2008
Teach them to read, write and change their lives
KUALA LUMPUR, 19 August 2008 – UNICEF Malaysia marks this year’s International Literacy Day, themed ‘Literacy is the best remedy’, with a focus on improving education in terms of access, equity and quality, particularly for vulnerable groups of children.
PRESS STATEMENT: Abandonement of babies and teenage pregnancies
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 August 2008 - “UNICEF Malaysia is concerned by the regularity of media reports regarding the abandonment of babies, in many cases as a result of unwanted teenage pregnancies.
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
NEW YORK, 8 August 2008 – The contribution and role of the World's Indigenous people has been celebrated and acknowledged by UNICEF today, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
XVII International AIDS Conference closes with a focus on children
MEXICO CITY, Mexico, 8 August 2008 – As the 17th International AIDS Conference came to a close in Mexico City, issues affecting children were front and center.
UNICEF Executive Director speaks on 'Keeping the Promise' at XVII International AIDS Conference
MEXICO CITY, Mexico, 5 August 2008 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman headed a UNICEF delegation to the 17th International AIDS Conference yesterday, where she led a session entitled 'Keeping the promise: Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS.'
The State of Asia Pacific's Children Report 2008 is launched
BANGKOK / NEW DELHI, 5 August 2008 – Global achievement of the health related Millennium Development Goals depends largely on India and China, according to a new UNICEF report which examines the latest trends in child and maternal health.
Children in the spotlight in the lead-up to the XVII International AIDS Conference
MEXICO CITY, Mexico, 4 August 2008 – Children took the spotlight in the days leading up to the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City this year. This year's conference is marked by over 300 side events.
Young Honduran activist and editor inspires children living with HIV
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras, 30 July 2008 – Keren Gonzalez is only 12 years old, but she is one of the featured guests at the world’s largest AIDS conference being held in Mexico next week.
Protecting breastfeeding for Malaysia’s working women
MEDIA INVITATION: Working Women and Breastfeeding Forum – As more women enter the workforce, policies and programs must be in place to protect the dignity of motherhood.
UNICEF celebrates World Breastfeeding Week in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 July 2008 - As the world waits to welcome the 2008 Beijing Olympics on 8 August, UNICEF stands firmly in support of mothers in Malaysia who are striving to achieve the gold standard of infant feeding.
Babies are meant to be breastfed
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 July 2008 – Babies are meant to be breastfed. Research has consistently proven that mother’s milk is the best nutrition for babies, and there is simply no infant formula product that can match the superior nutrition of mother’s milk.
Cyclone-affected children in Myanmar return to the classroom
LAPUTTA TOWNSHIP, Myanmar, 22 July 2008 – The school year in southern Irrawaddy Delta was supposed to resume last month. The cyclone’s destruction affecting nearly 60 per cent of the area’s schools however prevented classes from starting on time.
UNICEF celebrities rally their fans for children in Sichuan
BEIJING/KUALA LUMPUR, 20 July 2008 – Some of Asia’s popular entertainers Louis Koo Tin-Lok, Charlie Young and Miriam Yeung took ten days off recently for a greater commitment – to bring joy and hope to China’s Sichuan quake survivors.
J8 Summit widens the horizons of participants, including a 16-year-old US delegate
NEW YORK, USA, 18 July 2008 – The 2008 Junior 8 Summit concluded in Japan last week with a standing ovation from all 39 delegates.
UNICEF joins UNFPA and Columbia University to promote maternal and newborn care
NEW YORK, 18 July 2008 – Acting on a shared commitment to women and their families, UNICEF has joined UNFPA and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in an alliance to help reduce maternal and newborn mortality worldwide.
UNICEF Executive Director provides expertise to UN Economic and Social Council panel
NEW YORK, 11 July 2008 – The triple punch of rising food and energy prices, climate change and lagging investment in agriculture is posing fresh challenges for international development programs and requires the UN to enhance cooperation worldwide.
