Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) celebrates its 70th anniversary on 11 December 2016; and

(b) it is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and expand opportunities to reach their full potential;

(2) acknowledges the work of the UNICEF which now operates in over 190 countries and territories and provides a range of important services including child protection, education and child survival needs (such as nutrition and sanitation);

(3) notes that the Government provides $21 million a year in core funding to the UNICEF's regular resources as set out in the Strategic Partnership Framework 2016-2020 signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on 27 April 2016;

(4) acknowledges the Minister for Foreign Affairs' October 2016 announcement of $1.5 million in funding for the UNICEF following Hurricane Matthew in Haiti; and

(5) congratulates the UNICEF and its staff around the world for all the good work they do and wishes them well into the future.

It is my great pleasure to rise to speak on this very important motion. UNICEF celebrates its 70th anniversary on 11 December 2016. UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories. It focuses on child protection and social inclusion; child survival, including nutrition, health and water, sanitation and hygiene; education; emergencies; and humanitarian action, as well as issues such as gender equality.

There were some very significant results from UNICEF's work in 2015. Last year, 55 million children were vaccinated for DTP3—that is, the three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines—40 million people gained access to improved drinking water sources and 18 million people to improved sanitation, three million children were treated for severe acute malnutrition, 15 million children received learning materials and 10 million births were registered.

In humanitarian situations, 43.5 million children were vaccinated against measles 7.5 million children were reached with formal and non-formal basic education, which we know is absolutely critical, 3.1 million children were reached with psychological support, two million children and women were reached with interventions to prevent and respond to sexual violence, and a staggering 13.8 million people were reached in support of handwashing practices as part of UNICEF's work in relation to sanitation and hygiene.

Australia has a very significant relationship with UNICEF. Australia works with UNICEF because of its strong global presence and support for Australia's aid program priorities, including health and education, humanitarian responses, girls' empowerment, disability-inclusive development and innovation.

The Australian government very proudly provides $21 million a year in core funding to UNICEF's regular resources. That is $84 million over four years, and that has been agreed between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and UNICEF in an agreement of April 2016 as signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This funding is used to support UNICEF's core priorities, as set out in UNICEF's Strategic Plan 2014-2017.

This strategic partnership framework sets out a shared commitment to assisting developing countries, working in Asia and the Pacific, and promoting a more effective UN system. It follows a positive multilateral performance assessment and some successful high-level consultations in February 2016.

UNICEF is also at the forefront of humanitarian disaster response activities and is one of our key humanitarian partners. For example, funding was provided rapidly in the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Winston in Fiji in February of this year and the foreign minister recently announced $1.5 million in funding for UNICEF following Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. This $1.5 million to UNICEF will improve access to clean water and sanitation in Haiti to help combat the cholera epidemic and threat of other water-borne diseases. This follows an international appeal by the United Nations to intensify efforts to reduce the transmission of cholera and provide support to Haitians most affected by the disease.

Of course, this is a very significant anniversary. On behalf of the Australian government, I want to sincerely congratulate UNICEF and its staff around the world for all the extraordinary work that they do, and I want to wish them all the very best for the future.

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