Did you know that the Global Economic Crisis is predicted to hit the Pacific Islands hard this year? That none of the Pacific Islands that are classified by the UN as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals? And that as the recession hits and remittances reduce, export revenue drops and commodity prices fall, 50,000 people may be plunged into poverty? Currently only 20% of the Pacific Island population has access to social protection, and that leaves more than 6 million people vulnerable.
Last week, over 200 delegates, including representatives from Pacific Island governments, NGOs and experts gathered in Vanuatu to 
discuss the urgent crisis threatening the security of Pacific Island citizens. The outcome statement called for ‘strong leadership, good policies and concerted action.’ Helen Clark, head of the United Nations Development Fund, suggested that the crisis could be seen as ‘an opportunity to either initiate or broaden existing social protection programmes’ which will increase the resilience of these societies to the effects of the crisis, now and in the future.
UNICEF knows that children often suffer the impacts of such crises in the long-term. The conference heard from families facing increasing insecurity, struggling to find the cash to pay for the basic necessities of life, and of children having to drop out of school to work to contribute to their family income. This means that their chance of future well-being is severely compromised. The Vanuatu conference noted the urgency of meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and called for measures such as free primary education and improved investment in primary health care.
Investing in the well-being of children is an investment in the future of society. Children’s needs cannot be put aside in times of economic crisis as being too difficult or too expensive. Investment in children must be strengthened in the bad times, because it is children who will form the backbone of the Pacific’s future prosperity.
UNICEF NZ is raising awareness of these issues with a new campaign ‘Banging the Drum for Children in the Pacific.’ You can get involved – check out our webpage here or follow us on facebook here.
"I'm a UNICEF supporter, and I'd love you to join me."
Banging the Drum
Did you know that the Global Economic Crisis is predicted to hit the Pacific Islands hard this year? That none of the Pacific Islands that are classified by the UN as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals? And that as the recession hits and remittances reduce, export revenue drops and commodity prices fall, 50,000 people may be plunged into poverty? Currently only 20% of the Pacific Island population has access to social protection, and that leaves more than 6 million people vulnerable.
Last week, over 200 delegates, including representatives from Pacific Island governments, NGOs and experts gathered in Vanuatu to
discuss the urgent crisis threatening the security of Pacific Island citizens. The outcome statement called for ‘strong leadership, good policies and concerted action.’ Helen Clark, head of the United Nations Development Fund, suggested that the crisis could be seen as ‘an opportunity to either initiate or broaden existing social protection programmes’ which will increase the resilience of these societies to the effects of the crisis, now and in the future.
UNICEF knows that children often suffer the impacts of such crises in the long-term. The conference heard from families facing increasing insecurity, struggling to find the cash to pay for the basic necessities of life, and of children having to drop out of school to work to contribute to their family income. This means that their chance of future well-being is severely compromised. The Vanuatu conference noted the urgency of meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and called for measures such as free primary education and improved investment in primary health care.
Investing in the well-being of children is an investment in the future of society. Children’s needs cannot be put aside in times of economic crisis as being too difficult or too expensive. Investment in children must be strengthened in the bad times, because it is children who will form the backbone of the Pacific’s future prosperity.
UNICEF NZ is raising awareness of these issues with a new campaign ‘Banging the Drum for Children in the Pacific.’ You can get involved – check out our webpage here or follow us on facebook here.