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Press releases

First group home for children deprived of parental care opened
BEROVO, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - 20 November, 2008 - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy celebrate Universal Children’s Day by the opening of the first group home in the country.

Moldovan primary schools promote iodised salt
CHISINAU, Moldova - 11 November 2008 - All Moldovan primary schools have taken part in a special day aimed at promoting the virtues of iodised salt.

Turkey’s Parliament sets up Child Rights Monitoring Committee
ANKARA, Turkey - November 20, 2008 - As the world marked Universal Children’s Day on November 20, the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey announced the creation of a parliamentary Child Rights Monitoring Committee.

UNICEF Serbia Awards Media Prize for quality and ethical reporting on children and child rights
BELGRADE, Serbia - November 20, 2008 - For the fifth time on Universal Children’s Day, UNICEF Serbia Office today awarded journalists for high quality and ethical reporting on children and children's rights.

UNICEF and EBU again join forces for children in need
LEMESOS, Cyprus - November 20, 2008 - Two days before the final of the 2008 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and UNICEF announce their renewed cooperation for the upcoming event.

Famous actor Orlando Bloom visits rehabilitation center in Moscow
MOSCOW, Russia - November 16, 2008 - The children in the Krasnoselsky social shelter in the centre of Moscow could not believe their luck when their hero from Pirates of the Caribbean - Orlando Bloom - specially came to visit and spend time with them.

UNICEF Serbia signs agreement with Serbian Parliament on long-term partnership
BELGRADE, Serbia - November 19, 2008 - Under the agreement, the Serbian Parliament will play a greater role in enhancing children’s rights.

UNICEF unites young leaders from eight North Caucasus regions for peace and tolerance congress
NALCHIK, Russian Federation - November 17, 2008 - To move the peace and tolerance programme to a new level and celebrate the International Day for Tolerance UNICEF organized the first of its kind Congress of young peace builders.

Mass media campaign “Every child needs a family!" launched in Azerbaijan
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Azerbaijan, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azercell Telecom LLC and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) teamed up to support the campaign “Every Child Needs a Family”

UNICEF helps strengthen national immunization system
SKOPJE, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - November 14, 2008 - Over 300 health workers from the preventive health teams and health staff from the maternity wards have participated in a new continuous medical education program.

Tennis star Ana Ivanovic meets with Serbian children to put an end to violence in schools
BELGRADE, Serbia - November 14, 2008 - UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia Ana Ivanovic today visited the “14 October” primary school in Baric, south-east of Belgrade.

Network of Violence-Free Schools in Croatia: Peer violence reduced by 50 percent
SIBENIK, Croatia - November 10/11, 2008 - More than 121 schools gathered at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Network of Violence-Free Schools to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the UNICEF Violence prevention programme.

“Children: Please pay attention” - UNICEF and Moscow City Government joint campaign
BEROVO, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - 20 November, 2008 - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy celebrate Universal Children’s Day by the opening of the first group home in the country.

Child-Friendly Spaces in IDP collective Centres of Tbilisi
TBILISI, Georgia - November 7, 2008. Six collective centres for those IDPs who fled the recent hostilities in and around South Ossetia, Georgia, will have special places for children thanks to the joint efforts of UNICEF and World Vision.

Reforming child care systems in Central Asia
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - November 5, 2008 - Kyrgyzstan hosts a meeting of about 30 delegates from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to share overviews of current child care situation in their countries and key priorities

Young people in Kosovo need more information on HIV/AIDS
Prishtine/Pristina, October 30, 2008 - Young people in Kosovo do not have sufficient information how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS infection, reveals a study on Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Behaviour (KAPB) conducted with young people aged 15

UNICEF-supported studies indicate links between student absenteeism, dropouts and child labour in Armenia
YEREVAN, Armenia - October 30, 2008 - UNICEF announced today that rapidly growing student absenteeism and drop out rates are closely linked to child labour as well as quality of education in Armenia.

