UNICEF’s State of The World’s Children report commemorates CRC@20
NEW YORK - KYIV, 20 November 2009 – Today, a special edition issue of UNICEF's flagship The State of the World's Children report, tracking the impact of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the challenges that remain, was launched in Ukraine. The report was released during the joint press-conference of UNICEF Representative in Ukraine Yukie Mokuo and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Nina Karpacheva on the day of the 20th anniversary of the Convention’s adoption by the UN General Assembly. Also, the joint statement on child rights protection to the government authorities and the public of Ukraine was released. “The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most ratified human rights treaty in human history,” said UNICEF Representative in Ukraine Yukie Mokuo. “It has transformed the way children are viewed and treated throughout the world.” The Convention has 193 ratifications, the process by which countries decide to be bound by the articles of an international treaty. It articulates a set of universal children’s rights, such as the right to an identity, a name and a nationality, the right to an education, and rights to the highest possible standards of health and protection from abuse and exploitation. These rights are based on four core principles – non-discrimination; the best interest of the child as primary consideration in matters that affect them; rights to life, survival and development, and respect for the views of children. The State of the World’s Children report describes the timeless relevance of the Convention. More than seventy countries have incorporated children’s codes into national legislation based on the Convention’s provisions, and awareness and advocacy on child protection issues have increased markedly since the Convention was opened for signature 20 years ago. Considerable progress has been made through the past twenty years:
But children’s rights are still far from assured, according to UNICEF. “It is unacceptable that children are still dying from preventable causes, like pneumonia, malaria, measles and malnutrition,” said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. “Many of the world’s children will never see the inside of a school room, and millions lack protection against violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and neglect.”
The rights of girls still require special attention. The majority of children who do not attend primary school are girls, and girls are more likely to suffer sexual violence, to be trafficked or to be forced into child marriage. In many regions they are less likely to receive essential healthcare. The report includes special expert essays from public and private sector representatives, alongside examples of the child rights situation in a range of countries. More than 160 events are taking place worldwide commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Convention. The special edition of The State of the World’s Children is part of UNICEF’s contribution to those commemorations, which also includes jointly hosting, with civil society and government partners, a global commemoration and panel discussion to be held at the United Nations Headquarters on the 20th of November. *** Attention editors and broadcasters: Multi media packages including photos and b-roll will be available starting from 16th of November at www.thenewsmarket.com/unicef
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