From Senegal to Haiti, via India and Peru, during the week of 5 June, the children supported by Terre des Hommes Switzerland are getting together to defend their right to live in a healthy environment. Through various actions, they will celebrate International Environment Day in their own way, with the aim of making their voices heard:
The impact of the climate crisis on children’s rights is felt more and more every day. By way of example, a few figures will give you a better idea: 1.7 million children die every year as a result of a polluted environment, 559 million children in the world are exposed to extreme heat and this figure could rise to 2 billion by 2050 (for more figures and their sources, consult the main page of the campaign).
The campaign launched by Terre des Hommes Suisse is based on the profound conviction that every child has the right to live in a healthy environment and that action must be taken. The children of our planet deserve a decent future, and it is our collective responsibility to guarantee it for them.
Recognition by the United Nations, but still a need to inform the players involved
In July 2022, the United Nations recognised that “the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a human right“, a major step forward. The vote was closely followed by our colleagues at Terre des Hommes Germany, who collected more than 140,000 signatures in an awareness-raising campaign ahead of the UN vote (“My planet, my rights” campaign).
The ratified decision calls on “(…) States, international organisations, businesses and other actors (…)” to take action, but the fact remains that most of the actors concerned, including children and young people, need to be informed and made aware of their rights! It is with this in mind that the “Save my planet, save my rights” campaign is being launched today.
A global campaign
They don’t know each other, they don’t speak the same language and they don’t live in the same countries, but they all share the same concern: to ensure a future in which they can live decently and in good conditions. During this week of awareness-raising campaigns, tree-planting, litter-picking and travelling theatres on environmental issues, our young people and children are working together to make their voices heard from 10 countries around the world!
Follow them on our social networks throughout the week!
Affiche de la campagne : Mirjana Farkas