Millie Bobby Brown and David Beckham spoke at a global summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, demanding action to protect and promote children’s rights.
The Stranger Things actress, 15, took to the stage on Wednesday at the summit which was part of the celebrations marking World Children’s Day and gave a speech about her experience of being bullied.
The summit coincides with 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.
Event: Millie Bobby Brown, 15, spoke at a global summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in demanding action to protect and promote children’s rights
Millie, who is UNICEF’s (United Nations Children’s Fund) youngest Goodwill Ambassador, said: ‘Young people my age are facing so many new challenges today that 30 years ago were hard to predict.
‘I’m proud to add my voice to all those around the world who are asking for solutions to today’s problems such as bullying, access to education, mental health awareness, suicide prevention and climate change.
‘In world capitals, in buildings like this, adults talk about children’s rights. But today, young people don’t want to be talked about. They want to do the talking. In the words of one young person: “Be an active voice. Don’t let things go unnoticed.’
Millie recalled her experience with being bullied at school and said it was so bad at one point that she was scared to attend.
![Speaker: David Beckham, 44, headlined the global summit which was part of the celebrations marking World Children's Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/18/21258370-7707429-image-a-66_1574274135066.jpg)
Speaker: David Beckham, 44, headlined the global summit which was part of the celebrations marking World Children’s Day
She said: ‘So today, I want to talk about an issue that is very personal to me. Something that so often goes unnoticed – but causes real suffering. Bullying.
‘Like David, I’ve been very lucky in my life. I take nothing for granted. But I also know what it feels like to be vulnerable. At school, I was bullied by a group of students. I remember feeling helpless. School used to be a safe place. Now I was scared to go.
‘I was lucky. With the help of my friends, family and people around me, I was able to overcome these negative feelings and take my power back. But millions of children aren’t so lucky. They’re still struggling in the darkness.
‘Wrestling with fear. With insecurity. Bullying and online threats are never harmless. Never just words. It puts children’s mental health at risk. It causes stress.
![Success: The actress is Unicef's youngest Goodwill Ambassador and was interviewed after her speech](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/18/21258482-7707429-image-a-67_1574274140607.jpg)
Success: The actress is Unicef’s youngest Goodwill Ambassador and was interviewed after her speech
![Suave: David looked dapper in a grey blazer and matching trousers which he wore with a crisp white shirt and a navy tie](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/18/21258384-7707429-image-m-71_1574274152393.jpg)
![Suave: David looked dapper in a grey blazer and matching trousers which he wore with a crisp white shirt and a navy tie](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/19/21258372-7707429-Suave_David_looked_dapper_in_a_grey_blazer_and_matching_trousers-a-9_1574279258200.jpg)
Suave: David looked dapper in a grey blazer and matching trousers which he wore with a crisp white shirt and a navy tie
‘And in the most extreme cases, and in areas around the world where conflict and violence are daily threats, it can lead to self-harm. Sickness. And even suicide.
‘In my role as Goodwill Ambassador, I will continue talking about this issue wherever I go. Every one of you here today can be the loudspeaker that turns our voices into real change.
‘Into policies, programmes, laws and investments that keep children safe. That makes our world a better, healthier, stronger place for all.’
Fellow ambassador David, 44, who opened the event with his speech, spoke about his childhood dreams of becoming a footballer.
The sports star asked for more to be done to help children all over the world achieve their dreams as the future ‘belongs to children’.
![Summit: In his speech, David said: 'Children everywhere dream of a better future'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/19/21258380-7707429-Summit_In_his_speech_David_said_Children_everywhere_dream_of_a_b-a-10_1574279258201.jpg)
Summit: In his speech, David said: ‘Children everywhere dream of a better future’
He said: ‘I always dreamed of being a professional footballer. It was all I ever wanted. And unlike many children around the world, I was incredibly lucky.
‘From a very young age, I had people in my corner who believed in me, who wanted me to succeed, and who helped me to reach my goals. Since 2001, I’ve worked with UNICEF, meeting girls and boys from all over the world.
‘Girls and boys with different stories and backgrounds from my own. But like all children, they have one thing in common. They have ambitions, and they have dreams for a better future.
