Press Releases
CHILDREN SPEAK OUT ON VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS AT A UNICEF ONE MINUTE VIDEO WORKSHOP SKOPJE, October 26-30: 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. The videos provide an opportunity for children to express themselves about issues affecting their daily lives. The one minute video workshop is the first of several activities of a “Schools Without Violence” social mobilisation project that UNICEF is currently developing with national partners. “Promoting and providing a supportive learning environment where all children feel safe and protected is an essential function of any school,” said UNICEF Representative, Mr Sheldon Yett. Safe and protective schools provide an environment that protects and nurtures the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of children. These are essential ingredients to promote learning. “Regrettably, schools in this country are far from meeting standards that make them truly safe and protective,” continued Mr. Yett. According to a survey by the Office of the Ombudsman, almost one in three students has been a victim of physical or psychological violence from teachers in schools. Also alarming are findings from a UNICEF child-friendly school baseline study that shows a high level of tolerance towards violence among parents and children, especially with regard to corporal punishment which although prohibited by law is still used by teachers as a means of discipline. The survey also shows that other indirect forms of abuse, such as discrimination, exclusion, and isolation by peers, are not even recognized as violence. The “Schools without Violence” project will build on the ongoing Child-Friendly School (CFS) Initiative that is currently being piloted in ten primary schools throughout the country. This initiative is being implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science and Bureau for Education Development and aims to improve children learning outcomes and fulfil basic child rights. The one minute video workshop is the first of several social mobilisation activities that will form part of the “Schools Without Violence” campaign. The campaign will mobilise schools and the local community, including parents and the business community, to take action to support an ambitious programme aimed at establishing mechanisms to address violence in schools. The campaign will be launched in early 2009.
PARLIAMENTARIANS CALL FOR IMPROVED RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SKOPJE, 20 October – More than eighteen Parliamentarians from the Parliamentary Commission on Equal Opportunities, called for a stronger national response to address domestic violence in the country, following a visit to a shelter for victims of domestic violence and a center for social work on Friday, October 17, 2008. Joined by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Mr. Sheldon Yett, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Ms. Simone Filippini and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Mr. Dusko Minovski., the commission members were able to observe first hand the conditions and quality of services provided to victims. “Domestic violence was once regarded as a private affair, not amenable to interventions. We now know that this is not the case, and there is much that can be done both to prevent violence and to care for those who are its victims. No country or segment of society is immune from domestic violence,” said Mr. Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative who participated on behalf of the UN system in the country. At a press conference held after the visits, the President of the Commission Ms. Ljiljana Popovska called for increased state budgetary allocations for the programmes assisting victims of domestic violence. She called for a multi-sectoral approach to respond to the needs of victims as well as programmes to help prevent domestic violence. Cultural beliefs are often associated with the prevalence of domestic violence. According to a recent survey conducted by the State Statistics Office in the country, twenty one percent of women aged 15-49 believe a husband is justified in beating his wife/partner in various circumstances. With the financial support of the Government of The Netherlands and the UN Trust Fund on Domestic Violence, the UN system has partnered with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, and are developing an ambitious programme to improve the institutional response to domestic violence. This programme will directly contribute towards the achieving of the Government strategic goals as outlined in the National Domestic Violence Strategy (2008-2011). The field visits were arranged following the recommendations of the first of three public hearings organised to increase public awareness and generate actions to improve mechanisms to tackle domestic violence. These debates were initiated by the Parliament Commission on Equal Opportunities in partnership with the UN system, Embassy of the Netherlands and the Macedonian Women’s Lobby. The second public hearing will be held in the Parliament on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 10:00.
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ANTONIO MILOSHOSKI ACCEPTED THE CREDENTIAL LETTER FROM THE NEW UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE MR. SHELDON YETT SKOPJE, 1 October 2008 - Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Miloshoski met the newly appointed Representative of UNICEF in the country, Mr. Sheldon Yett. At the meeting Mr. Yett delivered his credential letter of his appointment, signed by the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Ann Veneman. At the meeting, the successful cooperation between the Government and UNICEF in the past 15 years, especially in the area of education and health, was discussed. Minister Miloshoski reaffirmed the strong commitment of the Government to improve the economic and social conditions to support the full implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The Minister informed about the ongoing reforms in the education system and the recent introduction of compulsory nine year primary education and mandatory secondary education. The Minister requested UNICEF to focus on the needs of the marginalised children. Sheldon Yett highlighted that the country has made progress on the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, however there continues to be room for the specialised agency's [UNICEF] engagement to support the activities of the Government in improving of the overall situation of children. Media release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1 October 2008 UNICEF AND THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND HYGIENE HABITS SKOPJE,7 May 2008 - UNICEF and the Ministry of Health today launched a campaign to promote health and hygiene practices among school aged children as preventive measures against pandemic and avian influenza. “Behaviour change is a very effective way for promoting children’s health. With this campaign UNICEF is supporting the Government to strengthen preventative health programs that target children and reduce the risk of any outbreak of contagious diseases which are easily preventable at a low cost,” said Hongwei Gao, UNICEF Country Representative.
Two TV spots with messages for prevention of human influenza will be broadcasted during children’s programs on two national and fifteen local televisions stations. Information material, including flyers, posters and stickers, designed specifically for children will be distributed throughout schools in the country and stories published in children’s magazines. Известување за медиумите на македонски
European Immunization Week, 21-27 April 2008 SKOPJE, 21 April – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) joined the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) today, at the Health Center Skopje (policlinic Bitpazar) to officially launch the 2008 European Immunization Week – an event aimed to boost the awareness and highlight the importance of immunization. “Immunization is the most effective ways to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, mumps, measles, hepatitis B,” said Ms Hongwei Gao, UNICEF Representative. “Furthermore, all vaccines included in the recommended list are free of charge regardless of whether the child is insured or not, so there is no reason that any child in the country should not be vaccinated.” According to results of a household survey carried out by the State Statistical Office in cooperation with UNICEF, disparities in immunization coverage based on ethnical background still exist, and they particularly affect the Roma community. Children are not protected if they only receive one does of a recommended vaccines - the entire schedule must be completed. Parents are encouraged to check their children’s immunization records against the list of recommend vaccinations and if one or more doses have been missed, they should have catch-up doses.” Among other outreach activities organized by the Ministry of Health, during the week, a brochure with the details of the recommended vaccinations will be distributed in newspapers throughout the country. In efforts to increase the success of immunization programs in the county, during 2008, UNICEF will also support the Ministry of Health to strengthen immunization surveillance systems, improve long-term planning and financing of immunization programs, upgrade outdated “cold chain” equipment, and, further strengthen the capacity of immunization health workers through continued professional education.
To download immunization brochure in Macedonian language click here To download immunization brochure in Albanian language click here
Известување за медиумите на македонски јазик
Progress in Addressing Child Well-Being in Macedonia Lower in Comparison to Global Trends, 22 January 2008 Известување за медиумите на македонски јазик
Every Child Needs a Family, 12 December 2007
UNICEF calls for more child-focused policy corrections to address child poverty in the country, 20 November 2007
New Law on Juvenile Justice Emphasizes Prevention and Alternative Measures Before Resorting to Detention, 26 March 2007 UNICEF Celebrates 60 Years for Children, 11 December 2006 Parliament Put Children's Issues on the Agenda, 7 November 2006 All Roma Children in School, 29 August 2006 UNICEF Concerned after Devastation of Radovis School, 14 February 2006
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