'Climate change is undermining rights of every child': UNICEF official

UNITED NATIONS  (Xinhua) - "Climate change is really undermining the rights of every child today and the children of tomorrow," Alex Heikens, a senior official with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), told Xinhua in an interview,just a few days before opening of the UN climate change summit.

The UN summit will start at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sept. 23 and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be the host.

"The session is really about bringing the voices of marginalized people, particularly children, women and indigenous people, so they can be heard and seen by leaders," he said. "I think that's a major issue for children, women and indigenous people."

"(This summit) is a great opportunity for us to bring forward the voices of children," Heikens said.

The upcoming event also provides a "unique" opportunity for UNICEF, said Heikens, who is the senior advisor on climate and environment at the UN agency. He used to serve as United Nations Development Program (UNDP) advisor and program manager on climate change.

During the month of September, UNICEF works with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) to organize a panel discussion advocating for the vulnerable people affected by climate change.

The upcoming thematic session, titled "Voices from the Climate Front Lines," will feature five panelists. Three of the five panelists will be selected by civil society and will include one woman, one indigenous person and a young person. The two pre- selected panelist are: Mary Robinson, UN special envoy for climate change and president of the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice and Ronan Farrow, former UNICEF youth advocate.

"The specific focus of this conversation will be really about hearing their stories, experiences and ideas on what can be done much better," Heikens said.

The child-oriented agency is concentrated on intensifying the influence of children so they can facilitate adequate protection for them.