[Music] about 15 years ago I was sitting in a
about 15 years ago I was sitting in a
about 15 years ago I was sitting in a grass hut in Thailand talking to a young
grass hut in Thailand talking to a young
grass hut in Thailand talking to a young boy from Burma the boy’s name was on and
boy from Burma the boy’s name was on and
boy from Burma the boy’s name was on and he told me that when he was 11 years old
he told me that when he was 11 years old
he told me that when he was 11 years old he was walking on his way home from
he was walking on his way home from
he was walking on his way home from meeting his aunt when he ran into a
meeting his aunt when he ran into a
meeting his aunt when he ran into a soldier on the street the soldier
soldier on the street the soldier
soldier on the street the soldier demanded to see his identity card Hong
demanded to see his identity card Hong
demanded to see his identity card Hong said I’m 11 I don’t have an ID card the
said I’m 11 I don’t have an ID card the
said I’m 11 I don’t have an ID card the soldier said doesn’t matter if you don’t
soldier said doesn’t matter if you don’t
soldier said doesn’t matter if you don’t have an ID card you have to go to prison
have an ID card you have to go to prison
have an ID card you have to go to prison for five years that actually wasn’t true
for five years that actually wasn’t true
for five years that actually wasn’t true but um didn’t know that and then the
but um didn’t know that and then the
but um didn’t know that and then the soldier said if you don’t want to go to
soldier said if you don’t want to go to
soldier said if you don’t want to go to prison you can join the army instead why
prison you can join the army instead why
prison you can join the army instead why long didn’t want to do either but he
long didn’t want to do either but he
long didn’t want to do either but he decided that the army probably sounded
decided that the army probably sounded
decided that the army probably sounded better than prison so before he knew it
better than prison so before he knew it
better than prison so before he knew it he was in a military training camp he
he was in a military training camp he
he was in a military training camp he told me that his gun was taller than he
told me that his gun was taller than he
told me that his gun was taller than he was and that when he couldn’t keep up
was and that when he couldn’t keep up
was and that when he couldn’t keep up with the training exercises he was being
with the training exercises he was being
with the training exercises he was being on was only 12 when he was sent into
on was only 12 when he was sent into
on was only 12 when he was sent into combat for the first time he told me
combat for the first time he told me
combat for the first time he told me that he was terrified but he was also
that he was terrified but he was also
that he was terrified but he was also afraid that if he didn’t shoot his gun
afraid that if he didn’t shoot his gun
afraid that if he didn’t shoot his gun his commander was going to punish him so
his commander was going to punish him so
his commander was going to punish him so he hid behind a tree and fired his gun
he hid behind a tree and fired his gun
he hid behind a tree and fired his gun in the air he soon got used to combat
in the air he soon got used to combat
in the air he soon got used to combat but when he was 13 he was out on patrol
but when he was 13 he was out on patrol
but when he was 13 he was out on patrol with his unit they encountered a group
with his unit they encountered a group
with his unit they encountered a group of unarmed women and children and they
of unarmed women and children and they
of unarmed women and children and they radioed back to headquarters saying what
radioed back to headquarters saying what
radioed back to headquarters saying what should we do the answer came back kill
should we do the answer came back kill
should we do the answer came back kill them all watched as his fellow soldiers
them all watched as his fellow soldiers
them all watched as his fellow soldiers lined up the women and children and shot
lined up the women and children and shot
lined up the women and children and shot them down he said at that point he
them down he said at that point he
them down he said at that point he couldn’t take it anymore and even though
couldn’t take it anymore and even though
couldn’t take it anymore and even though he knew he could be shot for desertion
he knew he could be shot for desertion
he knew he could be shot for desertion he fled across the border to Thailand
he fled across the border to Thailand
he fled across the border to Thailand and that’s where I met him he was still
and that’s where I met him he was still
and that’s where I met him he was still only 14 years old so when people find
only 14 years old so when people find
only 14 years old so when people find out that I work on human rights and
out that I work on human rights and
out that I work on human rights and specifically abuses against children
specifically abuses against children
specifically abuses against children the recruitment and use of child
the recruitment and use of child
the recruitment and use of child soldiers the worst forms of child labor