Humanitarian agencies seek $303.6 million for Myanmar cyclone survivors
NEW YORK, 10 July 2008 - An additional US$ 303.6 million is urgently needed to enable humanitarian efforts to continue benefiting an estimated 2.4 million people who were severely affected by Cyclone Nargis.
Are we aborting the futures of our teenage girls?
KUALA LUMPUR, 7 July 2008 – Each day, around the world, close to 40,000 children are born to both married and unmarried girls aged 15 to 19. Tragically, some of these girls who are children themselves may not live to see the birth of their baby.
‘The Survival Project’: CNN program shines spotlight on UNICEF work
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 July 2008 – UNICEF will be the focus of a special global broadcast on CNN and CNN International this Monday. The Survival Project: One Child at a Time will feature work that UNICEF is doing to protect and support children.
Malaysian boy's aquathalon raises RM 25,000 for children of Myanmar’s Cyclone Nargis
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 June 2008 – He is only thirteen years old, yet, Malaysia’s Tristan Lim Yang-Jun decided that his age was not going to be a barrier to helping his peers in Myanmar struggling to survive the devastation of Cyclone Nargis.
New UNICEF report reveals progress made in reducing iodine deficiency
NEW YORK, USA, 26 June 2008 – A new UNICEF report reveals that, over a period of almost two decades, enormous progress has been made in protecting children and mothers from the debilitating effects of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).
MERCY teams up with UNICEF for Malaysia’s vulnerable children
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 June 2008 – Despite Malaysia’s remarkable success in achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals, some 7,000 children under five years old continue to die each year from preventable and treatable diseases.
Food for Hope donates RM 21,750 to aid UNICEF efforts in Myanmar
KUALA LUMPUR, 16 June 2008 – “Food for Hope”, a culinary experience with a difference, recently raised RM 87,000 for disaster relief efforts in China and Myanmar. Part of the funds RM 21,750 was donated to UNICEF for its work in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar.
UNICEF begins rebuilding schools in cyclone-stricken Myanmar
YANGON Myanmar, 17 June 2008 – The weather has become an added challenge to delivering aid in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar.
Breastfeeding, the only option for infants, regardless of food price hikes
KUALA LUMPUR, 17 June 2008 – Regardless of price hikes in food and other essentials, breastfeeding must at all times be considered the only option for infants cautions UNICEF in response to a newspaper report today.
Education the key to freeing tens of millions of children from hazardous labour
NEW YORK, 12 June 2008 – UNICEF estimates that there are 158 million children under the age of 15 who are trapped in child labour around the world. The vast majority of these children have little or no hope of accessing an education.
Top-level UN meeting focuses on prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
NEW YORK, 11 June 2008 – Ninety percent of children who become infected with HIV contract the disease from their mothers, and top-level diplomats are conferring to look at ways to advance prevention of mother-to-child transmission, or PMTCT.
Religious leaders meet in Hiroshima to reaffirm their commitments to children
HIROSHIMA, Japan, 6 June 2008 – Over 1,300 religious leaders and UN officials from around the world recently participated in the Third Forum of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in Hiroshima, Japan.
Child-friendly spaces provide refuge for cyclone-affected children in Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar, 5 June 2008 – At the offices of the Yangon Kayin Baptist Women’s Association, a room once used for storing office equipment and documents is now filled with laughing and playing children, all of whom were displaced by Cyclone Nargis.
World Environment Day 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, 5 June 2008 – Our countries and communities are at risk. Rising sea levels and melting ice caps … severe weather events … cyclones, droughts and flooding are but a few of the increasing environmental impacts challenging children today.
At Executive Board opening, Ann M. Veneman outlines key achievements for children
NEW YORK, 4 June 2008 – Executive Director Ann M. Veneman presented UNICEF’s annual report to the Executive Board’s second regular session of 2008, which began yesterday at United Nations headquarters in New York.
A month after deadly cyclone, classes resume in Myanmar
YANGON, 3 June 2008 – A new school year has begun as children head back to classes, just one month after Cyclone Nargis damaged or destroyed more than 4,000 schools in Myanmar.
Nearly three million HIV-positive people now receiving life-saving drugs
GENEVA / PARIS, 2 June 2008 — The close of 2007 marked an important step in the history of the HIV epidemic. Nearly 3 million people are now receiving anti-retroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries.
GIS students dig deep into their pockets to help Myanmar’s children
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 June 2008 – With empathy and generosity in their hearts, students of Malaysia’s Garden International School came together recently to raise RM 29,708 for Myanmar’s children who survived Cyclone Nargis.
Indigenous youth make their voices heard at global caucus
NEW YORK, 2 June 2008 – At the seventh session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, held in New York in April, the youngest generation of indigenous people from around the world came together as one body to highlight the problems they face.
Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award 2008: A call to broadcasters
KUALA LUMPUR, 1 June 2008 – Broadcasters in the region are invited to submit entries for the Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award 2008. The annual award is jointly organised by UNICEF, ABU and CASBAA.
UNICEF forges ahead for children in Myanmar's worst-affected cyclone areas
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 May 2008 – UNICEF will forge ahead rapidly to map and serve children and women in severely affected areas of cyclone-battered Myanmar, following the military government’s decision to grant full access to international aid workers.
A midwife puts the health of children and women before her needs
LAPUTTA TOWNSHIP, 25 May 2008 – Midwife Myint Myint Yi’s life has turned upside down ever since her house took an unforgivable beating when Cyclone Nargis pummeled Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta on 2 and 3 May.
UNICEF and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcome news of more international aid access in Myanmar
NEW YORK, 23 May 2008 – Following UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visit to Myanmar this week, UNICEF has welcomed the announcement that the government's leaders will allow more international aid workers into the cyclone-damaged areas.
The children have suffered enough – the time to act is now!
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 May 2008 – The United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon who will arrive in Myanmar on Thursday, has urged the nation’s military government to focus all its efforts on saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of its people.
Kiwanis Malaysia first to step forward in support of UNICEF’s appeal in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 May 2008 – Kiwanis Malaysia, a voluntary service organisation, is the first to step forward to support the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) "Myanmar Children’s Cyclone Appeal 2008" in Malaysia, with an initial donation of RM 80,000.
UNICEF races against time to help Myanmar children survive
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 May 2008 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working full speed to deliver critical aid and supplies to help Myanmar’s children who are struggling with their daily survival, following the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appeals for further aid for cyclone-affected Myanmar
NEW YORK, 13 May 2008 – The devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis could quickly turn into a catastrophe for the people of Myanmar. According to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the health of at least 1.5 million people is at severe risk.
UNICEF concerned about children affected by powerful earthquake in China
SICHUAN, China, 13 May 2008 – UNICEF expressed growing alarm today about children affected by a powerful earthquake in southwestern China that toppled houses and schools leaving at least 60 students dead.
UNICEF welcomes the ratification of the UN Disabilities Convention
NEW YORK, 12 May 2008 - The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, which came into force on 3 May 2008, is the first human right treaty of the 21st century.
UNICEF safe-water supplies arrive in Myanmar to aid cyclone survivors
NEW YORK, 9 May 2008 – A Thai International airliner carrying 3 million water-purification tablets for the victims of Cyclone Nargis landed in Myanmar’s former capital, Yangon, at 8:45 local time this morning.
Safe water can make difference between life and death in post-cyclone Myanmar
NEW YORK, 8 May 2008 – Three million water-purification tablets are on their way to Myanmar to help families in the Irrawaddy Delta cope with the potentially deadly after-effects of Cyclone Nargis.
UNICEF appeals for US$ 8.2 million to aid families in Myanmar’s cyclone zone
NEW YORK, 8 May 2008 – To meet the urgent needs of children and families affected by the cyclone last weekend in Myanmar, UNICEF today issued an emergency appeal for $8.2 million.
