By Jhr. mr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M., Justice (Judge) in the Court of Appeal and honorary Special Advisor International Affairs of the City of The Hague.
Since 2005 the city of The Hague –International City of Peace and Justice- supports every two years an international organization that is active for peace and / or justice. In that year UNICEF was chosen as the first one to support, because in that year UNICEF The Netherlands existed fifty years. After UNICEF came the Red Cross, Warchild, AMREF Flying Doctors and Save the Children.
Since January 1st, 2015, the municipality of The Hague has chosen again for UNICEF in the year of 60 years UNICEF The Netherlands. UNICEF is an UN organization like The Hague is an UN city.
As probably everyone will know, UNICEF is one of the biggest organizations for the rights of children in the world. UNICEF helps children in no less than 190 countries all over the world, with better education, vaccinations, clean drinking water, emergency help, etcetera.
Not only the city of The Hague itself helps UNICEF during the whole year of 2015 , but also inhabitants, schools, businesses and other organizations in The Hague do so. Big local events in The Hague like the City – Pier – City run, the Entrepreneurs Gala and the Just Peace weekend in september will be in favour of UNICEF. The money that will be collected will be used for children in Indonesia, which is a former colony of The Netherlands (until 1945/1949). UNICEF is very much concerned about the situation in that country with its enormous violance against children. For example: one out of six girls is given in marriage before the age of eighteen against their will.
Of course UNICEF and The Hague would be very grateful to the 30.000 to 40.000 expats living in and around The Hague, if they would be able and willing to support UNICEF in one way or the other. By themselves and / or by the expat organizations they belong to. During 2015 there are a lot of possibilities in The Hague to do so.