soldiers the worst forms of child labor
soldiers the worst forms of child labor kids in detention they asked me don’t
kids in detention they asked me don’t
kids in detention they asked me don’t you get depressed don’t you get
you get depressed don’t you get
you get depressed don’t you get discouraged and from reading the news
discouraged and from reading the news
discouraged and from reading the news which tends to emphasize war and tragedy
which tends to emphasize war and tragedy
which tends to emphasize war and tragedy it’s easy to come to the conclusion that
it’s easy to come to the conclusion that
it’s easy to come to the conclusion that the situation for children around the
the situation for children around the
the situation for children around the world is only getting worse but what I
world is only getting worse but what I
world is only getting worse but what I want to tell you today is that amazing
want to tell you today is that amazing
want to tell you today is that amazing progress is being made for kids every
progress is being made for kids every
progress is being made for kids every single day and it’s happening because of
single day and it’s happening because of
single day and it’s happening because of committed activists including children
committed activists including children
committed activists including children themselves who are organizing who are
themselves who are organizing who are
themselves who are organizing who are speaking out and who are demanding
speaking out and who are demanding
speaking out and who are demanding change from people in power I want to
change from people in power I want to
change from people in power I want to tell you about three of these
tell you about three of these
tell you about three of these individuals measured is from Yemen a
individuals measured is from Yemen a
individuals measured is from Yemen a poor country at the southern tip of the
poor country at the southern tip of the
poor country at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula measured loved school
Arabian Peninsula measured loved school
Arabian Peninsula measured loved school she loved playing marbles with her best
she loved playing marbles with her best
she loved playing marbles with her best friend but her father struggled to find
friend but her father struggled to find
friend but her father struggled to find work and to support his family
work and to support his family
work and to support his family one day when Majid came home from school
one day when Majid came home from school
one day when Majid came home from school he had a startling announcement he said
he had a startling announcement he said
he had a startling announcement he said nished you’re going to be married nished
nished you’re going to be married nished
nished you’re going to be married nished was stunned she was nine years old she
was stunned she was nine years old she
was stunned she was nine years old she soon found out that her future husband
soon found out that her future husband
soon found out that her future husband had offered a bride price of seven
had offered a bride price of seven
had offered a bride price of seven hundred and fifty dollars this was more
hundred and fifty dollars this was more
hundred and fifty dollars this was more than her father was willing to turn down
than her father was willing to turn down
than her father was willing to turn down within just a few weeks she was married
within just a few weeks she was married
within just a few weeks she was married to a man who was 30 years old more than
to a man who was 30 years old more than
to a man who was 30 years old more than three times her age the man had promised
three times her age the man had promised
three times her age the man had promised her father that he wouldn’t touch her
her father that he wouldn’t touch her
her father that he wouldn’t touch her until puberty but on their wedding night
until puberty but on their wedding night
until puberty but on their wedding night he raped her Majid begged her parents to
he raped her Majid begged her parents to
he raped her Majid begged her parents to let her come back home but they refused
let her come back home but they refused
let her come back home but they refused so one day about two months after her
so one day about two months after her
so one day about two months after her wedding she went by herself to the
wedding she went by herself to the
wedding she went by herself to the courthouse and she found a judge who was
courthouse and she found a judge who was
courthouse and she found a judge who was willing to listen to her story
willing to listen to her story
willing to listen to her story child marriage is common in Yemen but
child marriage is common in Yemen but
child marriage is common in Yemen but even the judge was shocked at how young
even the judge was shocked at how young
even the judge was shocked at how young nisard was he helped her find a lawyer
nisard was he helped her find a lawyer
nisard was he helped her find a lawyer and at age 10 she became probably the
and at age 10 she became probably the
and at age 10 she became probably the youngest divorcee in the world other
youngest divorcee in the world other
youngest divorcee in the world other girls were inspired by her story and
