Man with a Message: Lockie Cooke Presents in Geneva

WAIS athlete, Australian U23 paddler and ICEA founder Lockie Cooke is currently in Geneva as part of the Australian Delegation presenting their NGO report, “Listen to Children” to the Child Rights Convention Standing Committee at the UN.

Cooke – who is also scheduled to make an address at CHOGM in Perth later this month – presented to the UN committee on Tuesday and was involved with indigenous issues and Youth participation.

“I got to pass a recommendation to the committee highlighting the importance of getting the Government to support more non for profit youth run organisation,” Cooke said. “The big focus of me being here is to encourage the Australian Government to respect and apply Article 12 of the CRC (child rights convention) which is, including children in the decision making process of the issues that affect them.”

“ICEA’s youth development modules are respecting the conventions through looking forward to also acknowledging them in or upcoming strategic plan,” he said.

While the priority of the trip was to present to the UN, Cooke managed to get in touch with the coach for the ‘Kayak Team Gen√®ve’, and is looking forward to hitting up some popular local kayaking locations.

“They are slalom kayakers, though I am keen to get in any sort of boat,” Cooke claimed.

For information on ICEA Foundation click here.