The prospects of our future depend on the investments in our children.
Just by being born, every child acquires the right to quality education, enough food to eat and clean water to drink, access to good healthcare, and a safe environment free from violence and exploitation.
Malaysia is acting on this promise. The country’s investments in reproductive health services and the provision of quality water, sanitation and nutrition to mothers and children have significantly reduced child and maternal mortality rates.
Malaysia is close to providing universal primary education, which not only provides children with a good start in life by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to break out of poverty, but also provides them with a safe and supervised environment. Malaysia is also investing in protection services for children and in combating HIV.
Still, as Malaysia moves towards its 2020 vision of an inclusive, high income country, all children must be touched by its progress, benefit from its investments and have their birth rights fully realised.
There is still a lot to be done. Malaysia’s 2010 Millennium Development Goals report highlights that despite the country’s remarkable achievements in reducing overall poverty from 19.9% to 4% in less than 20 years, some 700,000 children under 15 years are still vulnerable to the multiple deprivations of child poverty. Poor children are less likely to have access to health care and to be in good health. They trail in emotional and intellectual development, and are more likely to drop out of school early.
Our more than 50 years of experience in this country tells us that these are issues that can be overcome. Malaysia’s outstanding progress over recent years in economic and social development tells us this is possible. And success for children is an indispensable ingredient in the equation of success for the country to achieve its goal.
UNICEF’s new Country Program (2011-2015) is designed to be an important factor in this equation. It is focused on bringing about lasting change through the support of policy reform and national capacity development in the interest of every child. It is also aiming at forging partnerships and raising resources and engagement for children. Their future can only be secured if society as a whole agrees that children are the first priority and if everyone, from decision maker to individual citizen acts accordingly.
That’s why we need your involvement. Take a stand with us for Malaysia’s children!
Since 1954, UNICEF has joined forces with the Government and the people of Malaysia to transform the lives of children across the nation. We are proud and happy to know that we have helped achieve improvements in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, formal and informal education as well as welfare services for children in rural and poor urban areas.
However, we are acutely aware that while these advances are significant, there’s still a long way to go. Lasting improvements in the social, legal and protective environments provisions for children happen only with irrevocable change in policy based on the best interest of the child.
In our 2008-2010 Country Program, we set about improving the availability of knowledge and data on issues affecting Malaysia’s children to build a firm base for policies that could address remaining social gaps. A number of issues were addressed, specifically in the areas of health, education and protection. (UNICEF achievements in Malaysia)
For the 2011-2015 Country Program, our priorities are directly in line with the strategic directions of the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP), which is the key development strategy and planning instrument of the Government of Malaysia. The program also directly supportsVision 2020, the culmination of a 30-year national development process to make Malaysia a fully developed country by the year 2020.
UNICEF collaborates with Malaysian partners in government, corporations or civil society organisations and we are honoured to be part of Malaysia’s journey to improve the lives of its children while developing the nation.
Our mission
VISION FOR MALAYSIA
UNICEF works for a Malaysia:
§ where all children have their rights upheld and respected, regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion or material wealth,
§ where investment in children is a key strategy to achieve national development goals, reflected in decisions in all spheres and at all levels of society, and
§ that is the very best place for a child to be born, grow and realise his or her full potential.
MISSION IN MALAYSIA
UNICEF’s mission is to work with the government of Malaysia to achieve the goal of a fully developed nation with an inclusive, non-discriminatory and caring society that protects the rights of all children, including those most marginalised and vulnerable. In doing so, UNICEF will build child focused partnerships with all stakeholders – with NGOs and civil society, the corporate sector, religious and professional organisations, with high profile personalities and with children themselves.
Together, we will strive to realise an equitable society where the reality of all children in the country is fully understood and where gaps are addressed as a matter of priority. We will work for a society where child related government agencies has adequate financial and human resources, where the private sector supports child well-being through child-friendly policies and child-focused Corporate Social Responsibility and where every child has an identity, access to quality education and healthcare and is well protected and cared for.
We will achieve this by mobilising political will at all levels through evidence based advocacy supported by high quality expertise and international best practice. We will mobilise nationwide support through fundraising, advocacy and child rights education and act as a convenor of resources, ideas and action for all children.
UNICEF will make it possible for all children and young people in Malaysia to be heard, providing voice to the voiceless.
Our impact
PROGRESS FOR CHILDREN, 2008-2010
In the 2008-2010 Country Program, UNICEF set about improving the availability of knowledge and data on issues affecting children in Malaysia to build a firm base for policies that could address remaining social gaps. A number of issues were successfully addressed, specifically in the areas of health, education and protection:
Child Protection
§ UNICEF has been working with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to develop the Social Work Competency Standards which will equip and professionalise the human resource capacity of the government to deliver quality primary, secondary and tertiary interventions in child protection.
§ The UNICEF Safe School program with the Ministry of Education and Help University aims to educate teachers, school administrators, parents, and students on social skills and problem-solving strategies that contribute to safe school environments, free from bullying.
§ UNICEF’s Get on Board digital campaign against child abuse in 2010 empowered the public to take action at the individual and community levels to protect children from abuse. It was carried out with a broad coalition of partners in government, the corporate sector, civil society organisations and individuals.
§ Awareness about violence against children has increased among adolescents and the general public in Malaysia due to continuous efforts in disseminating information.
Education
§ The Supplementary Reading program (SRP) was initiated by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF so children from vulnerable communities in Sabah and Sarawak have the learning resources required for quality education.
§ Scaling up teaching and learning methodologies for Orang Aslichildren is a program that seeks to attract and empower them to continue attending school while also promoting their cultural knowledge.
§ With UNICEF support, a database that links to the Education Management Information System (EMIS) has been developed to identify and track out-of-school children.
§ Our School Emergency Preparedness and Response program was applied by schools in Malaysia during the early 2011 floods that affected several northern and eastern regions of Peninsular Malaysia. It was also selected by UNICEF as one of the most notable innovations for children worldwide.
HIV and AIDS
§ The role of UNICEF as a convener and a key player on the issues of women, children and young people affected by AIDS has led to consultative roundtable discussions and collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, and stakeholders in civil society.
§ In 2008 UNICEF launched a joint report with the Ministry of Health entitled “Women and Girls Confronting HIV and AIDS”, which highlighted the issue of the feminisation of the HIV epidemic in Malaysia.
§ UNICEF, together with Salt Media Consultancy, organised a media partnership with the editors and writers of Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka to strengthen awareness and media reporting on HIV and AIDS to reduce AIDS-related stigma against affecting children and families.
Social Policy and Partnerships
§ A formal partnership with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) which led to the launch of the first Best Business Practice Circular and toolkit on child care centres at private workplaces.
§ Research projects which contribute to positive policy changes for children include the Malaysian Child Index, the Child-Injury Database and the 2009 Malaysia Situation Analysis.
§ Successful communication of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its contents have helped facilitate youth participation programs and raised awareness on child rights for the media and the general public.
Updated: 27 May 2011
Our people
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| © UNICEF Malaysia/2011 |
| The UNICEF Malaysia Team during our Planning Meeting in July 2012. |
UNICEF strives to achieve its goals for children in Malaysia through a dedicated team of 24 full time staff. We are a part of the East Asia and Pacific regional office (EAPRO) based in Bangkok, while the UNICEF headquarters is in New York.
Our partners
COLLABORATING TO TURN PROMISES INTO ACTION
UNICEF always works with others to make things better. Partnerships are essential because the challenges before us are too great to solve alone.
§ Governments are our main partners. We collaborate with everyone from Heads of State and ministers to governors, mayors and community councils.
§ Non-governmental organisations both international and national, youth groups, women’s organisations, religious groups, communities and families are our partners.
§ Young people are deeply involved in what UNICEF does. When they have a voice in public debate, everyone benefits.
§ Media and celebrities work with us to make change happen in the present and to plan for it in the future.
§ Donors support our people and our programs. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions. The majority of our funds come from governments and we also receive help from the private sector, and individuals who support our efforts.
UNICEF global
FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD
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| © UNICEF Malaysia |
The United Nations Children’s Fund works in 190 countries and territories and is the world’s leading organisation for children.
Started as an emergency organisation for children in the wake of World War II, UNICEF has grown to promote and protect the rights of all children, everywhere.
Our strength lies in our unique ability to influence and support decision-makers through evidence-based advocacy to effect lasting change for children. We have the global as well as local outreach necessary to create powerful synergistic partnerships to realise the most innovative ideas in children’s best interest.
We continuously consolidate our experiences to overcome the challenges faced by children and those who care for them. Everyday, all over the world, we work with families, communities and governments to make it possible for every child to grow and realise their full potential.
Over 60 years of experience have given us valuable lessons and insights into child rights based development across the world, and we know that a safe, happy and stimulating childhood is key to a better and more peaceful world.
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