UNICEF UK Trustees Report and Financial Statements 2010

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The United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2010 Vulnerable children, Africa and Asia Over the past two years, UNICEF UK’s Building Young Futures partnership with Barclays has seen the registration of nearly 8,500 vulnerable children at centres in Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan. In Kenya and Nigeria, nearly 2,000 street children and victims of trafficking registered at child protection centres. These centres are a safe haven where children can wash, eat and receive counselling. In Pakistan, the partnership supported the establishment of informal schools for more than 4,300 children working in brick-making factories. In Botswana, the partnership supports training for more than 1,200 out-of-school youths at centres around the country. Child migrants, UK UNICEF UK published Levelling the Playing Field, a major piece of research into the provision of services to unaccompanied and separated migrant children in three local authority areas in England (Kent, Solihull and Harrow). The report formed the basis for meetings between UNICEF UK, the Immigration Minister and the Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency. The report also contributed to the UK Border Agency issuing new policy guidance Processing an Asylum Application from a Child, embedding the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the principle of the ‘best interests of the child’ in examining asylum cases. Child protection, Romania Our corporate partner Visa Europe is funding a 2-year child protection programme in north-east Romania. The community based programme addresses the needs of the poorest and most marginalised children in Romania to help prevent the abandonment of children. A UNICEF study in 2008 found that more than 125,000 children under the age of 10 have both parents living abroad. Tackling violence, Trinidad and Tobago Through International Inspiration, UNICEF UK and partners are working in schools and communities across Trinidad and Tobago to increase access to sport and physical activity. The programme uses sport to build connections between young people and tackle the issue of violence. It develops leadership skills, respect, tolerance and teamwork. In November, International Inspiration Ambassador and former world champion hurdler Colin Jackson visited Trinidad and Tobago and spoke first hand to some of the young people gaining skills and confidence through the programme, and changing their lives as a result. Child protection, Thailand Six years after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the impact of the disaster still continues to be felt across the six worst affected provinces of Thailand. Hundreds of thousands of children were left vulnerable: parents were lost, families fractured and whole communities destabilised. UNICEF UK has been working hard to improve the lives and futures of those whose lives were disrupted. Thanks to a Big Lottery Fund grant of more than £460,000 over two years, UNICEF UK has helped to complete interviews with more than 220,000 child victims of child protection violations or children identified as at risk. These interviews will informed a new Child Protection Monitoring System, where communities, families and 14
The United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2010 professionals work together to make sure that Thailand’s vulnerable children, including migrants and children unregistered at birth, are less susceptible to violence, abuse and exploitation. The system will help to ensure that these children receive emergency care, medical treatment, counselling and family support services. e. Policy, partnership and participation for children Every child has the right to a voice on matters that affect them and to have their views taken seriously. We know that giving children a voice can both help build their confidence and make sure that programmes and policies genuinely respond to the real issues in children’s lives. Without a voice, children suffer in silence. UNICEF uses its access and influence to mobilise support from governments, other agencies and the private sector to make the greatest difference to children’s lives. We aim to put children’s rights and the reduction of child poverty at the centre of social and economic policy. UNICEF publishes findings from its emergency and development work and conducts research into the situation of children worldwide. UN Convention on the Rights of the Child The principles and values of the Convention on the Rights of the Child underpin all of UNICEF’s work. UNICEF is the only organisation (other than the UN itself) whose name appears in the Convention. Article 45 says that UNICEF can provide expert advice and assistance on children’s rights to government. UNICEF UK continues to influence the UK and devolved governments to take their responsibilities under the Convention seriously In 2010, we celebrated the 21st anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child with an event at the House of Lords, attended by 21 Parliamentarians and 50 guests. In addition, 12 MPs marked the occasion with visits to Rights Respecting Schools (see page 10). During the year, UK Government ministers Sarah Teather, Nick Gibb, Ed Balls and the Northern Ireland Minister for Education Caitríona Ruane also visited Rights Respecting Schools. During her visit, Sarah Teather said, “As Children’s Minister, I also have an important role to play in challenging government to take account of the Convention when making new policies. I shall be closely scrutinising new legislation and key policies that directly affect children and young people to ensure we act on this commitment.” Following pressure from UNICEF UK, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) produced UNCRC: How Legislation Underpins Implementation in England, which maps out English legislation against all of the 44 articles in the Convention. It sets out the impact of the Convention on the rights and entitlements of children and young people in the UK, and on policy and practice concerning them. It also looks at out how key legislative provisions, case law and policy in England protect the rights and obligations set out in the Convention. In 2010 the Welsh Government, after working with UNICEF UK on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, improved its draft law to embed the Convention into Welsh law. This draft legislation is unique in common law countries and puts Wales 15
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UNICEF UK Trustees Report and Financial Statements 2010

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