Work for the rights of the child in the Santiago River Basin
With support from the Finnish Government, UNICEF works with the Binational Plan in the area of the Santiago River for the benefit of the rights of children and adolescents.
MACAS. On April 18-20, various events were held in Macas and Tiwintza and three publications were launched on the enforcement of the rights of children and adolescents of the Santiago River Basin. These events are part of the work that is being done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), thanks to the contribution of the Finnish Government, in the framework of the Ecuador-Peru Binational Plan.
On those dates, the children and adolescents of the Amazon area along the border with Peru received some goods news: on Thursday the 19th, the council for Children and Adolescents of Tiwintza was sworn in; the Shuar and Achuar Nations benefit today from a specific assessment of their health; an ambulance donated by UNICEF provides service to the canton of Tiwintza; and Free Maternity starts working throughout the province.
High-impact data was disseminated: children of the canton of Tiwintza are among those whose rights are the least enforced in the country, as disclosed by a study conducted on this canton by the Observatory for the Rights of Children and Adolescents with technical support from UNICEF and financial support from the Finnish Government, for the purpose of promoting public surveillance.
Another bulletin that is being published to facilitate surveillance is Lupa Fiscal, by Grupo Faro and UNICEF, which explains the level and impact of social spending in the canton of Morona, from both municipal sources and national government sources. Tihis bulletin was also possible thanks to support from Finland through the Ecuador-Peru Binational Plan.
The Shuar and Achuar nations received their first specific health assessment, through a released on April 20 in Macas.
The events, which were organized jointly with the Municipalities of Macas and Tiwintza and with the Provincial Health Department of Morona Santiago, were attended by Luís Herrera, delegate of the Finnish Government, José Antonio Luna, from the Peru office of the Binational Plan, Ecuadorian health authorities and representatives of national institutions working for children.
All cooperation actions carried out by UNICEF for the Santiago River Project are funded by the Finnish Government in the framework of the Binational Plan for the Development of the Ecuador-Peru Border Region.
Project for the Sustainable Development of the Banks of the Santiago River: Since 2002, UNICEF in cooperation with the Finnish Government and in the framework of the Binational Plan is implementing the Santiago River Project for the purpose of securing better living conditions for children and adolescents of the Amazon region, especially those belonging to indigenous families, whose rights are not enforced as much as those of other children of the area and country.
The project includes actions aimed at enforcing the following: the right to a head start in life, the right to a name and nationality, the right to health, and the right to quality basic education. UNICEF strives to promote enforcement of the rights of children and adolescents by drawing up integral public policies in education, health, and local capacity building.
