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Mr. President,
I would, at the outset like to convey my gratitude to Ms. Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF for her statement and for her vision and leadership.
We also congratulate Ambassador Omer Hilale for his leadership and guidance.
Mr. President,
2019 marks the 30th anniversary of Convention on the Rights of the Child. Along with Bulgaria, Pakistan is leading the facilitation process for adoption of the modalities resolution to celebrate this landmark in an open and transparent manner. The resolution, we hope, will be adopted by consensus next week.
Mr. President,
Within the UN Development System Reform, UNICEF’s engagement across a wide range of reviews and processes, and its partnerships with other sister agencies like the WFP, UNFPA and UN Women, is vital to building stronger, more effective Country Teams that can focus on common goals and accelerate progress towards the attainment of SDGs.
We commend UNICEF’s efforts to reinvigorate the Resident Coordinator system, including through the new Management and Accountability Framework, and UNICEF’s comprehensive management response.
Mr. President,
Pakistan currently boasts the highest percentage of young people ever recorded in its history. With 64% of our population below the age of 30, it is also one of the youngest countries in the world.
We greatly applaud UNIECF’s initiatives like “Generation Unlimited”, that will help bring together the private sector, governments, international and local organizations, and the youth to identify and scale up efforts and attain the highest levels of education, skills and empowerment to help transform economies and societies.
Mr. President,
Pakistan attaches the highest priority to protecting and promoting the rights of children. We believe in investing in children. They are the key to development and prosperity. My Government is pursuing a policy of reform to bring the poor and the vulnerable into the mainstream, with particular focus on development of children.
In conclusion, Pakistan, along with other members of the Board, will continue to endeavour to make its functioning more efficient and effective and work for achievement of a ‘world fit for children’.
I thank you.