Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and on behalf of Senator Barnett, move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (the convention), which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, will be celebrated worldwide on 20 November 2009;

(b)

applauds the significant improvements in the status of children globally that have been achieved over these 20 years, including:

(i)

the decrease in child mortality rates such that the number of children dying before their 5th birthday is now the lowest in recorded history,

(ii)

the increased awareness of, and improved protections for, children in conflict situations, and

(iii)

the strengthened drive for, and provision of universal education for, both boys and girls; and

(c)

recognises the continued importance of the convention and its aims, as well as their complementarity to the Millennium Development Goals, in particular those goals to:

(i)

eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,

(ii)

achieve universal primary education,

(iii)

promote gender equality and empower women, and

reduce child mortality.

Question agreed to.