Celebrating 25 Years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Cook Islands

Girls and boys during their water break with
UNICEF Pacific’s Deputy Representative, Isabelle Austin.
©UNICEF Pacificy/2012/Olul

Twenty-five years ago the world made a promise to children; promising that we would do everything in our power to protect and promote their rights to survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their full potential. This promise was called the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and in 2014 we spent the year celebrating its 25th birthday by working with children and communities to highlight the rights that it promised for children, and supporting children to enjoy them. These are just some of the ways that we celebrated the anniversary in the Pacific: 

A right to play: 

Who are you?

Over the weekend, I conducted an exercise asking people around me a simple question, “Who are you?” Think about this question for a moment. Have a quick three-sentence response in mind?

In my experience, invariably, the answer began with a name followed by either what one did for a living and/or where they came from or lived. Please do share and tell us more about who you are with #whoareyou. 

For the love of Tennis

Daisy/Naomi on the tennis court. 

© UNICEF Pacific/2014/Alcock

Daisy is 13 years old. Her tennis coach Francis Bryard describes her as an exceptionally polite girl who is a fighter at heart. She lost her father when she was four years old. As a little child, extremely attached to her father, she had a hard time getting over his death. Her mother pulled her through the most difficult period of both their lives. Daisy says getting over that tough phase made her the fighter that she is today. She is a girl of many words - eloquent in speaking and loves reading. She says she has little interest in sport with the exception of tennis.

"Welcome to the Heroic Delegation of Tuvalu"

On the 20th of September, the delegation from Tuvalu submitted to a formal review of their initial report on how Tuvalu was implementing the provisions of the Conventions of the Rights of the Child (CRC). The review was conducted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Switzerland via videolink from UNICEF Pacific's head office in Suva, Fiji.

Tuvalu's first CRC review via Videolink from UNICEF Pacific's head office in Suva, Fiji
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Choi

Birth registrations: The right to be recognised

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Registering a newborn
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Allen

The right to citizenship- something many take for granted - is a right not realised by children whose births are never registered. The people of Vanuatu – the Ni-Vanuatu – only achieved independence 33 years ago, and prior to that existed under a uniquely inefficient and rights-denying “Condominium” that consisted of parallel British and French rule.

Breast is best: maternal and child health in Vanuatu.

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Karen Allen with two mothers at the Tanna Health Clinic
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Allen

5:30 am start this morning from Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, for a 6:00 am flight on a 20 seat Harbin Y12 Propeller to Tanna. There is the usual friendly bustle of passengers taping and tying up their luggage bundles, and asking other passengers to carry some of their overweight pieces. A Canadian doctor who rushed over last night with a medical evacuation case begs for a seat to return so she can do her dispensary visits today. We stand by to carry some medical supplies in case she cannot get on, but at the last minutes she does. I love the peace and beauty of flying over the vast expanse of Pacific Ocean, but I reflect on the difficulties of bringing health and social services to such a widely distributed population. Vanuatu is "only" 83 islands; the distance between the two outermost islands is 1300 kilometres.

Ending violence in Paradise

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Wan Smol Bag youth theater wall
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Allen

I visited Vanuatu this week  –surely a top runner in any contest for paradise on earth. Everywhere I go there is a beautiful vista – blue lagoons and ocean, sunny sky, stunning waterfalls and clear pools in lush and verdant forests.

Safe haven for abuse victims of Kiribati

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Welcome cake and song by on of the nuns in the women's crisis centre
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Teannaki

The world can be a cruel place. Women and children in particular are victims of domestic violence and other abuse. We can thank a singing nun in Kiribati that they have a place to go to for help. A group of Catholic nuns runs the Crisis Management Centre, with support from various partners including UNICEF. A clean dormitory, with mattresses on the ground and a communal kitchen, a small yard and a children's room, and, importantly, a room for prayer and counselling make up the crisis centre.

Talking about the bees and birds in Kiribati

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

The Kiribati Family Health Association youth group with Karen Allen
UNICEF Pacific Representative and UNICEF Colleague
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Teannaki

The Kiribati Family Health Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation affiliated with the International Planned Parenthood Federation. They are also supported by UNICEF for HIV and AIDS testing, counselling and prevention. After touring the modest but very well organised facilities and meeting some of the 11 service providers, I had great fun watching the peer educators demonstrate their infotainment routines.

Policing Kiribati in a child friendly way

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Karen Allen with a UN colleague and community police officers
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Teannak

Child friendly learning, baby-friendly hospitals, even child-friendly municipalities... I know about all these. In Tarawa UNICEF has trained the entire police force of Kiribati on a child friendly protocol, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and how, when and where to make referrals. Of course, it is a small country, and the police force is about 400 officers - nevertheless, I can say that here is a whole country with a child friendly police force!

The State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities

In the Pacific, The State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities report was launched by Minister Counsellor, Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Mr. John Davidson, who emphasized the importance of mainstreaming disability across all development. In thanking him, UNICEF Pacific Representative, Dr Isiye Ndombi said “children with disabilities have the same rights as all children, including the right to be recognized and provided with the same opportunities to flourish enjoyed by others. However, they are too often invisible—in statistics, in policies, in societies.”

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One Talk 4 All - Youth Media for Children

Production of “award-winning” international-standard media productions for children, families and communities!

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"LIFE" (special matinee for children)

350 school children from Fiji today witnessed a special performance by the 2012 Tadra Kahani winners and the premiere of a new dance performance "LIFE". Performed by Oceania Dance Theatre in Suva, "LIFE" weaves together different stories depicting how we relate to one another and connect and communicate to create the world we live in. Creative arts use song, dance and visuals to tell stories and engage people to talk about issues that affect us all. LIKE if you agree that ALL children should have access to creative arts.

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Children below the line

Below the Line project photographs by : Vineeta Foundation

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Child Protection

UNICEF Pacific aims to ensure that children are increasingly protected by legislation and are better served by justice systems that protect them as victims, offenders and witnesses,

Ensuring that children are better served by well-informed and coordinated child protection social services that ensure greater protection against and response to violence, abuse and exploitation; and

Supporting families and communities in establishing home and community environments for children that are free from violence, abuse and exploitation.

Watch videos produced by young people showing the situations, challenges and opportunities facing children and youth in the pacific.

Education is critical to a child’s development and well-being

Education is critical to a child’s development and well-being. UNICEF Pacific in partnership with Ministries of Education and regional organisations devotes special efforts to giving all girls and boys equal learning opportunities. Innovative approaches are being used to ensure children complete basic education and achieve learning outcomes; addressing the holistic development of the child; and contributing to learning and motivation to encourage children to remain in school and to complete basic education. Watch videos produced by young people showing the situations, challenges and opportunities facing children and youth in the pacific.

Gender Based Violence

UNICEF Pacific is a champion for ensuring gender equality end equity in the organisations operations and programming. Watch videos produced by young people showing the situations, challenges and opportunities facing children and youth in the pacific.

The Fiji OneMinutesJnrs

The Fiji OneMinutesJnrs. Watch the situations, challenges and opportunities facing children and youth in the pacific.

Climate Change

How does climate change affect children in the Pacific and how will it affect them in the future?
Watch videos produced by young people showing the situations, challenges and opportunities facing children and youth in the pacific.