Save my planet, Save my rights

From Senegal to Haiti, via India and Peru, during the week of 5 June 2023, the children of Terre des Hommes Switzerland got together to defend their right to live in a healthy environment. Through various actions, they celebrated International Environment Day in their own way and set themselves the goal of making their voices heard:

“Save my planet, Save my rights”.

It is crucial to take action to ensure that children can benefit from a healthy environment

The fundamental right of children to live in a healthy environment is crucial to their well-being and development. This implies guaranteed access to basic resources such as drinking water, food, education and medical care, as well as protection from environmental hazards such as pollution and natural disasters. Governments, international organisations and local actors have a responsibility to put in place policies and initiatives to preserve this healthy environment and promote sustainable development, taking into account the specific needs of children.

The campaign in pictures

A few figures to spur us all into action

1.7 million child deaths every year are linked to a polluted environment…

…and more than a quarter of deaths in children under 5 are linked to harmful environments, such as pollution and unsafe water. Children are particularly vulnerable to these threats, which can cause chronic respiratory disease and heart problems throughout their lives (Source: WHO).

559 million children around the world are exposed to extreme heat…

…and will potentially affect more than two billion children by 2050. Children are on the front line of these problems and the heat threatens their long-term health, education and livelihoods. It is urgent to reduce emissions to protect children from the most serious consequences of the climate crisis (Source: UNICEF).

10 million children and young people were displaced by climate-related disasters in 2020…

… and with around a billion children living in 33 countries at high risk of the impacts of climate change, millions more children could be on the move in the years to come. (Source: UNICEF)

One campaign, 10 countries

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.

With awareness campaigns, forest planting, waste collection and travelling theatres on environmental issues, our young people and children are working together this week to make their voices heard from 10 countries around the world!

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