girls were inspired by her story and
girls were inspired by her story and today she’s part of a global movement
today she’s part of a global movement
today she’s part of a global movement that aims to end child marriage in a
that aims to end child marriage in a
that aims to end child marriage in a single generation
single generation
single generation I also want to introduce you to Turner
I also want to introduce you to Turner
I also want to introduce you to Turner ba Turner is from Sierra Leone in West
ba Turner is from Sierra Leone in West
ba Turner is from Sierra Leone in West Africa he was 12 when Sierra Leone Civil
Africa he was 12 when Sierra Leone Civil
Africa he was 12 when Sierra Leone Civil War came to his city suddenly soldiers
War came to his city suddenly soldiers
War came to his city suddenly soldiers were everywhere he could no longer go to
were everywhere he could no longer go to
were everywhere he could no longer go to the beach to play his house was burned
the beach to play his house was burned
the beach to play his house was burned down and he and his family were forced
down and he and his family were forced
down and he and his family were forced to flee they spent three years in camps
to flee they spent three years in camps
to flee they spent three years in camps for refugees and displaced persons when
for refugees and displaced persons when
for refugees and displaced persons when he was 15 the war was over and he was
he was 15 the war was over and he was
he was 15 the war was over and he was able to come back home over 50,000
able to come back home over 50,000
able to come back home over 50,000 people had been killed many schools had
people had been killed many schools had
people had been killed many schools had been destroyed but there was a process
been destroyed but there was a process
been destroyed but there was a process underway to rebuild the country and
underway to rebuild the country and
underway to rebuild the country and Turner wanted to be part of it he said
Turner wanted to be part of it he said
Turner wanted to be part of it he said to his friends wouldn’t it be great if
to his friends wouldn’t it be great if
to his friends wouldn’t it be great if our voices mattered he was able to get
our voices mattered he was able to get
our voices mattered he was able to get an appointment with the Minister of
an appointment with the Minister of
an appointment with the Minister of Social Welfare and he went with his
Social Welfare and he went with his
Social Welfare and he went with his friends and they proposed a children’s
friends and they proposed a children’s
friends and they proposed a children’s Parliament well she didn’t take their
Parliament well she didn’t take their
Parliament well she didn’t take their idea very seriously but she agreed to
idea very seriously but she agreed to
idea very seriously but she agreed to help them organize a children’s forum
help them organize a children’s forum
help them organize a children’s forum they brought together 50 kids from
they brought together 50 kids from
they brought together 50 kids from across the country and they decided that
across the country and they decided that
across the country and they decided that their number one priority was free
their number one priority was free
their number one priority was free education at the time in Sierra Leone
education at the time in Sierra Leone
education at the time in Sierra Leone every kid even going to public school
every kid even going to public school
every kid even going to public school had to pay tuition and churner himself
had to pay tuition and churner himself
had to pay tuition and churner himself had been kicked out several times when
had been kicked out several times when
had been kicked out several times when his parents didn’t have enough money to
his parents didn’t have enough money to
his parents didn’t have enough money to keep up with his fees Turner traveled
keep up with his fees Turner traveled
keep up with his fees Turner traveled around the country starting children’s
around the country starting children’s
around the country starting children’s clubs at 40 different schools they
clubs at 40 different schools they
clubs at 40 different schools they started a national radio program and
started a national radio program and
started a national radio program and invited government officials to come on
invited government officials to come on
invited government officials to come on and talk about education and other
and talk about education and other
and talk about education and other policies in the run-up to national
policies in the run-up to national
policies in the run-up to national elections they’ve drafted a children’s
elections they’ve drafted a children’s
elections they’ve drafted a children’s manifesto calling for a complete
manifesto calling for a complete
manifesto calling for a complete abolition of all school fees and they
abolition of all school fees and they
abolition of all school fees and they invited Party leaders to sign on within
invited Party leaders to sign on within
invited Party leaders to sign on within 2 years
2 years
2 years Sierra Leone adopted a law guaranteeing
Sierra Leone adopted a law guaranteeing
Sierra Leone adopted a law guaranteeing every child a free education school