UNICEF Regional Director meets with Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank
GENEVA, October 31, 2008 - Ms. Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for CEE/CIS, today met with Mr. Raphael Alomar, the Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), to discuss the on going collaborations between the Bank and UNICEF.

Children speak out on violence in schools at UNICEF OneMinutesJr workshop
SKOPJE, October 26 - 30, 2008 - Over the last five days, eighteen children aged 12 to14 from three primary schools in Skopje have been working with UNICEF OneMinutesJr trainers to create short movies illustrating their views on violence in schools.

UNICEF Moldova Representative awarded medal of honour
CHISINAU, Moldova - October 2008 - The UNICEF Representative in Moldova, Ray Virgilio Torres, has been decorated by the Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin with one of the most important Moldovan State Awards - “Ordinul de Onoare” (Medal of Honor).

UNICEF, Special Olympics and eastern Kazakh city set to integrate children with special needs into society and reduce stigma
SEMEY, Kazakhstan - 24 October 2008 - The Akimat of Semey city together with UNICEF and Special Olympics Kazakhstan have come up with the initiative to integrate children with intellectual disabilities into society and to reduce stigma and discrimination

Launch to mark beginning of huge project to improve mother and child healthcare in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT, 27 October 2008 - The Government of Uzbekistan together with UNICEF and the EC has officially launched a new landmark project in which hundreds of thousands of mothers and children will directly benefit from improved maternal and child care.

UNICEF-developed textbook receives an award at a top Russian education forum
MOSCOW, Russia - October 22, 2008 - A textbook developed by United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF and Dagestan State Pedagogical University has been awarded a golden medal at the Forum and exhibition Russia Education Week 2008.

Parlamentarians call for improved response to domestic violence
SKOPJE, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - October 20, 2008 - More than eighteen Parliamentarians from the Parliamentary Commission on Equal Opportunities, called for a stronger national response to address domestic violence in the country.

Mass Immunization Campaign against Measles and Rubella launched in Georgia
TBILISI, Georgia - October 20, 2008 - Almost 1.1 million people aged 6 – 27 will be immunized against measles and rubella between 20 October and 2 November in Georgia.

UNICEF boosts funding to help ensure proper nutrition for Kyrgyz children
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - October 17, 2008 - UNICEF will provide $270,000 in additional funds to help develop a national nutrition strategy in Kyrgyzstan.

UNICEF Executive Director visits Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 16 October 2008 - Ann M. Veneman, on the first ever visit by a UNICEF Executive Director to Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the plight of street children who have been exposed to violence, exploitation or abuse.

UNICEF Serbia launches “A Child’s Place is within the Family” project
BELGRADE, Serbia - 14 October 2008 - “A Child’s Place is within the Family - Transforming Residential Institutions for Children and Developing Sustainable Alternatives’’ project, funded by the European Union with 1.4 million Euros, was unvealed today.

UNICEF Executive Director marks 30th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 15 October 2008 - At the global health conference on primary health care, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said that health systems had to be scaled up through dynamic collaboration among governments, international partners, no

In the fight to save children’s lives, washing hands takes centre stage
NEW YORK, 15 October 2008 – Today marks the first ever Global Handwashing Day, celebrated in over 70 countries across five continents in an effort to mobilize and motivate millions around the world to wash their hands with soap.

In Kazakhstan, agency leaders launch global study on health care inequities
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 14 October – At the launch today of ‘World Health Report 2008’ on primary health care, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said an overarching theme of the report is the need to improve the effectiveness of health systems.

Democratic Practices in Education: Major International Conference
BUDAPEST, Hungary - October 10, 2008 - 350 experts from more than 70 countries discuss the development and promotion of democratic practices in education.

As cold weather nears, UNICEF and partners shelter Kyrgyzstan earthquake survivors
NURA, Kyrgyzstan, October 10, 2008 - Five days after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck the town of Nura in the Alai Rayon region of southern Kyrgyzstan, UNICEFand its partners are working around the clock to provide relief to quake victims.

