Maestral International’s Post

Two-Thirds of Child-Related #SDGs Indicators Off-Pace to Meet Targets-#UNICEF Two-thirds of #child-related 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators are off-pace to meet their targets, according to a new UNICEF report released recently. This is worrying as the world is at the halfway mark towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report, Progress on Children's Well-Being: Centering Child Rights in the 2030 Agenda warns that as of today, only 6 percent of the child population – or 150 million children – living in just 11 countries have reached 50 percent of child-related targets met – the highest level of achievement globally. https://lnkd.in/dvVYap2U

Wellbeing of Women is offering grants of up to £5,000 to small, grassroots organisations and community groups to deliver health information and support to women, girls and people from underrepresented groups in the UK. The Women's Health Community Fund is designed to support small, grassroots organisations and community groups to deliver health information and support to women, girls and people from underrepresented groups. We are seeking projects that address the following key points; ·        Projects that aim to improve information, education and support for menstrual health, related gynaecological conditions e.g. PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, PMDD, and menopause. ·        Support people and groups that are often underrepresented in mainstream healthcare, information and services, for example people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQI , people living with disabilities, deaf people, blind and partially sighted people, people experiencing homelessness, addiction, people living in areas of economic deprivation. Deadline for applications: 19th May 2024 Please click on the link below to access more information. https://lnkd.in/ePZ4ukG2

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 By Tamir Boldbaatar / GICJ On 14th March, the Human Rights Council convened to address the Rights of the Child, with Nada Al Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighting the importance of inclusive social protection. She emphasised the incorporation of children's perspectives in last year's report, a groundbreaking effort accompanied by the first child-friendly version mandated by the Council. Social protection, crucial for children's rights and sustainable development goals, lifts them out of poverty and mitigates widening inequalities. A 2023 report from the International Labour Organization revealed that 1.77 billion of the world's 2.4 billion children lack access to social protection. This absence profoundly affects children's lifelong well-being, development, and enjoyment of fundamental rights, including education and health care. Despite progress, existing social protection systems often suffer from inadequate design, implementation, and funding. UNICEF emphasised that approximately one billion children live in multidimensional poverty, lacking access to critical developmental necessities. Inadequate national financing of social protection presents a major obstacle, with expenditures falling significantly short. UNICEF urged the council to prioritise child rights and inclusive social protection, emphasising the need for expanded coverage and improved implementation strategies. WHO stressed universal health coverage as essential, particularly for vulnerable populations affected by conflict or displacement. Despite progress, millions of children under five die annually from preventable or treatable illnesses due to inadequate access to health services. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉) urges states to prioritise high-quality health care and preventive measures for children, emphasising the importance of comprehensive social protection, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflict. Addressing the Rights of the Child necessitates concerted efforts to bolster inclusive social protection systems, expand coverage, and ensure adequate financing. Prioritising children's rights fosters a more equitable future and advances sustainable development goals. #Geneva4Justice #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice #ChildRights #SocialJustice #UNICEF #HumanRightsCouncil #SustainableDevelopment #HealthcareForAll #PovertyEradication #UNICEF #WHO #COVID19 #ConflictResolution

Working in children’s rights advocacy for 16 years gave me a unique vantage point to observe trends across Europe, & to familiarise myself with an ever-growing body of knowledge about what’s needed to help children thrive. It was a constant source of frustration to witness the escalating demands on child protection & crisis intervention, alongside a systematic failure to effectively address root causes: poverty, inadequate housing, unemployment, discrimination, chronic illness, substance abuse & mental health issues. Under the Von der Leyen Commission, there have been many important EU policy milestones: #childguarantee #childrightsstrategy #mentalhealth #homelessness (among others). And EU funds are available to support implementation. But how are these policies & funds getting implemented in practice? I’m lucky enough to be helping a private grant-making initiative plan how to leverage EU policy & funds to make a real difference to vulnerable families & children in #Bulgaria. We’ve identified 2 key strands to this work 📢 Amplifying the voices of those with lived experience to: close the gap between services & the real needs of families & communities; challenge stereotypes; & focus investments on parental resilience, material support & building strong relationships. ✔ Improving the accountability of EU funds & influencing the design of the future MFF so that more public funds flow to preventing family-child separation. Want to know more or have ideas to contribute? Please get in touch ✍🏽 . My deadline to send recommendations by 15th March. So don't delay!

https://lnkd.in/dxHgWCTX "To launch the initiative, which will also be led by the White House Gender Policy Council, President Biden will direct multiple agencies to deliver recommendations to advance women’s health research within 45 day. The initiative will then find areas for additional investments, like in research around heart attacks in women and menopause, according to the White House, which also plans to engage the private sector and philanthropic leaders."

