Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

As chair of the Population Growth and Population Development Committee, I have recently had the opportunity to visit Papua New Guinea, where I saw the work of many groups all working toward the advancement of women and children, their protection, their rights, their education and their potential. Given that yesterday was the United Nations Universal Children's Day, which was established on 20 November 1954 to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, and improve children's welfare, it was gratifying to see many different groups in PNG all working together to achieve the same goal.

It is fitting then that today we acknowledge the work of UNICEF as it celebrates its 70th anniversary on 11 December 2016. Three score years and ten has a certain ring—of determination to achieve with dignity and positivity, and that is exactly what UNICEF has done. We in Australia need to honour the principals established back in 1954 that were mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their needs and to expand opportunities for reach one to reach their full potential. I believe this should be to the best of our ability in our own communities, our nation and, where possible, for other nations as well.

Australian aid is an integral part of this call to action. With our increased participation in places such as PNG, we are truly reflecting the advocacy for women and children. This advocacy is particularly important, and we should again thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs for her announcement of $21 million a year in core funding to UNICEF's regular resources, as set out in the strategic partnership framework.

UNICEF now operates in over 190 countries and territories, providing a range of important services including child protection, education and child survival needs, such as nutrition and sanitation, often in partnership with Save the Children projects, Oxfam and World Vision. All such groups are impressive in the work they do to achieve their individual goals.

In PNG the delegation had the chance to meet also with Olushola Ismail from UNICEF, along with other representatives Koffi Kouame from United Nations Population Fund, Dr Pieter Van Maaren working in PNG with the World Health Organization, Jennifer El-Sibai from Save the Children Fund, Catherine Bedford from Voluntary Services Overseas PNG, Anna Byron from CARE, co-ordinating support for the Coffee Industry, and the wonderful Alma Lance, the first female extension graduate for the CARE-PNG Coffee Industry Support project initiative—just to mention a few.

UNICEF was originally created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1946 to provide emergency food and health care for children in countries that had been devastated by World War II. The Polish physician Ludwik Rajchman is widely regarded as the founder of UNICEF. He served as its first chairman from 1946.

UNICEF relies on contributions from governments and private donors. Two thirds of their funds are from government contributions. Private groups and some six million individuals worldwide contribute the rest through the national committees. It is estimated that around 92 per cent of UNICEF revenue is distributed to program services. UNICEF's programming emphasises developing community-level services to help in the nations were they are working. Often, Australia pitches in for additional essential emergency funding, such as the recent contribution announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of $1.5 million for UNICEF after Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.

UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, in his message on Universal Children's Day yesterday, highlighted the plight of millions of children around the world. As head of the United Nations Children's Fund, he called on everyone to recommit themselves to protect the rights of every child. He said:

When we protect their rights, we are not only preventing their suffering. We are not only safeguarding their lives. We are protecting our common future.

Yesterday also marked the day in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The human rights treaty changed the way children were viewed and treated—as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity. The following are also words from his wisdom. He said it was time to:

… confront the uncomfortable truth that around the world, the rights of millions of children are being violated every day—

even in our own backyard. And it is an addendum. He said that children's rights were:

… being violated around the world, in every country, wherever children are the victims of violence, abuse and exploitation, violated wherever they are deprived of an education.

We absolutely have to pour accolades on such organisations as UNICEF and all their staff in their tireless efforts to make the lives of women and children that much better for all of us.

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