The Convention on the Rights of the Child has changed the way the world sees children: as rights holders. Now it is time for the Albanian government to recommit to the Convention, and the interrelated Sustainable Development Goals, by stepping up efforts to ensure that the rights of every child are recognized and realized, said UNICEF Albania’s Jawad Aslam
By Genc Mlloja
Senior Diplomatic Editor
“UNICEF in Albania is committed to universal coverage of basic health services and successful completion by all children of quality basic education, protection of all girls and boys from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, and protection and support for children and their families affected by humanitarian disasters by 2030,” has unveiled Mr. Jawad Aslam, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Albania.
Mr. Jawad Aslam is a Social and Economic Policy expert who has overseen strategic management, programme planning and advocacy for engaging in policy reforms on the rights of children and women with multinational organizations including United Nations Systems in diverse settings in Pakistan, South Sudan, Egypt, New York, Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, six OECS Countries and British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.
Taking the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which was marked last year, Tirana’s based UNICEF representative dwelt on the achievements accomplished last year and the ambitions for the future to improve children’s life in Albania in all aspects.
Sweden has become the first country to make the Convention on the Rights of the Child in a national law starting from January 1, 2020.
“The UNICEF’s team is working tirelessly to help position and amplify child rights and voices on the national stage,” said Mr. Aslam, who highlighted as one of the priorities future efforts not to place in institutions children below three years who are deprived of parental care. “This means we need to act now and promote policies that prevent the separation of children from their families in the first place, limiting separation to a last resort measure, and setting strict conditions for placing children into institutions with the aim of ending placement of children below three years of age in such care.”
Mr. Aslam noted that things are changing and Albanian children like many children in other countries, are facing a new set of challenges and global shifts that were unimaginable to their parents: the rise of digital technology, internal and external migration, that are completely re-writing what it means to be a child in today’s world. Given these changes now it is time for the government to recommit to the Convention, and the interrelated Sustainable Development Goals, by stepping up efforts to ensure that the rights of every child are recognized and realized, he said.
Further on he provided information on what the office of this organization has done revealing that UNICEF has led the education sector Post-Disaster Needs Assessment that will be presented to international donors in the Conference in Brussels on 17th February 2020. Mr. Aslam’s dream for every child in Albania is to be able to contribute to the society to grow up happy, well -educated and to contribute to a stronger Albania. “And I want to conclude with my advice to young people – love your country and build your own future here,” UNICEF Albania deputy representative Jawad Aslam said in the following interview:
Albanian Daily News: Last year the world celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Would you please share with us what have been some of the biggest challenges and achievements for UNICEF and for children in Albania over the past few years?
UNICEF’s Jawad Aslam: I would like to start with some of the achievements, and one of those is the very close relationships that the UNICEF country office has fostered with key government ministries, Parliamentary Group “Friends of Children” and International Development Partners. The ministries and key government partners understand our comparative advantage and they recognize UNICEF’s expertise, so this is the first big huge achievement. The second achievement is that we are successfully moving ahead our work for children at policy level and law changes that will bring results for children in the long run. One example is juvenile justice reform. In late 2017, after years of advocacy by UNICEF and others, the Parliament adopted a Juvenile Criminal Justice System Law. Another example is the approval of the “Law on the right and protection of the child” unanimously voted by all members of the Parliament.
Another achievement that we are proud of is UNICEF’s pivotal role in putting the online protection of children on the agenda of policy makers and private sector. I can say with certainty that government is no longer free to ignore these abuses as they were just ten years ago.
These are a few of the indicators that tell us we are moving in a positive direction with regard to children. But it has not been nearly enough. I wish we had accomplished more for children over the past ten years. If we are to achieve and sustain progress it is essential that Albania invest more in the health, well-being, education and protection of every child.
To mark the new decade we have entered in, UNICEF in Albania is committed by 2030 to universal coverage of basic health services and successful completion by all children of quality basic education, protection of all girls and boys from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, and protection and support for children and their families affected by humanitarian disasters.
