Participation of childrenUNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that concern them and participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
Saturday 5 December 2009
Participation of children
Participation of childrenUNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that concern them and participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
In addition to major disasters, such as Cyclone Sidr, emergencies in Bangladesh are often on a relatively small scale. Localized flash floods, food sh
In addition to major disasters, such as Cyclone Sidr, emergencies in Bangladesh are often on a relatively small scale. Localized flash floods, food shortages and violent storms are common. Whether the emergency effects hundreds or millions of people, women and children are always the most vulnerable.
Emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction are central to UNICEF’s everyday work in Bangladesh. Assistance varies dramatically depending on the crisis.
During an emergency, UNICEF provides support in several key areas:
Safe water and hygiene
Food and supplies
Education and protection
Emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction are central to UNICEF’s everyday work in Bangladesh. Assistance varies dramatically depending on the crisis.
During an emergency, UNICEF provides support in several key areas:
Safe water and hygiene
Food and supplies
Education and protection
In addition to major disasters, such as Cyclone Sidr, emergencies in Bangladesh are often on a relatively small scale. Localized flash floods, food sh
In addition to major disasters, such as Cyclone Sidr, emergencies in Bangladesh are often on a relatively small scale. Localized flash floods, food shortages and violent storms are common. Whether the emergency effects hundreds or millions of people, women and children are always the most vulnerable.
Emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction are central to UNICEF’s everyday work in Bangladesh. Assistance varies dramatically depending on the crisis.
During an emergency, UNICEF provides support in several key areas:
Safe water and hygiene
Food and supplies
Education and protection
Emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction are central to UNICEF’s everyday work in Bangladesh. Assistance varies dramatically depending on the crisis.
During an emergency, UNICEF provides support in several key areas:
Safe water and hygiene
Food and supplies
Education and protection
What happened?
What happened?
In 2007, more than half of Bangladesh was seriously affected by monsoon flooding. Caused by excessive rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal, Bhutan and Northern Indian, floods in July and September affected 13.3 million people – 6 million of them children – in 46 districts.
The floods caused:
1,100 deaths (90 per cent of them children)
400,000 displaced people
1.1 million damaged or destroyed homes
162,000 cases of diarrhoea
2.2 million acres of damaged cropland
Many farmers lost their crops twice and were unable to replant.
UNICEF’s response
To restore access to safe water, UNICEF supported the construction of 853 new tubewells, the repair of 91,300 damaged wells, and distribution of over 4.3 million water purification tablets.
UNICEF also provided
Plastic sheets and family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 98,000 families
Food supplements for 162,000 people
Essential drugs for 250,000 people
During the floods UNICEF set up safe spaces that provided care and psychosocial support to 40,000 children. These children were able to continue their studies thanks to UNICEF’s emergency education kits.
In 2007, more than half of Bangladesh was seriously affected by monsoon flooding. Caused by excessive rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal, Bhutan and Northern Indian, floods in July and September affected 13.3 million people – 6 million of them children – in 46 districts.
The floods caused:
1,100 deaths (90 per cent of them children)
400,000 displaced people
1.1 million damaged or destroyed homes
162,000 cases of diarrhoea
2.2 million acres of damaged cropland
Many farmers lost their crops twice and were unable to replant.
UNICEF’s response
To restore access to safe water, UNICEF supported the construction of 853 new tubewells, the repair of 91,300 damaged wells, and distribution of over 4.3 million water purification tablets.
UNICEF also provided
Plastic sheets and family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 98,000 families
Food supplements for 162,000 people
Essential drugs for 250,000 people
During the floods UNICEF set up safe spaces that provided care and psychosocial support to 40,000 children. These children were able to continue their studies thanks to UNICEF’s emergency education kits.
UNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that
UNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that concern them and participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
What happened?
What happened?
In 2007, more than half of Bangladesh was seriously affected by monsoon flooding. Caused by excessive rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal, Bhutan and Northern Indian, floods in July and September affected 13.3 million people – 6 million of them children – in 46 districts.
The floods caused:
1,100 deaths (90 per cent of them children)
400,000 displaced people
1.1 million damaged or destroyed homes
162,000 cases of diarrhoea
2.2 million acres of damaged cropland
Many farmers lost their crops twice and were unable to replant.
UNICEF’s response
To restore access to safe water, UNICEF supported the construction of 853 new tubewells, the repair of 91,300 damaged wells, and distribution of over 4.3 million water purification tablets.
UNICEF also provided
Plastic sheets and family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 98,000 families
Food supplements for 162,000 people
Essential drugs for 250,000 people
During the floods UNICEF set up safe spaces that provided care and psychosocial support to 40,000 children. These children were able to continue their studies thanks to UNICEF’s emergency education kits.
In 2007, more than half of Bangladesh was seriously affected by monsoon flooding. Caused by excessive rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal, Bhutan and Northern Indian, floods in July and September affected 13.3 million people – 6 million of them children – in 46 districts.
The floods caused:
1,100 deaths (90 per cent of them children)
400,000 displaced people
1.1 million damaged or destroyed homes
162,000 cases of diarrhoea
2.2 million acres of damaged cropland
Many farmers lost their crops twice and were unable to replant.
UNICEF’s response
To restore access to safe water, UNICEF supported the construction of 853 new tubewells, the repair of 91,300 damaged wells, and distribution of over 4.3 million water purification tablets.
UNICEF also provided
Plastic sheets and family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 98,000 families
Food supplements for 162,000 people
Essential drugs for 250,000 people
During the floods UNICEF set up safe spaces that provided care and psychosocial support to 40,000 children. These children were able to continue their studies thanks to UNICEF’s emergency education kits.
UNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that
UNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that concern them and participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
Floods 2007
Floods 2007
What is happening?
Periodic outbreaks of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ in poultry have been a concern in Bangladesh since March 2007, when the first case of H5N1 virus was detected in birds. To contain the threat, the Government of Bangladesh had culled over 1.65 million birds in and around infected farms by January 2009.
In January 2008, a 16-month old boy contracted the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ virus. The boy was the first and only human case reported in Bangladesh. He survived.
Person to person transmission of avian influenza is not yet possible. Should this change, a human flu pandemic would be inevitable. The pandemic would threaten every aspect of children’s lives.
Spread of the virus has already compromised household economies and the nutritional status of women and children.
UNICEF’s response
In collaboration with the Government’s Department of Mass Communication, UNICEF works to educate local communities about the risks of avian influenza (AI) and encourage individuals to adopt safe behaviours to avoid transmission of the virus from animal to human.
Folk theatre groups tour the country to present music and plays on avian influenza. Folk songs and plays encourage people to wash their hands properly and observe other safe behaviours when handling birds, poultry meat and eggs.
AI protection messages are also included in a range of campaign and education materials:
Rickshaws and vans equipped with megaphones announce health and safety advice in meat and poultry markets.
Posters explain the dangers of AI to local people.
AI training manuals provide poultry farmers with the knowledge to improve hygiene practices and reduce risks for livestock and humans.
TV and radio spots on public and private channels encourage hand-washing and other safe behaviours.
UNICEF trains community hygiene promoters about the virus, so that they can include prevention messages in their hygiene education sessions. Health professionals, local administrators, community volunteers and Scout leaders have also received training.
UNICEF works with the Press Institute of Bangladesh to create awareness among journalists about the dangers of AI and their responsibility to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government and other international agencies to control the virus and further prepare ministries, hospitals and the general public for a human pandemic.
What is happening?
Periodic outbreaks of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ in poultry have been a concern in Bangladesh since March 2007, when the first case of H5N1 virus was detected in birds. To contain the threat, the Government of Bangladesh had culled over 1.65 million birds in and around infected farms by January 2009.
In January 2008, a 16-month old boy contracted the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ virus. The boy was the first and only human case reported in Bangladesh. He survived.
Person to person transmission of avian influenza is not yet possible. Should this change, a human flu pandemic would be inevitable. The pandemic would threaten every aspect of children’s lives.
Spread of the virus has already compromised household economies and the nutritional status of women and children.
UNICEF’s response
In collaboration with the Government’s Department of Mass Communication, UNICEF works to educate local communities about the risks of avian influenza (AI) and encourage individuals to adopt safe behaviours to avoid transmission of the virus from animal to human.
Folk theatre groups tour the country to present music and plays on avian influenza. Folk songs and plays encourage people to wash their hands properly and observe other safe behaviours when handling birds, poultry meat and eggs.
AI protection messages are also included in a range of campaign and education materials:
Rickshaws and vans equipped with megaphones announce health and safety advice in meat and poultry markets.
Posters explain the dangers of AI to local people.
AI training manuals provide poultry farmers with the knowledge to improve hygiene practices and reduce risks for livestock and humans.
TV and radio spots on public and private channels encourage hand-washing and other safe behaviours.
UNICEF trains community hygiene promoters about the virus, so that they can include prevention messages in their hygiene education sessions. Health professionals, local administrators, community volunteers and Scout leaders have also received training.
UNICEF works with the Press Institute of Bangladesh to create awareness among journalists about the dangers of AI and their responsibility to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government and other international agencies to control the virus and further prepare ministries, hospitals and the general public for a human pandemic.
Floods 2007
Floods 2007
What is happening?
Periodic outbreaks of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ in poultry have been a concern in Bangladesh since March 2007, when the first case of H5N1 virus was detected in birds. To contain the threat, the Government of Bangladesh had culled over 1.65 million birds in and around infected farms by January 2009.
In January 2008, a 16-month old boy contracted the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ virus. The boy was the first and only human case reported in Bangladesh. He survived.
Person to person transmission of avian influenza is not yet possible. Should this change, a human flu pandemic would be inevitable. The pandemic would threaten every aspect of children’s lives.
Spread of the virus has already compromised household economies and the nutritional status of women and children.
UNICEF’s response
In collaboration with the Government’s Department of Mass Communication, UNICEF works to educate local communities about the risks of avian influenza (AI) and encourage individuals to adopt safe behaviours to avoid transmission of the virus from animal to human.
