State of The World Children Year 2001 [Archives:2000/51/Reportage]

Investing in Early Childhood
The Only Responsible Choice for Responsible Leadership
Every year, some 11 million young children die every year from preventable causes; 170 million are malnourished; over 100 million children never see the inside of a school; and 1 out every 10 children have disabilities, stated Ms. Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF during the launch of the State of the World Children Report for 2001 in New York.
In Yemen, the report was launched during a press conference organized jointly with the Sheraton Sanaa Hotel whereby the latest handed a sum of USD 1760 in favor of children in Yemen through UNICEF programs.
This donation comes within the world wide initiative undertaken by the Sheraton Hotel under the name Check Out for Children, which consists on charging each bill one dollar to be forwarded to UNICEF programs.
This year marked the fifth anniversary of this initiative. On this occasion the Sheraton Sanaa Hotel in coordination with UNICEF in Yemen organized a gala dinner where revenue was transferred to UNICEF Sanaa Office.
In his speech, Mr. Fadeel Wehbe, the director general of Sheraton Sanaa Hotel emphasized that Check Out for Children was established 5 years ago and until now it helped provide immunization to 3 million children worldwide.
Mr. Leo De Vos, the representative of UNICEF in Yemen, highlighted the importance of such private sector initiative in making a difference in childrens lives.
Linking the launch of the State of the World Children report and Sheraton initiative, Mr. De Vos stated that the year 2001 report focuses on early childhood development. In his speech, Mr. De Vos emphasized that the need to protect and nurture children in early childhood should merit the highest priority when governments make decisions about laws, policies, programs and money. Private sector initiative, such as the one undertaken by Sheraton, will undoubtedly help secure additional funds to provides the appropriate care for children.
Unfortunately, the first years in the life of a child seem to receive the least attention. The state of the World Children Report reveals that are to many challenges facing a better early childhood development since:
– 1/3 of all births are not registered,
– 1/2 billion children live in poverty,
– more than 1/2 billion children live in countries with dangerous situations, and
– more than 13 million children have been orphaned by Aids.
Despite the fact that 191 countries ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, there is still insufficient recognition of how much the future of the Worlds children is irretrievably bound up in the first three years of life.
Within this context, Mr. De Vos encouraged the private sector to assist the government to ensure that enough resources are invested in children. Check Out for Children played, and will continue to play, a major role in saving the lives of some 3 million children, yet there are still children who are at risk of death and additional funds are still needed.
 

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