Siwon Choi and Jaemin Na join a cast of stars to celebrate World Children’s Day across the world

The two Korean celebrities call on young people in Viet Nam to speak up and stand up against school violence

15 November 2018
orean super junior star, Siwon Choi, new UNICEF Regional Ambassador for East Asia and Pacific
UNICEF Viet Nam\Truong Viet Hung

Ha Noi (VIET NAM), 16 November 2018 – UNICEF Korea Special Representative and K-pop band Super Junior’s member, Siwon Choi, together with NCT Dream band member Jaemin Na, have teamed up with UNICEF in Viet Nam to release on 20 November a new video about school violence on the occasion of World Children’s Day celebration. During a recent field visit to Viet Nam both Korean artists have met high school children and exchanged on how peer violence in schools is impacting students.

The short video is a powerful call on all young people to speak up and stand up against school violence. The video will be released on social media and young people are encouraged to share widely to spread the message among peers.

“World Children's Day is meant to be a fun celebration but it’s also a day to talk about serious issues that children have to face in school,” said Siwon Choi. “During my visit to Viet Nam, I have met so many school children who are inspired to be role models for the present and future of their country. All children should have a chance to speak up for what matters to them, like school violence, and they should be encouraged to take action to end violence against children." 

Evidence shows that peer-to-peer violence in schools is alarming, and the most common form of violence reported by students in Viet Nam is bullying such as humiliating language, physical fights and harassment from their peers. More than half of students have reported being victim of violence in schools – including physical and verbal abuse by teachers and other students greatly affecting their self-esteem and academic performance.

Siwon Choi and Jaemin Na join other celebrities across the world such as actor Millie Bobby Brown, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson and Lilly Singh; singer-songwriter Dua Lipa and performance artists Blue Man Group, who participate in the World Children’s Day celebration to demand a brighter future for kids.

UNICEF’s annual World Children’s Day is commemorated each year on 20 November and marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The global day raises awareness and vital funds for the millions of children who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted. This year, UNICEF is inviting the public to go online and sign its global petition asking for leaders to commit to fulfilling the rights of every child now and for future generations, and to Go Blue for every child by doing or wearing something blue on 20 November.

For more information visit: https://uni.cf/worldchildrensday2018

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Notes to Editors:

About World Children’s Day

World Children’s Day celebrated on 20th November – is a global day of action ‘for children, by children.’ From Auckland to Amman and New York to Nigeria, children will unite – online and offline – to raise their voices in solidarity with the world’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. UNICEF is inviting the public to go online and sign its global petition asking for leaders to commit to fulfilling the rights of every child now and for future generations, so that every child is in school, safe from harm and can fulfil their potential.

For more information visit: https://uni.cf/worldchildrensday2018

About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit: www.unicef.org

Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook

For more information, please contact:

Media contacts

Ms Raquel Fernandez
Chief of Communication and Advocacy
UNICEF Viet Nam
Tel: +84 (024) 3850 0100
Tel: +84 (0)98 549 9748
Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong
Advocacy and Communications Specialist
UNICEF Viet Nam
Tel: +84 (024) 38500225
Tel: +84 (0)904154678

Additional resources

Children are taking over and turning the world blue. Sign the petition.

Join us on World Children’s Day – 20 November! Children are taking over and turning the world blue.

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.

Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook