Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As co-convenor of the UN parliamentary group here in the Australian parliament, I am very pleased to rise in recognition of the extraordinary contribution that UNICEF has been making to the health, wellbeing and opportunity of children everywhere since 1946. The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund was established 70 years ago in the aftermath of World War II. Its mission was to deliver the emergency response to the millions of children who had been damaged and displaced by war. Since then, its role has evolved in line with our understanding of children's issues and how they are best addressed. There was a growing understanding that, if an issue affects a community, it necessarily affects the children within it—and thus virtually all issues are children's issues.

This recognition of the deeply interconnected and complex nature of the problems impacting young people increased the breadth and complexity of UNICEF's remit significantly. Rather than just responding to the direct impact of issues on young people, the organisation expanded its focus to include some of the absolute first-order challenges facing human society—things like poverty; hunger; disease; access to food, shelter, water and education; sanitation; exclusion; and economic and political stability.

It is no exaggeration to say that UNICEF has contributed to some of humanity's greatest achievements: achievements like the complete eradication of polio in India in 2012, and Africa's first year free from reported polio cases in 2015—both incredible feats—or the 45 per cent drop between 1999 and 2012 in the number of primary-school children not enrolled at school; or the halving of the under-five mortality number from 12.7 million in 1990 to six million in 2015.

UNICEF also continues its original mission as a leader in emergencies, disaster relief management and humanitarian crises. When Cyclone Pam pummelled Vanuatu and the Pacific islands in March last year, it was UNICEF workers who were on the ground making sure that children had access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene and health services. UNICEF also performs a tireless global policy and advocacy role, campaigning strongly for the rights of children, speaking out about breaches and engaging deeply with governments to drive policy and programs that will improve the lives of children.

The organisation has also helped to write one of the most widely accepted human rights treaties in human history—the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which sets out the political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children and requires signatories to always act in the best interests of the child. This legally binding convention, which has now been ratified by 196 countries, has played a major role in creating a better world for young people.

But, while so much has been achieved, there is clearly a lot of work to be done. In its recent annual report, UNICEF Australia also identified violent conflict and the impacts of climate change as the two most urgent and pressing issues that need to be addressed. As the report points out, nearly 250 million children now live in countries affected by violent conflict, and climate-related emergencies will endanger the wellbeing of hundreds of millions of children in areas prone to natural disasters like floods, fires and cyclones. UNICEF will also play a key role in helping to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals—a clear set of aspirational targets to end poverty, protect the planet and help all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

But the reality is that, if we are going to achieve these ambitious goals, the global community will need to dig deep to support them. Sadly, in Australia we have been going backwards in our foreign aid commitment, slashing it a further $224 million in this year's budget alone. While I recognise the government's contributions towards UNICEF that are noted in this motion, I would like put on the record some words from UNICEF Australia's then CEO Adrian Graham, who responded to the Turnbull budget in May by saying:

In response to unprecedented levels of global humanitarian crises and more people displaced by conflict, 22 wealthy nations are increasing their aid contribution, while Australia and Portugal are the only two countries swimming against the tide.

He said:

Cutting funding from the poorest and most marginalised children is not effective, ethical or fair. It's time to rebuild, we can do better.

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