Save the Children Marks Universal Children’s Day with Partners

Thursday 6 December 2018

 By: Tadios Tesfaye

The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs in collaboration with Sele Enat Charitable Organization, Save the Children, UNICEF and other development partners colorfully celebrated the Universal Children’s Day at national level for in the compounds of Sele Enat Charitable organization. The theme for the Universal Children’s Day for 2018 is “Love, Hope, Protection and Peace for all Children.”

On the occasion, Ekin Ogutogullari, Country Director for Save the Children in Ethiopia, delivered a key note address focusing on child rights and protection issues in the country. In his statement, Ekin underlined that Save the Children has been working with the government of Ethiopia for many years “to implement programs and policies in support of all children” and he reaffirmed Save the Children’s commitment to continue its support for children in Ethiopia. Ekin highlighted a number of areas where Save the Children will keep engaging with government including supporting the implementation of the National Children’s Policy, operationalization of the National Child Wellbeing Database System, and the mainstreaming of children’s issues across sector ministries.

Ekin Ogutogullari, Country Director for Save the Children in Ethiopia

Save the Children is committed to supporting the Ministry of Health in the implementation of the Pastoralist Health Extension Program and the National Nutrition Program and also “engage with the Ministry of Education to support Early Childhood Care and Education and Basic Education programs,” Ekin noted. He also pledged collaboration with the government to end child marriage, female genital mutilation, and other harmful traditional practices in various regions of the country. Through collaboration with the National Disaster Risk Management Commission on emergency response, he said Save the Children will continue its robust humanitarian work to address the health, nutrition, WASH, Livelihood needs of drought and conflict affected children and communities as well as refugees in in Somali, Oromia, SNNPR, Gambella, Afar, and Amhara regions.

In recognition of our support to improve the lives of children, the Federal Ministry of Women and Children Affairs awarded a certificate to Save the Children.

More than 170 participants drawn from federal and regional government ministries and bureau, agencies, religious leaders, celebrities and more than 80 children representatives including member of children’s parliament in Addis Abeba attended the event.