Geneva, Switzerland – Bulgarian opera prima Sonya Yoncheva recently performed with children from vulnerable groups at a special UNICEF event in Geneva. This event, held at the Palais des Nations, showcased Yoncheva’s role as both a mentor to these young artists and her position as the Bulgarian national UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
According to Ghana News Agency, the performance was part of a larger event titled ‘Committed to the fulfilment of the rights of Every Child: an evening with the world-famous soprano Sonya Yoncheva, UNICEF Bulgaria National Ambassador’. The event was organized in the lead-up to World Children’s Day, observed annually on November 20, to highlight the importance of children’s rights. It also commemorated the centennial of the Geneva Declaration of 1924, which first recognized specific rights for children, and celebrated Bulgaria’s recent election to the UN Human Rights Council for 2024-2026.
The event underscored themes such as the defence of children’s rights, the fight against discrimination, the empowerment of girls and women, and the promotion of inclusive education for children with disabilities. Among the notable attendees were Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, and Yurii Shterk, the Permanent and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Bulgaria to the UN-Geneva.
Organized collaboratively by the Mission of Bulgaria in Geneva, the UN Office in Geneva, the Diplomatic Club in Geneva, and the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, with support from UNICEF Bulgaria, the event highlighted the role of cultural engagement in advancing children’s welfare.
UNICEF Bulgaria also announced their participation in a global initiative to light up significant public buildings in blue to mark World Children’s Day. On November 20, at 6:30 pm, the National Palace of Culture in Bulgaria is set to be illuminated in blue, symbolizing solidarity with children’s rights and welfare worldwide.