UNICEF launches handbook

Accra, May 4, GNA - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) have launched a joint handbook for lawmakers to help them devise the necessary strategies, from introducing legislation to allocating public funds, to protect children from violence. "Parliamentarians can and should be among the foremost champions of child protection," said Toshi Niwa, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, during Wednesday's launch in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian island of Bali, where the annual IPU Assembly is being held. Mr. Niwa said he was heartened to see so many lawmakers at the Bali meeting, where efforts to combat violence against children is one of the subjects being discussed. "They can legislate, oversee government activity, allocate financial resources and, as leaders within their nations, advocate for change." he said in a statement issued in Accra on Friday by the UN Information Centre. UNICEF has allocated more than $240 million over the past two years to ts programmes on child protection and the UN Secretary-General's most recent report on the issue found that violence against children is widespread and under-acknowledged, often leaving lasting physical, emotional and psychological scars. 4 May 07