LIMA 2019 IN WALKATHON AGAINST VIOLENCE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

The first stage of the campaign called “Lima: a city that does NOT play with violence against children”, joining Lima 2019, the Municipality of Lima, and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), through the power of sports and Olympic values against violence, finished today paying homage to the sportive spirit of the Games with a walkathon.

The president of COPAL, Carlos Neuhaus, the Mayor of Lima, Jorge Muñoz, the representative of UNICEF in Peru, Ana de Mendoza, the UK Ambassador, Kate Harrisson, Regional Director of Education in Metropolitan Lima Area, Killa Miranda, the Vice-Minister of Pedagogical Management, Patricia Andrade, and the district mayors of Surquillo, Magdalena del Mar, and Lince led the walk which started from Plaza San Martín and finished in Plaza Mayor of Lima, .

The authorities together with other athletes and medalists of Lima 2019 walked along the Jirón de la Unión holding a large Peruvian UNICEF shirt which passed by the Games venues during competition.

Many Lima 2019 volunteers walked with the girls, boys and adolescents of the National Council of Children and Adolescents (CONNA), La Onda de Mi Cole (interscholastic game promoted by UNICEF and Prisma), the Student Metropolitan Committee (COMETE) and the Casa de los Petisos.

At the end of the walk, the authorities hung the shirt on the balcony of the Municipal Palace of Lima with a back having a background music the patriotic encouragements and batucada from ‘La Blanquirroja’.

“Fortunately, this shirt seems small in comparison to all the accomplishments we have reached in this Pan American Games. A way to compete against violence is working constantly and permanently, and these Games have shown that when all of us come together with one purpose that is above everything, like sports, we can get along very well among Peruvians. We thought it was very important to connect Lima 2019 to this work of UNICEF, that is above everything something good for all. We should always think that peace let us grow”, declared Neuhaus.

In that same note, the mayor of Lima, Jorge Muñoz, emphasized Lima 2019 has always been driven by unity, it along with other values shall drive the society in the future.

“I believe that these Games have shown us what our country should be, of what our dear Peru should be. But nothing of that will be accomplished if we are not together as we are now. Let’s remember the Games motto: "Let’s all play". I would like to ask Carlos to let us use this motto to say, in relation to the protection of children and adolescents, that “Let’s all play”.

Finally, the representative of UNICEF highlighted that the Pan American Games will be a great opportunity to also eradicate other type of violence spread in our country, but, at the same time, not recognized as such: indifference.

The Pan American Games have been incredible. It has been an opportunity to put Lima and Peru out in the world, and I believe it was beneficial for everyone. As UNICEF, we want the Games social legacy to be the eradication of violence against children and adolescents. We also want the Parapan American Games to have the same visibility of the extraordinary Pan American Games. We do not want our indifference to become one more obstacle for the children who struggle daily to have the best possible development”, he assured.