More African children will have a chance to go to school thanks to expansion of Schools for Africa into 2 new countries!
Learn more about this program that’s already helped 21 million children get a quality education: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_69646.html#Schools4Africa
Crises around the world continue to have a devastating effect on children.
New and ongoing crises in Mali, Central African Republic and Syria for example had –and continue to have– a devastating effect on children.
Boys and girls have been used as suicide bombers or human shields. Children captured during military operations have been detained, sometimes without due process. In certain cases, they have been mistreated or tortured.
The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict recently put out their latest report on these grave violations of children’s rights, including information on progress made.
Last October, people across the globe united to send thoughts of hope and love to a brave young girl fighting for her life in Pakistan. Now that girl, Malala, has recorded a special Vine video calling for the rights of girls and boys!
Support the cause here: http://j.mp/13U2rEg
Stay tuned for more updates between now and July on MalalaDay!
Monday is World Day to Combat Desertification.
This year’s slogan, “Don’t let our future dry up” calls for everyone to take action to promote preparedness and resilience to water scarcity, desertification and drought. The slogan embodies the message that we are all responsible for water and land conservation and sustainable use, and that there are solutions to these serious natural resource challenges.
Land degradation does not have to threaten our future.
Saturday is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It represents the one day in the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some of our older generations.
Around 4 to 6% of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home. Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.
Friday is World Blood Donor Day!
A single unit of donated blood can save up to 3 lives.
World Blood Donor Day, celebrated on 14 June every year, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and recognize those voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
This year’s campaign by the World Health Organization (WHO) will focus on the value of donated blood to the patient, not only in saving life, but also in helping people live longer and more productive lives.
On Thursday the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the 100-day countdown to this year’s International Day of Peace with the following message: “It is not enough to teach children how to read, write and count. Education has to cultivate mutual respect for others and the world in which we live, and help people forge more just, inclusive and peaceful societies.”
Wednesday is the World Day Against Child Labour, but you can do your part all year long — say no to child labour.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), millions of children – many of them girls – face profound, hidden exploitation in domestic work. They endure long, irregular hours of work, arduous working conditions, are deprived of schooling and are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Reductions in aid jeopardize schooling for millions of children.
According to a new policy paper from the Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report team and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute of Statistics (UIS), approximately 57 million children are being denied access to school due to reductions in aid.
New data show that donors are cutting back spending on education just when it is needed most for the final push to reach the most disadvantaged children by 2015. Action is urgently needed.
unicef: Child Labour is a violation of children’s basic rights.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: 10 June 2013
Children at a quarry, Bombali District, Sierra Leone.Globally, an estimated 215 million children are involved in labour. A violation of children’s basic rights, labour that is detrimental to health or that otherwise impedes development must cease. Children who work rather than go to school are also more prone to a lifetime of poverty. The World Day against Child Labour – held annually on 12 June – calls for a global commitment to end the harmful practice.
©UNICEF/Olivier Asselin
To see more: www.unicef.org/photography