every child a free education school
every child a free education school enrolment doubled and hundreds of
enrolment doubled and hundreds of
enrolment doubled and hundreds of thousands of children were able to go to
thousands of children were able to go to
thousands of children were able to go to school for the very first time and the
school for the very first time and the
school for the very first time and the third person I want you to meet is ohm
third person I want you to meet is ohm
third person I want you to meet is ohm Prakash Gujjar on Prakash is from
Prakash Gujjar on Prakash is from
Prakash Gujjar on Prakash is from Rajasthan which is in Northwest India he
Rajasthan which is in Northwest India he
Rajasthan which is in Northwest India he was only five
was only five
was only five he was bonded into child labor his
he was bonded into child labor his
he was bonded into child labor his father was poor and out of desperation
father was poor and out of desperation
father was poor and out of desperation he asked his landlord for a loan it was
he asked his landlord for a loan it was
he asked his landlord for a loan it was about fifteen thousand rupees
about fifteen thousand rupees
about fifteen thousand rupees that’s about 250 u.s. dollars in
that’s about 250 u.s. dollars in
that’s about 250 u.s. dollars in exchange he promised that he and his son
exchange he promised that he and his son
exchange he promised that he and his son would work for the landlord so every
would work for the landlord so every
would work for the landlord so every morning instead of going to school
morning instead of going to school
morning instead of going to school om Prakash would get up here to go out
om Prakash would get up here to go out
om Prakash would get up here to go out and work in the fields he got very
and work in the fields he got very
and work in the fields he got very little food no wages and said that he
little food no wages and said that he
little food no wages and said that he was beaten more times than he could
was beaten more times than he could
was beaten more times than he could count when on Prakash was 8 child labor
count when on Prakash was 8 child labor
count when on Prakash was 8 child labor activists came to his village and they
activists came to his village and they
activists came to his village and they found out about his situation they filed
found out about his situation they filed
found out about his situation they filed a complaint against the landlord and won
a complaint against the landlord and won
a complaint against the landlord and won his freedom they took him to a
his freedom they took him to a
his freedom they took him to a rehabilitation center where he was able
rehabilitation center where he was able
rehabilitation center where he was able to go to school for the first time but
to go to school for the first time but
to go to school for the first time but when on Prakash should go back to his
when on Prakash should go back to his
when on Prakash should go back to his village he saw other children working
village he saw other children working
village he saw other children working and he knew that he wanted to do
and he knew that he wanted to do
and he knew that he wanted to do something about this problem when he
something about this problem when he
something about this problem when he heard about a child labour conference in
heard about a child labour conference in
heard about a child labour conference in Delhi he rode his bicycle for 36 hours
Delhi he rode his bicycle for 36 hours
Delhi he rode his bicycle for 36 hours to get there and he joined with the
to get there and he joined with the
to get there and he joined with the activists who had freed him to establish
activists who had freed him to establish
activists who had freed him to establish child-friendly villages these are
child-friendly villages these are
child-friendly villages these are villages where everyone agrees that no
villages where everyone agrees that no
villages where everyone agrees that no child is working every child is in
child is working every child is in
child is working every child is in school and children have a voice in
school and children have a voice in
school and children have a voice in community decisions they went from
community decisions they went from
community decisions they went from village to village talking with
village to village talking with
village to village talking with officials elders children themselves and
officials elders children themselves and
officials elders children themselves and within a few years had 350 villages that
within a few years had 350 villages that
within a few years had 350 villages that were child they were free today on
were child they were free today on
were child they were free today on Prakash runs a school of his own now
Prakash runs a school of his own now
Prakash runs a school of his own now stories like this are happening all over
stories like this are happening all over
stories like this are happening all over the world and they’re happening because
the world and they’re happening because
the world and they’re happening because of committed activists like like these
of committed activists like like these
