Peru’s Congress recognizes UNICEF’S work for children

LIMA, 24 April 2014.– Today, Peru’s legislature recognized UNICEF’s work for Peruvian children by awarding the Congressional Medal of Honour to UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

Expressing his appreciation for the award, Mr. Lake noted that Peru was a member of UNICEF’s first Executive Board and one of UNICEF’s first partners in the Americas. He emphasized that UNICEF works together with the Government of Peru, local grassroots and indigenous organizations, the Church and the media to keep children on the national agenda.

Mr. Lake pointed out that nearly 75% of the world’s poor live in middle-income countries like Peru, where UNICEF will continue to promote the rights of the most disadvantaged children.

Mr. Lake highlighted Peru’s significant progress in promoting early childhood development and universal primary education, as well as the country’s remarkable reduction in chronic malnutrition.

The Executive Director asked Peru’s Congress to allocate more funding to social programmes for children and to ensure that those resources are spent effectively.

He also called on Congress to pass the new Code on Children and Adolescents.

The award ceremony took place in the Raúl Porras Barrenechea Chamber and was presided over by Fredy Otárola, President of Congress. The table of honour included UN Resident Coordinator Rebeca Arias, Congressman Jaime Delgado, and Federico Arnillas, President of the National Working Group on Poverty Reduction.