UNICEF crafts programme to support Guyana SDGs efforts

Jun 28, 2018 News

The United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) has crafted a programme to support the efforts of Guyana and Suriname in the acceleration of the universal realization of children’s rights by fostering greater social inclusion, for disadvantaged and excluded children and families.
The programme is aimed at supporting both countries in developing and advancing their agendas to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to a report released by UNICEF, the programme is set to support priorities outlined in the National Development Plans and the Caribbean Community Child and Youth Frameworks, as well as the results aligned with goals and targets identified at various levels of governance.
The programme has three components, safety and justice; lifelong learning; and social inclusion and child rights monitoring. Through, the plan UNICEF will also address key bottlenecks impeding the realization of child rights, focusing on the most excluded children, by strengthening national and regional systems.
The programme will be implemented in partnership with ministries and other bodies at all levels of the Government.
According to UNICEF, alliances with civil society, the private sector and media will be key to engaging the public.
“Efforts will be intensified to engage with parliamentarians, faith-based organizations, indigenous and maroon leaders, the academic community, human rights institutions and youth organizations.
The information further outlined that close collaboration will continue with other UN agencies, other countries in the Caribbean and countries covering the Amazon Basin.
Specific attention will be given to counterbalancing the consequences of climate change, preventing further risk and damage approaches that will contribute to educating children and their families about how to prevent negative consequences.”
Further, the report said the programme embraces opportunities to contribute to fulfilling the UNICEF mandate to promote gender equality and the empowerment of girls, in line with the Gender Action Plan, 2014-2017, particularly in the areas of gender mainstreaming in the education and child protection sectors.
Part of the plan is to examine the capacity of social workers to manage child protection cases and that of other professionals, including parents, will be provided with initiatives aimed at developing positive parenting skills throughout the country.
The aim is to improve children’s access to justice, technical assistance will be provided to increase the use of child-friendly and gender-sensitive proceedings by the police, courts and prosecutors’ offices.
UNICEF is also expected to support the alignment of juvenile justice procedures in Guyana with international standards.

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