By IANS
United Nations : Efforts to improve the lives of children around the world have made considerable progress over the recent years, the UN General Assembly has said.
The General Assembly that began high-level talks here Tuesday on the outcome of the Special Session on Children held in 2002, expressed satisfaction over the progress made in this regard but called for more efforts to building a world that would be truly fit for every child, BuaNews reported Thursday.
Five years ago governments committed themselves to a set of time-bound and specific goals in four priority areas concerning children, namely promotion of health, quality education, protection from abuse, exploitation and violence and combating HIV and AIDS.
Highlighting some of the progress that has been achieved in recent years, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim of Macedonia said that fewer children under five are dying each year and more children are in school than ever before.
“However, we still have a long way to go,” Kerim said.
He added that key international priorities, including responding to climate change, financing for development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, are closely tied to the aims of ‘A World Fit for Children’, the plan of action adopted at the 2002 special session of the General Assembly.
The challenges that still remain include diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, which continue to afflict millions of children, he said.
A large number of children are still subject to violence, exploitation and abuse and particularly girl children are largely vulnerable to inequity and discrimination, he pointed out.
Deputy UN Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro also presented a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to children.
He said the report provided new information on how far the world has come in making a world fit for children.
“If we are to have any chance of meeting these critical Millennium Development Goals, we must invest in every child, in every community, give each child a healthy start in life, a good basic education, protection from exploitation and a chance to develop to his or her full capacity,” Migiro said.
The UN chief’s report draws on data of a report published Monday by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) entitled “Progress for Children: A World Fit for Children Statistical Review.”
The two-day special session will conclude Thursday and representatives of more than 140 member states are expected to adopt a declaration reaffirming global and national commitments to the goals set in 2002.