Speaking out - Children from institutions address high-level conference in Central Asia
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - May 12, 2009 Ministers from central Asian governments are meeting in Kyrgyzstan for the next three days to discuss how they can reform their child care systems. UNICEF research shows that during economic hard times even more central Asian children face abandonment in state-run institutions and maternity hospitals. It means about 160,000 children in these countries are currently growing-up in institutions; a high proportion of those abandoned are children with disabilities. The UNICEF Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States Regional Director, Steven Allen, told delegates Governments must invest in services that prevent separation of families and children. These are cost-effective and caring solutions. "In the coming years, maintaining the focus on child care reform, and investing heavily in measures to prevent children from being separated from their biological families needs to be a priority to all countries here today."
Ministers from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan were addressed by 15-year-old Maftuna – who lives in a hostel for homeless children. She talked about the importance of children being able to freely and creatively express themselves, especially if adults are to better promote children's rights. Six one minutejunior videos were shown to delegates; videos produced by children living in institutions, who described the lack of love and discrimination they face. Afterwards, Maftuna said she hoped that if nothing else the ministers would remember one thing. "They may just be videos but they are our means of describing our problems. I hope they will not forget us and understand that that we are still here." The Child Care Reform Consultation is being held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, between May 12th and 14th. It aims to secure government commitments to a number of child care systems reforms.
Video 12 May 2009: UNICEF’s Mervyn Fletcher reports on the recent child-care reform consultations held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Broadcast-quality video on demand from The Newsmarket |
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