foodpanda Teams Up With Food Aid Foundation – Give A Little, Help A Lot

Food Aid Foundation and foodpanda Malaysia team up to raise funds for food for Persatuan Rumah K.I.D.S. Orphanage in Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — foodpanda hopes to help people learn about the importance of eating healthy and provide some basic knowledge about nutrition. With the “give a little, help a lot” initiative we would like to show that it takes very little effort to make significant changes. Together with Food Aid Foundation, our project is in the best hands: Food Aid Foundation will take care of the distribution and the transportation of the food.

“Our goal is to collect EUR1,000 (EUR1 = MYR3.94), to help cover two months of groceries for the orphanage. The collected money will go to Food Aid Foundation’s official fund raising account. They will buy the most necessary food stuffs for Rumah K.I.D.S Orphanage from the collected amount,” says Sidney, Country Manager of foodpanda Malaysia.

About Rumah K.I.D.S Orphanage

Persatuan Rumah Kanak-Kanak Ini Di Sayangi (Rumah K.I.D.S) began its operations in 1991. They are located at 7, Jalan Durian, Kawasan 6, 41100 Klang, Selangor. It is a registered non-profit charitable home for orphans and abandoned children. It is registered with the Registrar of Society and subsequently with Jabatan Kebajukan Masyarakat Malaysia and other related governmental departments.

The children are separated in two homes, based on gender. They between 4 to 18 years old. The orphanage needs support in order to provide food security for the children and assistance to cover the utility bills.

About foodpanda

foodpanda group is the leading global food delivery marketplace, active in 39 countries on five continents. The company enables restaurants to become visible in the online and mobile world and provides them with the latest online technology. For consumers, foodpanda/hellofood offer the convenience to order food online and with the widest gastronomic range, from which they can choose their favourite meal on the web or via the app.

Look us up at:
Website: www.foodpanda.my
Facebook:
facebook.com/FoodpandaMalaysia

For more information on this press release, or to arrange interviews with company management, please contact:

Sidney Ng
Country Manager, Malaysia
Unit D-3A-08, Level 3A, Block D,
Southgate Commercial Centre,
No.2 Jalan Dua off Jalan Chan Sow Lin, 55200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +6016-3062330
Email: s.ng@foodpanda.my

Trisha Ang
Marketing Manager
Unit D-3A-08, Level 3A, Block D,
Southgate Commercial Centre,
No.2 Jalan Dua off Jalan Chan Sow Lin, 55200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +6016-7252996
Email: t.ang@foodapanda.my

Cyclists Put Students’ Minds Into Gear by Pedalling Half Way Around the World

INTREPID adventurers excite secondary school students with tales from their recently completed cycle from London to Hong Kong

HONG KONG, April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Laurence Gribble and Nick Codrington pedalled into Hong Kong on Saturday, completing an impressive 17,000 kilometre expedition across Europe, the Middle East and China.

Lam Woo students welcome Gribble and Codrington to their school

Lam Woo students welcome Gribble and Codrington to their school

Having set off from Buckingham Palace in July, Gribble and Codrington, aged 23 and 24 respectively, endured nine months of snow-covered deserts, instant noodles and “the worst roads in the world” to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

On Wednesday, the British explorers took time out from a well-deserved rest to inspire students from SKH Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School, Kwai Hing, where 900 students gathered in anticipation of their arrival.

The pair did not disappoint as they described tales of “face-offs with wolves in Tajikistan” and “breaking the world record for speed across the Taklimakan desert” as well as “the extraordinary hospitality of local people” and experiencing “the pinnacle of teamwork and friendship”.  

Alexander Keech, the school’s Chatteris Native-speaking English Tutor (CNET), has been helping students track Gribble and Codrington’s progress enroute to Hong Kong. He hoped hearing stories about this remarkable feat would inspire students to chase their own dreams and adventures.

Form 4 student Jack said: “They talked about the people they met on their journey, so in my future, if I want to plan an adventure on my own, I will plan it so I can meet different cultures, learn from others, and encounter people with other experiences.”

Lam Woo Principal, Chan Ka Yun, added: “Our students can learn from Laurence and Nick about their spirit and determination…about helping others and learning something new, and about going through a long, long journey to raise money.”

Chatteris Educational Foundation enjoyed collaborating with Lam Woo teachers and the Royal Geographical Society (Hong Kong) to organise the event with a shared commitment to broadening the horizons of Hong Kong students. Chatteris, a registered non-profit organisation with 25 years history, provides students with rich and varied English learning experiences by placing overseas English speaking university graduates in local schools.

Gribble and Codrington finished the talk by explaining that they chose Hong Kong as their final destination because “it is one of the most famous cities in the world, and we wanted to make that connection between London and Hong Kong.”

Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150401/8521502087a

CBME AWARDS 2015 is Now Open for Submission

SHANGHAI, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Organised by UBM China, the annual CBME AWARDS recognizes innovation and excellence in the child, baby and maternity products industry, honoring companies and individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the industry. The Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the international child, baby and maternity products industry and is much anticipated by the trade community.

Stepping into its seventh year, the CBME AWARDS 2015 will continue to uphold industry best practices and celebrate achievements made in the global child, baby and maternity products industry.

CBME Awards Rolls Out New Category

This year, CBME AWARDS broadens the number of categories from 17 to 25. An entire new category “Consumer Choice Awards” is set up to recognize the brands with most popularity among consumers. This category covers the following awards:

  • “Consumer Choice for Baby Travel Gear”
  • “Consumer Choice for Baby Bedding and Furniture”
  • “Consumer Choice for Feeding Product”
  • “Consumer Choice for Baby Care Product”
  • “Consumer Choice for Educational Product”
  • “Consumer Choice for Maternity Product”
  • “Consumer Choice for Children’s Wear”

CBME AWARDS 2015 Is Now Open for Entries
CBME AWARDS 2015 welcomes all qualified brands, companies, products and individuals to submit entries. The Awards recognizes and honors excellence, innovations, leadership, corporate and social responsibilities and achievements made in the child, baby and maternity products industry.

CBME AWARDS 2015 is comprised of the following awards:

  • Innovative Products Awards – honors original patented products that have shown rapid advances and innovations in the industry in the past year. Categories include Best Baby Travel Gear, Best Baby Car Seat, Best Baby Bedding and Furniture, Best Baby Feeding Product, Best Baby Care Product and Best Educational Product.
  • Top Brand Awards – categories include Top Brand for Baby Bedding and Furniture, Top Brand for Baby Feeding Products, Top Brand for Baby Travel Gears, Top Brand for Baby Care Products, Top Brand for Educational Products, Top Brand for Maternity Products.
  • Consumer Choice Awards – acknowledges the most popular brands in the past year.
  • Top Retailer Awards – honors the industry’s best retailers in the past year.
  • Best Baby Store in Sales Personnel Quality Awards – honors the baby stores whose store personnel with highest score in “Best Baby Store Sales Contest Awards” held during CBME China 2015.
  • Best Social Responsibility Awards – recognizes the corporation and individuals who are devoted to social responsibilities to make impact not only in the industry but in the whole community.
  • 10-Year Industry Service Awards & 20-Year Industry Service Awards – acknowledges the contribution of corporation and individuals who have been working in this industry for over 10 and 20 years, respectively  
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – acknowledges the significant contribution of key industry player to the industry.

Deadline for submission is on April 20. All entries will be evaluated and judged by a “100-person judge panel” as well as the public.

Finalists will be announced in May and will be showcased at the CBME AWARDS Gallery during CBME China 2015 in July. The 20-Year Industry Service Awards, Best Social Responsibility Awards and 10-Year Industry Service Awards winners will be announced during CBME China 2015 as well. Winners for other categories will be announced during CBME China Annual Seminar this autumn. To submit an entry or learn more about the event, please send email to cbmexpo@cbmexpo.com  

For press enquiries, please contact:

Louise Kathryn Yu
Marketing Director
Tel: (+852) 2585 6101
louise.yu@ubm.com  

About Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME China) www.cbmexpo.com/en  

Held annually in Shanghai, CBME China is the world’s largest sourcing event for baby, child and maternity products. This is the perfect venue for you to meet buyers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers in the industry.

About UBM Asia http://www.ubmasia.com/  

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global network of 30 offices and 1,300 staff in 24 major cities. We operate in 20 market sectors with 230 exhibitions and conferences, 23 trade publications, 20 online products for over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world.

Smilables Inc. Launches a Breakthrough System Designed to Benefit Babies’ Brain Development and Aid New Parents

— New Company Introduces Parent-Centered Three-Tier System for Baby Brain Development During the Critical First Two Years

BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — One hundred and thirty million babies are born worldwide each year, and research reveals that their brains advance at a record pace during the first two years of life. The first twenty-four months are therefore critical for learning and baby brain development. Parents have lacked a science-based system that measures the state of the baby moment-to-moment, and delivers the right tools to parents at the right time to help their child learn.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150204/173396LOGO

Smilables Inc. (www.smilables.com) is a new company formed by Silicon Valley serial entrepreneurs, and experts in baby brain development at Harvard, Stanford, and UCLA. The company will be launching a first-of-its-kind, fully-integrated system comprised of a baby smart-wearable bracelet coupled with smartphone-delivered modules for structured parental interactions, and an adaptive feedback mechanism that continuously monitors developmental progress. Adapted from infant brain development laboratories, the system continuously monitors the baby’s state, and enables parents to interact with and “feed the hungry brain” of their baby with customized learning materials. Integrated into the system are innovative tools that enable parents to monitor their baby’s cognitive development week by week.

“Smilables three-tiered system puts parents and caregivers at the center of their baby’s brain development,” said Dr. A. K. Pradeep, Founder and CEO of Smilables, and author of the best-seller “The Buying Brain”. “The system monitors the baby in real time to identify optimal points of receptivity and provides real-time, age-customized interactions for parents to have with their babies to facilitate their baby’s brain development.”

Smilables’ system is designed for parents and caregivers to use with their baby several times throughout the day. The system has been built ground-up to monitor and benchmark the baby’s progress to standards that have been established by specialists in the early childhood development field.

Smilables plans to launch the system in multiple languages in the third quarter of 2015, initially in key international markets including India, China, Japan, US, and select Latin American and European countries. Pricing for the system has not been finalized at this time, but is projected to be accessible by all demographies in the major target markets.

“Our goal is the democratization of world-class knowledge and techniques for baby brain development and putting those tools into the hands of parents at every level of society,” said Dr. Pradeep. “The first two years with your baby should be full of smiles — the happiest, worry-free, and stress-free time. Smilables provides that quiet confidence that you are doing your very best with your new baby.”

Smilables is a privately-held company headquartered in Berkeley, CA.

US Based Non-Profit To Open A Children’s Hospital In Lao PDR

LUANG PRABANG, Lao PDR, Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, February 11th, Friends Without A Border will open a new pediatric hospital during a Grand Opening ceremony in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) will be the first full-service pediatric hospital outside of the country’s capital and, when it opens, will provide free care to all children. The hospital is a partnership project with the Lao PDR Ministry of Health.

LFHC is supported by Friends Without A Border (Friends), a not-for-profit organization based in New York whose mission is to provide high-quality and compassionate health care to children in Southeast Asia. Friends’ first children’s hospital, Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC), opened in 1999 in Cambodia and has since treated over 1.3 million children, trained hundreds of local doctors and nurses, and provided medical outreach and education to communities all over the country.

Friends’ founder Kenro Izu started the organization after witnessing the tragic death of young girl in a Cambodian health care facility. “The little girl was the same age as my daughter at the time. I just remember being so shocked something like that could happen. There she was, in a hospital with doctors and nurses nearby, and yet she did not receive treatment because the girl’s father couldn’t afford to pay two dollars for her care.”

After opening, word about AHC quickly spread. Today, AHC treats an average of 450 patients a day, is a nationally trusted pediatric teaching hospital, and is a model in the region for sustainable high-quality care.

In Lao PDR, pediatric health care is an urgent concern. Children suffer from treatable illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria, as well as from injuries sustained by unexploded ordinances, which still blanket some parts of the country today.

The new hospital in Laos will adopt the same model of holistic care used at AHC, with a focus on treatment, education, and prevention. “When we opened our first hospital, we quickly realized the importance of addressing the education and prevention aspects. We wanted to help create a healthy community, not just provide Band-Aids,” Izu said.

LFHC’s Executive Director, Dr. Jonathan Spector, says, “We are building a hospital to where any of us would feel perfectly comfortable bringing our own children. We will deliver safe, high-quality care with respect and empathy for our patients and their families.”

