Distressed Children & Infants International (DCI), an international non-profit child rights organisation, has hosted its 6th International Conference on Child Rights and Sight at Yale University.

The event was part of DCI's global initiative to raise awareness of children's rights and blindness prevention. It brought together more than 300 people including diplomats, non-profit leaders, and academics from around the world, says a press release.

On the occasion, Yale representative and Dean Sten Vermund gave a speech, while participants also heard from more than 30 distinguished speakers including former US ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Dr Rohan Perera, CEO and Chairman of Transcom Group Latifur Rahman, Prof Richard Cash, and Executive Director of TMSS Hosne Ara Begum.

Grassroots community leaders and delegations from different local colleges and university partners also spoke at the conference, held on October 14.

DCI is headquartered in Connecticut and established at Yale University in 2003.

In a video message, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy thanked DCI and all of the participants for their contributions to the defence of child rights.

In his speech, DCI's Executive Director Dr Ehsan Hoque noted how the presence of so many young people indicated the charity's success in recruiting and training the next generation of humanitarian leaders. 

He also commented that in the last 13 years, DCI had worked steadfastly to build a sustainable and transparent system of support that lifted thousands of vulnerable children and their families out of crippling poverty, disability and disease.