Govt and UNICEF review an annual work plan for 2018

DPI, Guyana, Friday, February 22, 2019

The government and UNICEF-Guyana met recently to review the joint annual report for 2018. The yearly review is done to monitor and evaluate programmes implemented and executed by UNICEF in collaboration with its partner governments

In his remarks at the annual review Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge said Guyana has consistently shown support for global regional and national programmes for the overall enhancement of the well-being of all children. Legislation wise, the minister noted that the Coalition Government has received active support from UNICEF on several programmes and measures.

“The Government of Guyana has been consolidating the legal architecture for comprehensive child protection and family law through the passage of a number of pertinent pieces of legislation including the status of the Children Act, the Child Protection Act, the Adoption of Children Act, the Sexual Offences Act and the Custody, Contact Guardianship and Maintenance Act, Counter In Trafficking in Persons Act and most recently a national labour and child care policy to guard against child labour.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

[from left to right] UNICEF Representative Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, Chairperson, Rights of the Child Commission Aleema Nasir and Master of Ceremony Frank Robinson

UNICEF Representative Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet

He extended his gratitude on behalf of the government for UNICEF’s overarching support over the years.

“UNICEF signed its first five-year programme with the Government of Guyana in 1994 and since then has remained fully committed to ensuring the rights of children in Guyana are in accordance with the provisions outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).”

Minister Greenidge concluded that there is much more to be achieved, and Guyana is comforted each year with the progress made and by the knowledge that the government’s partnership with UNICEF is making pace to meet needs and overcome challenges.

Guyana signed the Convention in 1990 and ratified the Convention in 1991, thereby solidifying and demonstrating its commitment to the protection and development of children across Guyana.

Kipenie Jordan

Images: Keno George