Advocates and leaders from the UN, UNICEF and NGOs gathered during the 63rd session for the Commission for Social Development to the United Nations for a panel discussion moderated by Assistant Professor of Social Work Michelle Bell on the timely issue of children's welfare.

The panel, titled "No Time To Waste: The Urgent Need to Build Inclusive Social Protection for Children in Vulnerable Situations," explored strategies to protect children facing poverty, violence, and displacement and ways to remedy disparities in education and care among children around the globe.

"I was honored to be asked to moderate this event by my colleagues in the Committee on Migration—Subcommittee on Children in Migration," said Bell. "We were happy to receive the support of many organizations, including the World Organization for Early Childhood Education and the Early Childhood Peace Consortium. In addition, we had speakers from UNICEF and the Children’s Research and Education Institute."

Other speakers included the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the UN, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the UN, and a representative from the Office of the Special Representative for the Secretary General on Violence Against Children.

The event was held to highlight the need for early childhood education and care and build momentum to make these a fundamental human right.