World Day of the Rights Children: First Lady Martine Moïse, champion of child protection.

It is in a friendly and warm atmosphere, where musical entertainment was provided by the artist BIC, that the Institute for Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) celebrated World Children's Rights Day, this Friday, November 20, 2020, at the Karibe hotel.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the guest of honor, the First Lady of the Republic and other officials such as the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, the Representative of Unicef in Haiti, Representatives of Organizations from the child protection sector, Development Partners, Experts, members of the press, children, parents, and other guests.

It was an opportunity for the IBESR to put the spotlight on the relentless interventions and actions undertaken by First Lady, Martine Moïse, in recent years to lead reforms in child protection. To honor the First Lady, the IBESR awarded her a National Medal of Honor as Champion of Child Protection.

The First Lady has never spared her efforts to undertake initiatives that defend the dignity and rights of Haitian children. In her speech, she said that every Haitian child regardless of their social origin, sex, or religion, must have the same rights such as the right to special protection, the right to an identity and to live in a family, the right to education, and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

“Dear actors, pooling our efforts should make it possible to create the social, economic and cultural conditions favorable to children's rights. We have a major opportunity to set the tone so that the entire Haitian society can listen to the voice of children," she said. She also encouraged the press to play its role by broadcasting educational and awareness spots on children's rights.

After the First Lady's speech, the ceremony continued with the presentation of the Child Protection Code by children, adolescents and young people from Enpak, Idejen, Eneph, Toya, Agen and U-Report. The ceremony concluded with a dialogue around updating the code, a tribute session to organizations and personalities, and with a performance by the group, Les Enfants épanouis accompanied by the singer Jean Jean Roosevelt.