We recently took part in the National CSO-Led Network monthly meeting on Ending Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) and other violence forms against women and girls in Kenya. The network's purpose is to bring together different CSOs to work towards eliminating FGM/C and other forms of violence against girls. One of our commitments is to equip girls and young women with practical strategies for engaging their respective communities and encouraging them to abandon harmful practices that prevent them from enjoying their rights. During our discussions, we emphasized the importance of changing our approach to promoting the abandonment of female genital cutting rather than simply focusing on stopping #FGM. We also discussed the Reactance Theory and how it can cause pushback from communities who view our efforts as threatening their culture. To successfully navigate these differing perspectives, it's crucial to approach the issue with empathy and understanding. Tostan 28 Too Many | leading anti-FGM charity (now part of Orchid Project) AMREF United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Population Council Equality Now

By prioritizing children's rights and participation, we can help to build a better future for all."  Today is World Children’s Day, and it marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations ’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, a milestone recognizing children's civil, social, political, cultural, and economic #rights. On this World Children's Rights Day, we emphasize the enduring importance of this convention amidst ongoing global challenges.   Despite being the most ratified human rights convention, substantial #challenges persist. Among them: 468 million children reside in regions shaped by conflict, with 160 million obliged in child labor. An additional 29.9 million adolescent girls confront the harsh reality of child marriages. Also, the climate crisis, impacting over 1 billion children globally, adds another layer of complexity. Today, UNICEF marks a Global Day of #Action to underscore the rights of children and adolescents focus on "Children between wars and forgotten emergencies" directs attention to the broader humanitarian impact in various regions. Regrettably, conflicts, spanning from 2005 to 2022, have claimed the lives of at least 120,000 children, highlighting the urgency of addressing the broader implications of such crises. Chiesi Foundation remains steadfast in its daily commitment to protect the life of newborns, including premature and small and sick ones.  We are working every day in newborn care because we firmly believe that every newborn must have the right to become a child. Regardless of health conditions or birthplace. Defending children’s right to life and ensuring their #survival and #development. For every child, every right.  #worldschildrenday #globalhealth #unicef #who #healthforall #chiesifoundation

In partnership with Families Matter and with sponsorship from the Government of Alberta, we are opening the dialogue up on addressing racial disparities in perinatal care. Canada boasts good healthcare, but there's always room for improvement, especially when it comes to supporting pregnant Black women. Shockingly, studies reveal that racism persists within the healthcare system, affecting the experiences of Black pregnant women. Freedom Tree is opening the conversation by conducting interviews with women of color in Alberta, documenting their perinatal experiences. These narratives revealed the diverse and individualized journeys of these women, all of whom encountered instances of racism during this crucial period. These encounters significantly influenced their overall experiences, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change. We aim to shed light on the impact of racism within perinatal care. Thank you @familiesmatters and @youralberta, Through education, advocacy, and partnership, Freedom Tree strives to create a more equitable and supportive environment for all women, regardless of race or background. Click the link in our bio and watch the full story on our YouTube channel! @freedomtreecanada Here is Natasha’s story. #FreedomTree #Empowerment #Equality #PerinatalCare #Canada

How is Llamau supporting women in Wales? Many of the women we support in our gender-specific services would not be able to access domestic abuse refuges because they are not currently experiencing domestic abuse. However, generic temporary accommodation is not appropriate for them because they have often experienced gender-based abuse or violence in the past. Our gender-specific services have been set up for women who would not be comfortable in a mixed-gender environment. We treat women as women first and address the complex difficulties that they face in their lives. We provide a tailored, holistic package of support for each individual, which builds on women's strengths, enabling them to lead independent, self-determined lives. We support women in various housing projects, including 24-hour staffed temporary accommodation and self-contained units within our project houses and flats in the community. Find out how to access support at https://lnkd.in/exiXNFEw

Family planning programmes are most needed if countries aim to reduce #inequalities in #health, #reduce #maternal and #child #mortality rates, alleviate poverty and foster economic development. In a major step toward expanding access to voluntary family planning for millions who need it, global health leaders announced a bold vision and new commitments to end the funding shortfall for lifesaving contraceptive supplies. #togetherwerise #humanrights #SRHR Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation