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Press Centre
January 1997 - June
1997
AIDS
increasingly a threat to children
Friday, 27 June 1997: HIV, the AIDS virus, infects 1,000 children
a day, and will have infected 1 million under-15s by the end of the
year, according to a report released today by the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). "Within a little more than a decade,
AIDS will be a major cause of death among children," said UNICEF
Executive Director Carol Bellamy, "But children do not have to
contract HIV to be profoundly harmed by it. The number of orphans are
growing dramatically, children are traumatized by watching parents die,
forced out of school to take the place of adults at home and often suffer
discrimination."
CD-ROM captures colourful Amazon diversity
Tuesday, 24 June 1997: A new CD-ROM, featuring indigenous children and
women of the Amazon, makes its appearance today at the Earth Summit
+ 5, a United Nations General Assembly Special Session to review progress
towards sustainable development since the Rio Summit in 1992. Entitled
Tsamaran, with great pride: a journey through the magical Amazon
and produced by UNICEF Peru, it is "a highly creative exploration
of indigenous traditions and life, and our common right to be different."
Greek Committee
now online
Tuesday, 24 June 1997: The Hellenic National Committee for UNICEF now
offers information in Greek on children's issues on the Web. Visitors
can also make donations, apply to become volunteers, try out a quiz
and request for UNICEF reports, education for development kits, brochures,
leaflets and videos. The committee also plans to be linked from the
Athens News Agency (ANA).
UNICEF welcomes UN assurances on autonomy
Friday, 20 June 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
welcomed United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's announcement
today that UNICEF would keep its autonomy in the current UN reform.
"As you can imagine, I welcome, whole-heartedly, the assurances
by the Secretary-General that UNICEF will retain its autonomy."
Stop using child soldiers, Sierra Leone told
Thursday, 19 June 1997: As diplomatic efforts continued to seek
a lasting resolution of the conflict in Sierra Leone, UNICEF Executive
Director Carol Bellamy called on all sides to put an end to the use
of children as combatants, and to incorporate provisions for their physical
and emotional welfare in a future peace settlement. Since May 25, when
the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) took power in a coup,
witnesses have reported seeing hundreds of armed children in the streets
of the capital, Freetown.
Education
for All on the Web
 Tuesday,
17 June 1997: The Education for All Forum, an international watchdog
body set up in 1990 to promote and monitor progress towards universal
basic education, is now on the World Wide Web. The forum aims to help
make primary education for all a reality and massively reduce illiteracy
before the end of the decade. It periodically brings together senior
policy-makers and specialists from developing countries, international
and bilateral development agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
Africa sees some promise for children
 Monday,
16 June 1997: There may be hope for Africa's children if promising new
economic indicators lead to real growth and progress in eradicating
the continent's desperate poverty, said UNICEF Executive Director Carol
Bellamy in observing the Day of the African Child today. The United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 1997 Human Development Report,
released last week, argues that, with strong political commitment, Africa
could begin a process of broad-based economic growth and the eradication
of poverty.
Use more television in development advocacy,
UNICEF urges
Thursday, 12 June 1997: Popular, ratings-conscious programming
still drives television, and Western television news agencies still
set the agenda for international news, according to a UNICEF-commissioned
survey, entitled The Bigger Picture, released today. Referring to its
recommendations, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy urged development
assistance agencies to actively encourage global television coverage.
Social
documentary photo exhibit opens
 Thursday,
5 June 1997: Visions, an exhibition of dynamic social documentary photographs,
opens today at UNICEF House in New York. Presented by the Mother Jones
International Fund for Documentary Photography, the show features images
by eight photographers from eight countries, including 40 shots of the
1976 Soweto uprising by South African photo-journalist Peter
Magubane, this year's Mother Jones-Leica Lifetime Achievement Award
winner.
Namibian legal centre wins Pate Award
Monday, 2 June 1997: The Legal Assistance Centre of Namibia, a non-profit,
public-interest law firm, has won the 1997 Maurice Pate Award for its
outstanding contributions to the cause of human rights, especially its
role in drafting child-rights legislation in that southwestern African
nation, UNICEF announced today. The annual award recognizes extraordinary
and exemplary leadership in the cause of survival, protection and development
of children on a regional, national or global scale.
