Tweeters to Spread the Word about Children’s Rights

ChildFund International is launching a Twitter campaign Nov. 20 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the United Nations’ International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

From Nov. 20 - Dec. 3, all ChildFund followers on Twitter are invited to tweet about a specific right that children require for healthy development.

Each tweet must include the hashtag #childfundcac (change a childhood), and all tweeters must be followers of ChildFund International for their tweets to be counted.

Participants may tweet as often as they like, but each tweet must be original.

Examples

• Every child has the right to an education. #childfundcac
• A child should never be forced into exploitative labor. #childfundcac
• Girls have the same rights as boys. #childfundcac
• Children have the right to healthcare. #childfundcac
• Children have a right to express their views and be taken seriously. #childfundcac

Get Inspired

Here is some background on the United Nations International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The 1989 Convention resulted in the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social—for children under age 18.

World leaders who ratify the Convention agree that all children have the right to

• survival
• develop to their fullest
• protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation
• participate fully in family, cultural and social life.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child has brought into sharp focus the fundamental human dignity of all children and the urgency of ensuring their well-being and development. It highlights and defends the family’s role in children’s lives. The Convention seeks respect for children.

ChildFund International works in 31 countries worldwide to help communities uphold the rights of the child and ensure that children can grow and thrive. The Convention is an important legal instrument for our work. It sets an unprecedented global vision and standard for children’s lives worldwide.

As of 2008, 193 countries had ratified the Convention, including every member of the United Nations except the United States and Somalia.

Time to Tweet

It’s time for the Twitterverse to rally for children’s rights worldwide. Tweeters are urged to put their creative efforts to work on behalf of children’s rights and spread the word across Twitter.

How It Works

• Multiple original tweets are encouraged from 8 a.m. (EST) Nov. 20 through 11:59 p.m. (EST) Dec. 3.
• An internal panel of judges at ChildFund International selects the top five tweets.
• On Dec. 7 and 8, the top-five tweets will be announced at 8 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. (EST) on ChildFund’s Twitter page, and once per day on Facebook.
• All Twitter followers will be invited to vote on the top-five finalists by simply retweeting their favorite(s). (Hint: spread the word.)
• The retweeting window closes at 4:59 p.m. on Dec. 11 (EST).
• From among the finalists, the two tweets receiving the highest number of retweets (as tracked by the hashtag #childfundcac) will be officially announced on Twitter on Dec. 16.
• Each will receive a ChildFund gift and the gratitude of excluded and vulnerable children around the world.