Tonga has made an investment in its children by making a commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the visiting UNICEF Representative to the Pacific Mr Sheldon Yett observed this week in Nuku'alofa.

He attended an event celebrating United Nations Day and the launch of Cyber Safety Week at Fa’onelua Convention Centre with a theme “Unite for Children”.

Tonga has been a member of the United Nations for 17 years.

Mr Yett said UNICEF, which has a mandate for the interests of children, was welcomed in Tonga.

“I would like to take this opportunity to officially thank the government, partners and people of Tonga for their commitment to the principles underlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, for the investments made for the children of this country, and for their partnership with the United Nations.”

He said that he was looking forward to working with the Tongan Government, church groups, civil society organizations, schools, teachers, parents, caregivers and especially young people in the future.

Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni acknowledged the work of the United Nations in Tonga, and officially launched a new website for the Cyber Safety program “Stop. Think. Connect.” which is part of a larger international initiative on cyber safety.