Executive Board to hear about poverty issues
Friday, 30 May 1997: The persistence of poverty, combined with a steady
downward spiral in development assistance, continues to affect children
and UNICEF's work, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will tell the
UNICEF Executive Board during its annual session at its New York headquarters
beginning Monday. (See also UNICEF Annual
Report 1997.)
Child malnutrition prevalent in Iraq
Thursday, 29 May 1997: Results from a Nutrition Status Survey
conducted by the Ministry of Health with the collaboration of UNICEF
and WFP show widespread malnutrition in central/south Iraq. In 1991,
one year after the Gulf war, 9.2 per cent of children under five years
in central/south Iraq were found to be malnourished. Today, the figure
for the same area has risen to 25 per cent, or some 750,000 children.
UNICEF hails UK push against landmines
Thursday, 22 May 1997: UNICEF today praised the decision by
the United Kingdom to destroy Britain's stocks of anti-personnel mines
within eight years and press more vigorously for a worldwide ban. UNICEF
Executive Director Carol Bellamy described the move as "a tremendous
impetus" to the Canadian-led initiative to outlaw these "unspeakable
weapons".
Tobacco curbs need not hinge on US, says UNICEF
Thursday, 15 May 1997: A possible setback in settling tobacco
liability cases in the United States does not relieve governments of responsibility
to curb the industry's power to entrap children and adolescents elsewhere,
UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said today. "Whatever the
outcome of the US negotiations, the international community urgently needs
a comprehensive, long-term strategy to combat tobacco, particularly in
the developing world," she said.
Korean nurseries "running on empty"
Wednesday, 14 May 1997: UNICEF plans to fly high-energy milk
immediately to severely malnourished children in Kangwon province in
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and begin training hospital
staff in therapeutic feeding techniques and malnutrition-related health
problems. A UNICEF team recently saw many such malnourished children
in nurseries, kindergartens, hospitals and at home. Donors have responded
slowly to a United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for $126
million announced on 7 April 1997.
Belafonte gets UNICEF award
 Monday, 12 May 1997: The United Nations today
honoured veteran entertainer Harry Belafonte for his humanitarian work
on behalf of children around the world. UNICEF Executive Director Carol
Bellamy presented him with the UNICEF Silver Statuette to commemorate
his 10 years as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan thanked Mr. Belafonte for his "noble service and tireless
work."
Prosecute war crimes against children, UNICEF
urges
Friday, 9 May, 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
today called for the establishment of an international criminal court
and a permanent prosecutor's office to punish atrocities against children
in war. Her call followed the conviction this week, by the International
Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia, of a Bosnian Serb soldier of
crimes against humanity. "The conviction restores faith in the
international legal system," she said.
French Web
speaks out on child rights
 Friday, 2 May 1997: Globenet, a community of civic
and non-governmental organizations in France, hosts a Web page on child
rights, including a chance for you to petition against anti-personnel
landmines, join a campaign against child labour or take part in a forum
on the protection and promotion of such rights. The Forum Droits de
l'enfant has posted messages on working children, missing kids, children
in war and other child-related issues since the beginning of the year.
UNICEF calls for global tobacco curbs
Thursday, 1 May 1997: Negotiations on the future of the tobacco
industry in the United States should be a first step towards worldwide
restrictions on the promotion and sale of tobacco products, especially
to children and adolescents in the developing world, UNICEF Executive
Director Carol Bellamy said today. Cigarette sales in developing countries
have risen substantially in recent years, she said, and there are already
signs of the devastation to come.
UNICEF calls for urgent Zaire rescue
Tuesday, 22 April 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
today called on prominent African leaders, including South African President
Nelson Mandela, to help rescue children trapped by the crisis in eastern
Zaire. "As the world watches and waits, hundreds of children are
at death's door," she said. "But food and medicine are close
at hand. These innocent children can be saved."
Eastern Europe reform leaves children behind
Monday, 21 April 1997: Monday, 21 April 1997: Social reform
in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States
and the Baltic States has been piecemeal and uncertain in its aims,
strategies and funding, says a UNICEF report issued today, which adds
that economic reform planners have overlooked the welfare needs of millions
of vulnerable children. It draws attention, in particular, to the fate
of the one million children in public care, trapped in the gulf between
economic progress and social impoverishment.
