BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – REGIONAL childcare experts and policymakers have convened at the Marriott Resort and Royal Bach Casino to examine the status and welfare of children across the Caribbean.
Almost a hundred delegates from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Barbados and Turks and Caicos are meeting with representatives of the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) from June 1 to 3.
On the agenda is the mid-term review of the 2008-2011 multi-country programme of cooperation between UNICEF and the government of those countries.
Under the theme “Rethinking the agenda for children”, policymakers will assess whether conditions and objectives of the programme are being met and advise solutions for their fulfillment.
They will also examine UNICEF’s priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean and the effects of climate change and natural disasters on regional child protection efforts.
UNICEF’s representative for Barbados and the OECS, Tom Olsen, commended regional governments for their progress since adopting the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), but warned against complacency in meeting reporting requirements.
“UNICEF is satisfied that international governments are taking their commitment to their children seriously. But we remained concerned that this sub-region lags behind other countries in relation to reporting accountability on CRC implementation.
“We encourage regional governments to finalise and submit any outstanding state party reports they are required to provide under CRC conventions.”
Noting that children were facing “unprecedented challenges”, Olsen said UNICEF would continue to help governments and institutions strengthen their policies for child development, protection and education.
Ahead of the government’s presentation of the draft mid-term review report for SKN, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas outlined measures undertaken to improve the welfare of local children.
Douglas explained that these policies are an indication of his administration’s commitment to fulfilling its CRC obligations.
“We have granted universal access to preschool and daycare facilities, as well as subsiding textbooks costs, examination fees and uniform costs for students from low-income families. We are also developing a protocol that would protect our children from all types of abuse.
“The government is quite aware of the need to invest resources in our children. That is why we will continue to work with development partners such as UNICEF to enhance their status in society,” he said.