Folk theatre groups tour the country to present music and plays on avian influenza. Folk songs and plays encourage people to wash their hands properly and observe other safe behaviours when handling birds, poultry meat and eggs.
AI protection messages are also included in a range of campaign and education materials:
Rickshaws and vans equipped with megaphones announce health and safety advice in meat and poultry markets.
Posters explain the dangers of AI to local people.
AI training manuals provide poultry farmers with the knowledge to improve hygiene practices and reduce risks for livestock and humans.
TV and radio spots on public and private channels encourage hand-washing and other safe behaviours.
UNICEF trains community hygiene promoters about the virus, so that they can include prevention messages in their hygiene education sessions. Health professionals, local administrators, community volunteers and Scout leaders have also received training.
UNICEF works with the Press Institute of Bangladesh to create awareness among journalists about the dangers of AI and their responsibility to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government and other international agencies to control the virus and further prepare ministries, hospitals and the general public for a human pandemic.
What is happening?
Periodic outbreaks of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ in poultry have been a concern in Bangladesh since March 2007, when the first case of H5N1 virus was detected in birds. To contain the threat, the Government of Bangladesh had culled over 1.65 million birds in and around infected farms by January 2009.
In January 2008, a 16-month old boy contracted the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ virus. The boy was the first and only human case reported in Bangladesh. He survived.
Person to person transmission of avian influenza is not yet possible. Should this change, a human flu pandemic would be inevitable. The pandemic would threaten every aspect of children’s lives.
Spread of the virus has already compromised household economies and the nutritional status of women and children.
UNICEF’s response
In collaboration with the Government’s Department of Mass Communication, UNICEF works to educate local communities about the risks of avian influenza (AI) and encourage individuals to adopt safe behaviours to avoid transmission of the virus from animal to human.
Folk theatre groups tour the country to present music and plays on avian influenza. Folk songs and plays encourage people to wash their hands properly and observe other safe behaviours when handling birds, poultry meat and eggs.
AI protection messages are also included in a range of campaign and education materials:
Rickshaws and vans equipped with megaphones announce health and safety advice in meat and poultry markets.
Posters explain the dangers of AI to local people.
AI training manuals provide poultry farmers with the knowledge to improve hygiene practices and reduce risks for livestock and humans.
TV and radio spots on public and private channels encourage hand-washing and other safe behaviours.
UNICEF trains community hygiene promoters about the virus, so that they can include prevention messages in their hygiene education sessions. Health professionals, local administrators, community volunteers and Scout leaders have also received training.
UNICEF works with the Press Institute of Bangladesh to create awareness among journalists about the dangers of AI and their responsibility to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government and other international agencies to control the virus and further prepare ministries, hospitals and the general public for a human pandemic.
What happened?
What happened?
On the evening of 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr – a category four cyclonic storm – hit the low-lying and densely-populated coast of Bangladesh. The cyclone ravaged 30 southern districts in both Barisal and Khulna divisions. Hundreds perished as buildings collapsed in the 240 km per hour winds. Thousands of others drowned in tidal surges that were over 15 feet high in many villages.
The cyclone caused:
3,363 deaths
55,282 injured people
1.5 million damaged or destroyed homes
2.5 million acres of damaged cropland
Through loss of life, home and livelihood, the 8.9 million people affected by the cyclone continue to face lives of increased poverty.
UNICEF’s response
Immediately following the cyclone, UNICEF worked with Save the Children to establish 220 safe spaces where child victims received food and safe water and had access to psycho-social support and recreation.
UNICEF also provided a wide range of emergency supplies, including:
Safe drinking water for over 100,000 families
1 million packets of oral rehydration solution to treat diarrhoea
100,000 blankets, 30,000 tarpaulins and 40,000 plastic sheets
99,000 winter jackets for children aged five and below
Family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 32,000 families
Longer-term support for cyclone victims has included:
Materials and support to build 42 transitional schools, which can be used as cyclone shelters during future storms
Construction of almost 30,000 latrines
Nutritional supplements for more than 140,000 children and over 50,000 women
Cash transfers and social support for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their foster families.
On the evening of 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr – a category four cyclonic storm – hit the low-lying and densely-populated coast of Bangladesh. The cyclone ravaged 30 southern districts in both Barisal and Khulna divisions. Hundreds perished as buildings collapsed in the 240 km per hour winds. Thousands of others drowned in tidal surges that were over 15 feet high in many villages.
The cyclone caused:
3,363 deaths
55,282 injured people
1.5 million damaged or destroyed homes
2.5 million acres of damaged cropland
Through loss of life, home and livelihood, the 8.9 million people affected by the cyclone continue to face lives of increased poverty.
UNICEF’s response
Immediately following the cyclone, UNICEF worked with Save the Children to establish 220 safe spaces where child victims received food and safe water and had access to psycho-social support and recreation.
UNICEF also provided a wide range of emergency supplies, including:
Safe drinking water for over 100,000 families
1 million packets of oral rehydration solution to treat diarrhoea
100,000 blankets, 30,000 tarpaulins and 40,000 plastic sheets
99,000 winter jackets for children aged five and below
Family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 32,000 families
Longer-term support for cyclone victims has included:
Materials and support to build 42 transitional schools, which can be used as cyclone shelters during future storms
Construction of almost 30,000 latrines
Nutritional supplements for more than 140,000 children and over 50,000 women
Cash transfers and social support for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their foster families.
What happened?
What happened?
On the evening of 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr – a category four cyclonic storm – hit the low-lying and densely-populated coast of Bangladesh. The cyclone ravaged 30 southern districts in both Barisal and Khulna divisions. Hundreds perished as buildings collapsed in the 240 km per hour winds. Thousands of others drowned in tidal surges that were over 15 feet high in many villages.
The cyclone caused:
3,363 deaths
55,282 injured people
1.5 million damaged or destroyed homes
2.5 million acres of damaged cropland
Through loss of life, home and livelihood, the 8.9 million people affected by the cyclone continue to face lives of increased poverty.
UNICEF’s response
Immediately following the cyclone, UNICEF worked with Save the Children to establish 220 safe spaces where child victims received food and safe water and had access to psycho-social support and recreation.
UNICEF also provided a wide range of emergency supplies, including:
Safe drinking water for over 100,000 families
1 million packets of oral rehydration solution to treat diarrhoea
100,000 blankets, 30,000 tarpaulins and 40,000 plastic sheets
99,000 winter jackets for children aged five and below
Family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 32,000 families
Longer-term support for cyclone victims has included:
Materials and support to build 42 transitional schools, which can be used as cyclone shelters during future storms
Construction of almost 30,000 latrines
Nutritional supplements for more than 140,000 children and over 50,000 women
Cash transfers and social support for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their foster families.
On the evening of 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr – a category four cyclonic storm – hit the low-lying and densely-populated coast of Bangladesh. The cyclone ravaged 30 southern districts in both Barisal and Khulna divisions. Hundreds perished as buildings collapsed in the 240 km per hour winds. Thousands of others drowned in tidal surges that were over 15 feet high in many villages.
The cyclone caused:
3,363 deaths
55,282 injured people
1.5 million damaged or destroyed homes
2.5 million acres of damaged cropland
Through loss of life, home and livelihood, the 8.9 million people affected by the cyclone continue to face lives of increased poverty.
UNICEF’s response
Immediately following the cyclone, UNICEF worked with Save the Children to establish 220 safe spaces where child victims received food and safe water and had access to psycho-social support and recreation.
UNICEF also provided a wide range of emergency supplies, including:
Safe drinking water for over 100,000 families
1 million packets of oral rehydration solution to treat diarrhoea
100,000 blankets, 30,000 tarpaulins and 40,000 plastic sheets
99,000 winter jackets for children aged five and below
Family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 32,000 families
Longer-term support for cyclone victims has included:
Materials and support to build 42 transitional schools, which can be used as cyclone shelters during future storms
Construction of almost 30,000 latrines
Nutritional supplements for more than 140,000 children and over 50,000 women
Cash transfers and social support for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their foster families.
Criminal responsibility
Criminal responsibility
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registr
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registration Act, children born in Bangladesh must be registered with a birth certificate.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Criminal responsibility
Criminal responsibility
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registr
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registration Act, children born in Bangladesh must be registered with a birth certificate.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Children at risk
Children at risk
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
Children at risk
Children at risk
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especial
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especially girls. The project targets 100,000 boys and girls, and their families and communities.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especial
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especially girls. The project targets 100,000 boys and girls, and their families and communities.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked, UNICEF seeks to improve nutrition across the entire lifecycle – from infancy, through childhood, adolescence, and the child-bearing years.
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked, UNICEF seeks to improve nutrition across the entire lifecycle – from infancy, through childhood, adolescence, and the child-bearing years.
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
Child survival
Child survival
In order to reduce rates of childhood death, UNICEF supports immunization, child illness management and injury-prevention programmes.
Immunization
UNICEF continues to support nationwide immunization drives against measles, tetanus, hepatitis, polio and other childhood diseases. Progress is encouraging:
88 per cent of children under the age of one are vaccinated against measles, compared to 77 per cent in 2004.
Bangladesh regained polio-free status after an imported case was discovered in 2006.
Rates of neonatal tetanus are declining, with only 152 cases reported in 2008.
UNICEF works with the World Health Organization and the Government to increase access to vaccines in 15 low-performing districts. Activities include cold-chain management for local health services and social mobilization programmes that encourage families to bring all children for the full series of immunizations.
Illness
Encouraging families to seek treatment for sick children, particularly those suffering symptoms of pneumonia, infection, diarrhoea, malaria or malnutrition, is extremely important. UNICEF supports behaviour change campaigns and social mobilization activities to raise public awareness of the risks to child health. The number of children under the age of five who are taken to health-care providers when suffering symptoms of pneumonia increased from 20 to 30 per cent between 2004 and 2007.
