Tunisia and UNICEF Celebrate their Partnership for Children’s Rights

Tunis, 25 June 2025 – A high-level ceremony was held yesterday at the International diplomatic academy of Tunis to celebrate the partnership between Tunisia and UNICEF in support of children’s rights. The ceremony was held in the context of the 80 years anniversary of the United Nations and the visit of a delegation of the UNICEF Executive Board to Tunisia.

The event brought together senior government officials, the delegation of the UNICEF Executive Board, diplomatic representatives, development and civil society partners, the United Nations Country Team, and youth to reflect on the longstanding partnership and reaffirm a shared commitment to children’s wellbeing.

The ceremony was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, who reaffirmed Tunisia’s firm commitment to protecting and promoting children's rights, and the depth of the partnership with UNICEF, which has lasted for over seventy years and enabled the implementation of quality national programmes in various fields.

The Minister highlighted that Tunisia is currently implementing multi-dimensional national plans to protect children from violence, develop reintegration pathways for school dropouts, and adopt a new educational approach overseen by a constitutional body, aimed at achieving a transformative shift in education at the national level.

Speaking on behalf of the UNICEF Executive Board, Ambassador Jonibek Ismoil Hikmat, President of the Board, stated “Tunisia has long been a pioneer in advancing child rights. For instance, Tunisia was among the first five countries worldwide to adopt a child protection code, as early as 1995. Over the years, the partnership between Tunisia and UNICEF, which first started in 1952, has grown in both scope and ambition, with impactful policies and programmes reaching vast numbers of children. Tunisia continues to respond to emerging issues with innovation and determination.” He added: “During this week, we have been very impressed to learn about Tunisia’s child-sensitive social protection system—one that supports vulnerable families and safeguards human capital. As Executive Board members, these are the kinds of flagship initiatives we seek to learn from, amplify, and report back on. What we have seen here in Tunisia—the leadership, the innovation, the community spirit—is a powerful reminder that no country stands alone in the fight for children’s rights.” 

The newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator to Tunisia, Ms Rana Taha, added: “I am delighted for my tenure to start with participating in this event celebrating the cooperation since 1952 between Tunisia and UNICEF in favor of children's rights. As we celebrate the 80 years anniversary of the United Nations this year, the UN Secretary General has made a call on all the UN system entities to mainstream child rights into cooperation frameworks. The renewed Youth 2030 Strategy commits the UN to collective action for adolescents and young people – they are the future and a partner in making it better and more sustainable. Globally, and in Tunisia, investing in children and youth – working for and with them - is both just and smart, with investments in human capital development bringing high rates of return in sustainable development progress. I would like to thank the Government and all present for the patronage of this event, a symbolic ray of light in a global and regional context of multiple conflicts and contestation of rights-based sustainable development cooperation.” 

The event featured a panel discussion on key achievements and future opportunities for children, moderated by Mr. Michel Le Pechoux, UNICEF Representative in Tunisia. The panel featured voices from across generations and sectors: UNDP Country Representative Ms. Celine Moyroud, a former UNICEF Programme Specialist, and two inspiring young people - a climate activist and a Scout engaged in social and behavioral change work.

The event also included a photo exhibition and video screening retracing the history of UNICEF’s partnership with Tunisia, with powerful images and testimonies, paying tribute to over seven decades of joint action to protect and promote the rights of every child in Tunisia.