UNICEF's Challenges in Central and Eastern Europe

UNICEF Regional Director Steven Allen talks about challenges in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, including a resurgence of polio.

Narrator: Steven Allen, UNICEF Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States discusses regional challenges, including a resurgence of polio. Steven Allen: The region as a whole is on track to achieve many of the MDGs by 2015. Challenges remain for child mortality and HIV/AIDS prevention and care nonetheless where some countries are unlikely to meet the goals. But the progress is, thanks to several waves of reforms over the past two decades to address the impact of economic and social transition on children and women. But increasingly it is evident that in the wake of these reforms, large sections of the population are being left behind. The region has one of the highest rates of suicide and unemployment among young people and the highest rate of growth of HIV/AIDS in the world is now in CCIS which is now also home to 3.7 million people who inject drugs, representing one quarter of the world’s total. For many affected children and families, HIV has become synonymous with a life of stigma and exclusion. Economic growth and social development are not equitably reaching children living in rural and marginal urban areas, children with disabilities and those from ethnic minorities. For example, in some countries, children from Roma communities are 8.5 times less likely than children from the general population to have access to early childhood education. The net enrolment rate of Roma girls in primary schools is less than 60% while it is almost universal in the general population. Deeply rooted problems of exclusion and marginalization of certain population groups are manifest. Such in trends, disparities will prevent a significant proportion of children and women from benefiting from the promises of the MDGs. Before I close, I must regrettably draw the attention of the distinguished delegates to the unfortunate developments in poliomyelitis control in Europe and Central Asia. For the first time since 2002 when the European Region was declared polio-free, we have witnessed a resurgence of polio with an outbreak which to date in 2010 resulted in about 75% of all cases reported globally, coming from the region. Together with its partners, WHO, CDC, Rotary and others, UNICEF is supporting governments in Central Asia to bring the outbreak under control, maintaining accurate data collection and reporting systems and functioning surveillance for central elements timely action. This effort requires additional funding in order to provide continuous support to strengthening immunization systems and to ensure that the region regains and then maintains its polio-free status. Narrator: You’ve been watching UNICEF Television. For more information, go to unicef.org, Unite for Children.