UVU

The UNICEF Executive Board concluded its 2023 first regular session last Thursday, on the 4th of May, 2023 after moments of dialogue highlighting the diversity of UNICEF partnerships to accelerate the achievement of results for children. A multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach in order to weigh in on these collaborations was encouraged. ”We all play our small part in something big, namely changing the lives of children around the world. And the better we work together and the more conscious we are of spending our time and resources wisely, the more children we will help,” said Ambassador Marie-Louise Koch Wegter, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations and President of the UNICEF Executive Board in 2023.

 

“UNICEF is planning to achieve lasting systemic change for the world’s children in 2023,” said Executive Director Russell, “but we cannot do it alone”. UNICEF and implementing partners need the right support to deliver programmes, and  “timely, predictable and flexible funding” enables the organization to respond quickly, anticipate future risks, and provide countries with support contributing to their long term resilience and development. 

 

Nationwide, collaborative efforts have been found to seize the onslaught of malnutrition through a project funded by the World Health Organization. By which, certain LGU units are encouraged to elicit the support of community-driven individuals that deliver efforts in the form of primary health support and nutrition services including early childhood care and development not to mention access to clean water and sanitation, technical information, training and financing, amongst other facets.

 

Hazardous workspaces are also a cause for concern. We would like to encourage appropriate pacing, safe transitions, and creative yet proactive interventions yet, there is still so much to be done. Agricultural and industrial offices around the country have implored the use of child laborers, and as such must be invited to a conversation that seeks to understand both the limitations of both the child and the environment they wish to corner against them. DOLE has invigorated their efforts to engage in the battle, let us join in the fight. 

 

Government and non-government institutions must also be made aware not only of the rights that must be protected, but the rights that are constantly being violated. Last April 2023, The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) strongly condemned "unrelated" cases of rape that occurred just this month, all of which targeted children aged ten or even younger, in a series of events which led their regional offices to conduct independent investigations. Further support, psychoeducation, and regulations must be reinstated to the families of the victims, the communities they belong in, and the higher executive, legislative, and judiciary bodies that serve to protect them. 

 

This is no longer a challenge merely for those clear advocates for children’s rights, but for the general union of concerned individuals with a yearning to uphold humanity for all rights and purposes. This story belongs to us, how we start and how we end, is no longer a solo journey, a single chapter detailing the likes of a single character, no, this is the WE chapter. We implore you to write your verse.