Partners
MAIN COUNTERPARTS SUPPORTED BY UNICEF The Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security (MLHSSS) has primary responsibility for the protection of women and children and families. This ministry played a key role in the drafting of the package of Children’s Bills and is currently working to develop minimum standards for residential institutions as well as legislation on foster care. The Ministry hosts an annual Child Protection Week Event as part of its Growing Up ithout Violence Campaign. In 2004, the Ministry published a Voices of Children Survey that addressed Children’s experiences with Violence. (See Voices of Children Survey). The survey resulted in the establishment of the Child Protection and Monitoring Information System (CPMIS) which is a database that monitors the incidence of abuse against children, This database is designed to empower the Ministry in the use of Evidence based Approaches in planning and decision making and practice interventions. The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport has the mandate for managing the detention facility for children who get into conflict with the law. Thus this Ministry is currently working on revising the current legislation consistent with international guidelines to ensure justice and protection for children in conflict with the law. Some provisions which the Minsitry has been working consistently on is the provision of legal aid and establishment of Alternative Dispute Resolution Centres for Children. A toll free Child and Adolescent Helpline is also being established so that children can have access to a counselling service based on their needs. National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) was established in 1992. The role played by this agency is advocacy and the raising of awareness. UNICEF has supported NCRC in the implementation of the Birth Registration Campaign as well as the coordination of initiatives to raise awareness on child rights. Additionally there are six regional committees on the rights of the child. These committees are constantly being served as monitoring bodies and advocates on child rights.
The Ministry of Education is mandated to eliminate illiteracy, modernise education and strengthen tolerance in Guyana. With the aim of free formal education for all, the Ministry is making every effort in ensuring comprehensive programmes are in place to achieve its mandate. These include making all schools child friendly, ensuring healthy and safe environments, introduction of health and family life education, early detection of children with special needs and in some cases multi-grade or group teaching.
The Ministry of Health is mandated to improve the physical, social and mental health status of all Guyanese by ensuring that health services are as accessible, acceptable, affordable, timely and appropriate as possible given available resources and to enhance the effectiveness of health personnel through continuing education, training and management systems. UNICEF has partnered with the Ministry of Health mainly in the areas of Maternal and Child Health (MCH), Adolescent Health and Development and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT).
Non Governmetnal Organisations (NGO)
Comforting Hearts, an NGO located in Region 6, has been in existence for over 12 years and was the first established group in the region to address the issue of HIV/AIDS. Currently this organisation provides a range of support services to People Living With AIDS (PLWA) and Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC). This NGO which undertakes several outreach programmes within rural areas to address voluntary counselling and testing is being supported by UNICEF in the implementation nutritional support to over 40 OVC and 20 PLWA . This service is being implemented by members of a PLWA support group under the umbrella of Comforting Hearts. St Francis Community Developers initially established as areligious youth group, and then developing a library service for young people within the community, has expanded over the years and provide a range of support services to other community organisations. This group was recently identified and documented as a best practice in the Region by the Commonwealth Youth Program(CYP). St Francis Community Developers also provides voluntary counselling and testing and a range of support services for orphans and vulnerable children. In addition to donor support, this group receives financial support from civil society and is currently working to seek sponsorship from a wider cross section of civil society groups to support children remaining in families despite their level of poverty. Linden Care Foundation (LFC) located in Region 10 is funded by several international organisations to work with PLWA and OVC. The services provided by this NGO include low cost medicare for PLWA, nutritional support for OVC and child friendly spaces through the medium of technology. The services provided by LCF meet the daily needs of more than 100 children in the Linden community. Monique’s Helping Hands located in Region 4 works on a prevention package for OVC. The group currently hosts literacy classes providing support to children with poor reading and writing skills. Additionally, this group has an active youth arm that undertakes outreach initiatives in peer education.
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