Recently, Izu and Friends were recognized for their work by the World of Children Award. Considered the “Nobel Prize for Child Advocates”, the World of Children Award named Izu the Health Honoree.

U.S. Contact: Jenni Cheers, Development Director, jenni@fwab.org or +1-212-691-0909
Lao PDR Contact: Jenn Brown, Development Director, FVC@fwablaos.org or +856 (0)71 252 096

DFS and Twelve Celebrity Ambassadors Grant Wishes This Holiday Season

“JOY TO YOUR WORLD” CHARITY CAMPAIGN, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAKE-A-WISH(R)INTERNATIONAL, TO BRING HAPPINESS AND HOPE

HONG KONG, Dec. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, today launches an exceptional charity campaign in partnership with the world’s largest wish-granting organization, Make-A-Wish®. The “Joy To Your World” campaign features a star-studded line-up of twelve celebrity ambassadors from Asia, who will help to grant wishes to children who are battling life-threatening illnesses.

Until December 25, DFS and the celebrity ambassadors will invite the public to unite and share their joy in support of those most in need during the holiday season. To participate in this campaign, follow @DFSOfficial on Instagram and Facebook and #JoyToYourWorld.

“We are honoured and excited to partner with Make-A-Wish this year in support of children in need. DFS is committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work, and we believe it is especially important during the holiday season to bring joy to those in need,” says Philippe Schaus, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DFS Group.

The mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Since its inception in 1980, Make-A-Wish has collectively granted the wishes of more than 334,000 children in nearly 50 countries.

The twelve celebrity ambassadors partnering with DFS are Aaron Kwok, actor and singer (Hong Kong/China), Beni, singer (Japan), Bonnie Chen, model (China), Carina Lau, actress (Hong Kong/China), Chi-Lam Cheung, actor and singer (Hong Kong/China), Denise Keller, TV host (Singapore), Donnie Yen, actor (Hong Kong/China), Michele Reis, actress (Hong Kong/China), Rosamund Kwan, actress (Hong Kong/China), Tsubasa Masuwaka, model (Japan), Yusuke Iseya, actor and director (Japan), and Zi-Lin Zhang, Miss World 2007 (China).

Donation boxes have also been placed in 13 DFS stores around the world until December 26 to encourage public participation:

  • T Galleria by DFS, Hong Kong, Causeway Bay
  • T Galleria by DFS, Hong Kong, Canton Road
  • T Galleria by DFS, Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui East
  • DFS, Hong Kong International Airport
  • T Galleria by DFS, Macau, City of Dreams
  • T Galleria by DFS, Macau, Shoppes at Four Seasons
  • T Galleria by DFS, Singapore
  • DFS Galleria Bali — Denpasar
  • DFS Galleria Cairns
  • DFS Galleria Sydney
  • DFS Galleria Auckland
  • DFS, Auckland Airport
  • T Galleria by DFS, Okinawa

International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women & Girls

UN and the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) commemorate the International Day for the Elimination Violence against Women and Girls with focus on Ending Family Violence & Making it everyone responsibility

BEIJING, Nov. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — As the world marks the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, the UN System in China joins the Government of China in calling for everyone to work together to address the scourge of domestic violence in families.

Domestic violence continues to be a global pandemic, with up to 70 per cent of women experiencing violence in their lifetime. This year the focus will also be on the impact of violence within the family, especially on children, who often bear the brunt of being exposed as well as victims of domestic violence. 

In China, once considered a “family matter”, the issue of domestic violence has received growing attention, especially given increased media reporting on individual cases. Evidence clearly demonstrates that domestic violence can have a devastating impact in the family. Violence against women and girls is rooted in and reproduces power imbalances between women and men in family and society.

Anyone may be a victim of domestic violence, but some groups are more vulnerable including women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly. Collectively, domestic violence and abuse of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities committed by intimate partners and/or caregivers in the home is defined as family violence. Children who grow up witnessing and experiencing violence can perpetuate this cycle when they become adults.

“Violence within a family has terrible consequences not just for those individuals, but also on the larger community and within society as a whole. Global evidence clearly demonstrates the impact of domestic violence can have major financial, social and emotional costs that can lead to long term damage,” said Alain Noudehou, the UN Resident Coordinator in China . “Yet we know that violence within a family can be prevented. By changing social norms and ending gender discrimination, to empowering families with better coping strategies to manage daily pressures, to making sure we have strong laws and protection mechanisms, we can address it, if all stakeholders are engaged.”

