Myanmar, UNICEF Agree On Country Program Action Plan

YANGON, Feb 16, 2012 (Bernama) -- Myanmar and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have agreed on a country programme action plan as part of their cooperation, official media reported Thursday.

The Myanmar-UNICEF country program action plan was signed in Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday by Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Development Dr. Kan Zaw and Resident Representative of UNICEF Remesh Shrestha, Xinhua news agency quoted a report by the New Light of Myanmar.

According to the plan, UNICEF and Myanmar ministries concerned will cooperate in growth of children, improvement of drinking water sources, sanitation in environment and personnel hygiene, ensuring equal rights for primary education enrollment for male and female, dissemination of knowledge on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and on protection of child's rights, monitoring and evaluation.

Jurisdiction over minors and protection of child's rights have been part of the bilateral cooperation programs between Myanmar and the UNICEF.

UNICEF has also been engaged in Myanmar's relief work based on its core commitments for children.

UNICEF's program covers six areas, including water, environmental sanitation and hygiene, health and HIV, nutrition, education and child protection within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF plays a key role in supporting Myanmar government in formulating the first ever national plan of action on protection of children in emergencies, and in the longer term, a national child protection system with improved policies and helping build capacity on child protection.

The UNICEF is the world's leading development organization working for the well-being of children.

For over 50 years, UNICEF has worked to protect the lives of children around the world, helping them realize fuller, richer, healthier lives.

Although UNICEF was founded in 1950 as a humanitarian agency to meet the emergency needs of children, UNICEF has concentrated on long-term development projects that benefit children.

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