A Memorandum of Cooperation for the support of children’s rights in Greece has been signed by the University of Thessaly and UNICEF. In the framework of the cooperation between the two institutions, the establishment of a Centre for the Rights of the Child, based at the University in Volos, is being inaugurated.

With the aim of promoting children’s rights in Greece, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the University of Thessaly and UNICEF, while the establishment of a Centre for Children’s Rights, which will be based at the University in Volos, is being launched.

The agreement is part of UNICEF’s plan to establish Children’s Rights Centres in all regions of Greece (13) as well as in all state universities.

The Memorandum was signed at the Rector’s Office, the Rector of the University of Thessaly, Professor Haralambos Billinis and the UNICEF Diplomatic Representative in Greece, Dr. Ghassan Khalil, in the presence of the Associate Professor of Intercultural Education of the University, Kostas Magos, and the Vice Rector of Innovation, Internationalization, Partnerships and Digital Governance, Chrysi Laspidou.

During their greetings at the event, Rector H. Billinis, the representative of UNICEF Dr. Khalil, Vice Rector X. Laspidou, Vice Rector P. Playeras and Professor K. Magos, made sure to highlight the important role that the new Centre will play in promoting research, education and awareness of children’s rights.

The event was attended by professors, researchers, students, official guests and partners of the University.

“It is a great day for the University, joining forces with UNICEF to create this centre, highlighting its human-centred orientation, its insistence on extroversion and our firm commitment to linking the University to society in practice. We want our children to live in an environment of peace, free from inequality, inequality, injustice and discrimination.”

“It is a very important day for us today to be here at the inauguration of the Centre for Children’s Rights at PTH, we are very happy and proud. We are very grateful to the Rector, Vice Rectors, Professors and members of the Department of Early Childhood Education who have helped to establish the Centre. We look forward to seeing its actions and successes that will promote children’s rights in the Region of Thessaly,” stressed UNICEF’s diplomatic representative in Greece Dr Khalil.

“This is an important innovation with great prospects that comes as a result and continuation of the fruitful cooperation we have with UNICEF. We are joining forces to defend the rights of the child and ensure that every child has the quality of life he or she deserves”, said Kostas Magos, Professor of the Department of Pre-school Education.

Vice Rector Chrysi Laspidou said that “the integration of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals at the institution level is a key strategic pillar of the University of Thessaly. The achievement of the 17 goals can only be achieved through a framework that guarantees respect for the rights of the child, and that gives children a sustainable future so that they can survive and thrive in tomorrow’s world.”

As announced by the University of Thessaly, “the Centre for Children’s Rights aims to become a pillar of knowledge, education and action for the support and empowerment of children in Greece. Through the Centre, the PT will collect data on children in the Region of Thessaly which we aspire to use by the relevant Ministries or other regional and local bodies that may propose legislation or other regulations concerning children. Our vision is that these Centres established around Greece will be the main source of information and data provision on all relevant issues concerning children or social services. In 2025, UNICEF will organize training seminars for all faculty members of the University of Thessaly where the first foundations for the Center’s activities will be laid with the involvement of all disciplines in it. A six-month training program will also be offered for professors of the University of Thessaly who will be certified by UNICEF as experts in children’s rights issues”.