Children have in the past and continue to influence policy makers.

UNICEF has repeatedly called on governments to ensure basic services for children and this includes providing food where the need exists.

The Convention is not only a visionary document. We are reminded daily that it is an agreement that works - and its utility can be seen in the everyday use to which I have seen it increasingly being put by country after country, in policy, in practice and in law.

You need to get up in the morning and say, 'Boy, I'm going to - in my own stupid way - save the world today.'

What is needed now are increased efforts to promote youth participation and commitment; more services aimed at youth; more parental involvement; more education and information, using schools and other sites; more protection for girls, orphaned children and young women;and more partnerships with people with HIV and AIDS.

Instant telecommunication allows better and updated information, lessons learnt and problems encountered to be exchanged and debated, it alerts us more quickly to problems and brings to many households around the world visions and information which hopefully spur us to action.

Northern Uganda presents a situation of extraordinary violation of the rights of children.