Children bear the brunt of earthquake in Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 7 October 2008 - Hundreds of children and their families have been left homeless and need urgent assistance following the severe earthquake that struck eastern Kyrgyzstan on 5 October.

“What Happened in School Today?” – Manual for Parents
BELGRADE, Serbia - 2 October 2008 - The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia, UNICEF and Hypo Alpe Adria Leasing company have presented a manual for parents “What Happened in School Today?”

Gheorghe Hagi appointed Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Romania
BUCHAREST, Romania - September 29, 2008 - UNICEF Romania today announced the appointment of Mr Gheorghe Hagi as National Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Romania.

Turkmenistan education specialists study the international trends in education management and planning
September 17, 2008 - Ashgabat, Turkmenistan - The Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, UNICEF and UNESCO are conducting a week long workshop on education management and planning for about twenty specialists from different sectors in Turkmenistan this we

Julian Rachlin and Sir Roger Moore donate for Baby Friendly Hospitals in Croatia
DUBROVNIK, Croatia, 16 September 2008 - The chamber music festival “Julian Rachlin and Friends” joined forces with UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore to support the Baby Friendly Hospitals Initiative (BFHI) backed by UNICEF in Croatia.

"Kazakhstan should become model of social-oriented economy" – UNICEF Representative
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, 11 September 2008 - “Kazakhstan has all the incredients to become the role model of social-oriented economy for other countries in the world," remarked Hanaa Singer, newly appointed Representative of UNICEF Kazakhstan.

Goodwill Ambassador Slaven Bilic joins UNICEF-supported campaign against cyberbullying
ZAGREB, Croatia, 10 September 2008 - UNICEF and Croatian children’s hotline Brave Phone recently launched a campaign against cyberbullying, “Break the Chain”.

Government of Netherlands contributes €300,000 to UNICEF's social service project in Bulgaria
SOFIA, Bulgaria, 9 September 2008 - A project agreement for improving social services was signed between UNICEF Bulgaria and the Embassy of Netherlands.

Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week in Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 9 September 2008 – UNICEF and the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan recently celebrated the World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) by launching a unique campaign called “Breast Milk – a Treasure of Humanity”.

UNICEF supports families displaced by conflict
GENEVA, Switzerland, 5 September 2008 – When the conflict broke out last month in and around South Ossetia, Georgia, Solomon Surameli, a 10-year-old living in the frontline village of Brotsleti, fled south with his parents.

Adolescents in Moldova learn to become peer educators on HIV
CHISINAU, Modova, 5 September 2008 – This summer, more than 1,400 adolescents have been trained to become HIV peer educators. Through summer camps held in seven districts, the young people learned about HIV transmission and methods of prevention.

UNICEF and Sarajevo Talent Campus support young filmmakers to focus on excluded children
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 September 2008. – “Unite for Children, Unite for Social Inclusion” is the key message of a joint initiative launched by UNICEF and the Sarajevo Talent Campus.

Schoolchildren of Turkmenistan start their first day of academic year
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, 1 September 2008 – UNICEF and UNESCO congratulate all schoolchildren and teachers of Turkmenistan on the first day of academic year 2008-2009.

Schools in Turkmenistan assess effectiveness of teaching and child-friendly environment
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, 11 August 2008 – Today the Ruhnama school in Ashgabat has hosted school inspectors and specialists of who will learn the principles and steps of child-friendly school assessment.

UNICEF and HSBC launch campaign to help children stay with families
YEREVAN, Amenia, 4 September 2008 – UNICEF and HSBC Bank Armenia launched a joint campaign “Help a Child Stay with a Family!”. The goal of the campaign is to support disadvantaged families in Armenia and prevent placement of children into orphanages.

UNICEF Regional Director returns from visit to Georgia and Russian Federation
GENEVA, 2 September 2008 – UNICEF is deeply concerned about the grave impact that the recent conflict in and around South Ossetia has had on children and women, said Regional Director Maria Calivis.