In order to improve the standard of care available to children at health facilities, UNICEF provides new equipment, trains staff and improves patient management systems. UNICEF supports the integrated management of childhood illness in over 200 health facilities at sub-district level. UNICEF currently supports projects in almost 300 sub-district health facilities for the integrated management of childhood illness. In these facilities, the quality of care improved by 50 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
In order to reduce rates of childhood death, UNICEF supports immunization, child illness management and injury-prevention programmes.
Immunization
UNICEF continues to support nationwide immunization drives against measles, tetanus, hepatitis, polio and other childhood diseases. Progress is encouraging:
88 per cent of children under the age of one are vaccinated against measles, compared to 77 per cent in 2004.
Bangladesh regained polio-free status after an imported case was discovered in 2006.
Rates of neonatal tetanus are declining, with only 152 cases reported in 2008.
UNICEF works with the World Health Organization and the Government to increase access to vaccines in 15 low-performing districts. Activities include cold-chain management for local health services and social mobilization programmes that encourage families to bring all children for the full series of immunizations.
Illness
Encouraging families to seek treatment for sick children, particularly those suffering symptoms of pneumonia, infection, diarrhoea, malaria or malnutrition, is extremely important. UNICEF supports behaviour change campaigns and social mobilization activities to raise public awareness of the risks to child health. The number of children under the age of five who are taken to health-care providers when suffering symptoms of pneumonia increased from 20 to 30 per cent between 2004 and 2007.
In order to improve the standard of care available to children at health facilities, UNICEF provides new equipment, trains staff and improves patient management systems. UNICEF supports the integrated management of childhood illness in over 200 health facilities at sub-district level. UNICEF currently supports projects in almost 300 sub-district health facilities for the integrated management of childhood illness. In these facilities, the quality of care improved by 50 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention,
Injury
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention, selected schools have introduced injury-prevention and disaster-preparedness classes. Community-based initiatives include swimming lessons for children aged four to ten and village crèches for younger children. Community workers run courtyard meetings and make home-visits to raise awareness among parents about the importance of erecting fences around cooking fires and water hazards.
The pilot proves that child injury is preventable. Over three years, in the four pilot districts (including three in rural Bangladesh and one urban area):
Drowning deaths among children aged 1 to 4 reduced by 44 per cent.
Injuries among children aged 1 to 17 reduced by 32 per cent.
Hospitalization of children decreased by one third.
UNICEF is advocating for a national strategy on child injury prevention to curb rates of injury-related death, the biggest killer of children over the age of one. Material developed for the school pilot is being distributed to primary schools nationwide as a supplement to the standard primary education curriculum.
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention, selected schools have introduced injury-prevention and disaster-preparedness classes. Community-based initiatives include swimming lessons for children aged four to ten and village crèches for younger children. Community workers run courtyard meetings and make home-visits to raise awareness among parents about the importance of erecting fences around cooking fires and water hazards.
The pilot proves that child injury is preventable. Over three years, in the four pilot districts (including three in rural Bangladesh and one urban area):
Drowning deaths among children aged 1 to 4 reduced by 44 per cent.
Injuries among children aged 1 to 17 reduced by 32 per cent.
Hospitalization of children decreased by one third.
UNICEF is advocating for a national strategy on child injury prevention to curb rates of injury-related death, the biggest killer of children over the age of one. Material developed for the school pilot is being distributed to primary schools nationwide as a supplement to the standard primary education curriculum.
Child survival
Child survival
In order to reduce rates of childhood death, UNICEF supports immunization, child illness management and injury-prevention programmes.
Immunization
UNICEF continues to support nationwide immunization drives against measles, tetanus, hepatitis, polio and other childhood diseases. Progress is encouraging:
88 per cent of children under the age of one are vaccinated against measles, compared to 77 per cent in 2004.
Bangladesh regained polio-free status after an imported case was discovered in 2006.
Rates of neonatal tetanus are declining, with only 152 cases reported in 2008.
UNICEF works with the World Health Organization and the Government to increase access to vaccines in 15 low-performing districts. Activities include cold-chain management for local health services and social mobilization programmes that encourage families to bring all children for the full series of immunizations.
Illness
Encouraging families to seek treatment for sick children, particularly those suffering symptoms of pneumonia, infection, diarrhoea, malaria or malnutrition, is extremely important. UNICEF supports behaviour change campaigns and social mobilization activities to raise public awareness of the risks to child health. The number of children under the age of five who are taken to health-care providers when suffering symptoms of pneumonia increased from 20 to 30 per cent between 2004 and 2007.
In order to improve the standard of care available to children at health facilities, UNICEF provides new equipment, trains staff and improves patient management systems. UNICEF supports the integrated management of childhood illness in over 200 health facilities at sub-district level. UNICEF currently supports projects in almost 300 sub-district health facilities for the integrated management of childhood illness. In these facilities, the quality of care improved by 50 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
In order to reduce rates of childhood death, UNICEF supports immunization, child illness management and injury-prevention programmes.
Immunization
UNICEF continues to support nationwide immunization drives against measles, tetanus, hepatitis, polio and other childhood diseases. Progress is encouraging:
88 per cent of children under the age of one are vaccinated against measles, compared to 77 per cent in 2004.
Bangladesh regained polio-free status after an imported case was discovered in 2006.
Rates of neonatal tetanus are declining, with only 152 cases reported in 2008.
UNICEF works with the World Health Organization and the Government to increase access to vaccines in 15 low-performing districts. Activities include cold-chain management for local health services and social mobilization programmes that encourage families to bring all children for the full series of immunizations.
Illness
Encouraging families to seek treatment for sick children, particularly those suffering symptoms of pneumonia, infection, diarrhoea, malaria or malnutrition, is extremely important. UNICEF supports behaviour change campaigns and social mobilization activities to raise public awareness of the risks to child health. The number of children under the age of five who are taken to health-care providers when suffering symptoms of pneumonia increased from 20 to 30 per cent between 2004 and 2007.
In order to improve the standard of care available to children at health facilities, UNICEF provides new equipment, trains staff and improves patient management systems. UNICEF supports the integrated management of childhood illness in over 200 health facilities at sub-district level. UNICEF currently supports projects in almost 300 sub-district health facilities for the integrated management of childhood illness. In these facilities, the quality of care improved by 50 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention,
Injury
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention, selected schools have introduced injury-prevention and disaster-preparedness classes. Community-based initiatives include swimming lessons for children aged four to ten and village crèches for younger children. Community workers run courtyard meetings and make home-visits to raise awareness among parents about the importance of erecting fences around cooking fires and water hazards.
The pilot proves that child injury is preventable. Over three years, in the four pilot districts (including three in rural Bangladesh and one urban area):
Drowning deaths among children aged 1 to 4 reduced by 44 per cent.
Injuries among children aged 1 to 17 reduced by 32 per cent.
Hospitalization of children decreased by one third.
UNICEF is advocating for a national strategy on child injury prevention to curb rates of injury-related death, the biggest killer of children over the age of one. Material developed for the school pilot is being distributed to primary schools nationwide as a supplement to the standard primary education curriculum.
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention, selected schools have introduced injury-prevention and disaster-preparedness classes. Community-based initiatives include swimming lessons for children aged four to ten and village crèches for younger children. Community workers run courtyard meetings and make home-visits to raise awareness among parents about the importance of erecting fences around cooking fires and water hazards.
The pilot proves that child injury is preventable. Over three years, in the four pilot districts (including three in rural Bangladesh and one urban area):
Drowning deaths among children aged 1 to 4 reduced by 44 per cent.
Injuries among children aged 1 to 17 reduced by 32 per cent.
Hospitalization of children decreased by one third.
UNICEF is advocating for a national strategy on child injury prevention to curb rates of injury-related death, the biggest killer of children over the age of one. Material developed for the school pilot is being distributed to primary schools nationwide as a supplement to the standard primary education curriculum.
Maternal and neonatal health
Maternal and neonatal health
UNICEF works in public health facilities and with local communities to strengthen maternal and neonatal health services and encourage women to seek medical treatment.
Improving health facilities
UNICEF supports improvements to antenatal, emergency obstetric, postnatal and neonatal care services in 191 public health facilities. These improvements include:
facility upgrades
new equipment
staff training
Training to sensitize hospital staff to women’s needs and concerns (including the issue of domestic violence) ensures that the rights and dignity of female patients are respected.
The number of hospitals providing comprehensive birthing facilities is steadily rising, with 84 per cent of UNICEF-supported centres fully-equipped to provide comprehensive obstetric care.
Obstetric emergencies
UNICEF-supported health workers educate the community about the danger signs of pregnancy and the importance of seeking help from skilled medical professionals during obstetric emergencies. The number of women giving birth in the care of a skilled health worker increased from 13 per cent in 2004 to 18 per cent in 2007. Though promising, this figure is not sufficient to significantly reduce neonatal and maternal death.
Linking with hospitals
Community health workers encourage women to utilize local health services, by linking them with their local health facility. Women learn that health facilities not only provide emergency treatment, but also continued care and information about best practices for mother and baby health and nutrition.
Empowering mothers
UNICEF is piloting a community-support system for pregnant and new mothers in six sub-districts. Volunteers from community-support groups visit pregnant women to monitor their status, refer them to the local health facilities and help plan for the birth.
Communities have been quick to adapt to the project. Many of the groups have established funds that local women can draw from to pay for transport to hospital in an obstetric emergency. In other communities, women received money boxes to encourage saving for medical costs and transport. Ensuring emergency transport is one of the most effective interventions in preventing maternal and neonatal death.
Gender and birth
Community support groups also educate the community about a woman’s right to be treated with dignity when seeking treatment, whether this means privacy screens in the labour ward or separate toilets for female patients. Support group volunteers speak to women about their birth experience and the group advocates with the health centre whenever improvements are required.
Joint programme
Recently, UNICEF joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support the Government of Bangladesh in a joint initiative to accelerate improvements to maternal and neonatal survival rates in four districts.
UNICEF works in public health facilities and with local communities to strengthen maternal and neonatal health services and encourage women to seek medical treatment.