UNICEF crisis response focuses on water and hygiene in aftermath of Cyclone Nargis
NEW YORK, 7 May 2008 – With 5,000 square km underwater and an estimated 1 million people homeless and in need of assistance, Myanmar continues to reel from the effects of Cyclone Nargis, which struck last weekend.
UNICEF on the ground in Myanmar delivering critical supplies
NEW YORK, 6 May 2008 – Some 130 UNICEF technical and operations staff continued to travel to the areas affected by Cyclone Nargis today, identifying the greatest threats to children and women and delivering much-needed supplies.
UNICEF in Myanmar: Rapid response critical to saving lives
NEW YORK, 5 May 2008 – UNICEF is undertaking urgent preliminary assessments of the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, which struck southeast Myanmar on Saturday, killing thousands and injuring tens of thousands.
Strong fathers, strong families
KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2008 – Fathers have an important, constructive role to play in families, particularly in their children’s development.
A deeper understanding of Islam to fight poverty
NEW YORK, 30 April 2008 – UNICEF Representative in Iran Christian Salazar has called for a deeper understanding of Islam to more effectively fight poverty in Islamic nations.
Nations unite for World Malaria Day 2008
NEW YORK, 24 April 2008 – Ten years after UNICEF, WHO and their partners launched the Roll Back Malaria initiative, malaria is still the single largest child killer in Africa. The disease takes the lives of some 3,000 children per day.
Statement by Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on food price increases
NEW YORK, 24 April 2008 - UNICEF joins the World Food Program and other UN agencies in expressing concern that food price increases are having negative social and economic impacts, especially in low income and least developed countries.
Manchester United and FC Barcelona join forces for UNICEF and the fight against AIDS
BARCELONA, 23 April 2008 – They are fierce competitors on the football pitch, playing in front of millions of fans and television viewers.
‘Rethinking Poverty’ conference cites risks to children posed by rising global insecurity
NEW YORK, 22 April 2008 – Participants in an international conference here have been told that global uncertainty and rising terrorism and violence will lead to an increase in the number of people – including children – living in poverty.
Parliamentarians lead change for mothers and children
CAPE TOWN, 18 April 2008 – More than 200 Parliamentarians from around the world showed their support to maternal, newborn and child health when they gathered in Cape Town for the 118th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
A second Child Survival Revolution to achieve goals for children
KUALA LUMPUR, 15 April 2008 – UNICEF aims to inspire a second Child Survival Revolution like it did in the eighties to accelerate actions to reduce child deaths, using simple and cost effective integrated community health strategies.
UNICEF highlights water and sanitation at G8 Development Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo
TOKYO, Japan, 11 April 2008 – UNICEF had an unprecedented opportunity to address the G8 Development Ministers’ Meeting on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and human security issues, which concluded earlier this week in Tokyo.
More action needed to reduce impact of HIV and AIDS on children in East Asia and Pacific
BANGKOK, 3 April 2008 – The number of children living with HIV who receive antiretroviral treatment in East Asia and Pacific increased by nearly 40% between 2005-2006, according to the latest data contained in a newly released UNICEF report.
‘Children and AIDS: Second stocktaking report’ cites progress made to date
NEW YORK, 3 April 2008 – Important progress has been made in combating the spread of HIV since UNICEF – as a UNAIDS co-sponsoring agency – launched the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign in October 2005.
David Beckham urges children to use Junior 8 Summit to make their voices heard
LONDON, 20 March 2008 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham has called on young people to take part in UNICEF’s Junior 8 Summit, a young person’s version of the annual G8 meeting of world leaders.
Call to action to stop the use of breastmilk substitutes in emergencies
JAKARTA, 20 March 2008 - The lives of babies and young children are being put at risk by the inappropriate use of breastmilk substitutes, particularly in emergency situations, says a coalition of more than 100 nutrition and emergency experts.
UNICEF promotes safe sanitation for World Water Day 2008
NEW YORK, 19 March 2008 – On World Water Day tomorrow, as on every other day, some 2.5 billion people will be ‘doing their business’ somewhere other than in a toilet or latrine. That is not a statistic many people want to examine too closely.