‘Over the years, I have seen how UNICEF is helping to make these ambitions real. By delivering health, nutrition, water and sanitation, plus education. All of the ingredients that children need to grow up healthy and happy, and to unlock their full potential.
![He also said: 'I have worked with UNICEF for almost 20 years and I have met children in all corners of the world...](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/18/21258368-7707429-image-a-75_1574274301655.jpg)
He also said: ‘I have worked with UNICEF for almost 20 years and I have met children in all corners of the world…
‘But as leaders, as public figures, as parents, and of course, as human beings, we must do more to protect children’s dreams. Because the future doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to children.
‘Please join me in this mission for children, and let’s listen to our young people, because they will show us the way. I am proud to be here lending my voice to this conversation and supporting brilliant young activists like Millie Bobbie Brown who is using her platform to command attention to the cause.
‘Today on World Children’s Day, let’s make new promises to children of the world. We promise to listen to you. We promise to learn from you. We promise to act for you and together, we promise to work harder to protect your dreams.
![David added: 'All children deserve the opportunity to reach their potential and I’m very proud to support the young people speaking up for change today'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/20/21258376-7707429-David_added_All_children_deserve_the_opportunity_to_reach_their_-a-98_1574281324583.jpg)
David added: ‘All children deserve the opportunity to reach their potential and I’m very proud to support the young people speaking up for change today’
![Good cause: David and Millie sat in the audience as they listened to to other speaker's at the event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/20/21258366-7707429-Good_cause_David_and_Millie_sat_in_the_audience_as_they_listened-a-99_1574281324617.jpg)
Good cause: David and Millie sat in the audience as they listened to to other speaker’s at the event
![Millie said: 'Young people my age are facing so many new challenges today that 30 years ago were hard to predict'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/18/21258358-7707429-image-a-84_1574274340788.jpg)
![Millie said: 'Young people my age are facing so many new challenges today that 30 years ago were hard to predict'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/18/21258362-7707429-image-m-83_1574274335821.jpg)
Millie said: ‘Young people my age are facing so many new challenges today that 30 years ago were hard to predict’
![She added: 'I’m proud to add my voice to all those around the world who are asking for solutions to today’s problems'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/20/21258360-7707429-She_added_I_m_proud_to_add_my_voice_to_all_those_around_the_worl-a-100_1574281324628.jpg)
She added: ‘I’m proud to add my voice to all those around the world who are asking for solutions to today’s problems’
‘Children everywhere dream of a better future. I have worked with UNICEF for almost 20 years and I have met children in all corners of the world, young people that have ambitions for a better education, a life free from disease and for peace.
‘All children deserve the opportunity to reach their potential and I’m very proud to support the young people speaking up for change today.’
World Children’s Day, which is celebrated on 20 November every year, aims to raise awareness and funds for the millions of children that are denied their right to adequate health care, nutrition, education and protection.
![Career: Millie has risen to fame since starring as Eleven in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, which debuted in 2016](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/19/21258484-7707429-Career_Millie_has_risen_to_fame_since_starring_as_Eleven_in_the_-a-11_1574279258214.jpg)
Career: Millie has risen to fame since starring as Eleven in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, which debuted in 2016
![Cast: The British teen co-stars alongside Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/20/21258354-7707429-Cast_The_British_teen_co_stars_alongside_Gaten_Matarazzo_Finn_Wo-a-101_1574281324635.jpg)
Cast: The British teen co-stars alongside Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp
Millie has risen to fame since starring as Eleven in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, which debuted in 2016.
The British teen co-stars alongside Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp.
The star previously sad that the cast were crying for real when someone questioned how they would all feel when Stranger Things eventually wraps during filming of an emotional scene in the most recent season finale.
She explained: ‘And we all started crying and then they rolled camera and said action.
‘And that was it. We all started saying goodbye to each other. We felt too real.’
![David said: 'All children deserve the opportunity to reach their potential and I’m very proud to support the young people speaking up for change today'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/20/22/21268820-7707429-image-a-102_1574288240627.jpg)
David said: ‘All children deserve the opportunity to reach their potential and I’m very proud to support the young people speaking up for change today’