Improving health facilities
UNICEF supports improvements to antenatal, emergency obstetric, postnatal and neonatal care services in 191 public health facilities. These improvements include:
facility upgrades
new equipment
staff training
Training to sensitize hospital staff to women’s needs and concerns (including the issue of domestic violence) ensures that the rights and dignity of female patients are respected.
The number of hospitals providing comprehensive birthing facilities is steadily rising, with 84 per cent of UNICEF-supported centres fully-equipped to provide comprehensive obstetric care.
Obstetric emergencies
UNICEF-supported health workers educate the community about the danger signs of pregnancy and the importance of seeking help from skilled medical professionals during obstetric emergencies. The number of women giving birth in the care of a skilled health worker increased from 13 per cent in 2004 to 18 per cent in 2007. Though promising, this figure is not sufficient to significantly reduce neonatal and maternal death.
Linking with hospitals
Community health workers encourage women to utilize local health services, by linking them with their local health facility. Women learn that health facilities not only provide emergency treatment, but also continued care and information about best practices for mother and baby health and nutrition.
Empowering mothers
UNICEF is piloting a community-support system for pregnant and new mothers in six sub-districts. Volunteers from community-support groups visit pregnant women to monitor their status, refer them to the local health facilities and help plan for the birth.
Communities have been quick to adapt to the project. Many of the groups have established funds that local women can draw from to pay for transport to hospital in an obstetric emergency. In other communities, women received money boxes to encourage saving for medical costs and transport. Ensuring emergency transport is one of the most effective interventions in preventing maternal and neonatal death.
Gender and birth
Community support groups also educate the community about a woman’s right to be treated with dignity when seeking treatment, whether this means privacy screens in the labour ward or separate toilets for female patients. Support group volunteers speak to women about their birth experience and the group advocates with the health centre whenever improvements are required.
Joint programme
Recently, UNICEF joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support the Government of Bangladesh in a joint initiative to accelerate improvements to maternal and neonatal survival rates in four districts.
Maternal and neonatal health
Maternal and neonatal health
UNICEF works in public health facilities and with local communities to strengthen maternal and neonatal health services and encourage women to seek medical treatment.
Improving health facilities
UNICEF supports improvements to antenatal, emergency obstetric, postnatal and neonatal care services in 191 public health facilities. These improvements include:
facility upgrades
new equipment
staff training
Training to sensitize hospital staff to women’s needs and concerns (including the issue of domestic violence) ensures that the rights and dignity of female patients are respected.
The number of hospitals providing comprehensive birthing facilities is steadily rising, with 84 per cent of UNICEF-supported centres fully-equipped to provide comprehensive obstetric care.
Obstetric emergencies
UNICEF-supported health workers educate the community about the danger signs of pregnancy and the importance of seeking help from skilled medical professionals during obstetric emergencies. The number of women giving birth in the care of a skilled health worker increased from 13 per cent in 2004 to 18 per cent in 2007. Though promising, this figure is not sufficient to significantly reduce neonatal and maternal death.
Linking with hospitals
Community health workers encourage women to utilize local health services, by linking them with their local health facility. Women learn that health facilities not only provide emergency treatment, but also continued care and information about best practices for mother and baby health and nutrition.
Empowering mothers
UNICEF is piloting a community-support system for pregnant and new mothers in six sub-districts. Volunteers from community-support groups visit pregnant women to monitor their status, refer them to the local health facilities and help plan for the birth.
Communities have been quick to adapt to the project. Many of the groups have established funds that local women can draw from to pay for transport to hospital in an obstetric emergency. In other communities, women received money boxes to encourage saving for medical costs and transport. Ensuring emergency transport is one of the most effective interventions in preventing maternal and neonatal death.
Gender and birth
Community support groups also educate the community about a woman’s right to be treated with dignity when seeking treatment, whether this means privacy screens in the labour ward or separate toilets for female patients. Support group volunteers speak to women about their birth experience and the group advocates with the health centre whenever improvements are required.
Joint programme
Recently, UNICEF joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support the Government of Bangladesh in a joint initiative to accelerate improvements to maternal and neonatal survival rates in four districts.
UNICEF works in public health facilities and with local communities to strengthen maternal and neonatal health services and encourage women to seek medical treatment.
Improving health facilities
UNICEF supports improvements to antenatal, emergency obstetric, postnatal and neonatal care services in 191 public health facilities. These improvements include:
facility upgrades
new equipment
staff training
Training to sensitize hospital staff to women’s needs and concerns (including the issue of domestic violence) ensures that the rights and dignity of female patients are respected.
The number of hospitals providing comprehensive birthing facilities is steadily rising, with 84 per cent of UNICEF-supported centres fully-equipped to provide comprehensive obstetric care.
Obstetric emergencies
UNICEF-supported health workers educate the community about the danger signs of pregnancy and the importance of seeking help from skilled medical professionals during obstetric emergencies. The number of women giving birth in the care of a skilled health worker increased from 13 per cent in 2004 to 18 per cent in 2007. Though promising, this figure is not sufficient to significantly reduce neonatal and maternal death.
Linking with hospitals
Community health workers encourage women to utilize local health services, by linking them with their local health facility. Women learn that health facilities not only provide emergency treatment, but also continued care and information about best practices for mother and baby health and nutrition.
Empowering mothers
UNICEF is piloting a community-support system for pregnant and new mothers in six sub-districts. Volunteers from community-support groups visit pregnant women to monitor their status, refer them to the local health facilities and help plan for the birth.
Communities have been quick to adapt to the project. Many of the groups have established funds that local women can draw from to pay for transport to hospital in an obstetric emergency. In other communities, women received money boxes to encourage saving for medical costs and transport. Ensuring emergency transport is one of the most effective interventions in preventing maternal and neonatal death.
Gender and birth
Community support groups also educate the community about a woman’s right to be treated with dignity when seeking treatment, whether this means privacy screens in the labour ward or separate toilets for female patients. Support group volunteers speak to women about their birth experience and the group advocates with the health centre whenever improvements are required.
Joint programme
Recently, UNICEF joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support the Government of Bangladesh in a joint initiative to accelerate improvements to maternal and neonatal survival rates in four districts.
UNICEF supports the Government-driven Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II). The programme aims to achieve quality education for al
UNICEF supports the Government-driven Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II). The programme aims to achieve quality education for all children by making primary schools more inclusive, child-friendly and effective.
Teacher training
UNICEF supports training for teachers and school administrators on inclusive education, interactive teaching and other classroom subjects. Information leaflets on current issues in education – such as access for disabled children, participatory learning, corporal punishment, HIV/AIDS, school sanitation, child injury and emergency preparedness – are distributed to teachers. UNICEF is also helping the Government to revise the Certificate of Education curriculum to ensure that new primary teachers understand issues of gender, access and participation.
Motivating communities
UNICEF works to mobilize communities in support of primary education and primary schools. Local theatre groups present plays and puppet shows about the importance of attending and completing primary school. The shows offer community members a chance to discuss sensitive issues like school attendance and drop-out rates. Over 2 million people attended these dramas in 2008.
Meena episodes contribute to a nation-wide awareness campaign promoting girls’ education, creative teaching and the idea that learning can be fun.
Empowering primary schools
UNICEF empowers parents, teachers and local communities to work together by providing school-improvement grants to school management committees. These committees meet regularly to develop School Level Improvement Plans (SLIPs) to manage the funds. Making decisions about the needs of the school fosters a sense of ownership among teachers and parents. Among the schools receiving grants, money has been spent on:
teaching materials
filing cabinets and bookshelves
books for school libraries
benches
tools
cleaning products
ramps for disabled access
a school bell
sports days and prizes
musical instruments
planting a school garden
constructing toilets
Teachers involved in the SLIP process report feeling more motivated in the classroom because they have greater control over school resources and the learning environment.
Making learning fun
In each of the 64 districts, education fairs bring together teachers and students from different schools. Displays of children’s work and student performances foster a sense of school community and encourage children to take pride in their achievements.
UNICEF is working to increase primary school enrolment and attendance through early learning programmes.
On track for education
Literacy is a key indicator of the success of primary school education. In Bangladesh, literacy rates among 15-24 year-olds increased from 37 per cent in 1991 to 54 per cent in 2006. Bangladesh is also on track to meet Millennium Goals two and three for universal primary education and gender parity in school.
Download the Quality primary education factsheet.
Teacher training
UNICEF supports training for teachers and school administrators on inclusive education, interactive teaching and other classroom subjects. Information leaflets on current issues in education – such as access for disabled children, participatory learning, corporal punishment, HIV/AIDS, school sanitation, child injury and emergency preparedness – are distributed to teachers. UNICEF is also helping the Government to revise the Certificate of Education curriculum to ensure that new primary teachers understand issues of gender, access and participation.
Motivating communities
UNICEF works to mobilize communities in support of primary education and primary schools. Local theatre groups present plays and puppet shows about the importance of attending and completing primary school. The shows offer community members a chance to discuss sensitive issues like school attendance and drop-out rates. Over 2 million people attended these dramas in 2008.
Meena episodes contribute to a nation-wide awareness campaign promoting girls’ education, creative teaching and the idea that learning can be fun.
Empowering primary schools
UNICEF empowers parents, teachers and local communities to work together by providing school-improvement grants to school management committees. These committees meet regularly to develop School Level Improvement Plans (SLIPs) to manage the funds. Making decisions about the needs of the school fosters a sense of ownership among teachers and parents. Among the schools receiving grants, money has been spent on:
teaching materials
filing cabinets and bookshelves
books for school libraries
benches
tools
cleaning products
ramps for disabled access
a school bell
sports days and prizes
musical instruments
planting a school garden
constructing toilets
Teachers involved in the SLIP process report feeling more motivated in the classroom because they have greater control over school resources and the learning environment.
Making learning fun
In each of the 64 districts, education fairs bring together teachers and students from different schools. Displays of children’s work and student performances foster a sense of school community and encourage children to take pride in their achievements.
