Children will Escort the Kyrgyz National Football Team to Celebrate the Child Rights
On March 26 Kyrgyz National Football team will play against Chinese Taipei in a World Cup qualifier match. The traditional escort of the teams by children will be dedicated to the 30th anniversary of ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Children by Kyrgyzstan. This initiative is conducted in collaboration between United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Kyrgyz Football Union.
The main goal is to draw public attention to children's rights, especially those of the most vulnerable children, and underscore the significance of sports and football in children's development.
"30 years ago, Kyrgyzstan joined the Convention on the Rights of Children and made a commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of all children. We are pleased that the Kyrgyz Football Union and the Kyrgyzstan National Team are joining us to celebrate this occasion and expressing their support to every child," noted Cristina Brugiolo, Representative of UNICEF in Kyrgyzstan a.i.
The tradition of walking onto the football field with children began in the early 90s and gained momentum when FIFA collaborated with UNICEF ahead of the 2002 World Cup to draw attention to various children's issues.
“We are proud to make this match special and show our support for every child in the country. Football has the unique power to bring people together and through this symbolic gesture we want to highlight the importance of protecting children's rights and well-being. Our initiative is designed not only to draw attention to this important topic, but also to inspire the creation of better conditions for the development and protection of all children in our country,” said Nurdin Bukuev, Secretary General of the Kyrgyz Football Union.
In 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood.
It’s become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives around the world.
The home match for the Kyrgyzstan National Team against Chinese Taipei in the qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup will take place on Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
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For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.
