Press Centre
July 2001 - December
2001
Japan's gift bolsters child
health in Afghan region
Friday, 21 December - The Japanese Government has donated $12.6
million for essential health and nutrition activities in the Afghanistan
region, including polio eradication, to bolster the chances of
survival for thousands of children in three countries, the United
Nations Children's Fund announced today.
Yokohama Congress exceeds best
expectations
Thursday, 20 December 2001: "The Congress has achieved all
we expected - and more," co-organizers of a global conference
against sexual exploitation of children said today. Billed as
a "working meeting" at which governments, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, young people and others engaged
in combating the global trade in child sex would share experiences,
learn from each other and plan future actions, the Second World
Congress also concluded with a "Yokohama Global Commitment" reaffirming
but also reinforcing promises made at the first World Congress
in 1996.
UNICEF
calls for halt to commercial sex exploitation
Monday, 17 December- Noting that each year millions of children
"are bought and sold like fresh produce, commodities in a global
sex industry steeped in greed and unspeakable cruelty," UNICEF
Executive Director Carol Bellamy on Monday urged governments,
law enforcement, international agencies and all sectors of society
to do all within their power to stamp it out.
Strong turnout
for Congress foreseen
Friday, 14 December 2001 - Nearly 3,000 people will assemble in Yokohama,
Japan, next week at the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual
Exploitation of Children. The Congress will review progress since the
first World Congress in Stockholm in 1996 and seek global strategies
to stem the swiftly developing exploitation of children in prostitution,
pornography and through trafficking.
Report says
millions of children victims of sex exploitation
Wednesday,12 December 2001 - UNICEF called today for a coordinated global
effort to stamp out the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
"Millions of children throughout the world are being bought and sold
like chattel and used as sex slaves," declared UNICEF Executive Director
Carol Bellamy. "This is an utterly intolerable violation of children's
rights." "Zero tolerance means ending the trafficking of children, their
sale and barter and imprisonment and torture," Bellamy stated. "It means
stamping out every horrible facet of the commercial sexual exploitation
of children."
UNICEF launches
child poverty report
Thursday, 29 November 2001 - Child poverty is widespread in the Commonwealth
of Independent States (CIS) and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), despite
growing economies in the region, says a UNICEF report released today.
Almost 18 million young people are living in poverty and rising numbers
of children are ending up in institutions or being put up for adoption
as families strain to cope.
Immunization
campaign against birth defects in Central Asia hailed
Wednesday, 28 November 2001 - UNICEF, the United Nations Children's
Fund hailed the launch in Kyrgyzstan today of a massive immunization
campaign to reach 2 million children and young people between the ages
of 7 and 25 with rubella vaccines. The campaign is part of a regional
strategy to eliminate measles and significantly reduce rubella in Central
Asia and Eastern Europe by 2007.
UNICEF: Child
sex linked to spread of HIV/AIDS
Wednesday, 28 November 2001 - The head of the United Nations Children's
Fund said today that one of the most troubling and complex aspects of
the spread of HIV/AIDS is its link to the widespread sexual exploitation
of children. "Whether it is myths about the curative powers of sex with
young girls, or macho attitudes that sanction violent sexual behaviour
toward women and girls, the links between sexual abuse of children and
the spread of HIV/AIDS are clear," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol
Bellamy.
Crisis draws Bellamy to Afghanistan
Friday, 23 November 2001 - Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the
United Nations Children's Fund, begins an extended trip to Europe and
Asia this weekend, highlighted by five days in Afghanistan and Pakistan
where she will visit Quetta, Kabul and other towns to personally survey
the difficult conditions facing millions of children in a region stricken
by drought, displacement, disease and conflict.
Kenya and Colombia Win TV Awards
for Promoting Children's Rights
Tuesday, 20 November 2001 - Broadcasters in Kenya and Colombia
left the stage at the 29th International Emmy Awards on Monday with
special Emmys for their promotion of children's rights and children's
participation in broadcasting. ACE Communication (Kenya) and Canal Capital
(Colombia) won the awards for their outstanding contributions to the
2001 "Say Yes for Children Campaign" and the 2000 International Children's
Day of Broadcasting, respectively.
Football
and UNICEF unite to 'Say Yes' for Children
Tuesday, 20 November
2001, In a ceremony today at the United Nations, UNICEF and FIFA (the
world governing body of football), announced a global alliance for children.
FIFA will dedicate the 2002 World Cup to children under the banner of
"Say Yes for Children." This is the first time a World Cup has ever
been dedicated to a humanitarian cause.
Japan provides big boost to UNICEF
-$7.8 Million- for Afghan children
Friday, 16 November 2001 - The Government of Japan has donated
$7.84 million to UNICEF's relief efforts for the children of Afghanistan,
the agency announced today, the largest emergency contribution UNICEF
has ever received from Japan and the largest it has received from any
source for its $36 million appeal for Afghan relief.
Afghan children wage battle of fear
vs. hunger, illness, and cold
Friday, 16 November 2001 - Dusting off a 1997 study of child trauma
in Kabul and comparing it with the latest anecdotal evidence emerging
from Afghanistan, the United Nations Children's Fund said today there
are strong indications that long after the fighting ends, the nightmare
will continue for Afghan children.
Conflict scars Palestinian and Israeli
children
Thursday, 15 November 2001 - The chief of the UNICEF office serving
the West Bank and Gaza expressed concern today for children being killed
and injured in the prolonged conflict between Palestinians and Israelis,
emphasizing that injuries went beyond the tragic number of casualties
to encompass a much broader number of children impacted by psychological
distress and fear.
UN leaders welcome new step toward
banning child soldiers
Wednedsay, 14 November 2001 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children
and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu today hailed the tenth ratification
of a protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
which should help to protect children from being recruited and used
as soldiers in armed conflicts. Governments that have ratified the protocol
include Andorra, Bangladesh, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Holy See, Iceland, New Zealand, Panama, Romania and Sri Lanka.
UNICEF warns winter and war still
threat to children in Afghanistan
Wednesday, 14 November
2001 - The United Nations Children's Fund cautioned today that the rapid
advance of Northern Alliance forces in Afghanistan would most likely
not bring a quick end to the crisis facing Afghan children.With the
front lines of the conflict shifting unpredictably each day and with
the arrival of winter in some parts of Afghanistan, UNICEF warned that
"delivering humanitarian relief to those most in need will continue
to be a very serious challenge."
Uganda pushes forward
mass immunization drive against measles
Tuesday, 13 November 2001 - As part of a global effort to reduce
measles deaths, the United Nations Children's Fund said today that Uganda
has launched a massive immunization campaign with the goal of reaching
1 million children under the age of five in hard-to-reach communities.
UNICEF
calls on governments to outlaw trafficking
of children
Tuesday, 13 November 2001 - The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF,
is calling on governments in Europe and Central Asia to ratify three
international instruments that are vital to efforts to combat trafficking
in children, a growing problem in the region: the 2000 Optional Protocol
to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children,
Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress
and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing
the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000); and
ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999).
Art
collector's largess boon to world's children
Wednesday 7 November 2001, - Mme René Gaffé's extraordinary bequest
to UNICEF -- the proceeds from the sale of the legendary Gaffé Collection
of Modern Art, one of the last great private collections of Twentieth
Century art -- was realized on 6 November when the Collection was sold
at Christie's auction house in New York. UNICEF will receive more than
US $60 million.
UNICEF
receives gift of "Bread and Fish" from Romania
Friday, 9 November 2001 - In a ceremony taking place at UNICEF House
on Sunday, 11th November, the United Nations Children's Fund will receive
a set of decorative glass sculptures from the President of Romania,
Mr. Ion Iliescu. The artwork is being presented to UNICEF by the President
as an expression of Romania's support for the upcoming Special Session
on Children.
Countries agree to outlaw child sexual exploitation
Tuesday, 23 October 2001 - A major step forward in the protection of
children from exploitation, trafficking and sexual abuse has just been
achieved, UNICEF stated today, welcoming the imminent entry into force
of the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution
and child pornography. With the submission of Romania's tenth ratification
last Thursday, the Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
will become a legally binding instrument on the 18th January 2002. This
three month interval is in accordance with the procedures outlined in
the Protocol.
West African states on verge of stopping
polio as campaign kicks off
Friday, 19 October 2001 - With polio cases at an all-time low
in West Africa, 16 countries are renewing their commitment to eliminate
the crippling virus as they launch a massive coordinated campaign aimed
at reaching 80 million children with oral polio vaccine.
Amid chaos, UNICEF keeps supplies rolling into
Afghanistan
Friday,12 October 2001 - Despite logistical hurdles and ongoing military
operations, the United Nations Children's Fund said today it continues
to truck relief supplies into Afghanistan in a concerted effort to reach
as many children as possible before the arrival of winter leaves roads
impassable. UNICEF warned that only a month or so remains to deliver
the needed aid.
Six planes, scores of trucks,
and donkeys deliver much-needed relief
Tuesday, 2 October 2001 - Reaching out to millions of Afghan
children and women before the start of the harsh winter season, the
United Nations Children's Fund launched four large humanitarian convoys
on a journey from Peshawar, Pakistan, toward four cities inside Afghanistan
today.
UNICEF Chief vows renewed drive
to protect rights of all children
29 September - Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations
Children's Fund, said today that the postponement of the biggest global
meeting on children in more than a decade had only deepened UNICEF's
resolve to fulfil its mandate of ensuring the survival, protection and
development of every child.
UNICEF seeks more than $35 million
for Afghan children in crisis
Friday, 28 September 2001 - The United Nations Children's Fund today
said it needs more than $35 million in special donor support to help
the children and women of Afghanistan survive a humanitarian crisis
that features a trio of threats - drought, war, and winter.
In Afghanistan, woes deeepen for women and
children
Tuesday, 24 September 2001 - A humanitarian crisis of stunning proportions
is unfolding in Afghanistan. Twenty years of brutal conflict, three
years of severe drought, large-scale human rights abuses and significant
population movements spurred most recently by the present geo-political
crisis have left more than five million civilians, the vast majority
of them women and children, with a fragile grip on survival. The onset
of winter will loosen that grip even further.
Relief flights bring supplies to children in
Central Asia
Friday, 21 September 2001 - The United Nations Children's Fund is airlifting
urgently needed relief supplies into the Afghanistan region this weekend
in the first of six planned relief flights aimed at easing the region's
ongoing humanitarian crisis.
UN postpones next week's Special
Session On Children
Thursday, 13 September 2001 - Hours after the United Nations General
Assembly formally postponed next week's Special Session on Children
in recognition of the tragedy that struck the United States on Tuesday,
UNICEF said today that the work of helping the world's neediest children
would continue "with deepened resolve."
UNICEF says broken promises hurt
the children of the '90s
Thursday, 13 September 2001 - Days before world leaders gather for a
UN summit on children, UNICEF said in its flagship annual report today
that broken promises hurt the children of the 1990s. The report, The
State of the World's Children 2002, says that despite outstanding examples
of progress for children in the last decade, most governments have not
lived up to the promises made at the 1990 World Summit for Children.
Put children first in ending discrimination,
Bellamy says
Friday, 1 September 2001 – UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy today
called on world leaders attending the Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance to put children and education at
the centre of all their efforts.
Combat racism by changing world with
children, UN says
Saturday, 2 September 2001, High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mary Robinson and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive
Director Carol Bellamy said today that young people must have their
place in the emerging global alliance against racism and discrimination.
In Sudan, 3,481 former child soldiers return
home
Wednesday, 29 August 2001 - Almost 3,500 children who as recently as
five months ago were acting as soldiers in Sudan's civil war have returned
to their communities and families in southern Sudan with high hopes
for a fresh start in life. The move home - completed over the last few
days - marked the end of a five-month transition period in which the
children were cared for by UNICEF and a coalition of aid groups.
The road to the Special Session: What a trip!
Friday, 24 August 2001 - Next month's United Nations General
Assembly Special Session on Children is a culmination of some of the
most extensive preparations ever for an international conference, involving
hundreds of meetings and tens of thousands of participants worldwide,
including thousands of children and young people. Often noteworthy events
themselves, these meetings included high-level consultations and protracted
debates at national, regional and global levels.
Hundreds of ex-child
soldiers begin rehabilitation in Rwanda
Monday, 20 August 2001 - Some 227 former child soldiers, ranging
in age from 10 to 18 years, have arrived at a rehabilitation centre
outside the Rwandan capital of Kigali after being held near the conflict
zone in northwest Rwanda where they were captured over the summer.
Youth delegates will throng to UN Summit
in September
Monday, 20 August 2001 - More than 100 children will serve as delegates
at next month's landmark United Nations General Assembly Special Session
on Children, the first time such large numbers of young people will
actively participate in deliberations at a major United Nations conference,
officials announced today.
Cambodia first in Southeast Asia to get vaccines
from Vaccine Fund
Friday, 17 August 2001 - Building upon its unprecedented campaign to
immunize children against infectious diseases, - the
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization - and the Vaccine
Fund will launch a multi-country five-year initiative in Cambodia on
19 August, to increase access to immunization for children throughout
Southeast Asia.
In Burundi, UN Agencies urge 'Days of Tranquillity'
for polio drive
Friday, 17 August 2001 - Concerned that continued conflict could hinder
a nation-wide polio immunization campaign scheduled for later this month,
United Nations officials in Burundi today jointly called on all parties
to observe 'Days of Tranquillity' to allow polio vaccinators safe access
to over one million children throughout in the country.
UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy
set to arrive in Uganda
Monday , August 13, 2001 - On her first visit to Uganda, Carol Bellamy,
the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),
will launch the Girls' Education Movement (GEM) together with President
Museveni, the Forum for Women Educationalists (FAWE), the Ministry of
Education and young delegates from Africa. Bellamy, who will be in Uganda
from 14-16 of August, will meet with a wide-range of officials and youth
from across Africa and make on-site visits to UNICEF programme activities.
Italy donates $1 million for children of Democratic
Republic of Congo
Thursday, 9 August 2001 - The Government of Italy has pledged support
for the children of Democratic Republic of Congo with a donation of
approximately US$1 million (2 billion Italian Lire) to UNICEF. The donation
coincides with the visit of UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy,
who arrives in DRC this week to take part in a series of National Immunization
Days. Commenting on the donation, Carol Bellamy said: "The Italian
Government has shown, once again, its determination to channel resources
to children in the greatest need."
Record number of leaders to
attend UN Special Session on Children
Wednesday, 8 August 2001 - Seventy-five
heads of State - a record number- will attend a landmark Special
Session of the United Nations General Assembly on children next month
in New York, United Nations officials announced today.
Polio immunization drive thriving in Central
Africa despite challenges
Tuesday, 7 August 2001- Tens of thousands of vaccination teams have
fanned across central Africa, going door-to-door to protect millions
of children against polio in the first ever coordinated polio immunization
campaign in the conflict-affected region. During several days in July,
August and September, this massive effort will result in the protection
of a targeted 16 million children against polio in Angola, Congo, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon.
Children's summit in September to cap year
of major UN conferences
Tuesday, 1 August 2001 - The UN General Assembly is preparing for its
final Special Session of the year: a summit on the world's children
that will confront national leaders with a single question. "Can
you make good on your promises?" It will cap an unprecedented
twelve-month period in which global leaders gathered under the auspices
of the United Nations to focus on issues such as the plight of the world's
poorest countries, AIDS, urban settlement, small arms, and racism.
UNICEF, WHO call for safe passage of polio
investigators in Sudan
Friday, 27 July, 2001 - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
and the World Health Organization (WHO) are calling for the safe passage
of several teams of health workers planning to investigate a recent
polio case in Sudan. The case was confirmed earlier this week in Ruweng
County, a traditionally unstable area in the southern part of the country
which has a highly mobile population estimated at 64,000. The area is
contested by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation
Movement.
Muhammad Ali, Melanie Griffith and others pledge
''Yes'' for children
Thursday, 26 July 2001 - Muhammad Ali, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas
and Melanie Griffith today joined a long list of prominent individuals
who have pledged themselves to support action for children and called
on world leaders to do the same.
Recruitment of Sri Lankan children for armed
conflict continues
Friday, 20 July 2001 - The United Nations Children's Fund today urges
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to live up to its commitment
not to recruit children into its ranks, and urges the Government of
Sri Lanka to ease restrictions on humanitarian activity and address
the critical shortage of teachers in conflict-affected areas.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador en route to Afghanistan
Thursday, 19 July 2001 - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Tetsuko Kuroyanagi,
Japanese celebrity and outspoken advocate for children, will visit Afghanistan
from 21 to 26 July to urge a greater global response to the urgent needs
of Afghan women and children.
UNICEF says small arms and light
weapons take young victims: children
Wednesday, 11 July 2001 - UNICEF today declared as "intolerable"
the increase in young lives lost or maimed due to small arms and light
weapons and called for immediate action to protect children from access
or exposure to these arms.
World leaders call for peace to immunize 16
million children against polio
Wednesday, 5 July 2001, Conflict-affected countries in central Africa
have joined forces to immunize every child under five against polio,
in an unprecedented alliance against the crippling disease. But today
health, humanitarian and political leaders warned that for all children
to be protected, there must be respect for peace during this massive
immunization campaign.
First group of Congolese children returned
home from Uganda
Wednesday, 5 July 2001 - UNICEF took a major step toward reuniting 159
Congolese children with their families in the Democratic Republic of
Congo on Wednesday when it repatriated a first group of the children
in an airlift from Uganda to Bunia, DRC.
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