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STATEMENT BY NEW YORK, 12 JUNE 2001 Mr. Chairman, The Indonesian delegation would like to express its appreciation for the comprehensive report on the end-decade review of the follow-up to the World Summit for Children. It clearly sums up the progress that has been achieved over the past ten years of effort at national and international levels, as well as the areas where we have fallen short. We would like to commend UNICEF and the Bureau of the Prepcom for the tremendous efforts that have gone into the end-decade review process and particularly those made during the preparatory process. We believe the recently concluded ministerial consultation in Beijing and its adopted Declaration would provide a useful input into the special session of the General Assembly on Children. Looking back over the past ten years, it would seem to have been auspicious that the follow-up activities of the World Summit for Children were implemented during a time of unprecedented global prosperity and a period of unparalleled technological and information communication innovation. Yet the decade that had begun with so much promise ended for developing many countries in a state of economic despair and marginalization. Likewise, many other developing countries continued to suffer from the so-called benefits of globalization. Interestingly, during a period in which ODA should have been catalytic for general growth and prosperity, and which has been promised at 0.7 per cent, it has still remained unfulfilled and unfortunately declined to an all time low of .22 percent during the decade. More positively, however, progress was and continues to be made in alleviating the debt burdens of highly indebted countries and we must continue to support implementation of the HIPC Initiative, while seeking increases in ODA. In other areas as well we have continued to move forward. The vast improvements that have been made in the awareness of child rights is one area that has met with particular success, and the recent adoption of the optional protocols indicates that the international community continues to build on that success. In fact, the Convention on the Rights of the Child has come to provide not only an important mechanism for advancing child rights, but also helps to shape the context in which we approach child safety and welfare. Let me note that Indonesia is committed to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and we are now, in fact, in the process of conducting a legislative review with the aim of early withdrawal of reservations to the convention. Perhaps one area that is advancing to the forefront of the international agenda is the dilemma of HIV/AIDS and its toll on children, both those infected by the disease and those who are orphaned by it. As the report tragically points out, every minute 6 people under the age of 25 become infected with HIV. The figures detailed in the report offer a glaring and stark image of the threat being posed to children. Although in Indonesia the actual number of AIDS cases is quite small when compared against many other countries, we nevertheless recognize the progressive nature of the disease and that we need to undertake serious efforts now to meet the challenge of tomorrow. Another item addressed in the report that we would like to comment on is immunization, which is so essential in preventing infant mortality and providing for a healthy childhood. We would concur with the report that the achievement of 73 percent for the combined three-dose vaccine is a major achievement in just the past decade. Meeting the goal of a coverage rate of 90 per cent on a global basis will, we are confident, ultimately be met and our efforts need to continue in that direction. In Indonesia, we are continuing to make efforts to meet the Summit goals. The percentage of infants who are completely immunized against BCG, DPT, Polio and the Measles is only at approximately 50 per cent. Measles and diarrhea are still prevalent in communities, although since 1996 polio elimination has been considered to be successful and there are no cases reported. Health issues that remain among unfinished business will be strategically addressed through a variety of approaches, including partnerships and alliances with NGOs, community groups, the private sector and the international community. My delegation would like to draw attention to the fact that in 1990 about 1.6 billion people, 30 per cent of the global population, were at risk of iodine deficiency. Approximately 43 million people suffered from brain damage as a result of inadequate iodine intake before or during infancy and early childhood. Significant progress has been made in this area, but certainly more needs to be done. In Indonesia, we are attempting to improve the situation with iodinated capsule supplements for school children in IDD endemic areas and class education on nutrition. In issues of nutrition management, it is our view and is reflected in our national program, that more responsibility should be placed at the local level, including food and nutrition surveillance. In this connection, I would also like to touch on child education and literacy. The balance sheet that is contained in the report adequately details where success has been achieved and what aspects remain unfinished. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the report in that education for all will never been achieved if gender discrimination is not addressed. Moreover, in Indonesia we have identified a number of areas where our education programme needs to be improved, not only in terms of accessibility and availability, but also in terms of the quality of education. Among the unfinished business that we face is to improve the quality of education and the access to education for all children. To achieve this goal, apart from international assistance, our budget allocations for the education related sectors of development will, whenever possible, be increased to support decentralization and community empowerment. And more responsibility needs to be given to local governments and schools need to organize education programmes that also meet the needs of their local communities, while at the same time improving overall quality of education. Ultimately, Indonesia will continue to address its social development issues within the framework of our national anti-poverty efforts. As the report accurately notes, a good understanding of the causes of poverty and exclusion is the first step towards effective action. And that this is best understood through those who experience poverty first-hand. In line with this observation, our national effort incorporates three aspects that are inclusive of those it benefits: promoting opportunities, empowering the poor and enhancing the social safety net. Only through an investment in children today can we effectively meet the complex and emerging challenges of tomorrow. Integral to our strategy is the provision of effective public services, including education and health, and other essential services. Indonesia is confident that by building on the progress achieved over the past ten year period, and with lessons-learned from that experience, we will fulfill many if not all of the global goals within a determined time frame. The most important of these being the impact of globalization and how the developing countries can benefit from it, and from continuing advances in information and communication technology. I believe that in general the document before us tends to support this view, and my delegation is confident that this report will greatly assist us as we define the deliberations during the forthcoming special session. Indonesia recognizes the value of the report in providing us not only with a summation of what progress has been achieved, but also what lesson have been learned in the process. Our task now is to capitalize on those lessons and move forward towards achieving all of the goals that were set down at the World Summit for Children. Thank you.
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