East Asia and the Pacific

  SUVA, 13 February 2018 – As Tropical Cyclone Gita intensifies, the strongest storm to ever hit Tonga, and heads towards Fiji, UNICEF offers its support to the affected Pacific island countries of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. “UNICEF is ready to support the Governments of Tonga and Samoa respond to the emergencies caused by Tropical Cyclone Gita. We…

41 judges and magistrates from across Fiji commit to ensure protection of children’s rights in the justice system SUVA, 6 February 2018 – A three day training on justice for children is currently underway with 41 judges and magistrates from throughout Fiji. The training, with technical support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),…

Tarawa, Kiribati: 2 February, 2018 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working with the Government of Kiribati to support children, families and communities affected by the recent Butiraoi ferry disaster. Government reports state that 88 Kiribati passengers were on the ferry, including 23…

On Safer Internet Day, UNICEF calls for urgent action to protect children and their digital footprint NEW YORK, 6 February 2018 – More than 175,000 children go online for the first time every day – a new child every half second – UNICEF said today. Digital access exposes these children to a wealth of benefits and opportunities, but also to a host…

UNICEF appealed today for $3.6 billion to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to 48 million children living through conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies in 51 countries in 2018. Around the world, violent conflict is driving humanitarian needs to critical levels, with children especially vulnerable. Conflicts that have endured…

“I have just spent two days in South Sudan where I saw firsthand how four years of a man-made conflict have left children sick, hungry and on the brink of death. “The impact of the relentless violence has been devastating. I met a mother who had to walk for days to get treatment for her malnourished baby. I spoke with a young boy who was forced to…

In 2016 the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children (RPA-EVAC) came into force, setting out the commitments of Member States to protect children from violence and respond to the needs of child victims across twelve key priority areas. The RPA-EVAC applies to all ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia…

Challenge, Violence, exploitation and abuse occur in the homes, families, schools, care and justice systems, workplaces and communities across all contexts, including as a result of conflict and natural disasters. Many children are exposed to various forms of violence, exploitation and abuse, including sexual abuse and exploitation, armed violence,…, Resources, Solution, For this reason, and because of the range and complexity of child protection issues, UNICEF advocates the development of national child protection systems or stronger child and family welfare systems, much like the education and health systems that countries established decades ago. This approach is more comprehensive than dealing with each…

Challenges, Rapid gains in access to water, sanitation and hygiene have been made in recent years in the East Asia and Pacific region. Yet nearly 910 million people still do not have safe sanitation services and an estimated 116 million lack basic drinking water. In 13 countries where data is available, more than 19 million people lack handwashing facilities…, Resources, These resources represent just a small selection of materials produced by UNICEF and its partners in the region. The list is regularly updated to include the latest information.   Regional Conference Reports: East Asia and Pacific Menstrual Hygiene Week 2021 Webinar Report (21 – 27 March 2021) Asia-Pacific Hand Hygiene for All Virtual Conference…, Solutions, UNICEF’s approach is to strengthen national systems and capacity through evidence-based advocacy for equitable investments in children and support to essential areas like policy, monitoring, financing and capacity. Strengthening the enabling environment for WASH programming is fundamental to scale up services. In the most vulnerable areas, UNICEF…

Challenges, In East Asia and the Pacific we have an opportunity to bring up a new generation free of HIV infection and AIDS. This must begin with children. young people are taught by a community health worker about safe sex HIV infection in children occurs most often during pregnancy, labour or during breastfeeding. Without effective treatment, more than half…, Resources, Solutions, UNICEF focuses on key areas to help bring an end to AIDS in the East Asia and Pacific region Preventing transmission Across the region, UNICEF works with partners to prevent and treat HIV infections among children and their mothers, to increase care and support for children orphaned by AIDS, and to reduce risks and vulnerability among adolescents…

Rapid economic growth has transformed the region, bringing with it remarkable social achievements. Yet, the progress has been unequal. More than 100 million children in the poorest decile alone are stunted, not immunised, deprived of quality education and other essential services. Rapid economic growth has transformed the region, yet more than 100…, Social Protection, Despite high levels of economic growth, coupled with significant poverty reduction, inequalities within and across countries in the East Asia and Pacific region are widening. An increasing number of countries are recognizing the importance of social protection as a major public policy tool for stability and continued progress in the region. UNICEF…, Public Finance for Children (PF4C), How Governments use public funds matters enormously to children. If allocations are insufficient, concentrated on better-off groups or used inefficiently, all children, and especially the most disadvantaged, lose out—as does all of society in the long term. Government public funds are by far the largest and the most strategic tool for policy…, Child Poverty & Research , Addressing child poverty is a core component of UNICEF’s social policy function. In East Asia and the Pacific, a UNICEF study showed that almost one-third of children in the region suffered from at least one form of severe deprivation. The analysis shows that the income gains in middle income countries in this region, have not necessarily…, Decentralization & Local Governance, The last decades have seen a clear trend towards decentralization across the globe, with local governments often strengthening their role in securing essential services for children.  However, local governments often do not have the resources they need to ensure children receive safe water, quality education, nutritious food, sanitation and other…, Socio-Economic Impact and Policy Responses to COVID-19 in East Asia and the Pacific, COVID Indonesia The COVID-19 pandemic is casting a long shadow in countries across the world and has quickly moved beyond a health crisis alone. The larger economic crisis generated by the containment measures is pushing millions of children and their families back into poverty; a crisis that will affect countries far into the future, even after…, Resources, Social Policy Publication Catalogue for East Asia and Pacific The Social Policy Publication Catalogue is the gateway to our collection of 77 reports, studies, and t events that UNICEF Country Offices and the Regional Office have generated/organized within 2020-2021.  The catalogue categorizes publications by countries and the four main Social…

Challenges, Child survival is at the very heart of what UNICEF does. UNICEF’s health programme in East Asia and Pacific is focused on young childhood survival and development. This includes maternal health, neonatal and child health, and immunization. A child from Laputtaloke Taung primary school is given de-worming tablets by a midwife in class, as part of a…, Resources, Solutions, Strengthening systems for delivering quality health services to mothers and children without access is a key priority for UNICEF in this region To improve maternal and neonatal survival rates, UNICEF is working with governments and development partners to make health systems more efficient and effective at delivering services to women and children…