Germany contributes EUR 100,000 to UNICEF in Libya

Tripoli, Libya 20 July 2014 – The German Government contributed EUR 100,000 to UNICEF in Libya. The contribution- aimed at strengthening national capacities to fulfil child rights in Libya- was signed today in Tripoli through an agreement between the German Ambassador to the country, Christian Much, and Mr. Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF Special Representative in Libya.

The agreement was also signed by Mo’men, a seven year old boy from the Janzour area in Tripoli, as a witness.

“We are thankful to the German Government for this generous contribution and the momentous endorsement of our work for children in Libya. It comes at this acutely troubled time in the country. UNICEF continues to be present in Libya working towards achieving children’s rights” said Mr. Khalil.

The contribution will help UNICEF to support the Government of Libya developing legal and institutional frameworks for a strengthened Child Protection System. It will assist UNICEF to consolidate efforts made through its Child Protection projects aimed at strengthening national capacities for monitoring the fulfilment of children’s rights. Activities to be implemented under this Germany-UNICEF partnership include strengthening the capacities of judges, prosecutors, police and social workers in the area of child rights and juvenile justice, as well as enhancing the capacity of the Higher Council for Childhood.

Ambassador Much said: “My Government is happy to continue its multi-annual cooperation with UNICEF in Libya. However, the implementation of the activities that we intend to support depends on the overall security situation in the country. I hope that all those groups who are currently fighting out their differences will bear in mind that their armed struggle is fought on the back of the needs of the civilian population, including those who represent Libya’s future: the children.”

UNICEF implements its programmes in Libya in close cooperation with sister UN Agencies and Development Partners. Activities planned under this agreement will be carried out in partnership with national stakeholders.

UNICEF will match the contribution from the German Government with an allocation of 120,000 EURO from its own resources to implement activities planned under this agreement.

About UNICEF’s work on child rights in Libya

UNICEF’s technical support helped establish a Higher Council for Children in Libya. The UNICEF-sponsored legal review of existing national child protection related laws and policies identified gaps and discrepancies of laws and policies compared to international norms and standards, and amendments were recommended. With UNICEF technical support, the Higher Judicial Institute led the process of drafting a child rights-based Juvenile Justice Law in addition to the development of syllabuses for five standing courses on child rights and justice for children. UNICEF supported also the development of similar syllabuses to the Police College and the Social Work School of Tripoli University, and an initial round of in-service trainings benefited over 200 judges, prosecutors, police officers and social workers.

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
www.unicef.org

For more information please contact:

Ghassan Khalil, Special Representative, UNICEF Libya, Tel: + 218 091 786 4125 gkhalil@unicef.org