State of Sudanese children report

State of Sudanese children report

The Sudanese child

The Sudanese child

A vision for Sudan's children

A vision for Sudan's children

 

A vision for Sudan's children

UNICEF's programme in Sudan is based upon a vision for children that will create a better, more fulfilling future for Sudan's youngest generation.

The programme supports children's survival and development in an environment free from abuse, exploitation and discrimination - and where their fundamental rights are respected.

The 2009-2012 Programme of Cooperation between UNICEF and the Government of Sudan establishes key priorities and objectives that will create new opportunities for children and their parents, and build a solid foundation for future growth and stability. Achieving these objectives will be the result of a wide range of partnerships, including those between government, non-governmental organizations, civil society bodies and local communities themselves, and supported by UNICEF's role as a key coordinating agency in sectors such as health and nutrition, water and sanitation, education and child protection.

UNICEF's work in Sudan contributes to efforts to attain key global commitments, such as the Millennium Development Goals and the Millennium Declaration. In partnership with the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan, UNICEF has developed a plan of action to reach targets for child survival and development by 2012, in line with existing national development strategies and the forthcoming UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

These targets include:

• Enabling 5.2 million children and young people to access quality basic education and other forms of learning. 
• Assisting 250,000 nomadic children to move from primary to secondary education.
• Ensuring 1 million children currently out of school have access to alternative forms of education.
• Ensuring at least 80 per cent of children under the age of five and at least 65 per cent of women of child-bearing age have access to a minumum package of health and nutrition services.
• Provision of clean water to more than 2.5 million people for the first time.
• Ensuring access to adequate sanitation for an additional 860,000 people.
• The complete eradication of Guinea Worm.
• Supporting the establishment of wide-ranging policies and community-based services for children in conflict with the law, victims of violence, abuse and exploitation, children suffering discrimination and those without parental care.
• Ensuring 27 million children and young people have access to information and services that reduce their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS.
• Ensuring 3.5 million pregnant women receive counselling on HIV, of which half accept HIV testing.
• Ensuring all HIV-infected women and their infants receive appropriate treatment.

Equipped with reliable baselines such as the Sudan Household Health Survey UNICEF will work closely with government, non-government and civil society bodies to create the necessary policies, systems, programmes and capacities to ensure measurable progress for children over the next four years. These are the ‘peace dividends’ that will bring communities together with a shared purpose and sense of achievement.

This is a vision for all Sudan’s children. It will draw upon expertise and resources from all sectors of society to deliver vital results and progressive change for children.

These results will not only improve the condition of children in the short-term but create a sustainable foundation upon which to build long term prosperity and stability. By investing in children today, we can build a future of opportunity and growth for the people of Sudan; a future free of disease and illness, free of illiteracy, free of discrimination and harmful practices, free of disparity and poverty – and full of potential.