UNICEF Celebrates World Children’s Day, Advocates Child Rights With Climate Action.

Guwahati, 22nd of November, 2024 : UNICEF Assam, in association with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam and the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL), celebrated World Children’s Day with an exhibition volleyball match symbolizing the importance of young people, especially girls, being at the forefront of climate action, driving change as a team for the future generations.

The day coincides with the launch of UNICEF’s global flagship the State of the World’s Children 2024 Report, “The Future of Childhood in a Changing World”, which dives deep into the global megatrends shaping our lives – climate crisis, demographic transition and frontier technologies.

At the event, the speakers highlighted the cause of Children’s Rights and how sports can inspire people to take constructive actions for preserving the climate for the future generations of Assam.

The event was addressed by Mukesh Chandra Sahu, IAS, Principal Secretary,Department of Women & Child Development, Government of Assam; Kauser Jamil Hilaly, IAS, Secretary, Sports & Youth Welfare Department, Government of Assam; Abhijit Bhattacharya, Founder & former member of Indian Volleyball team; Nahid Afrin, UNICEF Youth Advocate along with Dr Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Assam and Northeast states.

In his keynote address, Mukesh Chandra Sahu said, “Climate induced economic challenges leads to a cyclical process and intensifies elements of structural oppression, such as gender equality and poverty. Such situation gives way to early or child marriage, grossly infringes the child rights to a life of dignity and honour. Today, on this occasion of World Children’s Day, we must take a lesson or two from volleyball where we must play as a team – playing for the ball and defending the right of every child.”

Kauser Jamil Hilaly, IAS, Secretary, Sports & Youth Welfare Department, Government of Assam advocated for young people as champions of change. He said, “Sports has a beauty of igniting our minds with pure joy and inspires us to achieve what we believe in. Climate Action is the need of the hour, because more than anything else, it is impacting the future of our children, and their rights for a life of quality. Just like volleyball, acting on climate action policy requires a strong serve, both by the government and the people, solid passes among them and a smooth play of teamwork. Nothing beats a team that is disciplined, focused and keen to do it. And, of course, we all are playing for the trophy of a Green World, the ultimate championship that we can win for the future of our children.”

UNICEF is committed to engaging with initiatives such as the Brahmaputra Volleyball League that allow children and young people to take the lead, promote gender equality and enhance the overall wellbeing of young women in communities.

UNICEF Assam Chief of Field Office, Dr Madhulika Jonathan stressed on the collective action by young people on climate. “UNICEF is committed to prioritise children’s climate resilience, ensuring access to services like education & healthcare. Our partnership with the Departments of Women and Child Development and Sports and Youth Welfare are crucial to help in bridging capacity gaps of social service workforce to minimise the impact of climate change on children, particularly adolescent girls, by putting prevention as core strategy. While leveraging Brahmaputra Volleyball League as a powerful platform, UNICEF seeks to challenge societal norms such as child marriage, advocate for girls’ rights, expand their educational opportunities, and inspire them to take on leadership roles within the league and beyond.”

Highlighting how young minds can be empowered through Volleyball, Abhijit Bhattacharya, said, “As a volleyball coach, I know the power of teamwork, and tackling climate change is the ultimate team effort. Let’s rally together to protect our planet, so future generations can thrive in a world that is safe, green, equal, and filled with dignity for all. Assam’s youth are already engaging in impactful climate action, from participating in the Gram Panchayat Development Plan process to addressing local risks in tea gardens. It is imperative that we harness this energy and scale it for broader impact. With our network and support of agencies such as UNICEF Assam, we wish to hedge our collective intent and strength to bring about an effective comprehensive framework for empowering girls through the sports of volleyball. We will step up and go for a ‘spike’ in this effort.”

In her capacity as UNICEF Youth Advocate, Nahid Afrin said, “I believe every child has the right to a future of promise—one that begins with a safe and healthy environment. The actions we take today to combat climate change directly shape that future. Climate change and social issues like child marriage are deeply interconnected, disproportionately affecting girls by pushing families into desperate decisions during crises. Policymakers must recognise this link and design climate action frameworks that prioritise gender equity, ensuring no girl is left behind in the fight for a sustainable and just world. I wish this wonderful campaign great success.”

What will UNICEF Assam continue to advocate this World Children’s Day, 2024:

1. Committing to Anticipatory Action: Embedding proactive measures using climate change lens with defined triggers to prevent harmful practices into state frameworks, supported by appropriate financing from state budget and mobilize private sector to contribute to the process.
2. Investing in Evidence: Building robust evidence to understand the complex interaction (temporal and spatial) between climate change, disasters and child marriage and support strengthening governmental policies for protecting women and children from child (early and forced) marriage and violence (including gender base), exacerbated by climate change.
3. Systematic Participation by Young People and Youth: Promoting children and youth involvement in strengthening ongoing efforts on climate action and disaster resilience, aligned with state policies and mandates.

This International Day of the Girl Child (11 October 2024) UNICEF globally launched the #GirlGoals communications campaign globally, to kickstart a drumroll leading into 2025, when the world will mark 30 years since the signing of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most comprehensive global agenda to achieve gender equality and empower girls and women. Thirty years after the Declaration was endorsed by 189 governments, we are facing a concerted pushback on girls’ rights which challenges gender equality as a legitimate policy objective. This pushback threatens to not only stall progress, but actively wind back established legal principles and policies that protect adolescent girls’ rights and agency.

Climate Change & Assam: By 2050, children in Assam will reside in a significantly warmer environment, continually encountering extreme weather with adverse effects on vulnerable populations. If business-as-usual continues, according to available projections:

1. Mean temperature is likely to rise in Assam by 1.7-2.0°C between 2021 and 2050^[1].
2. An increase in extreme rainfall days (rainfall > 25 to 150 mm) is likely by 5-38%^[2].
3. Drought weeks likely to increase by 75% in most districts^[3].
4. A more than 25% increase in flooding incidents in Assam’s southern regions ^[4].

^[1] SAPCC (2015-20)

^[2] SAPCC (2015-20)

^[3] SAPCC (2015-20)

^[4] SAPCC (2015-20)

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