UNICEF is working to increase primary school enrolment and attendance through early learning programmes.
On track for education
Literacy is a key indicator of the success of primary school education. In Bangladesh, literacy rates among 15-24 year-olds increased from 37 per cent in 1991 to 54 per cent in 2006. Bangladesh is also on track to meet Millennium Goals two and three for universal primary education and gender parity in school.
Download the Quality primary education factsheet.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government of Bangladesh on
UNICEF collaborates with the Government of Bangladesh on the Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Working Children (BEHTRUWC) project.
Education and child labour
Because many families rely on the income of their children to survive, UNICEF’s project for working children focuses on non-formal education that fits in around children’s regular work schedules. Education is the first step in breaking the cycle of unskilled-employment and child labour.
Learning centres
The project establishes small learning centres in urban areas that are home to high numbers of working children. Children between the age of 10 and 14 attend morning classes for two and a half hours, six days a week. There are 25 children in each class. The children usually return to their place of employment after class. By 2008, the project had opened 6,646 centres for 166,150 students in the six divisional capitals of Bangladesh. Attendance rates are encouraging, with few drop-outs.
Basic education and life skills
During their lessons, students study basic reading, writing and mathematics. They also learn a range of life skills, such as how to obtain healthcare, identify hazardous work, and understand their rights as children and other issues relevant to their situation. Classes are interactive, encouraging children to apply what they learn in their everyday lives.
After completing a 40-month basic education programme, the children attain the equivalent of grade five in Bangla and social science and grade three in mathematics. They also learn basic English. The programme supports selected children to attend further education and vocational training.
Download the Education for working children factsheet.
Education and child labour
Because many families rely on the income of their children to survive, UNICEF’s project for working children focuses on non-formal education that fits in around children’s regular work schedules. Education is the first step in breaking the cycle of unskilled-employment and child labour.
Learning centres
The project establishes small learning centres in urban areas that are home to high numbers of working children. Children between the age of 10 and 14 attend morning classes for two and a half hours, six days a week. There are 25 children in each class. The children usually return to their place of employment after class. By 2008, the project had opened 6,646 centres for 166,150 students in the six divisional capitals of Bangladesh. Attendance rates are encouraging, with few drop-outs.
Basic education and life skills
During their lessons, students study basic reading, writing and mathematics. They also learn a range of life skills, such as how to obtain healthcare, identify hazardous work, and understand their rights as children and other issues relevant to their situation. Classes are interactive, encouraging children to apply what they learn in their everyday lives.
After completing a 40-month basic education programme, the children attain the equivalent of grade five in Bangla and social science and grade three in mathematics. They also learn basic English. The programme supports selected children to attend further education and vocational training.
Download the Education for working children factsheet.
UNICEF supports the Government-driven Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II). The programme aims to achieve quality education for al
UNICEF supports the Government-driven Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II). The programme aims to achieve quality education for all children by making primary schools more inclusive, child-friendly and effective.
Teacher training
UNICEF supports training for teachers and school administrators on inclusive education, interactive teaching and other classroom subjects. Information leaflets on current issues in education – such as access for disabled children, participatory learning, corporal punishment, HIV/AIDS, school sanitation, child injury and emergency preparedness – are distributed to teachers. UNICEF is also helping the Government to revise the Certificate of Education curriculum to ensure that new primary teachers understand issues of gender, access and participation.
Motivating communities
UNICEF works to mobilize communities in support of primary education and primary schools. Local theatre groups present plays and puppet shows about the importance of attending and completing primary school. The shows offer community members a chance to discuss sensitive issues like school attendance and drop-out rates. Over 2 million people attended these dramas in 2008.
Meena episodes contribute to a nation-wide awareness campaign promoting girls’ education, creative teaching and the idea that learning can be fun.
Empowering primary schools
UNICEF empowers parents, teachers and local communities to work together by providing school-improvement grants to school management committees. These committees meet regularly to develop School Level Improvement Plans (SLIPs) to manage the funds. Making decisions about the needs of the school fosters a sense of ownership among teachers and parents. Among the schools receiving grants, money has been spent on:
teaching materials
filing cabinets and bookshelves
books for school libraries
benches
tools
cleaning products
ramps for disabled access
a school bell
sports days and prizes
musical instruments
planting a school garden
constructing toilets
Teachers involved in the SLIP process report feeling more motivated in the classroom because they have greater control over school resources and the learning environment.
Making learning fun
In each of the 64 districts, education fairs bring together teachers and students from different schools. Displays of children’s work and student performances foster a sense of school community and encourage children to take pride in their achievements.
UNICEF is working to increase primary school enrolment and attendance through early learning programmes.
On track for education
Literacy is a key indicator of the success of primary school education. In Bangladesh, literacy rates among 15-24 year-olds increased from 37 per cent in 1991 to 54 per cent in 2006. Bangladesh is also on track to meet Millennium Goals two and three for universal primary education and gender parity in school.
Download the Quality primary education factsheet.
Teacher training
UNICEF supports training for teachers and school administrators on inclusive education, interactive teaching and other classroom subjects. Information leaflets on current issues in education – such as access for disabled children, participatory learning, corporal punishment, HIV/AIDS, school sanitation, child injury and emergency preparedness – are distributed to teachers. UNICEF is also helping the Government to revise the Certificate of Education curriculum to ensure that new primary teachers understand issues of gender, access and participation.
Motivating communities
UNICEF works to mobilize communities in support of primary education and primary schools. Local theatre groups present plays and puppet shows about the importance of attending and completing primary school. The shows offer community members a chance to discuss sensitive issues like school attendance and drop-out rates. Over 2 million people attended these dramas in 2008.
Meena episodes contribute to a nation-wide awareness campaign promoting girls’ education, creative teaching and the idea that learning can be fun.
Empowering primary schools
UNICEF empowers parents, teachers and local communities to work together by providing school-improvement grants to school management committees. These committees meet regularly to develop School Level Improvement Plans (SLIPs) to manage the funds. Making decisions about the needs of the school fosters a sense of ownership among teachers and parents. Among the schools receiving grants, money has been spent on:
teaching materials
filing cabinets and bookshelves
books for school libraries
benches
tools
cleaning products
ramps for disabled access
a school bell
sports days and prizes
musical instruments
planting a school garden
constructing toilets
Teachers involved in the SLIP process report feeling more motivated in the classroom because they have greater control over school resources and the learning environment.
Making learning fun
In each of the 64 districts, education fairs bring together teachers and students from different schools. Displays of children’s work and student performances foster a sense of school community and encourage children to take pride in their achievements.
UNICEF is working to increase primary school enrolment and attendance through early learning programmes.
On track for education
Literacy is a key indicator of the success of primary school education. In Bangladesh, literacy rates among 15-24 year-olds increased from 37 per cent in 1991 to 54 per cent in 2006. Bangladesh is also on track to meet Millennium Goals two and three for universal primary education and gender parity in school.
Download the Quality primary education factsheet.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government of Bangladesh on
UNICEF collaborates with the Government of Bangladesh on the Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Working Children (BEHTRUWC) project.
Education and child labour
Because many families rely on the income of their children to survive, UNICEF’s project for working children focuses on non-formal education that fits in around children’s regular work schedules. Education is the first step in breaking the cycle of unskilled-employment and child labour.
Learning centres
The project establishes small learning centres in urban areas that are home to high numbers of working children. Children between the age of 10 and 14 attend morning classes for two and a half hours, six days a week. There are 25 children in each class. The children usually return to their place of employment after class. By 2008, the project had opened 6,646 centres for 166,150 students in the six divisional capitals of Bangladesh. Attendance rates are encouraging, with few drop-outs.
Basic education and life skills
During their lessons, students study basic reading, writing and mathematics. They also learn a range of life skills, such as how to obtain healthcare, identify hazardous work, and understand their rights as children and other issues relevant to their situation. Classes are interactive, encouraging children to apply what they learn in their everyday lives.
After completing a 40-month basic education programme, the children attain the equivalent of grade five in Bangla and social science and grade three in mathematics. They also learn basic English. The programme supports selected children to attend further education and vocational training.
Download the Education for working children factsheet.
Education and child labour
Because many families rely on the income of their children to survive, UNICEF’s project for working children focuses on non-formal education that fits in around children’s regular work schedules. Education is the first step in breaking the cycle of unskilled-employment and child labour.
Learning centres
The project establishes small learning centres in urban areas that are home to high numbers of working children. Children between the age of 10 and 14 attend morning classes for two and a half hours, six days a week. There are 25 children in each class. The children usually return to their place of employment after class. By 2008, the project had opened 6,646 centres for 166,150 students in the six divisional capitals of Bangladesh. Attendance rates are encouraging, with few drop-outs.
Basic education and life skills
During their lessons, students study basic reading, writing and mathematics. They also learn a range of life skills, such as how to obtain healthcare, identify hazardous work, and understand their rights as children and other issues relevant to their situation. Classes are interactive, encouraging children to apply what they learn in their everyday lives.
After completing a 40-month basic education programme, the children attain the equivalent of grade five in Bangla and social science and grade three in mathematics. They also learn basic English. The programme supports selected children to attend further education and vocational training.
Download the Education for working children factsheet.
Children who participate in early childhood education are more likely to enroll and remain in primary school (and achieve better results) than those w
Children who participate in early childhood education are more likely to enroll and remain in primary school (and achieve better results) than those who cannot access comprehensive early childhood care.
Early learning centres
UNICEF’s Early Learning for Development Project provides centre-based care and education to the most vulnerable children between the ages of four and six.
Since 2006, UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh have established 5,560 early learning centres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, urban slums and other disadvantaged districts. Teachers help children develop their linguistic, social and cognitive skills through:
story-telling
singing
indoor and outdoor games
making toys from materials brought from home
drawing
show-and-tell
question-and-answer sessions
Education for teachers and parents
UNICEF has supported training of preschool teachers, one for each early learning centre, in a programme currently serving over 254,000 children. Parents are encouraged to visit the centres where they can learn how to give age-appropriate interactive care to young children at home.
