Junior 8 article from Canada

Media Advisory - World's children to be given voice at G8 summit

    Russian government hosting first-ever Junior 8 Summit in partnership with     UNICEF      TORONTO, July 5 /CNW/ -      What: For the first time in the history of the G8, children and young     people will get the chance to share their views directly with the world's     leaders and influence the outcome of their deliberations. Young people     from G8 member countries, including eight delegates from Canada, will     attend an official working meeting of this year's G8 summit, hosted by     the Russian Federation. The Junior 8 delegates will discuss HIV/AIDS,     education, tolerance and energy security, and will also consider other     issues they think should be prioritized. They will present their     recommendations to the G8 leaders.      Where: The Management Training Center, Academy of Additional Professional     Training in Pushkin, near St. Petersburg, Russia.      When: Friday, July 7 to Tuesday, July 18, 2006.     Gathering before the world leaders convene their meeting, the Junior 8     will continue through the G8 summit, allowing children to exchange ideas     before they issue their final communiqué to the G8 leaders on July 16.     The delegates will be available for media interviews throughout the     event. Key media events will include:      <<         -   Monday, July 10: Opening news conference. Delegates will have an             opportunity to speak.         -   Sunday, July 16: A meeting between the G8 leaders and eight             children representing the Junior 8.         -   Monday, July 17: Closing news conference summarizing the results             of the Junior 8 meeting. Delegates will have an opportunity to             speak.     >>      Who: The participants include children aged 13 to 17 from each of the G8     countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, and USA).     Delegates from G7 countries (not including Russia) were selected in a     process conducted by the Morgan Stanley International Foundation, with     additional children selected by UNICEF. Russia's participants secured     their places through a televised competition. Children from non-G8     countries will also participate via video link. Canada's delegates hail     from Toronto, Kingston and Ottawa.      Why: The decisions concerning global issues taken by the leaders of the     world's major industrialized nations will have a huge impact on     children's lives throughout the world. Children have a unique perspective     on all the issues under consideration and will have to live with the     decisions made by today's leaders, so it is vital that those leaders take     the views of children into account.    

For further information: and accreditation please contact: Oliver Phillips, UNICEF NY, (917) 861-0331, ophillips@unicef.org; John Brittain, UNICEF Russia, +7495 937 4812, jbrittain@unicef.org; For information and to arrange interviews with the Canadian delegates, please contact: Debra Douglass, UNICEF Canada, (416) 482-4444 ext. 869, ddouglass@unicef.ca 

SOURCE: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2006/05/c7893.html

RELATED ARTICLES: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/russia_34836.html

 

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