AFTER Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousufzai, a youngster from Laos was among nine teens who captured the world’s attention after giving an address at the United Nations (UN), recently.
Nickar Panyphorn, 15, took centre stage and addressed the global summit by urging the world’s leaders to take action on the issue of children’s right to education.
Her speech was delivered in under three minutes, said the Laotian Times.
“In the Lao PDR, in the poorest communities, the number of girls and boys that drop out of school remains high, especially among girls.
"How can we ensure that our youth become the human capital of the country? My request to all of you today is to please take action to help us children get a quality education.
"I’m just a 15-year-old girl, but I have promised myself that I will promote the right to education for every child in my country.
"I want to see them in schools with their uniforms and holding books and pens in their hands, so they can reach their full potential, achieve their dreams and have a bright future.
"Distinguished policymakers, please let our voices be heard and take into account policies and rules that concern us so that no child is left behind,” Nickar said.
According to the voicesofyouth portal, Nickar is a youth advocate for education and the environment in Laos.
She is also a Lao culture promoter, and has worked with Unicef and her country’s government to promote children’s participation in decision making processes.
The eight other youths who addressed the UN recently are 11-year-old Dante from Chile; Nanse, 13 (Syria); Hans, 14 (Ivory Coast); Volodymyr, 16 (Ukraine); Amira, 13 (Cameroon); Jane, 11 (North Macedonia); Amila, 16 (Bosnia Herzegovina) and Jade, 13 (United States).
Swede Thunberg captured the world's attention after she mounted a campaign to address climate change, while Pakistani Malala is an activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
The UN session on children’s right to education is held on Nov 20 every year, in conjunction with World Children’s Day.
The global summit was convened to mark 30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
UN executive director Henrietta Fore said that the world has made big strides forward since the signing of the Convention, though much more needs to be done.
Children today are facing ever new challenges to their well-being that were unimaginable three decades ago, such as climate change, rising migration, safety in an online world, plus never-ending conflicts – and these new problems will require new and better solutions, she said.