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STORY: UNICEF / MYANMAR CHILDREN
TRT: 01:54
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: EMBARGOED UNTIL 0830 GMT 23 MAY, 2017; CREDIT UNICEF FOOTAGE ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: BURMESE / NATS
DATELINE: 26 MARCH – 09 APRIL, 2017, RACHINE STATE, KAYIN STATE AND KACHINE STATE, MYANMAR
26 MARCH – 09 APRIL, 2017, KACHINE STATE, MYANMAR
1.Wide shot, two teachers hold up a large sign in class
2. Close up, boy writes in his notebook in class
3. Med shot, girl writes in her notebook in class
4. Close up, girl writes in her notebook in class
5. Med shot, two girls laughing in class
6. SOUNDBITE (Burmese) Ma Thaung, Kachine State girl:
“I used to live with my relatives in the village because my mother had died and my father had to work. When the fighting happened, I was really scared. It went on for about 3 or 4 days before we moved. We travelled by car to one of my other relative’s house until my dad arrived. When he arrived 3 days later, he took us to this camp.”
26 MARCH – 09 APRIL, 2017, KAYIN STATE, MYANMAR
7. Various shots, boy walking holding his bicycle
8. Tilt down, boy stands shirtless with scar on his abdomen
9. Various shots, boy puts school shirt on
10. Wide shot, exterior of school
11. Wide shot, children sitting on bench inside school hallway
12. Various shots, child drawing on paper
26 MARCH – 09 APRIL, 2017, SIN TET MAW CAMP, RAKHINE STATE, MYANMAR
13. Wide shot, exterior of school
14. Various shots, children during the class
15. Close up, girl in class
16. Med shot, girl writing
Unresolved conflict, poverty and under-development are preventing children in more remote parts of Myanmar from reaping the benefits of the reform and reconciliation efforts being undertaken by the Government, says the UN children’s agency, UNICEF.
In a Child Alert issued today (23 May), UNICEF says that social and economic measures undertaken by the Government since 2010 are beginning to strengthen the systems that boost children’s health, education and protection.
A draft child law, and increased public funding for immunization programmes and education have demonstrated a stronger commitment to furthering children’s rights in the country, the agency says.
However, UNICEF points out that in spite of this progress, life for many children in Myanmar remains a struggle: up to 150 children under the age of 5 die each day, while nearly 30 per cent suffer from moderate or severe malnutrition. More than half of all children live below the poverty line.
International attention has largely focused on Rakhine State, where 120,000 internally displaced people – including many ethnic Rohingyas -- live in camps as a result of inter-communal conflict that erupted in 2012. Violence surged again last year following attacks on border guard posts.
Less reported is the situation in remote Kachin, Shan and Kayin States and other border areas, where recurrent clashes between the Myanmar military and Ethnic Armed Organisations continue to drive families from their homes. Civilians find themselves at risk from poverty, statelessness, and trafficking, while having only limited access to essential health and education services.
The report calls for improved humanitarian access to an estimated 2.2 million children affected by violence, and for an end to rights violations including the use of children as soldiers.
In troubled Rakhine State, UNICEF says Rohingya and other minority children and their families need protection and help. It endorses recommendations by the Advisory Commission headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for a comprehensive birth registration campaign and other investments in health and education services that are open to all children.
The report comes ahead of the convening of a second national Peace Conference in Myanmar on May 24 which UNICEF says is an opportunity to commit to stronger protection of children from conflict.
Investing some of the financial dividends earned from Myanmar’s recent economic growth, in services that will benefit children and youth, the report says, can help steer the country towards a more prosperous and stable future.
