Overview
The Government of Guyana is pursuing a development policy giving high priority to poverty reduction and the progressive realization by all Guyanese of their Constitutional rights to an adequate living standard. This involves the pursuit of complex political, constitutional, and economic reforms addressing policies that can ensure children’s and families’ access to health, education, social protection services and interventions aimed at reducing the vulnerability to and mitigation of the impact the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Building upon the experience gained and progress made during the implementation of the previous Programme of Cooperation (2001-2005) and the national development strategies and priorities, UNICEF has entering into a new Programme of Cooperation with the Government of Guyana from 1st January, 2006 to 31st December, 2010. The overall goal of the new country programme is to ensure that all children in Guyana enjoy greater respect and realization of their human rights to survival, development, participation and protection because of improved capabilities and increased opportunities, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The country programme also addresses the risks as well as opportunities for Guyana’s children as outlined in various national policy documents, the reports of the CRC and the CEDAW Committees and the Common Country Assessment (CCA). It focuses especially on early childhood development and survival, basic quality education, and the protection of children at risk (e.g. orphans and other vulnerable children and children in conflict with the law). The Country Programme Children and young people in Guyana face many challenges, but mainly poverty and lack of opportunities mean that they often lack confidence in the future. Further, while there has been slow progress in Constitutional and legislative reform, weak data collection and analyses hamper the monitoring of any progress made. HIV/AIDS has also had an impact on children’s vulnerability and despite almost universal access to primary education and little gender disparity, problems exist in both the quality and relevance of the curriculum delivered here. In support of the overall contribution of the United Nations to Guyana, the Country Programme contributes to the:
Consequently, work in these areas will result in: The rights of all children and women in Guyana being monitored and protected by effective and efficient legislation, policies and programmes in accordance with national and international development and human rights commitments; All children in Guyana receiving a healthy start of life in a supportive child friendly environment and complete basic education of good quality; All adolescents in Guyana having opportunities to fully develop their individual capacities in safe and enabling environments, as well as to participate and contribute to the society in which they live. To achieve these goals the Country Programme of Cooperation supports three programmatic areas. Programme 1: Public Policy, Promotion of Child Rights and Child Protection This programme addresses strategic information, policy research and analyses as well as advocacy and dissemination of public information in relation to children and women. It also focuses on improving the protective environment for vulnerable children, such as those in orphanages, children affected by HIV/AIDS, victims of abuse and exploitation and adolescents in conflict with the law. It comprises two projects - Public Policy and Promotion of Child Rights and Child Protection: Programme 2: Child Survival and Development This programme contributes to improved access to quality health and education services for all children under five years. It addresses the right of children to have the best start to life and to reach their full potential. This includes safe motherhood practices, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT), effective water and environmental sanitation strategies, good nutrition, effective delivery of child health care and stimulation services, and effective parenting skills. It comprises two projects - Early Childhood Development and Equality Basic Education Programme 3: Adolescent Development and Participation This programme focuses on the 12 to 18 year age group and aims to increase access to quality services in education and health. It supports national efforts and policies to address the challenges faced by adolescents, especially those most in danger of adopting risky behaviours. The challenges range from HIV/AIDS, unemployment and increased involvement in criminal behaviour to domestic violence and sexual abuse. Here emphasis is also placed on participation and empowerment of adolescents to become agents of change within their own communities. The two projects within this programme are - Adolescent Health and HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Development and Empowerment.
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