UNICEF Pacific multi-country programme 2003-2007

Rights Advocacy and Protection Programme
The programme comprises three projects: Rights Advocacy, Child Protection and Communication. The programme aims to improve governance in all Pacific Island countries through harmonization of legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The programme also works to ensure that children’s right to protection (against violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination) and participation are implemented. Improved advocacy and communication underpin all efforts to promote the Rights of the Child by increasing awareness about the rights and their implementation among government officials as well as community members. Communication initiatives contribute to the realization of the rights by fostering among right holders the attitude and behaviour changes that are often needed to fully enjoy their rights and be able to claim them.
The programme targets over 1 million women and children in 14 Pacific Island countries.

Adolescent Development Programme
The programme comprises two projects: Adolescent Lifeskills and HIV/AIDS. The programme aims to improve the resilience of young people in facing the challenges and vulnerabilities particular to that age group. It seeks to actively involve young people in making wise decisions on issues affecting their lives, by building positive self-esteem and psycho-social life skills. The Pacific Stars Lifeskills Project also aims to improve adolescent health through informed decision making and the promotion of risk reduction behaviours, particularly for HIV/AIDS/STI prevention.

Integrated Early Child Health and Development Programme
The programme comprises four projects: Early Child development, Immunization Plus, Nutrition and Integrated Management of Childhood Ilnesses. The programme seeks to fulfill all of a child’s rights to the best start in life. Interventions will aim at improving the young child’s right to survival, growth and development. Pacific Island countries will be assisted to meet their national objectives to eliminate micro-nutrient deficiencies, raise immunization rates to 90 percent or more, reduce child malnutrition through improved child feeding practices and improve community and home practices to ensure proper early childhood and development. The programme targets 400,000 children up to the age of six in 14 Pacific Island countries.

Integrated Area-based Programme
The programme comprises three projects: Kiribati, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. The programme is improving the coordination of UNICEF assistance in the three Pacific Island priority countries – Kiribati, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands – in which key indicators for children are the lowest in the region. In the Solomon Islands the programme will also support initiatives aimed at children affected by armed conflict.

Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
The programme aims to improve the quality of data on the situation of children and women in the Pacific. It also provides resources to monitor, better co-ordinate and evaluate UNICEF-assisted programme interventions, including assistance provided in emergencies.