On Mrs Jolanta Kwaśniewska’s initiative, the international meeting of first ladies was organized in Warsaw on 27-28 September 1999. The adoption jubilee of Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly was accepted as a proper moment to mention about duties and responsibility of adults for children. Poland was the originator of a motion to adopt the Convention. Afterwards, Poland participated in preparation of the project and promotion of Convention records among the world public opinion. Our commitment to preparation of the Convention derived from Polish painful historical experiences and also from belief that only common international effort can create a successful future for new generations.
An invitation to participate in the conference was accepted by:
Her Majesty, Queen Sofia of Spain,
Her Majesty, Queen Paola of Belgium,
Her Majesty, Queen Sylvia of Sweden,
Her Majesty, Queen Rania Al. Abdullah of Jordan
and presidents’ wives from Armenia, Egypt, Kirgizstan, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia and Ukraine.
Representatives of UNICEF supreme authorities, international organizations, Goodwill Ambassadors and representatives of many institutions, scientific and creative milieus and representatives of Polish and foreign media who work for the benefit of children also participated in the conference.
Forum of the exchange of opinions on children’s situation in the world with reference to the Convention on the Rights of the Child constitutes a meeting. The conference agenda included issues concerning education and its meaning for the future and also current threats in the world which surrounds a child.
It was nice that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) very actively participated in preparation of the conference; it is a leading organization, which introduces the Convention resolutions, and which co-organizer and first president was a Pole- Ludwik Rajchman.
Mrs Jolanta Kwaśniewska, the First Lady, hopefully said that thanks to the support for this initiative from the people, who care about children’s lot, the First Ladies’ Forum in September will contribute to promote the Convention resolutions and to create a lobby for the benefit of implementation of its records.
