UNICEF Helps Government of China Improve Policies for Women and Children

Beijing, January 20, 2009 - UNICEF will support China's upstream policy making to promote welfare of children and women in the post-earthquake reconstruction and the country's next five-year economic and social development plan.

Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF China Representative signed two agreements on December 23, 2008, with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top planning agency under the State Council, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) to confirm bilateral collaboration along those lines.

From January 2009 to the end of 2011, UNICEF will work with the Social Development Department of NDRC to develop, implement, monitor and assess social polices and enhance policy-making capacities at the national and local levels.

The cooperation between UNICEF and NDRC is expected to improve public services and facilitate cross-sector policy coordination and implementation for the vulnerable children and women in areas affected by the Wenchuan Earthquake. It was also to ensure that China's approximately 800 million children and women, especially those in poor rural areas, could benefit from its economic development in the next five years (2010-2015).

In the aftermath of the Earthquake, UNICEF China submitted a policy note on Reconstructing Wellbeing to China's top policy makers. The suggestion, which received very positive feedbacks, led to this broader cooperation between NDRC and UNICEF.

UNICEF China was also invited to cooperate with the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the next two years to improve targeted social assistance programmes for children and women to break the cycle of poverty for millions of families.

Official statistics showed that children accounted for about 35% of the more than 60 million urban and rural low-income population covered by social assistance. UNICEF China and MCA will work to adjust current polices to address specific needs of children and women and narrow the gap between the rural and urban and different regions.

"The signing of these agreements is a testimony to the Government of China's commitment to take practical steps to improve the situation of children and women," said Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, "UNICEF is glad to share its global experience to make better lives for the children and women."