UNICEF marks double celebration in Nepal

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) celebrated Friday as a day of double celebration as it celebrated 40 years of partnership with Nepal and 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

On the occasion, Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav felicitated and lauded the role played by UNICEF during four decades in Nepal.

"When UNICEF first started working in Nepal four decades ago, the situation of children was far worse. Large numbers of children, babies and mothers used to die from readily preventable causes," said Yadav.

He added, "We have now come a long way indeed, thanks to the hard work of many partners, including UNICEF's very effective cooperation with Nepali government. As a result, we are now on track to reach the Millennium Development Goal for child health."

Since Nepal is going to draft a new constitution, he vowed that Nepal will try to make it one of the most child-friendly constitution in the world.

Similarly, Kul Chandra Gautam, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF lauded the role of UNICEF during 40 years and said, four decades ago, 400,000 children were born every year in Nepal but 100,000 of them died before reaching their 5th birthday. He added that in 2008, nearly 800,000 children were born in Nepal but less than 50,000 died.

"The CRC, whose 20th anniversary we celebrate today, can be our guide to build a peaceful , just and prosperous future for Nepal's children," he said.

Addressing the function on Friday organized in UN House on the occasion, UNICEF Representative to Nepal Gillian Mellsop said that the Convention is a vision of a world in which all children are respected and able to grow and learn in a peaceful environment, and actively engage in their communities to help shape their own destinies.

"It is a vital legal framework which commits all governments to ensure the rights of all children in every way," she added.

"UNICEF Nepal, just 40 years young, will be here as long as it is needed, to continue working alongside the government, children and people of Nepal to ensure that all children, from the hills of Humla to the plains of Jhapa, will have a chance to live their dreams," said Mellsop.

Source: Xinhua