Guyana, UNICEF sign 2013 work plan - data collection, reporting methods to be strengthened
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh today signed UNICEF’s 2013 work plan which outlines priority areas under which work will be undertaken during the year, including specific interventions in the areas of survival, development, protection and participation for the benefit of Guyanese children.
This is the second year of the UNICEF/GoG Country Programme of cooperation for the period 2012-2016. Over the next four years, UNICEF will work in partnership with the Government and will continue to focus on the implementation of evidence- based programmes of action which support the rights and development of children and women.
This will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the areas of eliminating poverty and hunger, universal education, gender equality, maternal and child health and HIV/AIDS, with a key emphasis on equity.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and United Nations Children’s Fund Representative, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh signing the 2013 work plan
At the signing ceremony, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett expressed Government’s gratitude to UNICEF and lauded the working relations between the two parties.
The implementation of the activities contained in this agreement would cost US $1.2M and is part of a larger programme that will lead up to 2016.
The world plan will focus on data collection, which Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said will go a far way in informing Government’s policies.
“Some of the work that will be done in terms of women and children will inform the Government on what policies we should put in place, what we should amend and what we should do away with,” she said. Over recent years, Guyana has been striving to improve on its data collection.
Another aspect deals with educating Members of Parliament (MPs) on child rights.
The Minister explained that this agreement is being signed at a time when the special select committee has been appointed to look at the recommendations emanating from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). These recommendations cover aspects such as corporal and capital punishment and issues relating to lesbians, gay, bisexuals and transgender.
In terms of corporal punishment, the select committee has already agreed to engage UNICEF in an effort to ensure that the voices of children are heard.
Government is also set to receive technical assistance with respect to it reporting responsibilities on the protocol to the convention of the rights of the child. The Foreign Affairs Minister explained that this is a problem that many small, developing countries face, especially in the Caribbean.
The large countries have enough resources to set up an entire department dedicated to reporting to international bodies. Nevertheless, in the last two years, Guyana has made significant strides in improving its reportage.
Meanwhile, Braimoh said that the signing ceremony occurred at a good time given the recent release of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s concluding observation on child rights situations in Guyana. This is based on the Government’s combined second, third and fourth reports.
He added that UNICEF is looking forward to working with Guyana in all of the areas mentioned in this regard.
The signing of the work plan signals the continued commitment of UNICEF, in partnership with the Government, and with support and collaboration from civil society and other stakeholders, to take action towards achieving positive results for children in Guyana.