Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Events
Launch of general comment No. 26 (2023) on children’s rights and the environment, with a special focus on climate change
Date
18 September 2023
LOCATION
Room XVII, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland - (Live broadcast on https://media.un.org/en/webtv)
THEME
LAUNCH OF GENERAL COMMENT NO. 26 (2023) OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Committee on the Rights of the Child
Programme in English, French and Spanish.
During its 93rd session in May 2023, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted its general comment No. 26 on children’s rights and the environment, with a special focus on climate change. The Committee, together with its Child Advisors and partners, launched its general comment at a public event on 18 September 2023 in Geneva.
Format
- Introductory remarks
- A conversation on the implications of general comment No. 26 for children and duty-bearers
- Presentation of the child-friendly version of general comment No. 26
- In our own words: the stories behind general comment No. 26
- Concluding remarks
Video
HC’s video message
List of speakers and statements
- Co-Moderator: Ann Skelton, Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (statement)
- Co-Moderator: Maya-Natuk, Child Advisor (17, Greenland)
- Velina Todorova, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (statement)
- Philip Jaffé, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, via video message
- Paloma Escudero, Special Advisor on children’s rights and climate action, UNICEF, via video message
- Arnold Kreilhuber, Regional Director and Representative, Regional Office for Europe, United Nations Environment Programme
- David Boyd, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, via video message
- Marisa Graham, Ombudsperson for the Rights of Children and Adolescents in Argentina (statement)
- Christina Kitsos, Vice-Chair of the Administrative Council, City of Geneva, Switzerland (statement)
- Aniva, Child Advisor (17, Pacific Islands), and Olt, Child Advisor (17, Kosovo1) via video message
- Elisabeth, Child Advisor (16, Rwanda)
- Esmeralda, Child Advisor (16, Peru)
- George, Child Advisor (16, Zambia)
- Kartik, Child Advisor (17, India)
- Madhvi, Child Advisor (12, USA)
- Video messages from children who participated in consultations, supported by terre des hommes and Child Rights Coalition Cambodia
1 All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).