Children are affected most when landmines and explosives are used in conflicts, UN children’s agency UNICEF says. A new report from the agency says the landmine and explosive legacy in Myanmar (formerly Burma) killed or maimed at least 210 children last year. Those children represent over 20 percent of last year’s 1,052 civilian casualties in Read more
South Asia faces the daunting task of eliminating child marriages as the region is home to nearly half of the world’s child brides, says a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report. South Asian countries account for 290 million or 45 percent of the total of 640 million child brides globally, according to the report released Read more
Despite the Ardern government’s stated child poverty focus, more and more of New Zealand’s children, particularly Māori and Pacific children, are suffering. In the face of miserable outcomes in relation to child poverty, obesity, suicide and basic education, the Prime Minister remains upbeat about her government’s efforts to date. “You would be hard pressed to Read more
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wants New Zealand to be the best place in the world to grow up – but Unicef’s latest child wellbeing rankings have the country among the worst-performing in the developed world. Ardern insists progress is being made – and she points out that some of the data used in the damning Read more
Twenty-seven million child refugees have left school early in 24 countries involved in conflicts. A UNICEF report says migrant children and young people, with low levels of education, “run an ever greater risk of exploitation.” Of the minors who move on the route that connects the Mediterranean with Central Europe, the report found 90% of Read more
New Zealand needs a greater commitment to measuring the children’s well-being say New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops. Responding to the release of the UNICEF Innocenti report into Child well-being in rich countries, Archbishop John Dew, speaking on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, said it was a matter of concern that New Zealand does Read more
‘All is connected…’ I began these musings in March with this tag. It becomes clearer to me and more relevant each time. We have been gifted this beautiful world to use and enjoy. Not to plunder and pollute. Governments seem paralysed by inertia or denial of the disastrous effects of climate change, already evident in the Read more
A couple of weeks ago Jonah Lomu announced that for 5 days this month he and his family were each going to live on just $2.25 a day. This is to raise awareness for UNICEF”s “Live Below the Line” challenge. I admire his intention but will this really help the poor? Saturday’s DomPost Your Weekend Read more
Over 14,000 thousand people, including 5,000 children, have been displaced from their homes by the Fiji floods. These families are sheltering in over 200 evacuation centres and many lack regular access to water, food and essential items. Water and electricity shortages across the Western Division are creating a potentially dangerous situation for thousands more. The Read more
The United Nations Children’s Fund says nutrition for children affected by the Fiji floods is a major concern. “It felt really heart wrenching to see families, and especially young children in the evacuation centers with nothing but the clothes on their back. Some lost everything while others saved what they could. It was really sad Read more