National Breastfeeding Week in Turkmenistan focuses on supporting breastfeeding mothers
“Mother support: going for the gold” is the motto of the annual National Breastfeeding Week, which is carried out this year in Turkmenistan in the week of 1-7 September in conjunct with the Olympics.

UNICEF Regional Director visits displaced women and children in Georgia
28 August 2008 – UNICEF Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Maria Calivis finished a two-day visit to Georgia to assess the situation of the most vulnerable women and children affected by the confli

UNICEF to Spend $1.45 Million Assisting Displaced People from South Ossetia, Georgia
Geneva, August 26: UNICEF is ramping up its response to the immediate needs of children and their mothers from South Ossetia affected by the conflict in Georgia.

Nearly 40,000 children in need of urgent assistance in Georgia
NEW YORK, 22 August 2008 – UNICEF today voiced its concern over the situation of nearly 40,000 children affected by the conflict in Georgia.

UNICEF, WFP deliver water, food and hygiene kits to residents of conflicted affected town in Georgia
TBILISI, Georgia, 19 August 2008 – UNICEF and World Food Programme have rushed 15 tons of food, bottled water and hygiene kits for 400 families to the town of Gori town after a humanitarian corridor was opened for the UN and other international agencies.

UNICEF responds to immediate needs of displaced children and women in Georgia
August 14, 2008 - UNICEF and its partners have distributed hygiene kits and bottled water to 3,600 displaced women and children in and around the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Andreea Marin Banica hosts fundraising telethon
BUCHAREST, Romania, 11 August 2008 - UNICEF Romania partnered with the National Television for a telethon, raising $440,000 USD for the expansion of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative across Romania.

Goodwill Ambassador Oksana Fedorova visits UNICEF's peace and tolerance camp for children
11 August 2008 - Not too long ago, UNICEF organized a peace and tolerance camp for children from all over North Caucasus, a region that have been shaped by ethnic tensions for decades.

Uzbekistan celebrates the World Breastfeeding Week
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, 4 August 2008 – World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in Uzbekistan this year through initiatives supported by UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and the Creative Union of journalists.

Children’s arts draw attention to HIV/AIDS in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 17 July 2008 - Winners of a UNICEF-supported children’s drawing and photo contest received cellular phones and cameras for their work depicting the effects of HIV/AIDS in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

National Plan of Action sets new standards for early childhood care in Georgia
TBILISI, Georgia, 16 August 2008 - The National Strategic Plan of Action for Early Childhood Development was recently launched by the Government of Georgia in partnership with UNICEF.

European Commission donates €3.5 million euros to support maternal and newborn care in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, 16 July 2008 – Hundreds of thousands of mothers and children across Uzbekistan will benefit from a landmark partnership, sealed by the Government of Uzbekistan, the European Commission (EC) and UNICEF today in Brussels.

“Justice for Children” report calls for commitment and action against rising juvenile crimes in Kosovo
PRISTINA, UN Administered Province of Kosovo, 14 July 2008 – UNICEF and partners recently launched “Justice for Children”, a report focusing on the extent of juvenile crimes in Kosovo.

New protocol underlines alternative sentencing other than imprisonment for child offenders
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzatan, 14 July 2008 - In May 2008, a Protocol on Mutual Understanding and Cooperation was signed between the Government and UNICEF, underlining the reform of the juvenile justice system in Kyrgyzstan.

Young parliamentarians pose tough questions to their adult counterparts
ASHKENT, Uzbekistan, 11 July 2008 - Representing every region of Uzbekistan, young parliamentarians recently met with their adult counterparts, asking tough questions about what they have done to improve the well-being and rights of Uzbek children.