Currently, 125 countries around the world have laws that criminalize various forms of family violence. In China, the Family Violence Law, which has been drafted and awaiting final passage through the National People’s Congress, would provide comprehensive national legislation on family violence.

The UN Inter-Agency Task Force, which was set up in May 2012, has been working with the Government of China on the drafting of the legislation that intends to provide comprehensive protection for all forms of family violence, including all forms of physical, mental, and sexual abuse or neglect within a family. Technical assistance from within the UN and global experts has focused on how to include protection and assistance to survivors, to punish and rehabilitate perpetrators, as well as highlight the different practices countries have adopted to ensure the respect, protection and fulfillment of the rights of survivors of family violence in national court proceedings and the ensuing rehabilitation and integration services. 

The International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (EVAW) held every year on the 25th November and first adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1999, is a day for everyone to work together in a concerted manner to raise awareness, challenge cultural norms that harm women and children, provide support for violence survivors, and advocate for the adoption and implementation of comprehensive laws to protect them.

To commemorate the day, the All China Women’s Federation, (ACWF), in partnership with the UN Inter Agency Task Force against Family Violence, will host a special media event with experts that will seek to highlight the situation in China, and build momentum to prevent it.  

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http://www.unfpa.cn

Join us in the “Be the One Be Orange” campaign:
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Chen Kun Urges Everyone to Join the Campaign to “Make the Invisible Visible” by Ending Violence Against Children

BEIJING, Nov. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Today, UNICEF Ambassador Chen Kun added his voice to call for an end to violence against children. In a short film, the well-known and respected actor, urges everyone to act to “make the invisible, visible” and to put an end to violence against children that has a detrimental impact on their development and well-being.

In China, like in other countries, violence against children remains a problem deeply rooted in culture and widely accepted by society. Tradition holds that whatever happens within the home is a family matter, and not necessarily the responsibility of society at large or the Government. This leads to the phenomenon that when domestic violence is committed many cases are not identified and go unreported leaving children without any support.

“For a long time in China, children have been treated like private property. People think that to beat or curse children is not family violence. This concept has led us to hurt our children.” Chen Kun reflected, “I hope people can join us to carry on the campaign of making the invisible visible.”

The film, which focuses on family violence, was made as part of a visit to Tianjin with the All China Women’s Federation (ACWF), who have been working with UNICEF to develop community based services and policies to address violence against children.  

Global evidence has demonstrated that violence against children can have long term and lasting effects on a childs emotional and social development, and can also lead to them becoming future victims or acting violently themselves as adults thereby perpetuating the cycle of violence.

“Ending violence against children is an ethical imperative, but it also makes economic sense. Besides its impact on child victims and their families, violence has far-reaching costs for society: around the world it is diverting billions of dollars from social spending, slowing economic development; eroding human and social capital; and severely limiting children from reaching their full potential resulting in huge losses to society. However, violence against children is not inevitable and can be prevented,” said Tim Sutton, UNICEF Deputy Representative at an event hosted by the UN System in China and ACWF to commemorate this year’s International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls.

A recent study estimates that the global economic impacts and costs resulting from the consequences of physical, psychological and sexual violence against children can be as high as US$7 trillion or 8% of global GDP (*). A similar study mentions that for every dollar spent on eliminating severe physical violence as a method of child discipline there will be a benefit of USD 11. [i]

Currently, in China, there is a lack of comprehensive data on violence against children that in turn has made it more difficult to determine the scale of the problem and design an effective and comprehensive response. This is compounded by the lack of an integrated national child protection system that can help identify children and families at risk, and intervene with services to prevent and respond to violence, often made worse by stress and economic pressures.

As part of the End Violence Against Children global initiative, UNICEF globally, has identified six key strategies of what worksto prevent and respond to violence against children, that countries can implement to realize their commitment to eliminate violence against children.

