United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Objectives

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

COUNTRY STRATEGY

UNICEF has been active in Syria since 1971, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was signed by the Syrian Government on 1989. UNICEF's assistance in Syria has shifted over the years to adapt to the Syrian context and new realities, including Syria's Middle-Income Country status. In response to Syria's priorities and planned reforms, UNICEF brings partners together to build knowledge on children to support evidence-based policy formulation. UNICEF engages high quality expertise to support the policy development processes, as well as facilitating the participation of youth and children in such processes.

In line with its commitment to engage in humanitarian and emergency programming in Syria, UNICEF launched in the summer of 2007 the Humanitarian Support Programme for Iraqi refugees, in response to the influx of around 1.4 million Iraqis as a result of the war in Iraq. This programme offers support to refugee children and their families, as an extension of regular programming, in the areas of health & nutrition, education, child protection, water and sanitation and adolescent development and participation.

UNICEF Strategic partnerships

 UNICEF brings together traditional government counterparts who implement policies for children (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour, Ministry of Interior…), inter-ministerial bodies coordinating and leading reform processes (Syrian Commission for Family Affairs, State Planning Commission…), popular organizations (Youth Union…) and non-governmental organizations (Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Syrian Family Planning Association, …) to work for children. UNICEF also strives to involve the private sector as agents of development and social change for children.

UNICEF PROGRAMMING

UNICEF Syria's programming, in line with national priorities and needs, focuses on the following interventions:

Improved quality of services for children and women

Child Survival and Development: UNICEF is providing capacity building modules on specific issues related to health, such as Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI), Primary Health Care (PHC) and Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), as well as skills training and extended knowledge for health workers of child and adolescent needs in targeted areas.

Quality Education: In early 2007, UNICEF launched a five-year project aimed at transforming the Syrian basic education schools into Child Friendly Schools (CFS). Child friendly schools aim to provide safe and happy learning spaces for children. They should be free of corporal punishment, and strive to instill positive attitudes in their students. Building good character, and helping students achieve academically are central to the philosophy of CFS. Child friendly schools should be clean and hygienic centers of active learning. They are inclusive of all children, and reach out to the parents and the local communities to create networks of support to the education process. Following the successful adaptation of 53 UNRWA schools into child friendly schools in 2006, UNICEF's Palestinian Programme expects to expand the experience to all UNRWA 118 schools.

Development of policy initiatives that put children first

 Child Protection: UNICEF is devoting efforts towards a collaborative review of the legal framework on child protection, including the Penal Code. Furthermore, UNICEF is working with the Syrian government to develop both a Child Rights Code and a Juvenile Law.

 Adolescents Development and Participation:

UNICEF is supporting a knowledge base on adolescents, their habits, issues and trends. In 2007, UNICEF is supporting and collaborating with the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs and the Syrian Planning Commission to conduct a situation analysis of all children in Syria. As part of this process, adolescent consultations will be held with the support of SCFA which will add significantly to the country’s knowledge base.

Humanitarian support to children and women in crisis situations

Lebanon Emergency Response (2006): Health: UNICEF supported the Ministry of Health in conducting immunization campaigns at all public sites for polio/MMR/meningitis vaccinations for all children under five and measles vaccinations for 5-15 year olds. During these campaigns, UNICEF provided 150,000 capsules of Vitamin A to all children to boost their immune systems.

Humanitarian support to Iraq Refugees (2007-present): Child Protection: In cooperation with SARC, UNICEF has established four child friendly spaces UNHCR community and registration centers. These spaces, run by SARC volunteers, represent safe and secure places for Iraqi children where recreational activities, projects, arts and crafts are offered. The aim is to stimulate the normal development of refugee children and help them overcome the stress related to their situation. The spaces are also used to identify children in need of psychological/psychiatric assessment and support. Over 12,000 children have benefited from UNICEF’s psychosocial support activities.

United Nations Children's Fund
E. Mazzeh, Al Shafiee St., Bldg.2 Damascus - Syria Tel.: +963 11 612 2592/3/4 Fax: +963 11 612 2597 E-mail: damascus@unicef.org