UNICEF launches Children’s Rights video
Today one of Belize’s best loved entertainers got a chance to show off some of his favorite up and coming young stars at the launch of a children’s music video. While the song is catchy and the kids have a good time, there is a serious message behind the fun. UNICEF is hoping that kids all over Belize will start tapping their toes and learning a song about the rights of a child. News Five was more than happy to give them a hand.
The music video, “Children’s Rights” celebrates the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children from all over Belize perform the song.
Eryn Pascasio, 12 years old
“Well the whole song was very nice and educational because it talks about the rights of the child and that children should be loved no matter what religion sex or identity that they should be loved and that they should have free education.”
It is not the first time Belizean children have spoken out about issues concerning them. In 1998, the children participated in their first election to vote for their Rights. One year later, our boys and girls say while some awareness has been created, they remain concerned about problems they still see affecting their peers.
Susana Glory, 11 years old
“Most children like to take drugs and everything and I don’t think that is right, I think their parents should educate them and pay more attention to them.”
Austin Jones, 12 years old
“Because a lot of children are on the streets, they are suffering and like they always get hurt and killed.”
In 1991, Belize became the fifth country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the child. Today as we celebrate the occasion, we are asked to look back and see just how committed we have been in protecting children’s Rights.
Miguel Ugalde, Country UNICEF Representative
“If these Rights were ratified ten years ago by the Government of Belize has been granted, if there is really the possibility of the children to have access to education, to health to water and sanitation, to adequate nutrition and especially do children have the right to participate to speak to be heard to have any influence in the policy of the state.”
The Children Right’s song was produced by Andy Palacio and was shot and edited by Rick Romero of Great Belize Productions.
Andy Palacio, Producer, Children’s Rights Song
“I took the words from the universal declaration on the rights of the child and rearranged it into a musical format and I just added some musical arrangements and some beat to it. These children are the future stars of Belize and as a matter of fact the word future is wrong, they are already stars so there wasn’t much coaching or coaxing to do just a little bit of guidance here and there.”
Jazmine Ramos, 12 years old
“We were very interested in working with Andy Palacio and the song sound good when he played it for us and it got interesting when we start singing our parts and when we start doing the music video.”
You can see the entire video later in this newscast. News Five was among the media houses honored by UNICEF this morning for their continuing coverage of issues that affect the welfare of children in Belize.
