child

Anti-measles drive in Afghanistan launched by UN Children's Fund

31 December 2001
The United Nations today announced the launch of a large-scale measles vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, where poverty and the country’s devastated health infrastructure combine to make the disease a major killer of children.

Yokohama forum renews commitment to combat sexual exploitation of children

20 December 2001
The Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children concluded its work in Yokohama today after approving a key document, which reinforced pledges made five years ago to undertake concrete initiatives in the fight against the global trade in child sex.

Youngsters forced into sex trade especially vulnerable to AIDS, UNICEF warns

19 December 2001
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has warned that youngsters forced into the sex trade are especially vulnerable to contracting the HIV virus.

UNICEF hails upcoming entry into force of key treaty on children's rights

23 October 2001
Welcoming the upcoming entry into force of a treaty on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today the event would be a major step forward in the protection of children from exploitation, trafficking and sexual abuse.

Basic needs of refugee children still unmet, Annan says in new report

8 October 2001
Despite progress in assisting refugee children separated from their families, the basic needs of many such youngsters remain unmet, according to a just released report by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Estonia becomes 100th State to ratify treaty banning child labour, UN reports

27 September 2001
The International Labour Organization (ILO) announced today that Estonia had become the 100th member state to ratify the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour - an international treaty banning the most abusive, exploitative forms of work for children.

UN expert panel opens session to examine children's rights in 10 countries

24 September 2001
A United Nations expert panel today opened its latest session to examine the promotion and protection of children's rights in 10 countries.

UN agency to survey child labour practices in West Africa

1 August 2001
The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) announced today that it would be working with the United States development agency on a survey of child labour in West Africa.

UNICEF urges end to recruitment of child soldiers in Sri Lanka

20 July 2001
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today urged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka to live up to its commitment not to recruit children into its ranks, and encouraged the Government to ease restrictions on humanitarian activity and address the critical shortage of teachers in conflict areas.
Mary Robinson

Top UN rights official welcomes release of global report on child soldiers

14 June 2001
Welcoming the release of a global report on the use of child soldiers, the United Nations top human rights official today called on governments to ratify the protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child that stipulates a minimum age of 18 for recruitment into armed forces.