child

Strong link between child soldiers and small arms trade, UN experts say

15 July 2008
The trade in small arms is a major factor behind the worldwide phenomenon of child soldiers, according to United Nations experts who gathered today in New York to discuss the impact of the weapons trade on society.
Afghan children (file photo)

Better protection urged for detained Afghan children following UN-backed study

26 June 2008
Children held in detention in Afghanistan continue to face violations of their rights, including maltreatment and lack of access to education and health services, according to a United Nations-backed study which highlights the need to ensure better protection for young people in conflict with the law.
Children at Buduburam refugee settlement in Ghana

Young people’s voices must be heard, UN officials stress on Day of African Child

16 June 2008
United Nations officials are today marking the Day of the African Child by highlighting the need to ensure that the voices of young people are heard in their schools, communities and countries.

Greater access to education key to combating child labour – UN

12 June 2008
The United Nations is urging improved access to education as the right response to address the plight of the estimated 165 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 worldwide who are involved in child labour.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

Chad, Central African Republic: UN envoy welcomes release of child soldiers

2 June 2008
Chad has agreed to release all former child combatants held in detention, while armed rebel groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) have also committed to freeing any children in their ranks, a top United Nations envoy announced today after a six day trip to the two countries.

UN-organized global walk raises funds to combat child hunger

2 June 2008
Over 250,000 people in 70 countries took to the streets yesterday in a global walk organized by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its largest corporate partners, TNT and Unilever, which raised more than $500,000 to feed hungry schoolchildren.

UN urges Group of Eight nations to step up investments in maternal health

18 April 2008
A United Nations-backed drive issued a call to the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations today to fulfil their prior pledges to global health and to boost their investments to avert the deaths of more than 6 million mothers, newborns and children yearly.

Health care must be scaled up to reduce maternal and child deaths – UN

16 April 2008
With over 10 million women and children in developing countries still dying every year from largely preventable and treatable causes, a new report by United Nations agencies and their partners calls for scaling up health care systems to reduce maternal and child deaths.

UNICEF heralds new children’s protection laws in South Africa

10 April 2008
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed the signing of new laws in South Africa on the protection of children, calling them “a major step” forward in ensuring the well-being of the country’s young people.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General hails courage of children, families confronting autism

2 April 2008
As the United Nations marked the first World Autism Awareness Day, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to the courage of children with autism and their families, who strive every day “to confront the disability with a powerful combination of determination, creativity and hope.”