[child-rights] UNICEF releases The State of the World's Children 2003

UNICEF says giving young people a constructive role is essential to their
development - and to a more cohesive, peaceful world

UNICEF
Press Release

MEXICO CITY / BRUSSELS, 11 December 2002 - Asserting that tens of millions
of children around the world feel disconnected from political institutions
and lack trust in their governments, UNICEF said today that children must
be given more of a voice and more ways to participate in decisions
affecting their lives.

"In a world wounded by conflict and divided by poverty it is absolutely
essential that children be embraced, listened to, and given a role in
crafting a better future for themselves," said Carol Bellamy, Executive
Director of UNICEF. "Enabling children and adolescents to participate
constructively in their communities and nations is crucial to nurturing
their inherent optimism and preparing them for a constructive and
meaningful adulthood."

Launching UNICEF's flagship annual report, "The State of the World's
Children 2003," Bellamy said surveys carried out on four continents over
the past three years with a base sample of 40,000 children had made clear
that millions have doubts about the usefulness of voting as a method of
improving their lives and do not see government leaders as role models.

"Through these findings, children have told us something very important
about the values they are growing up with," Bellamy said. "Our first
response must be simply to listen to what they're saying, because in fact
what they're saying is that we do not listen enough. Our second response
must be to engage children and adolescents, give them a positive role in
issues affecting them, and seize their special insights as well as their
eagerness to help in creating positive change."

Bellamy said the recent surveys, coupled with UNICEF's positive experience
involving children in its programs, had led the organization to devote its
flagship report to the subject. The State of the World's Children 2003
examines the largely unexplored issue of "child participation" - that is,
the degree to which children and young people are enabled to constructively
engage in issues that affect their lives. The report asserts that
participation of children is essential to preparing them for the
responsibilities they will assume as adults, as well as to more cohesive
societies.

"Through participation at early ages in issues that concern them - far from
promoting anarchy or disrespect for authority, or undermining parental
authority - we see a generation of young people who are more respectful and
concerned about their rights and the rights of others," the report states.
The report also asserts that there is a serious downside to leaving
children out. It cautions that when children are excluded from the process
of decision-making and are provided few opportunities to engage
constructively in matters that directly affect their lives as they mature,
they fail to develop vital skills, including the to ability express
themselves, negotiate differences, make responsible life choices, engage in
positive dialogue or assume responsibility for self, family, and community.

What Children Add

Beyond the long-term benefits to children themselves and the societies they
grow to lead, State of the World's Children 2003 finds that when children
are given an appropriate way to participate in adult decisions and action,
those decisions and actions tend to be more positive, more creative, more
energetic, and more fruitful.

"Children and adolescents have proved that when they are involved, they can
make a difference in the world around them. They have ideas, experiences
and insights that enrich adult understanding and make a positive
contribution to adult actions," the report states.

It cites numerous examples of how children, when listened to and given a
chance to act, have been able to bring positive change in their communities.

Examples:
- In the province of Baluchistan, Pakistan, where the female literacy rate
is 2 percent, local boy scout troops began lobbying education officials to
allow girls to attend their schools. Their efforts resulted in 2,500 new
girls enrolling in school in the first year.
- In the Abia state of Nigeria, students from a local high school organized
a door-to-door campaign to educate the region's 25,000 Afugiri population
about the importance of immunization. As a result, hundreds of Afugiri
woman who would not otherwise not have been fully aware of the benefits of
immunization took their children to the local health clinics for care.
Theses efforts likely saved hundreds of lives.

"I think society gains from young people and children's participation
because of the freshness that children and young people bring to issues,"
Bellamy said. "They might not have the most feasible solutions all the
time, but they rarely just assume that it's business as usual. So there are
more opportunities, broader ideas thrown on to the table. And from those
opportunities more success is possible."

Reaching the Millennium Goals

Bellamy noted that of the eight major goals adopted by the nations of the
world in 2000 - known as the Millennium Development Goals - six pertain to
children and will require sustained investment in children's well-being.
She said that listening to children, understanding their unique
perspectives, and involving them in efforts to reach the Millennium Goals
is crucial to success. Most of the goals are set for 2015. But one,
pertaining to improving educational opportunity for girls, is set for 2005.

The UNICEF report argues that world leaders must tap young people and
recognize them as important resources. And it calls on governments to begin
teaching children democratic values in early childhood by expanding
children's access to education and participation in civil society and
government.

"If we fail to promote child participation from an early age, we are
missing an amazing opportunity to deepen democracy and human dignity around
the world," Bellamy said. "That failure leaves young people with a sense of
powerlessness and exclusion from society - and that can carry a great cost."

The UNICEF report points out 150 million children still suffer from
malnutrition, that 120 million school school-age children are not in school
(the majority girls), and that 6,000 children and young people are infected
with HIV every day. The report argues that engaging children and young
people and including them in the decision-making processes and in the
prevention effort that affect their lives is essential to addressing these
problems.

"Listening to the opinions of children does not mean simply endorsing their
views," the report notes. "Rather, engaging them in dialogue and exchange
allows them to learn constructive ways of influencing the world around
them. The social give and take of participation encourages children to
assume increasing responsibilities as active, tolerant and democratic
citizens in formation."

About the international launch in Mexico City

Bellamy launched The State of the World's Children 2003 in Mexico City
today, where she also took part in an inter-generational dialogue that
brought Mexican children to the table with national leaders, including
President Vicente Fox.

Bellamy said that launching the report in the Americas was especially
appropriate because the region has been a leader in recognizing and
implementing child rights, including the right of children to participate
in all matters affecting them.

"Latin America has shown outstanding leadership when it comes to listening
to and respecting the views of children," Bellamy said. "I am especially
grateful to President Fox for his commitment to children's rights and for
showing his nation how important and valuable it can be to engage and
involve children in building a better future."

About the European launch in Brussels

In Brussels, the report was launched today in conjunction with UNICEF
Belgium's 50th anniversary celebrations.

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kul Gautam led a discussion on child
participation with the help of young people from Benin, Congo, Italy,
Namibia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and Belgium taking
part. The children shared their perspectives and ideas at an event called,
"Children, Actors of Change." Also taking part were Vanessa Redgrave,
UNICEF Special Representative for the Performing Arts, and leading
political figures from Belgium and the European Parliament.

* * *
See the complete State of the World's Children report
and fully updated 2003 global statistical tables at
www.unicef.org
Broadcast media may order the SOWC video b-roll at:
http://www.unicef.org/broadcast/brolls/sowc2003/index.html

For additional information and interviews with UNICEF experts, please contact:
Alfred Ironside, UNICEF Media,
New York & Mexico City (212) 326-7261
Wivina Belmonte, UNICEF Media,
Geneva & Brussels (4179) 204-2345
Mitchie Topper, UNICEF Media,
New York (212) 303-7910
Monica Sayrols, UNICEF Media,
Mexico City (52-55) 5202-3233, ext. 207
Salvador Herencia, UNICEF Media, Panama City & Mexico City (507) 616-3159
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media, New York (212) 824-6722