of committed activists like like these folks and over the last few decades
folks and over the last few decades
folks and over the last few decades we’ve learned a lot about how we can
we’ve learned a lot about how we can
we’ve learned a lot about how we can transform the lives of children we’ve
transform the lives of children we’ve
transform the lives of children we’ve learned at least three key lessons the
learned at least three key lessons the
learned at least three key lessons the first education education is
first education education is
first education education is transformative a child who’s in school
transformative a child who’s in school
transformative a child who’s in school is much less likely to be recruited as a
is much less likely to be recruited as a
is much less likely to be recruited as a soldier to end up in child labour to
soldier to end up in child labour to
soldier to end up in child labour to marry young or commit a criminal offence
marry young or commit a criminal offence
marry young or commit a criminal offence every additional
every additional
every additional year that a child stays in school is
year that a child stays in school is
year that a child stays in school is likely to raise their eventual earnings
likely to raise their eventual earnings
likely to raise their eventual earnings by 10 percent to educate every child in
by 10 percent to educate every child in
by 10 percent to educate every child in the world through the end of high school
the world through the end of high school
the world through the end of high school would cost an additional thirty nine
would cost an additional thirty nine
would cost an additional thirty nine billion dollars that’s actually less
billion dollars that’s actually less
billion dollars that’s actually less than what Americans spend every year on
than what Americans spend every year on
than what Americans spend every year on soda education is one of the smartest
soda education is one of the smartest
soda education is one of the smartest investments that we can make the second
investments that we can make the second
investments that we can make the second lesson is accountability abuse and
lesson is accountability abuse and
lesson is accountability abuse and exploitation of children continue when
exploitation of children continue when
exploitation of children continue when perpetrators face no consequences when I
perpetrators face no consequences when I
perpetrators face no consequences when I first went to Burma to investigate the
first went to Burma to investigate the
first went to Burma to investigate the recruitment and use of child soldiers
recruitment and use of child soldiers
recruitment and use of child soldiers recruiters faced no penalties in fact
recruiters faced no penalties in fact
recruiters faced no penalties in fact they were rewarded for every new recruit
they were rewarded for every new recruit
they were rewarded for every new recruit regardless of age but after my
regardless of age but after my
regardless of age but after my organization shone a spotlight on what
organization shone a spotlight on what
organization shone a spotlight on what was happening and generated
was happening and generated
was happening and generated international pressure the government of
international pressure the government of
international pressure the government of Burma made a commitment to end their use
Burma made a commitment to end their use
Burma made a commitment to end their use of child soldiers they released hundreds
of child soldiers they released hundreds
of child soldiers they released hundreds of kids from their Armed Forces for the
of kids from their Armed Forces for the
of kids from their Armed Forces for the first time they started imposing
first time they started imposing
first time they started imposing penalties on child recruiters and child
penalties on child recruiters and child
penalties on child recruiters and child recruitment went way down
third is activism change doesn’t happen
third is activism change doesn’t happen by itself we have to insist on it
by itself we have to insist on it
by itself we have to insist on it unfortunately many governments will do
unfortunately many governments will do
unfortunately many governments will do nothing unless they’re pushed but today
nothing unless they’re pushed but today
nothing unless they’re pushed but today there are thousands of organizations
there are thousands of organizations
there are thousands of organizations around the world that are working on
around the world that are working on
around the world that are working on behalf of kids a global movement called
behalf of kids a global movement called
behalf of kids a global movement called girls not brides has convinced all of
girls not brides has convinced all of
girls not brides has convinced all of the world’s governments to set a goal
the world’s governments to set a goal
the world’s governments to set a goal that by 2030 they will end child
that by 2030 they will end child
that by 2030 they will end child marriage in over a hundred countries
marriage in over a hundred countries
marriage in over a hundred countries there are organizations that are working
there are organizations that are working
there are organizations that are working to ensure the right of every child to
