World Children's Day
Guided by Conscience to sustain peace and hope for children
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
Vice President of the Association of World Citizens,
NGO in Consultative Status with ECOSOC and Associated with the UN DPI
President of the Federation of World Peace and Love
November 20, 2024
Distinguished guests, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, good day!
Children are the foundation of a nation’s strength and the hope for a sustainable future. "World Children's Day" was established by the United Nations in 1954 to promote global unity among children, raise awareness of children’s issues, and improve children’s welfare. It is celebrated annually on November 20th to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. World Children's Day advocates for, promotes, and respects children's rights, transforming these ideals into dialogue and practical action to build a better world for children (and future generations).
The Convention on the Rights of the Child covers a wide range of human rights, primarily summarized by the three "Ps": Provision, Protection, and Participation. By establishing a shared legal framework, the Convention aims to enhance government accountability, promote legislation and international reforms, as well as strengthening international cooperation. It reflects a fundamental principle: the lives and development of children should be prioritized within society’s concerns and capabilities.
Over the past four years, the world has collectively endured the spread of the pandemic, rapid technological advancements, threats from extreme climate, and various natural and human-made disasters. These intense changes have led to both qualitative and quantitative shifts in the environments where children survive, learn, and grow. Issues such as war, poverty, hunger, disease, and lack of educational resources all pose severe threats to children's survival and futures. In the Russia-Ukraine war, the estimated total number of casualties has reached as high as one million, with innocent children among them. According to UNICEF, over 13,000 children have lost their lives in Gaza due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This underscores the serious threat war poses to children's survival and the immense harm it inflicts on their development. In addition to death and injury, an equally significant concern is whether children in non-war zones are growing up in a quality environment and how they are being educated to develop values guided by conscience.
While Children's self-protection abilities are still developing, providing an environment that supports children's happy growth and peaceful, safe living is something every country should prioritize and work to achieve. The power of love and conscience actions can unite people and create a loving and peaceful environment for children, where education in conscience is essential. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education suggests that education should not only be about imparting knowledge but should also include the cultivation of conscience and morals, such as inspiring children's innate conscience from an early age. Conscience, like the North Star to a sailor navigating at night, serves as a compass within each person, guiding the altruistic thoughts and actions that lead to a path of light. By following the guidance of conscience to discern right from wrong and to pursue actions of goodness, we will be able to create a safe and sustainable future for children, leading them toward the path of love and peace.
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly prevalent, a growing amount of knowledge and skills can be easily accessed through simple commands. Therefore, the ability to discern right from wrong and distinguish truth from falsehood in information will emerge as an unprecedented moral challenge for humanity. Conscience education will be the wise solution to balancing the mind and technology. Only through the guidance of conscience can we deploy technology to benefit humanity. Moreover, excessive reliance on AI may weaken children's problem-solving abilities and deprive them of the joy and interaction that come from learning with peers. As opportunities for teachers to impart lessons through personal example and words in the classroom are dwindling, the subtle cultivation of emotional intelligence and social skills rooted in human nature will become increasingly precious. Therefore, education should be based on love and conscience. This not only helps to cultivate children's knowledge and skills but also shapes their character and moral values. We should consider ways to overhaul the current education model that focuses heavily on knowledge and grades, and instead implement holistic education. During the stage of children's life when their creativity is at its peak, we should inspire them to connect with a culture of love and peace as early as possible.
At this turbulent and chaotic moment, implementing conscience education is imperative for global citizens. Adults can learn to treat children with kindness through conscience education, while children can accumulate energy and grow strong through it. I sincerely urge all nations to accelerate international cooperation and work together to foster a culture of peace with love and conscience for both ourselves and future generations. With "conscience" as our guiding principle, we can lead global citizens to harness the power of goodness—treating life with kindness, being friendly to the environment, using knowledge wisely, and learning from nature. We must learn the balance of yin and yang and the path of harmony, use wisdom to resolve conflicts, and embrace a philosophy that benefits all beings. By doing so, we can change the current state of the world. When children can grow up happily with hope for the future, they will be able to contribute to a sustainable world, injecting a refreshing force for its future. As children grow into the leaders of the world, they will be able to uphold social stability with conscience derived values, unite and cooperate with global citizens, and move toward a sustainable Earth and a harmonious global family.
Thank you all!