Working with primary schools
The early learning centres link with primary schools to provide transition support and encourage primary school enrolment. A study of graduates from UNICEF-supported centres showed that 94 per cent of children who attended preschool in the Chittagong Hill Tracts later enrolled in primary school.
Food and learning
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, UNICEF is working with the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver micronutrient fortified biscuits to pre-school children attending the early learning centres. The mid-morning snacks motivate children to come to class. They also improve nutritional status and reduce short-term hunger, enhancing a child’s capacity to concentrate.
Child to child
UNICEF is piloting a child-to-child project to help prepare young children for primary school. Grade-five students from 30 primary schools pair with one or two local preschool-aged children. Each week, the grade-five students run an activity – drawing, singing, story telling or games – for the younger learners, under the supervision of a primary school teacher. The project provides additional early learning opportunities for young children and helps familiarise them with primary school.
Early learning for all
UNICEF works with the Government at policy level, and through the public media, to ensure that early learning is recognised as an essential part of every child’s education.
When the early learning programme was launched in 2001, public awareness of early childhood development and opportunities for formal early learning were almost non-existent. In 2007, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and UNICEF developed a pre-primary operational framework to establish preschool classes in all government primary schools by 2015.
UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh are committed to the Education for All initiative – a global movement to meet the educational needs of all people. Goal one is to expand and improve early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable children. UNICEF is working with the Government and NGOs to develop set standards for early learning throughout Bangladesh.
Download the Early learning factsheet.
Early learning centres
UNICEF’s Early Learning for Development Project provides centre-based care and education to the most vulnerable children between the ages of four and six.
Since 2006, UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh have established 5,560 early learning centres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, urban slums and other disadvantaged districts. Teachers help children develop their linguistic, social and cognitive skills through:
story-telling
singing
indoor and outdoor games
making toys from materials brought from home
drawing
show-and-tell
question-and-answer sessions
Education for teachers and parents
UNICEF has supported training of preschool teachers, one for each early learning centre, in a programme currently serving over 254,000 children. Parents are encouraged to visit the centres where they can learn how to give age-appropriate interactive care to young children at home.
Working with primary schools
The early learning centres link with primary schools to provide transition support and encourage primary school enrolment. A study of graduates from UNICEF-supported centres showed that 94 per cent of children who attended preschool in the Chittagong Hill Tracts later enrolled in primary school.
Food and learning
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, UNICEF is working with the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver micronutrient fortified biscuits to pre-school children attending the early learning centres. The mid-morning snacks motivate children to come to class. They also improve nutritional status and reduce short-term hunger, enhancing a child’s capacity to concentrate.
Child to child
UNICEF is piloting a child-to-child project to help prepare young children for primary school. Grade-five students from 30 primary schools pair with one or two local preschool-aged children. Each week, the grade-five students run an activity – drawing, singing, story telling or games – for the younger learners, under the supervision of a primary school teacher. The project provides additional early learning opportunities for young children and helps familiarise them with primary school.
Early learning for all
UNICEF works with the Government at policy level, and through the public media, to ensure that early learning is recognised as an essential part of every child’s education.
When the early learning programme was launched in 2001, public awareness of early childhood development and opportunities for formal early learning were almost non-existent. In 2007, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and UNICEF developed a pre-primary operational framework to establish preschool classes in all government primary schools by 2015.
UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh are committed to the Education for All initiative – a global movement to meet the educational needs of all people. Goal one is to expand and improve early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable children. UNICEF is working with the Government and NGOs to develop set standards for early learning throughout Bangladesh.
Download the Early learning factsheet.
Children who participate in early childhood education are more likely to enroll and remain in primary school (and achieve better results) than those w
Children who participate in early childhood education are more likely to enroll and remain in primary school (and achieve better results) than those who cannot access comprehensive early childhood care.
Early learning centres
UNICEF’s Early Learning for Development Project provides centre-based care and education to the most vulnerable children between the ages of four and six.
Since 2006, UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh have established 5,560 early learning centres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, urban slums and other disadvantaged districts. Teachers help children develop their linguistic, social and cognitive skills through:
story-telling
singing
indoor and outdoor games
making toys from materials brought from home
drawing
show-and-tell
question-and-answer sessions
Education for teachers and parents
UNICEF has supported training of preschool teachers, one for each early learning centre, in a programme currently serving over 254,000 children. Parents are encouraged to visit the centres where they can learn how to give age-appropriate interactive care to young children at home.
Working with primary schools
The early learning centres link with primary schools to provide transition support and encourage primary school enrolment. A study of graduates from UNICEF-supported centres showed that 94 per cent of children who attended preschool in the Chittagong Hill Tracts later enrolled in primary school.
Food and learning
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, UNICEF is working with the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver micronutrient fortified biscuits to pre-school children attending the early learning centres. The mid-morning snacks motivate children to come to class. They also improve nutritional status and reduce short-term hunger, enhancing a child’s capacity to concentrate.
Child to child
UNICEF is piloting a child-to-child project to help prepare young children for primary school. Grade-five students from 30 primary schools pair with one or two local preschool-aged children. Each week, the grade-five students run an activity – drawing, singing, story telling or games – for the younger learners, under the supervision of a primary school teacher. The project provides additional early learning opportunities for young children and helps familiarise them with primary school.
Early learning for all
UNICEF works with the Government at policy level, and through the public media, to ensure that early learning is recognised as an essential part of every child’s education.
When the early learning programme was launched in 2001, public awareness of early childhood development and opportunities for formal early learning were almost non-existent. In 2007, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and UNICEF developed a pre-primary operational framework to establish preschool classes in all government primary schools by 2015.
UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh are committed to the Education for All initiative – a global movement to meet the educational needs of all people. Goal one is to expand and improve early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable children. UNICEF is working with the Government and NGOs to develop set standards for early learning throughout Bangladesh.
Download the Early learning factsheet.
Early learning centres
UNICEF’s Early Learning for Development Project provides centre-based care and education to the most vulnerable children between the ages of four and six.
Since 2006, UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh have established 5,560 early learning centres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, urban slums and other disadvantaged districts. Teachers help children develop their linguistic, social and cognitive skills through:
story-telling
singing
indoor and outdoor games
making toys from materials brought from home
drawing
show-and-tell
question-and-answer sessions
Education for teachers and parents
UNICEF has supported training of preschool teachers, one for each early learning centre, in a programme currently serving over 254,000 children. Parents are encouraged to visit the centres where they can learn how to give age-appropriate interactive care to young children at home.
Working with primary schools
The early learning centres link with primary schools to provide transition support and encourage primary school enrolment. A study of graduates from UNICEF-supported centres showed that 94 per cent of children who attended preschool in the Chittagong Hill Tracts later enrolled in primary school.
Food and learning
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, UNICEF is working with the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver micronutrient fortified biscuits to pre-school children attending the early learning centres. The mid-morning snacks motivate children to come to class. They also improve nutritional status and reduce short-term hunger, enhancing a child’s capacity to concentrate.
Child to child
UNICEF is piloting a child-to-child project to help prepare young children for primary school. Grade-five students from 30 primary schools pair with one or two local preschool-aged children. Each week, the grade-five students run an activity – drawing, singing, story telling or games – for the younger learners, under the supervision of a primary school teacher. The project provides additional early learning opportunities for young children and helps familiarise them with primary school.
Early learning for all
UNICEF works with the Government at policy level, and through the public media, to ensure that early learning is recognised as an essential part of every child’s education.
When the early learning programme was launched in 2001, public awareness of early childhood development and opportunities for formal early learning were almost non-existent. In 2007, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and UNICEF developed a pre-primary operational framework to establish preschool classes in all government primary schools by 2015.
UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh are committed to the Education for All initiative – a global movement to meet the educational needs of all people. Goal one is to expand and improve early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable children. UNICEF is working with the Government and NGOs to develop set standards for early learning throughout Bangladesh.
Download the Early learning factsheet.
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Early learning
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Education for working children
Health and Nutrition
Maternal and neonatal health
Child survival
Nutrition
HIV/AIDS
Protection
Adolescent empowerment
Children at risk
Children and the law
Birth registration
Water, hygiene and sanitation
Sanitation and hygiene
Water and arsenic mitigation
Emergencies
H1N1 Pandemic Flu
Cyclone Sidr
Floods 2007
Avian influenza
Emergencies every day
Participation of children
Partners
Uniting for children
Industrialised countries
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International donor organisations
National committees for UNICEF
Government of Bangladesh
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Education for working children
Health and Nutrition
Maternal and neonatal health
Child survival
Nutrition
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Children and the law
Birth registration
Water, hygiene and sanitation
Sanitation and hygiene
Water and arsenic mitigation
Emergencies
H1N1 Pandemic Flu
Cyclone Sidr
Floods 2007
Avian influenza
Emergencies every day
Participation of children
Partners
Uniting for children
Industrialised countries
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International donor organisations
National committees for UNICEF
Government of Bangladesh
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Birth registration
Water, hygiene and sanitation
Sanitation and hygiene
Water and arsenic mitigation
Emergencies
H1N1 Pandemic Flu
Cyclone Sidr
Floods 2007
Avian influenza
Emergencies every day
Participation of children
Partners
Uniting for children
Industrialised countries
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Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh shares large borders with India and a small southern boundary with Myanmar. The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Megh
Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh shares large borders with India and a small southern boundary with Myanmar. The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers meet in Bangladesh to form the world’s largest delta. Extremely fertile, yet vulnerable to floods, and cyclones, this low-lying country supports a population of 159 million people. Over 40 per cent are children.
Click for a detailed map (PDF).
Rural poverty
Three-quarters of Bangladeshis live in rural areas. Families in rural Bangladesh rely primarily on agriculture and fishing for their daily income. Over half of these families live below the poverty line. In the face of frequent natural disasters and the growing threat of climate change, rural livelihoods are now more tenuous than ever.