  • Supporting parents, caregivers and families
    Educating families, caregivers and parents on their child¡¯s early development increases the likelihood that they will use positive disciplining methods. This reduces the risk of violence within the home.
  • Helping children and adolescents manage risks and challenges
    Giving children and adolescents the skills to cope and manage risks and challenges without the use of violence and to seek appropriate support when violence does occur is crucial for reducing violence in schools and communities.
  • Changing attitudes and social norms that encourage violence and discrimination
    Changing the attitudes and social norms that hide violence in plain sight is the surest way to prevent violence from occurring in the first place.
  • Promoting and providing support services for children
    Encouraging children to seek quality professional support and report incidents of violence helps them to better cope with and resolve experiences of violence.
  • Implementing laws and policies that protect children
    Implementing and enforcing laws and policies that protect children sends a strong message to society that violence is unacceptable and will be punished.
  • Carrying out data collection and research
    Knowing about violence – where it occurs, in what forms, and which age groups and communities of children are most affected – is essential to planning and designing intervention strategies, and setting numerical and time-bound targets to monitor progress and end violence.

In China, as a member of the UN Task Force on Family Violence Law, UNICEF is advocating for a comprehensive set of measures to protect children against violence within the family and also to provide a comprehensive response to victims of abuse. It hopes that these recommendations will be reflected in the national Family Violence Law that is currently under review.

UNICEF is also working with the ACWF and other partners to strengthen community based services including by developing the capacity of families and communities themselves as well as different experts in the judiciary, family and child welfare and health care systems to better identify children at risk of abuse or children who have been abused and referring them and their families to appropriate services.

As part of this support to ACWF, a national anti-family violence hotline s that is now operating in 2,800 counties and a Community Response Toolkit on addressing Violence Against Children are available that contribute to the prevention and response to violence against children, thereby strengthening the quality of and demand for child protection services.

Watch Chen Kun’s video: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODMzNjM0ODQw.html

[i] (*)

The costs and economic impact of violence, Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and ChildFund Alliance, 2014

(**)

Anke Hoeffler and James Fearon, Copenhagen Consensus Center, The benefits and costs of the conflict and violence targets for the post-2015 development agenda, 2014

Twenty Five Years On, the Convention on Rights of Child Remains Critical to Improve the Lives of Millions of Children

On the 25th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, millions of children still need

BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — As the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF urges renewed commitment to make sure every child has their right to survival, development, protection and participation protected.

The first international treaty to articulate the entire complement of rights — economic, social, cultural, civil and political — relevant to children, the Convention is legally binding on all countries that have ratified it, and with its 194 State parties, it is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.

The lives of millions of children have improved since 1990, when the Convention took global affect. Countries have incorporated the provisions of the Convention in their laws, constitutions, policies and budgets. Children are now widely viewed differently — as holders of their own rights to health care, adequate nutrition, education, participation, freedom from violence and exploitation, and the time and space to play.

Since China ratified the Convention in 1992, there has been a dramatic reduction in poverty, with 605 million people lifted out of poverty between 1990 and 2011 as defined by the World Bank $1.25 standard. Under-five mortality was reduced by 80% between 1991 and 2013. While primary school enrolment is at almost 100 per cent for both boys and girls.

Despite this remarkable progress, there are still millions of children who are missing out on their fundamental rights and access to basic services, especially those in poor, remote and ethnic minority areas. The number of people living in poverty remains high at 82 million in rural China. Poverty disproportionately affects children: roughly 10% of China’s child population lives in poverty, while 25% of children (approx. 70 million) live in one of China’s 828 designated poverty counties.

“As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the results it has helped bring about for children, we must remember that by meeting our obligations under the Convention, we build the foundation of a strong as well as a just society,” said Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF China Representative. “We must also continue our work for universal implementation of the Convention, making the right of the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded children to health, education, protection and equal opportunity a central public priority.”

China is making enormous progress for children — but for this progress to be sustained, it must reach every single child, especially the most vulnerable and the hardest to reach.

As part of its international obligation, China submitted its combined Third and Fourth State Party report on CRC implementation to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2010. In 2013, the Committee reviewed the report making a number of recommendations. These included:

  • To make sure there is better disaggregated data on children publically available and gathered through the official statistical system, as well as to include more international standards and indicators for surveys and data collection linked to children.
  • To focus on gender issues related especially to equality in access to health, education, as well as address negative social norms linked to girls.
  • To preserve the languages, cultures and traditions of ethnic minority children and strengthen their participation and local engagement.
  • To improve and address the legal status for migrant children and to address discrimination that impacts on their de facto lack of access to public education and health services.
  • To adopt a multidimensional set of criteria for accessing child poverty and that poverty be recognized as both a rural and urban phenomenon in China.
  • To seek to expand and build a community based welfare system that meets the needs of vulnerable children in their communities.

