UNICEF and UWI’s Institute of International Relations sign MOU

The Institute of International Relations (IIR) of the University of the West Indies and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will today, January 14, 2014, sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Hub for the creation and facilitation of the Caribbean Child Rights Observatory Network (CCRON).{{more}}

“Both UNICEF and the IIR share a commitment to the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and intend to strengthen their collaboration to promote and realise the rights of all girls and boys in the Caribbean Region. CCRON will ensure collection of relevant data, accurate analysis and dissemination of information on the situation of children in the region, while providing feedback and support to programme countries in the implementation and development of evidence-informed policies and programmes for children,” a release said.

Moreover, the HUB and network will serve a role as an advocate for children’s issues, giving a voice to the most excluded and disadvantaged groups in the region. It will also provide technical guidance and assistance to governments and civil society organizations in reporting on and monitoring the progress of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Hub is expected to monitor specific rights violations of children and, in particular, discrimination and exclusion and seek to create visibility and inform change for key issues impacting children.

The Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by representatives of UNICEF and the UWI in the presence of Planning and Sustainable Development Minister Senator Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie in Trinidad today. It is for an initial period of two years.