09-05-2002 - 27th SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN - Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

New York

Permanent Mission address: 150 East 42 Street, Level 33, New York, New York 10017 - Telephone: 1 212 351 6600 - Fax: 1 212 351 6610

27th SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN

Statement by
The HON Larry Anthony
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

New York
9 May 2002

Mr President,
Mr Secretary-General, Excellencies, Children, Ladies and Gentlemen.

In 1990 at the World Summit on Children, Australia joined with other countries to
affirm our commitment to children. We have all travelled a long road since then and
much has been achieved, but if we are to be honest not enough has been achieved for
the children of the world.

This distinguished forum provides a unique opportunity for us to learn from and build
on one another’s experiences since that time and to renew our efforts to address the
challenges that remain. Importantly the children of the world have assembled here to
assist us with the challenges ahead. I would like to particularly recognise Emily
Simpson and Tim Goodwin, who join me as part of the Australian delegation to this
forum. UNICEF are to be congratulated for their excellent work in bringing these
events to fruition.

Over the past decade, the Convention on the Rights of the Child has helped raise
awareness of children’s rights, and provided a framework for addressing the needs of
children. However, many fundamental challenges to the well being of children remain.
Millions of children throughout the world continue to live in poverty stricken conditions,
and experience daily the lack of adequate food, shelter and access to health and
education facilities.

The continued subjection of children to the worst forms of child labour, sexual and
other physical abuse and exploitation, and their use and abuse in armed conflict
reminds us how far we have to go in protecting child rights and giving all children a
better future.

The Australian government is committed to enhancing children’s health and
educational outcomes and supporting all families with children. We encourage
partnerships between governments, business, communities and families to provide
innovative children’s services. Our support for children begins with perinatal services
and continues through childhood. To give Australian children the best start in life, we
provide parenting support, family payments, health services, childcare and high quality
education.

In many areas we have a proud record. One is the area of immunisation where
through direct government intervention we have achieved a dramatic increase. We
now have nearly 90 per cent of young Australian children fully immunised. Our work
with our State Governments to achieve high national standards of education is another
achievement we are proud of.

In seeking to implement the goals of the World Summit on Children Australia
continues to face a number of challenges. We are working hard to ensure better health
and education outcomes for all children, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children. We are also promoting gender equality through our Beijing plus Five
Action Plan.

This approach is complemented by the work of our independent Human Rights and
Equal Opportunity Commission, which plays an important role in public human rights
education, including the human rights of children.

We are encouraged by the willingness of the international community to conclude
recent Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Australia
signed the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child
Pornography on 18 December 2001. The Optional Protocol on the Involvement of
Children in Armed Conflict is under active consideration.

Mr President

In addition to taking these measures at home, Australia is also supporting in a
practical way, the cause of children globally.

Australia’s development cooperation programme benefits children through its poverty
reduction focus, which aims to improve access to the basic health, nutrition and
educational services that every child in the world needs to survive and thrive.

Our aim is to ensure our aid helps women and girls to participate fully in economic
and social life.

Mr President

The international community now faces major challenges that were not identified at
the World Summit. One of these is HIV/AIDS, which has had a devastating impact
on children. In addressing this global challenge, it is vital the momentum generated
by last year’s Special Session on HIV/AIDS is maintained. In October 2001 Australia
hosted a regional ministerial meeting on HIV/AIDS and is implementing a six-year,
$200 million global initiative.

Developments in communications technology since the World Summit offer new
opportunities to improve the lives of children. The Australian Government is
contributing up to $200 million over five years to the Virtual Colombo Plan - a joint
initiative with the World Bank which includes use of the internet to help teachers
upgrade their skills and improve the quality of basic education for children in many
countries.

Mr President

Every day as the dawn breaks we must ensure that the future for today’s children is
better than yesterday. As the leader of the Australian delegation to this distinguished
forum, but more importantly as a father, I believe that if the world is going to be a
better place and “fit for children” then we must put children first.