Urban poverty
Increasing rural poverty is causing many families to migrate to the urban centres. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing mega-cities of the world. The pressures of rapid urbanization result in high land prices and the growth of large slums on illegal settlements.
Millennium Development Goals
Despite these difficulties, Bangladesh has made significant progress towards meeting the child-related Millennium Development Goals :
Click for a detailed map (PDF).
Rural poverty
Three-quarters of Bangladeshis live in rural areas. Families in rural Bangladesh rely primarily on agriculture and fishing for their daily income. Over half of these families live below the poverty line. In the face of frequent natural disasters and the growing threat of climate change, rural livelihoods are now more tenuous than ever.
Urban poverty
Increasing rural poverty is causing many families to migrate to the urban centres. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing mega-cities of the world. The pressures of rapid urbanization result in high land prices and the growth of large slums on illegal settlements.
Millennium Development Goals
Despite these difficulties, Bangladesh has made significant progress towards meeting the child-related Millennium Development Goals :
Working with UNICEF
Working with UNICEF
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh shares large borders with India and a small southern boundary with Myanmar. The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Megh
Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh shares large borders with India and a small southern boundary with Myanmar. The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers meet in Bangladesh to form the world’s largest delta. Extremely fertile, yet vulnerable to floods, and cyclones, this low-lying country supports a population of 159 million people. Over 40 per cent are children.
Click for a detailed map (PDF).
Rural poverty
Three-quarters of Bangladeshis live in rural areas. Families in rural Bangladesh rely primarily on agriculture and fishing for their daily income. Over half of these families live below the poverty line. In the face of frequent natural disasters and the growing threat of climate change, rural livelihoods are now more tenuous than ever.
Urban poverty
Increasing rural poverty is causing many families to migrate to the urban centres. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing mega-cities of the world. The pressures of rapid urbanization result in high land prices and the growth of large slums on illegal settlements.
Millennium Development Goals
Despite these difficulties, Bangladesh has made significant progress towards meeting the child-related Millennium Development Goals :
Click for a detailed map (PDF).
Rural poverty
Three-quarters of Bangladeshis live in rural areas. Families in rural Bangladesh rely primarily on agriculture and fishing for their daily income. Over half of these families live below the poverty line. In the face of frequent natural disasters and the growing threat of climate change, rural livelihoods are now more tenuous than ever.
Urban poverty
Increasing rural poverty is causing many families to migrate to the urban centres. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing mega-cities of the world. The pressures of rapid urbanization result in high land prices and the growth of large slums on illegal settlements.
Millennium Development Goals
Despite these difficulties, Bangladesh has made significant progress towards meeting the child-related Millennium Development Goals :
Working with UNICEF
Working with UNICEF
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Young people commit to and demand action on climate change
Young people commit to and demand action on climate change
COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2009 – Gathered from all over the world, 164 young people, aged 14 to 17, issued a Declaration in Copenhagen today committing to personal changes in their own lives and demanding that governments take actions to protect the world from the terrible effects of climate change.
“The battle against climate change is upon all of us. We are ready to act and we invite you to join us. Climate change is affecting our lives, our families and our future,” the document states. “We must act immediately and we are ready to fulfill our commitments. We are prepared to give all we have as long as there is the possibility of saving our planet,” it continues.
“We expect the same courage from you.” the Declaration concludes.
In the closing ceremony today in the City Hall, the young people presented their Declaration to the President of COP 15, Ms. Connie Hedegaard, who is expected to take the Declaration to the leaders present at the COP 15. Ms. Hedegaard restated the children’s statement that the time for talk is over.
“It’s so good that young people from the whole world are telling us – the politicians – that the time for action is now”, Ms. Hedegaard said, addressing the 164 young delegates.
“You must tell the Politicians that they cannot leave Copenhagen empty-handed two weeks from now. Because you, the citizens – the new generation – demand us to take action now”, Ms. Hedegaard continued.
The Declaration recommends that industrialized countries ramp up spending on adaption; cities be well planned and sustainable; safety standards, regulations and emergency protocols be established to prepare for climate induced disasters; better water conservation; education on sea level rise and flooding and biodiversity-related projects.
The young people also made recommendations to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which include: new energy-efficient technologies; investments in sustainable transport infrastructure; establishing a carbon trading system; establishing new classifications for countries – 1) industrialized countries, 2) developing countries which pollute heavily and the 3) less polluting developing countries; national recycling plans; mandatory climate change education in schools.
The Declaration came on the heels a week-long Children’s Climate Forum, consisting of consultations between the young delegations, study and training focusing on local activities that young people can take in their home towns.
The Forum was held in Copenhagen’s City Hall and was organized by the City of Copenhagen and the Danish National Committee for UNICEF.
The closing ceremony was followed by the Danish band Alien Beat Club performing the Children’s Climate Forum anthem "It's My World" together with the young people. The song was written especially for the Children's Climate Forum by Danish hitmaker Remee.
Later this evening, the young people will be named Climate Ambassadors, formalizing the commitments embodied in their Declaration, including to commit to personal life style changes for the “common good”; to educate themselves and their communities to mitigate the changing climate; to engage with all generations and governments to combat climate change. Their commitment is for one year.
To better implement their promises, the young people have formed a social network so they can share their experiences and difficulties as they put into action what they have learned. This network, to read the full declaration and the extensive reporting that youth journalists have carried out over the last seven days can be viewed at: uniteforclimate.org
The closing ceremony wrapped up with a press conference with five young spokespersons: Ulla Klint Heede, 17, Denmark; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15 Maldives; Bipra Biswambhara, 16 India; Travis Bruce Mills, 15, New Zealand, Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas, 15, UK.
Eight young delegates are staying on to participate in the COP 15, where they will bring the children’s voices to the world leaders . They are: Toriqul Islam Momen,15 , Bangladesh; Darwin David Temo Pena,17, Bolivia; Marie Moise Louissaint, 16, Haiti; Lourine Millicent Oyodah, 15, Kenya; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15, Maldives; Khadidiatou Diop, 17, Senegal; Bridgette Cindy Makhubedi, 16, South Africa, Kondwani Joe Banda, 17, Zambia
The young people reported on their activities throughout the week, with special reports from a class of high school journalism students which is available at: uniteforclimate.org where the full declaration is posted.
For further information, to obtain b-roll and photos, please contact:
Karin Aaen, UNICEF Denmark,
Tel + 0045 25 39 60 99,
E-mail: kaaen@unicef.dk
Uffe Lembo, Københavns Kommune,
Tel + 0045 28 11 19 29,
E-mail: uffe.lembo@buf.kk.dk
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media,
Tel in Denmark: + 1 212 378 2128
E-mail: kdonovan@unicef.org
COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2009 – Gathered from all over the world, 164 young people, aged 14 to 17, issued a Declaration in Copenhagen today committing to personal changes in their own lives and demanding that governments take actions to protect the world from the terrible effects of climate change.
“The battle against climate change is upon all of us. We are ready to act and we invite you to join us. Climate change is affecting our lives, our families and our future,” the document states. “We must act immediately and we are ready to fulfill our commitments. We are prepared to give all we have as long as there is the possibility of saving our planet,” it continues.
“We expect the same courage from you.” the Declaration concludes.
In the closing ceremony today in the City Hall, the young people presented their Declaration to the President of COP 15, Ms. Connie Hedegaard, who is expected to take the Declaration to the leaders present at the COP 15. Ms. Hedegaard restated the children’s statement that the time for talk is over.
“It’s so good that young people from the whole world are telling us – the politicians – that the time for action is now”, Ms. Hedegaard said, addressing the 164 young delegates.
“You must tell the Politicians that they cannot leave Copenhagen empty-handed two weeks from now. Because you, the citizens – the new generation – demand us to take action now”, Ms. Hedegaard continued.
The Declaration recommends that industrialized countries ramp up spending on adaption; cities be well planned and sustainable; safety standards, regulations and emergency protocols be established to prepare for climate induced disasters; better water conservation; education on sea level rise and flooding and biodiversity-related projects.
The young people also made recommendations to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which include: new energy-efficient technologies; investments in sustainable transport infrastructure; establishing a carbon trading system; establishing new classifications for countries – 1) industrialized countries, 2) developing countries which pollute heavily and the 3) less polluting developing countries; national recycling plans; mandatory climate change education in schools.
The Declaration came on the heels a week-long Children’s Climate Forum, consisting of consultations between the young delegations, study and training focusing on local activities that young people can take in their home towns.
The Forum was held in Copenhagen’s City Hall and was organized by the City of Copenhagen and the Danish National Committee for UNICEF.
The closing ceremony was followed by the Danish band Alien Beat Club performing the Children’s Climate Forum anthem "It's My World" together with the young people. The song was written especially for the Children's Climate Forum by Danish hitmaker Remee.
Later this evening, the young people will be named Climate Ambassadors, formalizing the commitments embodied in their Declaration, including to commit to personal life style changes for the “common good”; to educate themselves and their communities to mitigate the changing climate; to engage with all generations and governments to combat climate change. Their commitment is for one year.
To better implement their promises, the young people have formed a social network so they can share their experiences and difficulties as they put into action what they have learned. This network, to read the full declaration and the extensive reporting that youth journalists have carried out over the last seven days can be viewed at: uniteforclimate.org
The closing ceremony wrapped up with a press conference with five young spokespersons: Ulla Klint Heede, 17, Denmark; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15 Maldives; Bipra Biswambhara, 16 India; Travis Bruce Mills, 15, New Zealand, Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas, 15, UK.
Eight young delegates are staying on to participate in the COP 15, where they will bring the children’s voices to the world leaders . They are: Toriqul Islam Momen,15 , Bangladesh; Darwin David Temo Pena,17, Bolivia; Marie Moise Louissaint, 16, Haiti; Lourine Millicent Oyodah, 15, Kenya; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15, Maldives; Khadidiatou Diop, 17, Senegal; Bridgette Cindy Makhubedi, 16, South Africa, Kondwani Joe Banda, 17, Zambia
The young people reported on their activities throughout the week, with special reports from a class of high school journalism students which is available at: uniteforclimate.org where the full declaration is posted.
