New campaign urges Colombians to ‘vote for children’

Campaign poster - for children's rights, put your t-shirt on

A new campaign which aims to encourage people to vote for candidates who have children's rights on their agenda, has been launched in Colombia.

The Vote For Me campaign, which is being spearheaded by Plan and other members of the Alliance For Childhood in Colombia, was officially launched in March.

Plan’s Colombia Country Director Roland Angerer said; “Vote For Me is a social-mobilisation strategy where children and adolescents ask adults to vote for candidates who have childhood-related policy proposals.

“It's a way of helping to ensure that candidates know about, respect and comply with children's rights in Colombia.”

The campaign's launch coincides with the run-up to the presidential and congress elections taking place this year, and the mayoral elections that will happen in 2007. Already 23 organisations belonging to the Alliance for Childhood in Colombia have agreed to make the campaign the main focus of their activities over the next two years - and monitor elected candidates' progress on their proposals.

The national media have also backed the campaign, with extensive coverage and even free publicity and advertising space.

Teenagers speak out

Before the campaign launch, Alliance members met groups of teenagers to find out what they found important. The answers were not surprising - Colombia's teenagers want access to health services and free education. They also want action on violence against children, child labour and the use of children in armed conflicts.

Mr Angerer said; “This is an important milestone for our history in Colombia. We had never reached levels this high of advocacy and public presence. Everyone involved knows that this success is the result of Plan's initiative and leadership.”