps to strengthen protections against every threat to children.
"It's not merely the right thing to do," she said. "It's the only thing to do if our future on this planet as a human family is to hold any promise at all."
To mark the event, UNICEF has released a special edition of its flagship publication "The State of the World's Children," outlining progress made on children's rights over the past two decades.
Liu, born in New York and named UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2005, told Xinhua that instead of being invited by UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador, it was herself who "actually called them up."
"I pushed my way into their family because I love the way they work -- on the global level, reaching out to children," she said.
In the past four years, Liu has been dedicated to the work of helping children and traveled a lot on behalf of UNICEF.
"I have been to different countries, from Africa to Russia to Peru ... all of these different areas have something in common which is children in need," Liu said.
 |
|
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador and actor Lucy Liu speaks during a news conference at the UNICEF headquarters in New York Nov. 19, 2009.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
"But the most impactful was my trip to D.R. Congo, one of the most war-torn areas in the world," she said, adding that it was such a pity that they were not permitted access to children in the country due to security reasons.
"No ability to bring things to those children right away really breaks my heart," she said.
Liu also said she could always find time to do things for children despite her busy schedule. "You just make the time, you find the time," she said.
Whenever she travels, she will work with UNICEF to plan a visit to local children, the Hollywood star said.
"It has been part of my life ... like being a second career for me to work with UNICEF now," she said.
Liu has recently produced a documentary film about children sold into the sex trade in Cambodia, in an effort to promote public awareness about child trafficking.
"It is basically for people to see this is the problem that is happening right now and something we can try and recognize, and hopefully eradicate at some point," she said.
When asked to send a message to the public on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the convention, Liu said the only encouraging thing one can do is to take action.
"Don't just witness it. Be a part of the change," she said.
Official Website of Global News Day for Children
Special report: Global News Day for Children
Chinese-version report on state of children issued on Universal Children's Day
 |
|
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) China Officer-in-Charge and Chief of Social Policy and Economic Analysis Hana Brixi (3rd L) and Xinhua News Agency Vice-President Zhou Xisheng (3rd R) unveil the State of the the World's Children Report (Chinese-Edition), during the launch ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
Photo Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Xinhua News Agency Friday launched in Beijing the Chinese-version Report on the State of World's Children to mark the Universal Children's Day and the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The launch was also part of Friday's Global News Day for Children aiming at raising public awareness on children's living environments and their development. Full story
World media launch 24-hour global broadcast on Universal Children's Day
BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Major media organizations in the world have launched a 24-hour relay broadcast for children's rights on Universal Children's Day, which falls on Friday. The global media campaign, also called the "Global News Day for Children" program, was initiated by Xinhua News Agency and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to highlight the international media's role in helping improve children's living environments and promoting their healthy development.
Starting from 8 a.m. (Beijing time) Friday, Xinhua has been working with all participating media organizations in launching 16hours of Chinese-language coverage and eight hours of English-language coverage of education, culture, globalization, environment protection, disability, sport, charity, conflict, and traditions that are closely connected to children's lives and development. Full story
Xinhua News Agency, UNICEF sign MOU in Beijing
 |
|
Xinhua News Agency Vice President Zhou Xisheng (L, front) shakes hands with Dr. Yin Yin Wei (R, front), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative in China after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 5, 2009. A large-scale global media campaign for children' rights co-sponsored by Xinhua News Agency and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was launched here Thursday in the run-up to Universal Children's Day, which falls on Nov. 20, in advance of a planned 24-hour global live multimedia coverage of events on the day. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
Photo Gallery>>> |
Xinhua, UNICEF unveil logo, website for "Global News Day for Children"
BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's Xinhua News Agency and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Monday unveiled the logo for "Global News Day for Children" and launched an official website for the event.
"Global News Day for Children" is a global media campaign co-sponsored by Xinhua News Agency and the UNICEF, to mark the Universal Children's Day which falls on November 20th. Full story
UN chief sends message for well-being of children worldwide
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday sent a message for the well-being of children across the world as the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Children's Day draw near.
The message, written and signed by the UN secretary-general in English and Chinese, reads:" Children are our future. We must work for health, education, equality and protection for every child in the world." Full story
