Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Chumakov at the first regular session of UNICEF Executive Board during the dialogue with the Executive Director
Mr. President,
Mme. Executive Director,
First of all, let me join others in congratulating Ms. Russell on her appointment as the new Executive Director of UNICEF. This is one of the most famous and respectable organizations in the world and it has the most important mandate – children. UNICEF was there helping children in the aftermath of the Second World War and it is still there for children in humanitarian situations. Russia appreciates UNICEF’s dual humanitarian and development mandate and we have quality cooperation in both these areas.
We thank Ms. Russell for her report today. We commend UNICEF’s success, including it’s growing number of partnerships, support to countries in fighting COVID-19, assistance to teachers and safe return of children to schools. And we agree that we should collectively do all we can to increase primary health care and social protection for children.
Mr. President,
During the previous Board session we adopted the new Strategic plan for UNICEF. A number of delegations including mine had reservations so as to the broadening of UNICEF’s mandate and we would like to take this opportunity and remind that the priority areas of UNICEF’s work should always be children’s survival and wellbeing and support to their families. Such topics as climate, peacebuilding as well as promotion of gender equality are undoubtedly important tasks at the same time, they are priority mandates of other UN organizations and this should be kept in mind.
Regarding the work with families we would be interested in receiving more information in UNICEF’s reports on how it supports families, including single-parent families, families having many children or having children with special needs. What is more, it will also be useful to get updates on whether UNICEF provides assistance to children who have lost parents and who live in orphanages.
Mr. President,
In conclusion I would like to thank UNICEF and its regional office for Europe and Central Asia for our successful and growing bilateral cooperation. Russia remains a strong partner for UNICEF for the case of children worldwide.
Thank you for your attention.
