UNICEF on Child Protection, Water & Sanitation

The UN Millennium Declaration stressed protection of the vulnerable, and for good reason: Tens of millions of children across the globe are victims of exploitation, abuse and violence each year. They are abducted from their homes and schools and recruited into armed conflicts, exploited sexually, or trafficked and forced to work in abominable conditions.

Girls in particular are vulnerable, particularly when not in school. They also suffer from abuses that may have their society’s mandate, but severely curtail their rights: they are victims of violence in the home, they aren’t allowed to attend school, or are forced into early marriage, or to undergo genital mutilation. UNICEF raises awareness about the importance of child protection, enhancing capacities at various levels of society and in the government. Programmes and policies that work include birth registration, media awareness, challenging traditional attitudes that lead to abuse, and advocating tougher laws for offenders against children. UNICEF also works through communities to strengthen safety nets. Schools, for example, are being made places where children go for health services, food and security in addition to learning. In natural emergencies or conflicts, UNICEF takes special care to provide protective environments in the field for women and girls, who are at greater risk for sexual violence and destitution. Increasing access to water and sanitation. For families without access to safe water and sanitation, the burden of finding and hauling water usually falls to girls, which often means they aren’t able to attend school. Too often, too, they are prevented from attending school because of unhygienic latrines or a complete lack of facilities for girls. Through a combination of advocacy, technical assistance and funding, UNICEF works directly with community-based organizations and families themselves to ensure that households have access to a clean and secure supply of water, and safe and convenient sanitary facilities. Actions might include installing household filter technologies and developing as rainwater harvesting systems, shallow wells and pond filtering systems. These actions also directly support MDG 7 – improving access for all those who desperately need these basic facilities. UNICEF also works towards making schools healthier and more attractive to children, especially girls, through school-based water, sanitation and hygiene programmes, such as helping install hand-pumps and latrines. Progress About two thirds of countries and territories reached gender parity in primary education by the target year of 2005, but in many other countries – especially in sub-Saharan Africa – girls are still at a disadvantage. Fewer countries have reached gender parity in secondary education. The largest gender gaps at the primary school level are in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia. At the secondary school level, girls are disadvantaged in South Asia, and boys in Latin America and the Caribbean