Sarawak collaborating with Unicef on child-sensitive initiatives

KUCHING (October 22): The Sarawak government is currently collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) on child-sensitive initiatives.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed that the project titled ‘Child-Sensitive Integrated Social Protection Initiatives’, aims to integrate social assistance for children with early childhood interventions and parenting education.

“This ongoing collaboration reflects our commitment to continuously improving social protection and nutritional outcomes for children in Sarawak.

“In fact, I am committed to ensuring that our policies are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of the poorest of the poor, the most marginalised groups, including rural communities, refugees, and children living in urban slums,” he said in a speech delivered by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at the opening of the 2nd Regional Social Policy Conference for East Asia and the Pacific Region here today.

The Premier said Sarawak has made it a priority to engage with community leaders and residents to understand their unique challenges and develop tailored solutions.

Abang Johari called for equitable access to quality education, healthcare, and social protection for every child, emphasising the urgency of this need given that 20 per cent of children in the East Asia and Pacific region, which includes Sarawak, live in poverty.

He underscored the importance of prioritising children in the state’s social policies to effectively navigate the complexities of today’s world.

“Investing in children is not merely a moral obligation; it is an economic necessity, as research has shown that early investments in education and health yield significant returns, not only for individuals but for society.

“Social policy plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges. It is not merely a safety net; it is a foundation for sustainable development. By investing in social protection systems, we can provide support to the most vulnerable populations, including migrants, slum dwellers, and those affected by climate change,” he said.

Abang Johari cited countries that have made significant investments in early childhood development, including Mongolia, Thailand, China, and Japan.

“By sharing best practices and learning from one another, we can develop effective policies that address the unique challenges we face in our region,” he said.

A total of 250 participants, including 100 international delegates from 14 countries across the East Asia and Pacific, are taking part in the conference jointly organised by Unicef and the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC) at Universiti Malaya, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak.

Themed “Prioritising Investments in Children in a Changing Region,” the conference features high-level discussions, expert presentations, and collaborative sessions aimed at tackling the region’s dynamic challenges.

Key highlights include strategies to increase investments in children, shock-responsive and anticipatory social protection models, gender and family life in social policies, financing sustainable child-friendly social protection systems, as well as building inclusive and age-sensitive social protection systems.

Among those present were Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Felicia Tan, SWRC director Prof Datuk Norma Mansor, Unicef East Asia and Pacific Regional Office deputy regional director Dr Myo-Zin Nyunt, and Unicef representative to Malaysia Robert Gass.