Wednesday 22 June 2011

In Armenia, parliamentarians commit to invest in early childhood development programmes

YEREVAN, Armenia, 21 June 2011 – More than 40 parliamentarians from Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEECIS) gathered for a three-day regional conference in Armenia.

They were there to discuss the urgent need to invest in early childhood development policies and programmes, and to step up efforts to reverse the trend of institutionalization and violence that afflicts the region’s most vulnerable children.

full article

Thursday 16 June 2011

Watch the full interview with Jean Claude Le Grand (UNICEF)

Interviewing Jean Claude Le Grand, Senior Advisor, Child Protection, UNICEF CEECIS Regional Office Geneva

Presentation by Valentina Stratan, Moldova

Resources - UNICEF guide to working with parliaments

Our interviews on the UNICEF Moldova facebook page





UNICEF Moldova on facebook

Latest photos

Field visit, ARBES Day Care Centre

Documents - Opening speech by Anders Johnsson, IPU

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Interview with Ms Valentina Stratan, Member of Parliament, Republic of Moldova

Finishing up the second day of the conference

The delegation from Turkmenistan

Field visits

The participants of the CEECIS Regional Parliamentary Conference will visit different projects in Yerevan tomorrow. Here is a short description of those projects:

Yerevan conference - Jun 15, 2011

Interview with Ms Maria Aisina, Member of the Majilis, Kazakhstan (in Russian)

Interview with Emily Vargas-Baron, Director of the RISE Institute (www.riseinstitute.org)

Ms Valentina Stratan, Member of Parliament, Republic of Moldova

Afternoon session on June 15, 2011 - Ms Valentina Stratan, Member of the Moldovan Parliament, presenting the National Program for the Creation of the Integrated System of Social Services (2008-2012) in Moldova

Session 5 - Chairman: Mr Otar Toidze, Member of Parliament, Georgia

Interview with Judita Popovic, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and Member of the Child Rights Committee

Interview with Dr Patrice Engle, Cal Poly State University, USA

Short interview on the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) with Dr Patrice Engle, Professor at the Department of Psychology and Child Development at the Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo (USA)

Blogging is live reporting

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Interview with Ms Alexandra Yuster, UNICEF Representative in Moldova

The first five years

This video was shown by Dr. Patrice Engle, Professor at the Department of Psychology and Child Development at the Cal Poly State University (San Luis Obispo, USA)

Resources

Child Protection: A Handbook for Parliamentarians

Adopting and enforcing strong laws protecting children, overseeing government activity, allocating financial resources, raising awareness and providing advocacy are what parliamentarians can do to help alleviate children's suffering. 

This IPU/UNICEF co-publication, launched at the IPU’s 110th International Assembly in April 2004, serves as a catalyst for action, providing examples of parliamentarians’ responses to the challenges of child protection and addressing 10 specific protection issues

download

The second day of the conference in Yerevan



Continuing our twitter updates as well today, follow us!

Parliamentarians urged to support reforms to develop, protect the most vulnerable children

YEREVAN, Armenia, 14 June, 2011 — A major conference of Parliamentarians from Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States was urged today to speed up reforms to support the development and protection of vulnerable children.

More than 40 delegates from 10 countries attended the meeting organised by the National Assembly of Armenia, the Inter Parliamentary Union, and UNICEF. The Parliamentarians were looking at ways to make child rights a reality for the most vulnerable children.

full article

Interview with Ms Laylee Moshiri, UNICEF Representative in Armenia

Good question...

Here is one of our upcoming interview questions: "Do children have any way of contributing to the legislative process to protect themselves?"

Comments appreciated :-)

Young reporters in action

Interview with Ms Laylee Moshiri, UNICEF Representative in Armenia

Session 1 - Overview of Parliamentary action for child rights

Interesting presentations by Ms Anahit Bakhsyan from Armenia, Ms Yudita Popovic from Serbia and Mr Mykola Tomenko from Ukraine.

Quotes on our twitter channel

Interview with Mr Anders Johnsson, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

Ms Yudita Popovic, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia

Interviewing Mr Anders Johnsson, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) - during the lunch break...

Photo slideshow

Group photo

Keynote speech

Mr Trond Waage, former ombudsman for children, Norway: "Rights of children are moving forward. They are more and more important now. The children are all independent beings. We must listen to their opinions."

Nane blogging live from Yerevan

Regional conference logo

Opening ceremony

Ms L. Moshiri, UNICEF Representative: "The CEECIS region has the highest number of children in residential institutions in the world."

Opening ceremony

Mr A.B. Johnsson, Secretary General of the IPU: "Children must know their rights and we must take their rights into consideration at this conference."

Opening ceremony, Ms L. Moshiri, UNICEF Armenia

Monday 13 June 2011

Opening ceremony

Final agenda of the conference

Team meeting on June 13



Meet the team: Nane (16), Norair (14), Inessa (15) and Hovnan (16) - all from the Manana Youth Centre in Yerevan

Related links

Serbian parliamentarian stresses focus on equity at global conference in Panama

Panama City, 18 April 2011 – Parliamentarians convened in Panama City to address the urgent need for accelerated progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals with equity.

With the MDG deadline less than five years away, it is increasingly evident that progress is uneven in many key areas. In fact, compelling data suggests that millions of the world’s most disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalized children are being left behind: the children who are facing the longest odds.

full article

Related links