650m children live on less than $1 a day
Friday, 18 April 1997: Over 650 million children currently exist
on less than $1 a day, according to UNICEF. "Contrary to what the
world might expect, the poor are getting poorer, the number of poor
is increasing, and the disparity between rich and poor has never been
greater," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, who added
that poverty eradication "must be at the centre of our development
efforts into the 21st century."
Bilingual books help minority kids in Viet
Nam
Monday, 14 April 1997: UNICEF and the Ministry of Education
and Training (MOET) in Viet Nam have published a series of bilingual
"big books" in Vietnamese and ethnic minority languages (Khmer,
Bahnar, Cham and H'mong) to help enrol and keep minority children in
school. Only 40 per cent of such children complete primary education,
compared to the national average of 57 per cent. "The main problem
is that teaching is done in Vietnamese while their mother tongue is
not Vietnamese," explains Elaine Furniss, UNICEF Education Officer.
"These bilingual books will start to help teacher bridge that gap."
Immunization goes on despite Afghan hostilities
Wednesday, 9 April 1997: A mass polio immunization campaign
currently taking place in Afghanistan will continue until tomorrow although
fighting has resumed in the north west. UNICEF and the World Health
Organization (WHO) had secured the agreement of the Taliban and General
Dostam to cease hostilities during the vaccination campaign, but fighting
has reportedly broken out between the two factions at the front line
in Badghis province.
Agencies call for end to female genital mutilation
Wednesday, 9 April 1997: The heads of three UN agencies -- the
World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) and UNICEF -- met today in Geneva to appeal to the international
community and world leaders to support efforts in eliminating female
genital mutilation (FGM). Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima of WHO, Dr. Nafis Sadik
of UNFPA and Ms. Carol Bellamy of UNICEF unveiled their joint plan to
bring about a major decline in female genital mutilation in 10 years
and completely eliminate this practice within three generations.
Austrian Committee
launches Web
 Monday, 7 April 1997: The Austrian Committee for
UNICEF today launched its Web to raise awareness on children's issues
and support for UNICEF. Targeted mainly at journalists, non-government
organizations and students and teachers, the German-language Web offers
news and information on how UNICEF help children, child rights, the
International Children's Day of Broadcasting, and links of interest
to children. Visitors to the site can also find out about UNICEF cards,
gifts and publications.
Joint humanitarian call on Zaire
Friday, 4 April 1997: Four international organizations today
jointly appealed to the Government of Zaire and the Alliance of Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire to take full acount of the
urgent humanitarian needs of hundreds of thousands of Zairians stranded
in the war zone. The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO),
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Programme
(WFP) as well as UNICEF called on representatives of the two sides meeting
for talks in South Africa to "respect humanitarian principles and
the Geneva Conventions, to allow aid agencies free access to refugees
and displaced persons among whom are thousands of children..."
UNICEF warns against Afghan female exclusion
Tuesday, 1 April 1997: Schools have just opened throughout Afghanistan
after the winter recess -- but there are no girls in sight. Since 1995,
the ultra-conservative Taliban have barred girls and women teachers
from the classroom and ruled that women may not work. "The exclusion
of girls and women from the public sphere has disastrous consequences
for the entire nation, as well as being an affront to basic human rights,"
said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "Not only are they
shut out of educational opportunities, but they are denied the right
to contribute to their families' welfare and the country's economy."
Small loans can enrich and empower
Tuesday, 25 March 1997: Small loans to poor people, when combined with
basic social services and key social development messages, improve the
well-being borrowers' children -- particularly girls. According to a
UNICEF publication, just released, such credit empowers women, enabling
them to make economic decisions and help increase family income. It
is therefore an important part of the strategy to achieve the year 2000
goals for children.
UNICEF to appeal on behalf of DPRK children
Tuesday, 25 March 1997: UNICEF will appeal for special high energy milk
to deal with severe child malnutrition in the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea. "We have just been informed that the DPR Korea government
food distribution system expects its supplies to be exhausted in May-June,"
said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. Given the widespread dependence
in the country on this public distribution of food, and scattered reports
already of severe child malnutrition, we feel the international community
should be ready to act quickly.
UNICEF joins in plan against FGM
Thursday, 20 March 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
today praised a new World Health Organization (WHO) programme against
female genital mutilation, calling it "good news for all of Africa
and a model for all nations of the world." The Regional Plan to
Accelerate Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), unveiled
this week in Yaounde, the Cameroon, will be implemented in West and
Central Africa in cooperation with UNICEF and with the participation
of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).
Web on animation
for advocacy
 Friday,
14 March 1997: UNICEF and Animation World Network have started a Web
on animation for education and advocacy for children. It profiles major
UNICEF animation initiatives such as training workshops, including four
held since 1989, that helped establish UNICEF as a name in the animation
industry. Strong industry support is exemplified by Walt Disney Feature
Animation's initiative, entitled Maximo (above left),
to educate people in Ecuador on such health issues as immunization and
iodine deficiency disorders. Meena, an animated series against gender
inequalilty in South Asia, is backed by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons. UNICEF
is working worldwide with studios in an Animation Consortium for Child
Rights to create a broadcast campaign for the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
UNICEF reports on America's partnership
Thursday, 13 March 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
this week presented to the United States Congress a report on the impact
of the US contribution to UNICEF from 1985 to 1995. Entitled America's Partnership with UNICEF, the
publication offers a human perspective on UNICEF projects, based on
field visits and conversations with children and their parents and community
leaders. The report also gathers historical information about American
individuals and institutions that played a role in UNICEF's founding
50 years ago and the development of its programmes. "Sustained
funding support from the US Government has helped to make possible the
specific improvements in children's lives highlighted by this report,"
writes Ms. Bellamy in a foreword.
Making the city more friendly to
children
 Thursday,
13 March 1997: Children everywhere have the same wishes -- clean water,
enough food, good health and a safe place in which to learn, play and
develop. Children's Rights and
Habitat: Working towards child-friendly cities focuses on
the rights of the young to homes, safe, supportive neighbourhoods and
healthy surroundings. The publication, just released, comprises the
reports of an expert seminar and a UNICEF workshop held last year in
conjunction with Habitat II. UNICEF, UNCHS/Habitat and others observe
in a preface that the Istanbul declaration of Habitat II recognized
the well-being of children as "the ultimate indicator of a healthy
habitat, a democratic society and good governance." To solve the
problems in cities and neighbourhoods, it says, "we must call on
the skills and understanding of all parties."
UNICEF calls for end to child abduction in Uganda
Thursday, 6 March 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
today condemned the continuing abduction of children by the Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA) in Uganda and called for the immediate release of all the
youngsters now in captivity. Armed opposition LRA fighters, particularly
active in Gulu, Kitgum and other northern districts of Uganda, have
been responsible for scores of deliberate killings and for the abduction
of thousands of schoolchildren.
UNEP and UNICEF agree to strengthen cooperation
Wednesday, 5 March 1997: UNICEF today signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) aimed at strengthening cooperation
between the two organizations in areas fundamental to the attainment
of sustainable development. Signed by the Executive Directors of both
organizations, Elizabeth Dowdeswell for UNEP and Carol Bellamy for UNICEF,
the agreement isdesigned to address issues connecting the human and
physical environment and the health and well-being of the world's children.
UNICEF endorses fast track to ban mines
Friday, 28 February 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
today strongly endorsed the Ottawa process towards an international
treaty to ban the production, stockpiling and use of anti-personnel
landmines by next December. Speaking on the closing day of the Fourth
International NGO Conference to Ban Landmines, she said: "The world
must comprehend...that every hour we delay, every day of hesitation
means sacrificing the lives and limbs of children."
Hazardous child labour can be abolished now
Thursday, 27 February 1997: UNICEF Executive Director Carol
Bellamy today described hazardous child labour a "betrayal of every
child's right and an offence against our civilization" and called
for its immediate abolition. Speaking at a conferenceorganized by the
Netherlands Government and the International Labour Organisation (ILO),
she said: "Tackling such labour does not, and must not, wait until
some future day when world poverty has been brought to an end -- it
can be abolished now."
East Zaire: UNICEF renews appeal
Tuesday, 14 January 1997: UNICEF has expressed deep concern
over the deteriorating condition of Rwandan refugees and internally
displaced people sheltering in the Lubutu area, 170 kilometres southeast
of Kisangani, in eastern Zaire. Recent reports reveal an alarming increase
in the number of deaths, largely from diarrhoea and malaria. A food
shortage is likely to claim more lives among these already weak, malnourished
and vulnerable people.
Older Newsline Items
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