The "World Fit for Children Plus 5" (WFFC+5) high level plenary meeting was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, from December 11-13, 2007. The participants demonstrated a strong international commitment and collaboration for children. ACEI's representatives, Judit Szente and Nancy Brown, attended as advocates and members of the civil society. The goal of the WFFC+5 was to evaluate the WFFC Plan of Action, adopted at the 2002 United Nations Special Session on Children, in four outcome areas: promoting healthy lives; combating HIV and AIDS; providing quality education; and protecting against abuse, exploitation, and violence. Additional priority themes included mobilizing resources, child participation, gender equality, children and climate change, and child-friendly policies and legislation. Children and youth from 53 countries actively participated in the WFFC+5 meeting, along with governments, United Nations agencies, and civil society representatives. Thematic roundtables emphasized HIV and AIDS prevention and quality education, and numerous other events highlighted issues of global significance for children. At the conclusion of the WFFC+5, the United Nations General Assembly adopted an outcome document reaffirming the member states' commitment to the full implementation of the Declaration and the Plan of Action contained in the WFFC.
Since 2002, much progress has been made in the four areas indicated above. Global statistics reported by UNICEF at the WFFC+5 indicate that the number of children dying before their fifth birthday fell from an estimated 20 million to 9.7 million. Such progress may be due to the improvements in providing prenatal care, more skilled deliveries, and better access to crucial vitamins and immunizations. In recent years, more than 1.2 billion people have gained access to improved sources of drinking water and improved sanitation, although this number is far from the target. Although an increased number of children have received birth registration, as of 2006, approximately 51 million children still had not received birth certificates. In the area of education, the number of children who dropped out of school fell to 95 million from 115 million and several countries made significant improvements in secondary school attendance as well. It is alarming, however, to learn that about 158 million children in the world are still forced into child labor and face exploitation/violence. In addition, combating HIV and AIDS still remains a major challenge worldwide. In the next few years, much more work remains ahead of us to improve the lives of all children.
Children and youth were visible and active during the WFFC+5 meeting, sharing their passionate voices and perspectives from around the world. In the opening session, Longeni Masti, a 14-year-old Namibian boy, spoke on behalf of the Children’s Forum, urging the audience to consult with children on children's rights. He said, "This meeting is a time for honesty...a time to come together…to listen with your minds and hearts." He received a standing ovation. Throughout the WFFC+5, children and youth participated in a variety of ways: in the intergenerational Dialogue with Elders, working group sessions, informal dialogues with heads of delegations and UN agencies, side events, and informal conversations with civil society representatives. The children were direct, effective, and spoke with passion as they demanded change. At the closing session, Millicent Orondo, a 15-year-old Kenyan Girl Scout, stated that national budgets should make children's best interests the top priority. She cited poverty as the worst obstacle and recommended creating partnerships between civil society, governments, young people, and the private sector. Ms. Orondo stated that "what matters most are results. Children want solutions, not only resolutions." She received an overwhelming round of applause from the delegates. The General Assembly President further supported children in their vision for their future, adding that "the best advocates for children are children themselves."
The civil society, also known as the Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) community, played a vital role in organizing and presenting a range of side events at the WFFC+5. The topics for some of the side events were: violence against children, child labor and universal access to education, poverty, early nutrition, ethics education, children's rights, early childhood education, HIV and AIDS orphans, girls' education and modern day slavery, children with disabilities, education during emergencies, and preventing iodine deficiency. These sessions involved NGO representatives, scholars, practitioners, agency and UN partners, and children and youth. ACEI representatives helped to organize the side event on HIV/AIDS orphans, and contributed language to the "Official Statement of the NGO Committee on UNICEF," which ACEI endorsed. Civil society representatives were included in the two thematic roundtables in the General Assembly, sharing best practices and lessons learned internationally, and identifying challenges and the urgent need for resource allocation and a child-centered policy environment. The NGO Community at the UN was pleased to participate as planned, but expressed the need for even greater participation, due to the collective strength and commitment of NGOs, and the role of NGOs "on the ground" and as watchdogs for respective government policies.
For more information and resources, please visit www.unicef.org and review "A World Fit for Children Plus 5."