UNICEF CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL

On September 19, leaders from more than 180 nations convened in New York for the United Nations’ first-ever summit on refugees and migrants — in the shadow of the largest humanitarian crisis of displacement since World War II. Today, they will reconvene at the invitation of U.S. President Obama, to identify commitments from participating nations in response to this crisis.

These sessions are critically important and have been described by the U.N. as a “watershed” moment for humanity. And UNICEF’s focus, of course, is on children. UNICEF estimates that nearly 50 million children have been forced from their homes by war and poverty. Though called by many names — “refugees,” “migrants,” “displaced” — they are children first.

On Sunday, September 18, the eve of the summit, we hosted a candlelight vigil in honor of all of the world’s children in New York City’s Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, steps away from where world leaders would convene the next morning. The goal: Remind these leaders that children are the crisis’ most vulnerable victims and their needs must be put first.

Hundreds of people turned out with one message: They are children first. Below, in video and photos, scenes from the #ChildrenFirst vigil:

Source: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/childrenfirst-vigil-coming-together-child-refugees/30872