unicef THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU - THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. As Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), I have traveled across the globe and met children and their families living in remarkably ditterent communities. Some of you live in rural villages, others in crowded cities. You live in rain forests, deserts, mountains, on islands, and some of you brave the cold of the Arctic tundra. Your foods are different, your dress, your homes, your games, and your beliefs. You should be proud of these differences and celebrate your individual and unique cultures. Yet as I travel, it is not the differences that strike me, but rather the magnificent similarities that make you all very much alike. You all have curiosity, fears, hopes, and dreams - as well as an extraordinary gift to open your hearts to others. Wherever you live, you are entitled to protection and support by adults like me. These are your rights, and they are clearly outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a legal document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, signed and ratified by nearly every country in the world. It details your rights - to health care; food, education, play, shelter, and above all, to protection against violence, discrimination, and exploitation. This is your "constitution," and it belongs to you. It is written so that your voices are heard and that you really do come first. In 1996, UNICEF celebrates 50 years of work for you - the children of the world. Mostly, it will be a celebration to honor you - all of you - and to pledge our support at UNICEF for the next 50 years to protecting your dreams and your future. HARRY BELAFONTE, GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR UNICEF Damage to bottom corners of book.