CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE GUEST OF QUEEN SILVIA OF SWEDEN FOR THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Stockholm, November 20 – HRH Crown Princess Katherine is a guest of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden at the Royal Palace where participated in the events hosted by the Queen and the Government of Sweden to mark the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 19-20 in Stockholm, Sweden.

On November 19 there was seminar hosted by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, and on November 20 a high-level conference on the rights of the child is being organized within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union. These events were also attended by members of the Swedish Royal Family and other European Royal Families. HRH Crown Princess Katherine is deeply engaged in helping children in Serbia through her Foundation and many of the Royal guests are also actively involved in the issue of children’s rights in their countries.

The host of the event is Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden. Members of the Swedish Royal Family present including HRH Crown Princess Victoria, HRH Princess Madeleine, HRH Princess Cristina and Consul-General Tord Magnusson.

Foreign royal guests included Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain, Her Majesty Queen Paola of the Belgiums, HRH Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa of Luxembourg, HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, and Mme Margarida Barroso.

At Her Majesty Queen Silvia’s initiative several children’s right organizations including BRIS, ECPAT, Plan Sweden, Save the Children, SOS Children Villages, UNICEF, the World Childhood Foundation and the Children's Ombudsman joined together in a common effort to draw attention to children's rights.

The conference on November 20 had three overall themes: the application of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the European Union Member States, future challenges, opportunities and risks involved in children and young people’s use of new media, and the possibilities for parents to combine work and family life from a child rights perspective.

The speakers at the Conference included HM Queen Silvia, the Minister of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden Göran Hägglund, European Union Commissioner Jacques Barrot, European Union Commissioner Margot Wallström, United Nations Special Representative on Violence against Children Marta Santos Pais and Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio.