20 October 2006, Makati City.  United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) East Asia and Pacific Regional Director Anupama Rao Singh urged government partners and donors to intensify efforts for children living in conflict-affected areas in Southern Mindanao.

“The heart of UNICEF’s work lies in making sure that children in insecure situations are able to benefit as much as other children to all of their basic rights and development,” Singh said. “The primary purpose of our work is essentially to help highlight the problem of children and to get all stakeholders involved in interventions.  We’ve realized that we have extremely modest resources and therefore by ourselves we cannot do anything.”
           
The regional director also emphasized the need to realize children’s role in establishing long term peace during her recent visit to Mindanao.  “Children have a unique perspective on conflict because their life is disrupted more than anyone else.  We need to listen to them more in our efforts to build peace and understanding,” Singh stressed during the launch of All We Need is Peace! Photo Exhibit at the University of Southern Mindanao. The exhibit featured the works of 15 child photographers from Pikit, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and other conflict areas in the region.  The photographs represent the children’s view and feelings about the ongoing conflict in Mindanao as well as their hopes for the future. 

Singh's visit was a few days after a series of explosions hit North Cotabato that killed at least 12 people and injured 42 others in Barangay Makilala. “I would want to say that I would not have missed this visit for the world,” Singh remarked. “We must determine peace not just as the absence of violence but also a true sense of celebration of diversity. Very often we have more in common as human beings than we have as differences.”

UNICEF in the Philippines has been supporting projects that amplify children’s voices in various issues that affect their lives particularly on peace building and conflict resolution in Southern Mindanao.  These projects include the formation of a Children’s Photo Clubs where children affected by armed conflict document their lives and participate in media initiatives, Kabataan News Network, a weekly magazine show produced by children , and PeaceTech, a live video conference dialogue that brings together children from different backgrounds to exchange ideas for peace building.

Sporadic armed conflict affects children especially in North Cotabato and Maguindanao. Between 2000 and 2003, an estimated 300,000 children were displaced by armed conflict in Mindanao alone. This means approximately 50,000 children every year are affected by armed conflict.  Some 819 human rights violations against children have been documented from 2001 to April 2005.

Singh also visited a Child-Friendly School in Makilala, Female Functional Literacy Center, Knowledge Center and Community Radio and Public Address System Station (COMPAS) in Magpet, Cotabato.  She also flew to Davao City for a visit to a Child Protection Unit, Home- Based Early Childhood Education Center and the Tambayan Center for abused street children. 

The regional director also stressed the need to work towards overcoming socio-economic disparities that adversely affect children in Mindanao. Child mortality rates (those under 5 years old) register highest in some Mindanao provinces--- way above the average national rate of 40 deaths per 1,000 live births. Northern Samar registered 96 deaths, Maguindanao 92 and Sulu posted 85.   The Annual Poverty Indicator Survey 2001 reveals startling poverty indicators in Sulu--- 3 out of 10 households has no access to safe drinking water.

UNICEF works with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) in caring for children in Mindanao. AusAID approved a total funding of US $15.8 million for the Child- Friendly Movement projects in Mindanao from 2005 – 2009.

In her eight-day visit, she also met with the United Nations Country Team, donors and government partners. 

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For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Dale Rutstein
UNICEF Manila, 901 0177 or 0917 866 4969, drutstein@unicef.org
Alexis Rodrigo
UNICEF Manila, 901 0173 or 0917 858 9447, arodrigo@unicef.org