Angola National Forum took children as a strategy for developmentThe forum gathered together 334 participants, including 13 ministries, National and Provincial authorities, Churches and religious institutions, NGOs, the media and political parties, and took key decisions in tackling its dire child mortality and fostering the future of its children. In a country where one in four children continue to die before their fifth birthday, the Government committed to a Child Mortality Reduction strategy (aiming to reduce under five mortality by 50% by 2008), and called on social policy decision makers, national opinion builders and Angolan society to fight for the needs and rights of young children. The Angolan Government assumed the leadership in relation to the Early Childhood, by announcing a set of very detailed commitments. Linked to the under five mortality rate reduction by its half, a second compromise was set up to reduce by 30% the maternal mortality rate. Other vital commitments for the development of the child were assumed, in the areas of education, not only for children in school age, but also for mothers. Within the legal framework, facilitating unconditional access to citizenship immediately after birth, and protecting children against abuse and violence. Not less important were the actions proposed in the spheres of social communication, water and sanitation, nutrition and food security. Special emphasis was given to the State duty to attribute funding resources from the National Budget to the programmes and projects derived from the social agenda announced in the event. A deadline of 60 days was committed by each Ministry to prepare a detailed plan of action towards the implementation of the engagements already assumed. The evaluation process will be done every year on the 16th June, to better celebrate and honour the Day of the African child. "The National status of the children in Indeed, the dynamics of the forum lead to the constitution of a multifaceted alliance. There was a very intensive and consensual participation of public and private actors and agents, which was an indicator of the interests of the Angolan Society towards the child protection. "One of the relevant results of this forum is the recognition by both the Government and Civil Society of the importance of institutionalizing the participation and opportune evaluation, through permanent mechanisms", said Mario Ferrari, UNICEF Angola Representative talking at the closing ceremony. "The implantation of these mechanisms can constitute a powerful engine to dynamize and articulate the involved actors around common objectives." An Inter Ministerial Commission for Coordination of Early Childhood related activities integrating 13 ministries was established to facilitate the participation of all partners in order to promote synergies and coordinate the actions to maximize results and minimize unnecessary duplication and loses of human, material and financial resources. The Forum was supported by the President of the Republic, with technical and financial assistance from UNICEF.
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