State Secretary Pejčinović Burić received Ann–Lis Svensson, regional UNICEF representative, and Tanja Radočaj, Head of UNICEF Office for Croatia

The State Secretary commended UNICEF programs, namely for their contribution to the heightening of public awareness of the promotion and protection of children’s rights as an important part of human rights in general. She also commended the strong UNICEF presence in Croatia through the implementation of programs that contribute to the society’s perception of and a wider identification of citizens with the children’s issues, emphasizing in that regard the high recognizability of and familiarity with UNICEF programs among the Croatian citizens.

State Secretary Pejčinović Burić said that Croatia has in all fields grown from an aid recipient to aid provider, and in the field of the rights and protection of children sees itself as a future aid provider to children in endangered countries. She pointed out that Croatia is soon to become a member of the UNICEF Executive Board, which will enable it to actively participate in the decision-making within UNICEF and present its activities in the field of children’s rights to the international public.

State Secretary Pejčinović Burić said she expects the new UNICEF program to follow the goals and measures from the National Plan of Action for Child Rights and Interests 2006-2012, adding that the Croatian Government has recently passed the Strategic Development Framework 2006-2013, that represents a framework and guidelines for the enhancement of the economic situation in all sectors of society, based among other things on reducing social inequalities and social exclusion, fighting child poverty and violence against children.

The UNICEF representatives expressed their satisfaction with the activities in this field so far, and held a short presentation of the Draft of UNICEF Program for Croatia 2007-2011, reviewing the areas of its particular focus – protecting children against violence and assisting the parents. They also took the opportunity to inform about the activities regarding the marking of the 60th anniversary of UNICEF, for which a special campaign and programs will be developed.