War Affected Children
Profile of Graça Machel Personal Introduction

Mrs. Graça Machel is a global champion for effective measures to address the particular devastation of war on children around the world. Her courageous work on children's rights began in Mozambique where she set up schools in war-affected territories. In 1983 she became Minister of Education for the Government of Mozambique, where she worked to implement a goal of universal education for all Mozambicans.

In 1994, Graça Machel was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as the independent expert to Chair the Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. In conducting this research, Mrs. Machel spent the next two years traveling through conflict-affected countries to investigate the plight of children. This groundbreaking report was presented to the General Assembly in 1996 and set the world agenda for child protection in situations of armed conflict. One of the many results of her report has been the authorization of the UN General Assembly to appoint a UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

Today, Graça Machel continues her work as a global advocate for war-affected children and calls on all sectors of society to fulfill their promises to children. In September 2000, she was the Honorary Chair of the International Conference on War-Affected Children, held in Winnipeg, Canada. Prior to the conference, she produced an update of her original study called the Machel Review 1996-2000. Along with her husband, Nelson Mandela, Mrs. Machel is a spokesperson for the Global Movement for Children. Most recently, she has published her authoritative book, The Impact of War on Children.

Last Modified date: September 9, 2002 | Important Notices


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