to ensure the right of every child to
to ensure the right of every child to attend school so what have been the
attend school so what have been the
attend school so what have been the results of all these efforts well
results of all these efforts well
results of all these efforts well compared to 25 years ago a child who’s
compared to 25 years ago a child who’s
compared to 25 years ago a child who’s born today is twice as likely to make it
born today is twice as likely to make it
born today is twice as likely to make it to their fifth birthday since the year
to their fifth birthday since the year
to their fifth birthday since the year 2000 the number of children in school
2000 the number of children in school
2000 the number of children in school has increased by a hundred and ten
has increased by a hundred and ten
has increased by a hundred and ten million during the same period of time
million during the same period of time
million during the same period of time child labor rates have dropped by 30
child labor rates have dropped by 30
child labor rates have dropped by 30 percent
percent
percent that’s 78 million fewer children
that’s 78 million fewer children
that’s 78 million fewer children exploited for their labor the number of
exploited for their labor the number of
exploited for their labor the number of countries where
countries where
countries where soldiers are fighting has dropped by a
soldiers are fighting has dropped by a
soldiers are fighting has dropped by a third and girls today are 1/3 less
third and girls today are 1/3 less
third and girls today are 1/3 less likely to be subjected to female genital
likely to be subjected to female genital
likely to be subjected to female genital mutilation than a generation ago across
mutilation than a generation ago across
mutilation than a generation ago across Africa there are 8,000 villages that
Africa there are 8,000 villages that
Africa there are 8,000 villages that have pledged to end child marriage now
have pledged to end child marriage now
have pledged to end child marriage now to be sure there are still millions of
to be sure there are still millions of
to be sure there are still millions of children who are out of school who are
children who are out of school who are
children who are out of school who are engaged in child labour too many are
engaged in child labour too many are
engaged in child labour too many are recruited as soldiers or marry young but
recruited as soldiers or marry young but
recruited as soldiers or marry young but we’ve made amazing progress and more
we’ve made amazing progress and more
we’ve made amazing progress and more importantly we can make a lot more I
importantly we can make a lot more I
importantly we can make a lot more I wish I could tell you what happened to
wish I could tell you what happened to
wish I could tell you what happened to on that boy I met in Burma so many years
on that boy I met in Burma so many years
on that boy I met in Burma so many years ago it could be that he stayed in
ago it could be that he stayed in
ago it could be that he stayed in Thailand and worked illegally maybe he
Thailand and worked illegally maybe he
Thailand and worked illegally maybe he was eventually able to go back home and
was eventually able to go back home and
was eventually able to go back home and reunite with his family unfortunately I
reunite with his family unfortunately I
reunite with his family unfortunately I will probably never know but what I can
will probably never know but what I can
will probably never know but what I can tell you is that since I met that boy
tell you is that since I met that boy
tell you is that since I met that boy over a hundred thousand former child
over a hundred thousand former child
over a hundred thousand former child soldiers have been released from armed
soldiers have been released from armed
soldiers have been released from armed groups and forces around the world and
groups and forces around the world and
groups and forces around the world and in some countries the use of child
in some countries the use of child
in some countries the use of child soldiers has ended entirely so when
soldiers has ended entirely so when
soldiers has ended entirely so when people ask me do I get depressed do I
people ask me do I get depressed do I
people ask me do I get depressed do I get discouraged the answer is sure
get discouraged the answer is sure
get discouraged the answer is sure sometimes but mostly I’m encouraged by
sometimes but mostly I’m encouraged by
sometimes but mostly I’m encouraged by the successes we’ve had by our potential
the successes we’ve had by our potential
the successes we’ve had by our potential by the brave people like ohm Prakash
by the brave people like ohm Prakash
by the brave people like ohm Prakash churner and Izzard and I believe that
churner and Izzard and I believe that
churner and Izzard and I believe that everything that we do for children and
everything that we do for children and
everything that we do for children and to protect their rights is worth it
to protect their rights is worth it
to protect their rights is worth it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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