UNICEF call for entries for children broadcasting awards
NEW YORK, 10 March 2008 - UNICEF today called for entries from broadcasters for the 2008 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Awards.
UNICEF marks International Women’s Day by stressing importance of investing in maternal health
NEW YORK, 7 March 2008 – UNICEF is marking International Women’s Day 2008 (8 March) by drawing attention to the need for improvements in maternal health care.
3R-UNICEF All Women’s Futsal Playoffs empower girls to fight AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 March 2008 – More than 1,000 girls and women from across Malaysia came together recently in a spirit of sisterhood and empowerment to unite against AIDS.
Malaysian youth partners UNICEF for A:S.A.P 4 Children campaign
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 March 2008 – A team of dynamic Malaysian youth are pooling together their talents and commitment with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the A:S.A.P. 4 Children Campaign to promote child safety messages in the Klang Valley.
UN agencies unite against female genital mutilation
NEW YORK, 27 February 2008 – Expressing their commitment to the elimination of female genital mutilation, ten UN agencies pledged to support governments, communities, and women and girls to abandon the practice within a generation.
UNICEF: Child survival lies at the heart of human progress
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 February 2008 – UNICEF’s annual flagship report this year assesses the situation of child survival and primary health care for mothers, newborns and children, showcasing how these issues lie at the heart of human progress.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launches campaign to end violence against women
NEW YORK, 25 February 2008 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is launching today a multi-year campaign to intensify action to end violence against women and girls.
Financing for gender equality to be the focus of Commission on the Status of Women
NEW YORK, 22 February 2008 – The Commission on the Status of Women will have as its priority theme “Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women,” when it meets for its fifty-second session from 25 February to 7 March 2008.
UNICEF Executive Board members visit child friendly school in northern Lao PDR
OUDOMXAY, NORTHERN LAO PDR, 13 February 2008 - Children at Nongboua primary school in Oudomxay’s La district laid on a warm welcome for a visiting delegation from the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Consultation on maternal and child health inequities held in New York
NEW YORK, 12 February 2008 – Ensuring that poor and marginalised children and mothers have access to quality health care services was the main subject at the UNICEF-convened consultation, ‘Increasing the Contribution of Health Systems to Health Equity’.
Malaysian elected vice president of UN children’s agency
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 February 2008 – Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Datuk Hamidon Ali was recently elected by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Board as one of the agency’s four Vice Presidents.
Executive Board concludes its first regular session of 2008
NEW YORK, 4 February 2008 – This year’s first regular session of the UNICEF Executive Board ended on Friday as it began four days earlier, with discussions on the critically important subject of child protection strategy.
Executive Board looks towards stronger partnerships for child protection
NEW YORK, 31 January 2008 – Safeguarding the rights of children to health, education and a protective environment is at the heart of UNICEF’s work.
UNICEF Executive Board opens its first session of the new year
NEW YORK, 30 January 2008 – UNICEF’s Executive Board convened its first regular session of 2008 yesterday in the Economic and Social Council chamber at United Nations headquarters in New York.
East Asia and Pacific religious leaders united to confront HIV and AIDS
BANGKOK, 25 January 2008 - “I would rather have a church filled with sinners than sick people,” relayed Dominica Bessie Abo, quoting a pastor, to delegates from Asian and Pacific churches, temples and mosques who were united to confront HIV.
UNICEF flagship report says community health programs are key to reducing child mortality
NEW YORK, 22 January 2008 – Fatma, 2, is one of the thousands of Kenyan children whose lives have been saved by a cheap and simple preventive health measure.
UNICEF and youth: Working together for 'A World Fit for Children'
NEW YORK, 15 January 2008 – The year 2007 marked the five-year anniversary celebration of the UN plan of action, ‘A World Fit For Children’ – a commitment by world leaders to protect and promote child rights.
UNICEF welcomes International Year of Sanitation 2008
NEW YORK, 1 January 2008 – UNICEF today officially welcomed the first day of the International Year of Sanitation 2008.
