Statement by Ms. Julianna Lindsey, UNICEF Representative, on the Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform

As the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda ended, a series of important commitments were made.  

Key among those is the Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform, in which Heads of Government of the Commonwealth committed themselves to ensuring that children are protected, especially by progressively replacing institutionalization with quality alternative care. 

The Kigali Declaration also advocates expanding social protection coverage to reduce poverty and promote human capital for all children and young people, strengthening health systems to respond to future pandemics, and tackling the underlying causes that lead to children requiring care and protection in the first place.

Moreover, we appreciate the commitment to put in place the necessary frameworks and resources to ensure sustainable and effective child protection and safeguarding systems for care and protection of all children, including the elimination of child labour in all its forms, forced labour, trafficking and sexual exploitation.

UNICEF Rwanda welcomes this declaration and stands ready to support the Government of Rwanda in the implementation of these commitments for every child.