ISS International Symposium on
	“How Children Meet Today’s Challenges: A Global Response”
	The ISS International Symposium on “How Children Meet Today’s Challenges: A Global Response” was successfully held at the Auditorium, Duke of Windsor Social Service Building in Hong Kong on 22 May 2006 for over 300 local and overseas participants and experts.
	The Symposium provided a platform for sharing expertise and concerns about challenges facing children and youths in today’s fast-changing world while looking at global responses and local actions.
	Dr Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, was the keynote speaker for the global response. Dr. York Chow, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of the Hong Kong Government presented on the Hong Kong response.
	Eight child and youth representatives of different nationalities shared their experience on education, employment and other growth challenges. Business representatives spoke on their roles and responsibility in terms of the impact of their business on children.
	Achievements from the event will certainly add impetus to Hong Kong and the global communities’ efforts in child protection and development work and social service provision.
	Listed are the programme schedule and links to the presentations of the Symposium:
	Programme Schedule
	A.M. Session (9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
	Welcome Speech: Mr C. P. Ho, Chairman, ISS Hong Kong Branch
	Launching of the New ISS Logo
	Introduction of ISS : Ms Chris Kondoyanni, ISS Acting International President
	Remarks : Dr. Henry Steiner, Designer of the ISS logo
	Theme: How Children Meet Today’s Challenges: A Global Response
	Message: Mrs Rita Fan, President of the Hong Kong Legislative Council
	Keynote Speeches:
	How Children Meet Today’s Challenges: The Global Response
	Dr. Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF
	How Children Meet Today’s Challenges: The Hong Kong Response
	Dr. York Chow, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
	Theme: Protection of Children and Youths
	Moderator: Ms Chris Kondoyanni, ISS Acting International President
	Child and Youth Representatives:
	Zachary Ethan Kai Benares (Filipino, Malaysian, 8)   Thasbeeh Moosa (Indian, 13)   Peggy Cheung Ka-yi (Chinese, 20)   Jonathan Leung Chun-man (Chinese, 23)
	Child Abduction: The ISS Response
	Ms Agnes Casselman, Director, ISS Canada
	Child Protection and the Media:
	Attorney Eric Mallonga, Legal Counsel, Bantay Bata 163 ABS-CBN Foundation, Philippines
	P.M. Session (1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
	Theme – Growing Up in Today’s World: Meeting Challenges and Creating Opportunities
	Moderator: Mr Stephen Yau, Chief Executive, ISS Hong Kong Branch
	Growing Up: Challenges and Opportunities
	Youth Representatives:
	Lee Kwai-fong, Flora (Chinese, 20)   Shakeel Syed Ahmed (Pakistani, 19)   Karen Lai Ling-kwan (Chinese, 20)   Edward C. R. Bunker (British, 31)
	Our Business Impact on Children: Our Roles and Responsibilities
	Business Community Representatives:
	Mr Herman Lam, Deputy General Manager, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited   Mr Michael Vincent, Programming Director, Metro Plus
	The ISS Global Response
	Mr Vincent Faber, Secretary General, ISS General Secretariat
	Open Forum
	Summary of the day’s presentation: Mr C. P. Ho, Chairman, ISS Hong Kong Branch
	Closing presentation: The Children’s Statement on the Rights of the Child