UNICEF Statement on World Children's Day 2024

"As we mark World Children’s Day, I would like to reaffirm UNICEF’s commitment to the rights and wellbeing of every child in Maldives, today and every day.

This year, we are focusing on reimagining a better future for every child. A future where every child survives, thrives, learns, and grows up in a safe environment.

In the Maldives, we have a lot to celebrate. The country has made remarkable progress in advancing the rights of children, boasting of universal access to health and education, extremely low maternal and child mortality and strong legislative frameworks guided by a robust Child Rights Protection Act (19/2019).

However, with rapid socioeconomic development, Maldives is now facing second-generation issues and challenges associated with sustainable financing of social services, addressing inequalities, the impacts of climate change, and dealing changing family structures and lifestyles. The specific challenges we are facing today include:

• The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and growing rates of childhood overweight and obesity attributable to unhealthy lifestyles.
• The low transition of children from lower secondary to upper secondary, with over 21% of young people not in education, employment, or training.
• Working across sectors to identify and respond to the needs of children with disabilities and children with complex learning profiles.
• The high numbers of violence against children, and the emerging issue of exploitation of children into crime.

As we approach the Sustainable Development Goals' 2030 deadline and as the Government of Maldives embarks on the journey of developing a 20-year National Development Plan, I call on our partners, and “the Friends of Children and UNICEF” to come together to accelerate action and overcome these barriers to children’s right to education, health and protection, and ensure all children, especially the most vulnerable have a fair chance to reach their full potential.

To every child in Maldives, I encourage you to continue speaking up about your dreams, worries and aspirations. UNICEF will continue to support you to ensure that your voices and ideas are included in policies and action that impact your lives and future.

Today, we also remember the thousands of children whose lives are being devastated in Gaza, Lebanon and around the world, and stand in solidarity with our UNICEF colleagues working tirelessly to support them under extremely difficult conditions. We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire.

For every child, hope and peace."