Youth activists challenge world leaders as they hold #UpForSchool rally and launch petition
Youth leaders from more than 100 countries are demanding action from world leaders today as they hold the #UpForSchool rally and launch a major petition.
With the 69th United Nations General Assembly geting underway, the activists will gather in New York to demand urgent measures听on behalf of millions of children currently excluded from school because they are child labourers, married too young, discriminated against, exploited or living in war-torn regions where their schools are under attack.
Despite promises made by world leaders in 2000 to have every child in school by the end of 2015, 58 million are still being denied their right to education.
To drive action over the next 500 days, young leaders have created a global call to action 国产视频 the #UpForSchool Petition 国产视频 to demonstrate unprecedented public support for education. It will be delivered to world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September 2015 and is backed by a coalition of more than 100 businesses, faith leaders, NGOs, teachers and influential individuals.
You can sign the #UpForSchool petition here.听
The peittion has already gone to 100 schools in Pakistan and has been signed by more than 10,000 children.
Baela Raza Jamil, of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) ( 国产视频淐entre of Education and Consciousness国产视频 ) in Pakistan, will be at the rally. He said: 国产视频淚n one week more than 10,000 children have signed the #UpForSchool petition and it is now being taken door-to-door to more than 84,000 homes and 200 schools connecting every village, town and city.
国产视频淵oung people in Pakistan are leading this demand. They are demanding that every child must be able to go to school, without danger of discrimination.国产视频
Youth leaders will be joined at the New York rally by United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, rights advocate Gra莽a Machel, Angry Birds marketing chief Peter Vesterbacka, Ricken Patel of the campaigns website Avaaz, Hadiza Bela Usman from the #BringBackOurGirls movement, UN Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi and CNN国产视频檚 Isha Sesay.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also backing the petition. He said: 国产视频淚 am #UpForSchool. Over the past year from Nigeria to Pakistan we have seen education come under attack. Moreover so many millions are not getting the schooling they need for the best possible start in life. I国产视频檓 very encouraged that young people across the world have launched the #UpForSchool campaign. You can count on my support.国产视频
School children in Mardan, Pakistan, show their signed petitions
Rainn Wilson, actor, comedian and star of the American TV show The Office, is also urging people to sign the petition.
He said: 国产视频淚, like you, am #UpForSchool. Let国产视频檚 get this global petition going. Children all over the world have a right to get education. So let国产视频檚 start this petition. Let国产视频檚 start this movement. This is how it begins, #UpForSchool国产视频
The youth rally is听co-hosted by A World at School and the Office of Special Envoy for Global Education in collaboration with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Youth. It will be held at New York University国产视频檚 Kimmell Center and will be followed by a public rally at 6pm in Washington Square Park.
Mr Brown will address the youth rally and say: 国产视频淧rogress on getting children into school has stalled, aid to education is in rapid decline and 58 million children are being denied their right to an education. In the face of this crisis young people are connecting together, mobilising and demanding action from their leaders.国产视频
Bring Back Our Girls leader Ms Usman said: 国产视频淵outh from around the world, whether it is Pakistan, Nigeria or Gaza, are coming together and sending the world a message. Together we can create a movement no government, politicians or leader can ignore. It is time to rise up for education国产视频.
Mr Vesterbacka said: 国产视频淭hings have changed. Young people are able to connect with each other like never before. They are mobilising and saying that an attack on one school is an attack on all schools. There is a powerful movement emerging and it is being supported by creative and innovate businesses and individuals国产视频.
CNN presenter Isha Sesay said: 国产视频淲e have seen powerful movements emerge after attacks on schools and school children in specific countries. We are now seeing young people link these together and seeing this as an attack on all children.国产视频
Chernor Bah, co-founder of A World at School and youth activist, is leading the young people in their campaign. He said: 国产视频淎round the world, from Pakistan to Nigeria, Syria to Gaza, we国产视频檙e starting to connect. To rise up and demand action. Education is our right, no matter who we are or where we国产视频檙e born. And no child in the world should be denied it.国产视频
Campaigner and A World at School co-founder Sarah Brown said: 国产视频淓ducation saves lives. Those with at least a basic education, earn more, they and their children are healthier and have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the stability of their communities and growth of their economies. We have an urgent deadline between now and the end of 2015 to bring about real change. Leaders must keep their promise and respond urgently with the financial investments and political commitments needed to get every child in to school.国产视频
Ahmad Alhendawi, United Nations Secretary-General国产视频檚 Envoy on Youth said: 国产视频淵oung leaders from more than 85 countries are launching a global call to action 国产视频 the #UpForSchool petition. We must do everything we can to support these young people as they mobilise together around the world. Join us. Stand #UpForSchool.国产视频
The event will also honour inspirational youth leaders on the front lines supporting education in their communities by announcing the recipients of the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education国产视频檚 Youth Courage Awards.