Advocacy, Infromation and Social Policy
BACKGROUND Social policies are essential components in a successful transition process. The move towards European integration and political reform since the "Orange Revolution" present an opportunity for UNICEF to enhance its social policy dialogue with the Government of Ukraine and to place child rights at the forefront of the political agenda and ensure the well-being of Ukraine's children. The last five years have seen a reversal of the economic decline of the previous decade with an increase in household income. According to 2002 household survey data, however, 17% of the population in larger cities and 42% in rural areas still live below the poverty line. Poverty mostly affects families with many children, pensioners and single parent-headed households. Between 1990 and 2002, life expectancy fell from 66 to 62.4 years for men and from 75 to 73.2 years for women. Since independence, Ukraine has achieved significant progress in establishing a market economy. However, government budgetary allocations for all social sectors are extremely limited, with a total budget of US$660,000 for children's social protection in 2005. Unequal distribution of social benefits results in a smaller share of assistance being allocated to families in greatest need. The total government budget deficit for 2005 of US$1.6 billion compounds the critical situation facing financing of social services. Ukraine ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 and submitted its first report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 1993. In considering Ukraine's second report in 2002, the Committee regretted the lack of action taken on its previous recommendations to develop a monitoring system and evaluate progress in the implementing the Convention. The National Programme 'Children in Ukraine' was developed within the broad framework of the Convention in 1996. However, the absence of a time-bound and measurable strategy has not allowed for the effective implementation of the Convention. A new national plan of action (NPA) for children is being developed, based on A World Fit for Children. The NPA was prepared with the participation of government authorities, civil society organisations and children. The Government has developed a number of national programmes to benefit children. However, existing national policies related to child rights are often not supported by regulations, practices and budgetary allocations. There is also a lack of sufficient knowledge and data in specific areas to effectively address children's needs. OUR RESPONSE Our programme on Advocacy, Information and Social Policy started in 2006. UNICEF advocates for putting child rights at the top of the Government's and society's agenda through development of national strategies for children, increasing public budget allocations and the establishment of an effective child rights monitoring system. Monitoring of child rights and informing policy-making will be assisted through the use of socio-economic analysis based on national data using national and international experience. The introduction of DevInfo - a database system that provides a method to organise, store and display data - will facilitate documentation, mapping and identification of disadvantaged populations, and provide a powerful tool for analysis of disparities and for better responding to the needs of disadvantaged families. It will also assist in the monitoring of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. This information will assist the Government to factor in children's priorities when designing and implementing new economic development plans, so as to ensure that children benefit more directly from the economic and social policy reform agenda and economic growth. Support will be provided for the adaptation and implementation of policies and model practices to protect children and youth and ensure their participation in decision affecting them. Special focus will be placed on children in institutions and HIV-positive children. To prevent trafficking in children, support will be provided to policy development and information and advocacy campaigns. The concept of 'child-friendly' social services and cities will be promoted. The creation of a mass media partnership for children will be supported and an extensive programme on child rights reporting for media will be developed. National regulations on media reporting that protect children's rights will be strengthened. Children will be encouraged to participate in the national media and to become credible conveyers of information and influential shapers of opinion on issues affecting their lives. UNICEF will help enhance public commitments to protecting child rights, involving a partnership for children with decision makers, business leaders, celebrities and media. Special attention will be paid to participation of children and youth in the decision making processes. Public figures and celebrities will participate in public events to advocate for child rights. A national child rights monitoring system will be established to support the National Plan of Action for Children. Building on DevInfo, a knowledge base will be created as a repository for information on the situation of children. In order to give a voice to children both at the local level and through the media, child advisory councils will be established by local authorities and national television and radio channels will be encouraged to regularly broadcast programmes on child rights. Action on child participation: UNICEF supports the involvement of children themselves in discussions of national and local strategies for children. Some 1,500 young activists have taken part in public hearings on the National Programme 'Children of Ukraine' and have shared their views with the appropriate state bodies. The results of these hearings were disseminated to the Government and to the general public at a press conference with youth leaders. Youth and child activists also participated in the discussion on National Plan of Action for Children, which is now being finalised by the Government. In Western Ukraine, four local administrations, with UNICEF support, have established Child Advisory Groups to advise them on decisions concerning children and youth, which allows children to influence all decisions made by local governments. Action on child rights monitoring: UNICEF supports the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sport in the development of a set of indicators and data processing models to monitor the services for adolescents provided by the Ministry. The Government now uses this system to monitor the status of vulnerable children and families and the implementation of their rights. Six cities in Lviv and Sumy oblasts are committed to adopt city programmes that work towards achieving the status of 'Child Friendly City', aiming to establish an environment for the successful implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The concept of a Child Friendly City includes children's participation, child-friendly planning, budgetary allocations from the city administration, protection for children belonging to disadvantaged groups and a sustainable natural environment. UNICEF will assist The Government of Ukraine in the spread of the Child Friendly City initiative to other cities through the development of a national model, training of governmental officials, local authority representatives and children's leaders and initiation of a national movement of Child Friendly Cities through the establishment of participatory mechanisms involving city administrations, regional and national NGOs, and communities. Action on civil society partnership: UNICEF has supported the creation of the All Ukrainian NGO Network for Children, an active player in child rights promotion. The Network now includes more than 50 child rights NGOs, and its voice has grown since the 'Day of Common Action' (November 2003) which included hundreds of national and local events as part of the region-wide 'Leave No Child Out' campaign.
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