Unicef urged to back projects

By SONIA KENU
THE Community Development department lacks information on reported cases for women and children, acting secretary Anna Solomon has revealed.
Solomon called on the United Nation’s Children Fund (Unicef), which has been supporting its child protection programmes, to continue and help set up a good database for the department.
She made the remarks during a two-day workshop with development partners and stakeholders in Port Moresby last week.
“Currently we have statistics for Port Moresby only, with Moresby Northeast leading with the largest number of reported cases for rape, assaults, and child welfare issues including others,” Solomon said.
“We don’t have such information for other provinces we hope that our partnership with Unicef will help us establish an informed database.”
Meanwhile, Unicef made a presentation on its continuous support to Community Development on child protection, social justice and gender equality.
Deputy representative Vathinee Jitjaturunt said Unicef has worked closely with the department to strengthen capacity building, and to implement Lukautim Pikinini Act with birth registration and early childhood care and development.
She said they are currently working and providing technical support on three programme outputs: the child protection system building, preventive and tertiary protection services and justice for children.
“The three outputs are interrelated and would need assistance from different sectors if need arises in the long run.”