In China, an innovative social media campaign under the theme Please listen to me” was launched today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention. The campaign aims to remind the public of the basic rights entitled to every child and inspire a nationwide discussion about the urgency of ensuring all children enjoy the same rights and achieve their full potential.

“I hope every parent can listen to children’s voice carefully,” said Chen Kun, UNICEF Ambassador for China. “Their views should be well respected.”

As part of the campaign, UNICEF also premiered the first children’s Chinese version of 
Imagine,” a world well-known song originated by John Lennon. This year the song was dedicated to UNICEF in advocating for child rights around the world.

Learn more about the CRC@25 advocacy campaign: http://www.unicef.cn/crc25/

Join the online discussion: “Please listen to me” http://www.weibo.com/p/1008080cefb83a07824381f0bca6c220149468/manage?default=83&from=page_100808&mod=TAB#place

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org.

Visit our official website: www.unicef.cn

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IKEA Foundation Contributes US$31.5 Million to UNICEF to Help Advance Children’s Rights

NEW YORK and LEIDEN, Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — To mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, IKEA Foundation is boosting its commitment to children with six new grants to UNICEF, amounting to US$31.5 million (€24.9 million).

The new grants will focus on reaching the most marginalized and disadvantaged children living in poor communities and in strengthening UNICEF’s response in emergency and conflict situations.

Five of the IKEA Foundation grants will support UNICEF programmes in Afghanistan, China, India, Pakistan, and Rwanda. The new grants will focus on early childhood development, child protection, education, and helping adolescents to improve their lives and strengthen their communities.

A sixth grant will enable UNICEF to develop information management tools to strengthen emergency response and monitoring.

“UNICEF’s partnership with IKEA Foundation has helped advance the rights and improve the lives of children growing up in some of the world’s most difficult places,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “We are grateful to the Foundation and look forward to continuing our work together to reach the children we have not yet reached, and to put equity and children’s rights at the centre of an agenda of action for all children.” 

Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989, there has been tremendous progress for children. A baby born in 2014 has a much better chance of surviving beyond the age of five. Children today are far likelier to go to primary school than they were in 1989. The number of children aged 5-17 involved in child labour has declined by almost one third since 2000. Yet too many children have not benefitted from this progress.

IKEA Foundation CEO Per Heggenes said, “We are very proud of our longstanding partnership with UNICEF, helping to develop new approaches leading to improved lives for millions of vulnerable children around the world. These new grants will ensure this work continues, helping even more young adolescents, children and families enjoy their basic rights.”

IKEA Foundation is UNICEF’s largest private sector donor. Over the last decade, this partnership has helped promote the rights of millions of children to survival, education and protection in Africa and Asia.

IKEA Foundation’s six grants to UNICEF are:

  • Empowering thousands of adolescents in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan (US$16.1 million or €12.9 million) to take responsibility over decisions impacting their lives and their societies
  • Investing in family- and community-centred services in Rwanda to provide better care for children (nearly US$5.5 million or €4.6 million)
  • Providing thousands of vulnerable children with early childhood development and education in China (US$3.75 million or €3 million)
  • Protecting children from violence, abuse, exploitation and unnecessary family separation in Jammu/Kashmir, India (US$ 2.5 million or €2 million)
  • Improving the welfare of orphans and other vulnerable children in rural communities of China (US$1.87 million or €1.5 million)
  • Strengthening UNICEF’s humanitarian response and monitoring through better data collection, sharing, analysis, management and reporting (US$1.11 million or €886,402).

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org.

About the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child explicitly recognizes the universal rights of all children. It is the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history and has inspired changes in laws and practice that have improved the lives of millions of children in every region of the world.

About IKEA Foundation

The IKEA Foundation aims to improve opportunities for children and youth in the world’s poorest communities by funding holistic, long-term programmes that can create substantial, lasting change. The Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child’s life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and sustainable family income. Currently funded programmes will benefit an estimated 100 million children by 2015. Learn more at www.IKEAfoundation.org and www.facebook.com/IKEAfoundation.

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