Pilot project brings success to maternal and newborn care in Ferghana, Uzbekistan
FERGHANA REGION, Uzbekistan, 10 July 2008 - Guzalkhon Karabaeva is constantly smiling. Her newborn son is tranquil in her arms and so is the maternity ward in which we sit. No babies’ cries interrupt our chat - a clear testament to attentive childcare.

Children take a lead in the nationwide sanitation campaign
GEOKDERE, Turkmenistan, 8 July 2008 - Nazar Orazov, 13, is one of the 26 children participating in a hygiene and sanitation summer camp held in Geokdere, Turkmenistan.

UNICEF-supported report "Child Trafficking in Kyrgyzstan" reveals gap in reliable data
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 4 July 2008 - Reliable information on the extent of human trafficking, and particularly on child trafficking, does not exist in Kyrgyzstan, concluded a UNICEF-supported report “Child Trafficking in Kyrgyzstan”.

Supporting immunization, breastfeeding and universal use of iodized salt in Albania
Poverty and ill-health often find each other company. As the poorest country in Europe, Albania has some of the worst health indicators for women and children.

Young delegates’ hopes are high as ‘Junior 8’ Summit opens in Japan
HOKKAIDO, Japan, 3 July 2008 – The Junior 8 Summit opened with thunderous performance by young local drummers at a traditional ceremony in Hokkaido, Japan.

Ana Ivanovic donates USD 62,800 for 'School without Violence'
BELGRADE, Serbia, 3 July 2008 – Tennis star and UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador for Serbia Ana Ivanovic donated 3,360,000 Serbian Dinars (or 62,804 US dollars) to support UNICEF’s programme 'School without Violence'.

Kyrgyzstan’s voice to be heard: Fifteen-year-old Ishkhan Buyuklyanov heads to J8
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 27 June 2008 - For the first time, Kyrgyzstan will be represented at the global children’s summit - Junior 8, which will be held on the island of Hokkaido, Japan from 2 to 9 July.

"Voice of the most vulnerable": Social workers receive a boost through UNICEF-supported training
CHISINAU, Moldova, 26 June 2008 – Around 500 community social workers from Moldova participated in a 5-day training session in the country’s capital Chisinau.

Central Asian governments to tackle HIV transmission between mothers and babies
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, 26 June 2008 – The emerging Central Asian phenomenon of transmission of HIV from mothers to infants is to be discussed by governments at a high-level meeting in Uzbekistan.

Celebrating the International Year of Sanitation
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, 26 June 2008 – UNICEF, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and partners from the health industry of Turkmenistan have launched a summer-long campaign on sanitation and hygiene, targeting children, mothers and their families.

UNICEF, UNECE, UNDP and OECD hold 3rd Annual Meeting with the Directors of National Statistics Offices of Eastern Europe and Central Asia
13 June, 2008 - Paris, France

Turkmen policy makers and managers examine modern approaches to educational planning in France and the UK
17 June, 2008 - Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Regional Office Director Participates in Council of Europe Conference on Corporal Punishment-Free Europe
16 June, 2008 - Zagreb, Croatia

EU donates EURO 1.4 million for Serbian child protection programmes
11 June, 2008 - Belgrade, Serbia

UNICEF participating in 2008 Kid’s Festival
5 June, 2008 - Sarajevo, BiH

Government, Public Health and Industry Leaders Meet to Discuss Flour Fortification
3 June, 2008 - Yerevan, Armenia

Buy Five, Help Save a Life!
1 June, 2008 - Yerevan, Armenia

Turkmenistan Children’s Forum Marks the International Children’s Day and Child Protection Week
31 May, 2008 - Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

High level UN delegation to Ukraine to discuss suspended measles and rubella campaign following the death of a 17-year old boy
30 May, 2008 - Kiyv, Ukraine

WHO and UNICEF: Hepatitis B vaccination safe
27 May, 2008 - Sarajevo, BiH

Вспышка кори неизбежна
22 мая 2008 года - Киев, Украинa

Measles Outbreak Inevitable
22 May, 2008 - Kyiv, Ukraine