For further information, to obtain b-roll and photos, please contact:
Karin Aaen, UNICEF Denmark,
Tel + 0045 25 39 60 99,
E-mail: kaaen@unicef.dk
Uffe Lembo, Københavns Kommune,
Tel + 0045 28 11 19 29,
E-mail: uffe.lembo@buf.kk.dk
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media,
Tel in Denmark: + 1 212 378 2128
E-mail: kdonovan@unicef.org
Young people commit to and demand action on climate change
Young people commit to and demand action on climate change
COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2009 – Gathered from all over the world, 164 young people, aged 14 to 17, issued a Declaration in Copenhagen today committing to personal changes in their own lives and demanding that governments take actions to protect the world from the terrible effects of climate change.
“The battle against climate change is upon all of us. We are ready to act and we invite you to join us. Climate change is affecting our lives, our families and our future,” the document states. “We must act immediately and we are ready to fulfill our commitments. We are prepared to give all we have as long as there is the possibility of saving our planet,” it continues.
“We expect the same courage from you.” the Declaration concludes.
In the closing ceremony today in the City Hall, the young people presented their Declaration to the President of COP 15, Ms. Connie Hedegaard, who is expected to take the Declaration to the leaders present at the COP 15. Ms. Hedegaard restated the children’s statement that the time for talk is over.
“It’s so good that young people from the whole world are telling us – the politicians – that the time for action is now”, Ms. Hedegaard said, addressing the 164 young delegates.
“You must tell the Politicians that they cannot leave Copenhagen empty-handed two weeks from now. Because you, the citizens – the new generation – demand us to take action now”, Ms. Hedegaard continued.
The Declaration recommends that industrialized countries ramp up spending on adaption; cities be well planned and sustainable; safety standards, regulations and emergency protocols be established to prepare for climate induced disasters; better water conservation; education on sea level rise and flooding and biodiversity-related projects.
The young people also made recommendations to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which include: new energy-efficient technologies; investments in sustainable transport infrastructure; establishing a carbon trading system; establishing new classifications for countries – 1) industrialized countries, 2) developing countries which pollute heavily and the 3) less polluting developing countries; national recycling plans; mandatory climate change education in schools.
The Declaration came on the heels a week-long Children’s Climate Forum, consisting of consultations between the young delegations, study and training focusing on local activities that young people can take in their home towns.
The Forum was held in Copenhagen’s City Hall and was organized by the City of Copenhagen and the Danish National Committee for UNICEF.
The closing ceremony was followed by the Danish band Alien Beat Club performing the Children’s Climate Forum anthem "It's My World" together with the young people. The song was written especially for the Children's Climate Forum by Danish hitmaker Remee.
Later this evening, the young people will be named Climate Ambassadors, formalizing the commitments embodied in their Declaration, including to commit to personal life style changes for the “common good”; to educate themselves and their communities to mitigate the changing climate; to engage with all generations and governments to combat climate change. Their commitment is for one year.
To better implement their promises, the young people have formed a social network so they can share their experiences and difficulties as they put into action what they have learned. This network, to read the full declaration and the extensive reporting that youth journalists have carried out over the last seven days can be viewed at: uniteforclimate.org
The closing ceremony wrapped up with a press conference with five young spokespersons: Ulla Klint Heede, 17, Denmark; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15 Maldives; Bipra Biswambhara, 16 India; Travis Bruce Mills, 15, New Zealand, Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas, 15, UK.
Eight young delegates are staying on to participate in the COP 15, where they will bring the children’s voices to the world leaders . They are: Toriqul Islam Momen,15 , Bangladesh; Darwin David Temo Pena,17, Bolivia; Marie Moise Louissaint, 16, Haiti; Lourine Millicent Oyodah, 15, Kenya; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15, Maldives; Khadidiatou Diop, 17, Senegal; Bridgette Cindy Makhubedi, 16, South Africa, Kondwani Joe Banda, 17, Zambia
The young people reported on their activities throughout the week, with special reports from a class of high school journalism students which is available at: uniteforclimate.org where the full declaration is posted.
For further information, to obtain b-roll and photos, please contact:
Karin Aaen, UNICEF Denmark,
Tel + 0045 25 39 60 99,
E-mail: kaaen@unicef.dk
Uffe Lembo, Københavns Kommune,
Tel + 0045 28 11 19 29,
E-mail: uffe.lembo@buf.kk.dk
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media,
Tel in Denmark: + 1 212 378 2128
E-mail: kdonovan@unicef.org
COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2009 – Gathered from all over the world, 164 young people, aged 14 to 17, issued a Declaration in Copenhagen today committing to personal changes in their own lives and demanding that governments take actions to protect the world from the terrible effects of climate change.
“The battle against climate change is upon all of us. We are ready to act and we invite you to join us. Climate change is affecting our lives, our families and our future,” the document states. “We must act immediately and we are ready to fulfill our commitments. We are prepared to give all we have as long as there is the possibility of saving our planet,” it continues.
“We expect the same courage from you.” the Declaration concludes.
In the closing ceremony today in the City Hall, the young people presented their Declaration to the President of COP 15, Ms. Connie Hedegaard, who is expected to take the Declaration to the leaders present at the COP 15. Ms. Hedegaard restated the children’s statement that the time for talk is over.
“It’s so good that young people from the whole world are telling us – the politicians – that the time for action is now”, Ms. Hedegaard said, addressing the 164 young delegates.
“You must tell the Politicians that they cannot leave Copenhagen empty-handed two weeks from now. Because you, the citizens – the new generation – demand us to take action now”, Ms. Hedegaard continued.
The Declaration recommends that industrialized countries ramp up spending on adaption; cities be well planned and sustainable; safety standards, regulations and emergency protocols be established to prepare for climate induced disasters; better water conservation; education on sea level rise and flooding and biodiversity-related projects.
The young people also made recommendations to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which include: new energy-efficient technologies; investments in sustainable transport infrastructure; establishing a carbon trading system; establishing new classifications for countries – 1) industrialized countries, 2) developing countries which pollute heavily and the 3) less polluting developing countries; national recycling plans; mandatory climate change education in schools.
The Declaration came on the heels a week-long Children’s Climate Forum, consisting of consultations between the young delegations, study and training focusing on local activities that young people can take in their home towns.
The Forum was held in Copenhagen’s City Hall and was organized by the City of Copenhagen and the Danish National Committee for UNICEF.
The closing ceremony was followed by the Danish band Alien Beat Club performing the Children’s Climate Forum anthem "It's My World" together with the young people. The song was written especially for the Children's Climate Forum by Danish hitmaker Remee.
Later this evening, the young people will be named Climate Ambassadors, formalizing the commitments embodied in their Declaration, including to commit to personal life style changes for the “common good”; to educate themselves and their communities to mitigate the changing climate; to engage with all generations and governments to combat climate change. Their commitment is for one year.
To better implement their promises, the young people have formed a social network so they can share their experiences and difficulties as they put into action what they have learned. This network, to read the full declaration and the extensive reporting that youth journalists have carried out over the last seven days can be viewed at: uniteforclimate.org
The closing ceremony wrapped up with a press conference with five young spokespersons: Ulla Klint Heede, 17, Denmark; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15 Maldives; Bipra Biswambhara, 16 India; Travis Bruce Mills, 15, New Zealand, Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas, 15, UK.
Eight young delegates are staying on to participate in the COP 15, where they will bring the children’s voices to the world leaders . They are: Toriqul Islam Momen,15 , Bangladesh; Darwin David Temo Pena,17, Bolivia; Marie Moise Louissaint, 16, Haiti; Lourine Millicent Oyodah, 15, Kenya; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15, Maldives; Khadidiatou Diop, 17, Senegal; Bridgette Cindy Makhubedi, 16, South Africa, Kondwani Joe Banda, 17, Zambia
The young people reported on their activities throughout the week, with special reports from a class of high school journalism students which is available at: uniteforclimate.org where the full declaration is posted.
For further information, to obtain b-roll and photos, please contact:
Karin Aaen, UNICEF Denmark,
Tel + 0045 25 39 60 99,
E-mail: kaaen@unicef.dk
Uffe Lembo, Københavns Kommune,
Tel + 0045 28 11 19 29,
E-mail: uffe.lembo@buf.kk.dk
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media,
Tel in Denmark: + 1 212 378 2128
E-mail: kdonovan@unicef.org
Water and sanitation
Water and sanitation
Only 36 per cent of the population use improved latrines.
Only 80 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water, primarily because of naturally occurring arsenic contamination of groundwater in some areas.
Safe hygiene practices, especially proper hand washing, remain a challenge in the fight against disease.
Emergencies and conflict
Development is hampered by annual floods and other natural disasters, including cyclones and tornados. Bangladesh is also susceptible to earthquakes.
Avian influenza continues to threaten lives and livelihoods in Bangladesh.
Low-lying Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in south-eastern Bangladesh, where ethnic minorities make up half the population, have suffered a slower development rate than the national average, due primarily to a history of civil conflict and the difficult terrain.
The health and wellbeing of Rohingya refugee children, whose families fled from Myanmar to the south-eastern part of Bangladesh following internal conflict, remains a concern.
Only 36 per cent of the population use improved latrines.
Only 80 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water, primarily because of naturally occurring arsenic contamination of groundwater in some areas.
Safe hygiene practices, especially proper hand washing, remain a challenge in the fight against disease.
Emergencies and conflict
Development is hampered by annual floods and other natural disasters, including cyclones and tornados. Bangladesh is also susceptible to earthquakes.
Avian influenza continues to threaten lives and livelihoods in Bangladesh.
Low-lying Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in south-eastern Bangladesh, where ethnic minorities make up half the population, have suffered a slower development rate than the national average, due primarily to a history of civil conflict and the difficult terrain.
The health and wellbeing of Rohingya refugee children, whose families fled from Myanmar to the south-eastern part of Bangladesh following internal conflict, remains a concern.
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