The UNICEF’s team is working tirelessly to help position and amplify child rights and voices on the national stage. Together, we put children’s needs front-and-center throughout the discussions around key issues. We also took every opportunity to amplify our advocacy of children’s issues in the public eye: our partnership with Tirana municipality to make cities fit for every child, the engagement of private sector to promote safety online and be part of “Friendly WiFi” to protect children from harmful materials — all powerful partnerships have helped to draw attention to our mission.
– Is any particular program intervention that UNICEF is taking the lead this year which you could share with us?
-There are many important program interventions that we are working on. But if I have to choose one, is – the children who live in the institutional care. As parents, we all know how rewarding a young child’s smile is, as they learn to share and interact with others. Many research shows that early childhood development, 0-3 years, is crucial for children to reach their full potential. Yet, in spite of advances in scientific knowledge a number of young children in Albania continue to spend their most formative years in unsuitable environments.
We are responsible for facilitating environments that enable children to grow up in caring and supportive families. We know that children are separated from families for several reasons – often because of poverty, a child’s disability or a parent’s social status. By focusing on vulnerable families, understanding and preventing early separation and finding sustainable alternatives in line with children’s best interests, we can help foster a change in approach.
On the occasion of the CRC@30, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare made a public statement regarding the future efforts not to place in institutions children below three years who are deprived of parental care, and to increase family support so that parents are better able to care for their children. This means we need to act now and promote policies that prevent the separation of children from their families in the first place, limiting separation to a last resort measure, and setting strict conditions for placing children into institutions with the aim of ending placement of children below three years of age in such care.
A comprehensive package of health, educational and social measures to prevent the abandonment of children in hospitals and maternity wards is needed. We are working to help the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop high quality local services such as day care for children with disabilities and home visiting, and family-based care options such as foster care for children who need alternative families.
I would like to stress that the results we wish to achieve will not be a reality without the support and reinforced commitment of government, national partners and stakeholders – and in particular families and civil society organizations.
– In Albania, the realization of child rights is generally seen as a sole responsibility of the government. In your opinion how do you see family’s role in realizing these rights for children?
– Parents are fundamental, family is fundamental because they are the first people that children see in action, and they learn from them. Parents and caregivers are the single most important factor in giving children the best possible start in life and they hold the biggest stake in their children’s development.
Yet many, parents and caregivers face societal, cultural and employment barriers that prevent them from providing their young children with nurturing care. Moreover, many parents and caregivers are trying to raise their children in extremely challenging environments including poverty, unemployment and violence. We must priorities our efforts to reach these families with the parenting support they need to allow their children to develop optimally. UNICEF is urging the government and the private sector to increase investing in parenting skills, community care, and early learning services.
Things are changing, Albanian children, like many children in other countries, are facing a new set of challenges and global shifts that were unimaginable to their parents: the rise of digital technology, internal and external migration, that are completely re-writing what it means to be a child in today’s world. The Convention has also changed the way the world sees children: as rights holders. Now it is time for the government to recommit to the Convention, and the interrelated Sustainable Development Goals, by stepping up efforts to ensure that the rights of every child are recognized and realized.
-UNICEF advocacy and communication action in response to the emergency caused by the earthquake of November 2019 has drawn government, civil society and donor attention to its impact on children. How have you manage to meet children’s needs?
– In all our work, but particularly in emergencies, UNICEF recognizes that all children everywhere have the same rights. Our task is to ensure that those who have a duty to protect and ensure those rights provide all the support required.
Some 1,400 children and their caregivers have benefited from the UNICEF emergency response interventions mainly through 6 Child Friendly Spaces and 4 Temporary Learning Spaces. UNICEF is co-chairing the Education, Child Protection and Humanitarian Cash Transfers Working Groups. UNICEF has also invested in building the capacity of national and local actors involved in the child protection response, disaster risk reduction and shock-responsive social protection to improve their knowledge and skills in implementing and monitoring humanitarian standards. UNICEF has led the education sector Post-Disaster Needs Assessment that will be presented to international donors in conference in Brussels on 17th February 2020.
-What would your aspirations for all children and youth in Albania be?
-My dream for every child in this country is to be able to contribute to the society to grow up happy, well -educated and to contribute to a stronger Albania. And I want to conclude with my advice to young people – love your country and build your own future here./ADN
