Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at Commemoration of World Children's Day

Honourable Ummy Ally Mwalimu, Minister for Healthy, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children,

My colleague and UNICEF Representative, Ms. Maniza Zaman,

Mr. Assa Mwambene, Ag, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of of Healthy, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children,

Mr. Joel Festo, Chairperson of JCURT

Distinguished colleagues from the Government,

Members of Diplomatic Corps,

Representatives from Development Partners,

UN colleagues,

Members of the media,

Children and young people,  

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Habari za Asubuhi!

Watoto Oyeee!

Kwanza niwatakie Nyote Heri ya siku ya Mtoto Duniani!

Ninafuraha sana kuwa hapa kwa niaba ya familia ya Umoja wa Mataifa Tanzania katika sherehe hizi za kuienzi siku ya mtoto duniani.

Ningependa kuanza kwa kuishukuru serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kwa juhudi zake katika kusimamia haki za watoto. Siku ya mtoto duniani inatukumbusha kuendelea kushirikiana katika kulinda haki za watoto duniani na Tanzania.

Mabibi na mabwana,

Sote tunafahamu kwamba Malengo ya Maendeleo Endelevu, yaani the Sustainable Development Goals, ni ya kipekee yenye kutaka ushirikishwaji wa watu wote ili kuweza kuyafikia. Hivyo basi, ni lazima tukumbuke kwamba watoto wa sasa ndio watakaoendeleza juhudi za maendeleo haya.

Malengo ya Dunia yamejikita katika kuhakikisha kwamba yanapunguza tofauti na kuleta usawa kwa wote.

If we fail to invest in children, we will fail to achieve sustainable economic, political and social progress and stability. Children held back by sickness, lost school days and reduced capacity to learn are denied a fair start in life that would give them the best opportunity to fulfil their ambitions and fully contribute to their societies.

The best way to end the vicious cycle of inequality is to set in motion a virtuous cycle – a cycle in which every child gets a fair chance to survive, to grow up healthy and protected, to attend school, and to more fully contribute to her future and the future of her society.

Ningependa kuongelea mambo makuu matatu:

Kwanza, Uhitaji wa kuwa wabunifu (Need for Innovation)

Pili, Kuunda Ushirikiano (Forging Partnerships)

Na tatu, Uhusishwaji wa vijana (Engaging and listening to young people)

Nikianza na uhitaji wa kuwa wabunifu: Tutaweza kuyafikia na kuyatimiza Malengo ya Maendeleo Endelevu iwapo tu tutaweza kuwafikia watoto waliothiriwa na migogoro, mabadiliko ya tabia nchi na majanga ya asili.

It will be essential to combine peace building, humanitarian and development efforts in new and innovative ways so that societies can break free from repeated and protracted crises and climate-related disasters and establish foundations for sustainable development.

Pili, Kuunda Ushirikiano: Malengo ya Dunia yataweza kufanikiwa iwapotutaweka jitihada katika kukabiliana na masuala ambayo yanawaweka watoto katika mazingira magumu.

We need focused partnerships with the government, development partners, business leaders, academia, innovators, and civil society. And it will require effective and equitable investment in the most disadvantaged children – those left furthest behind. National plans, budgets and social and economic policies need to be constructed with the most deprived children at the heart of the agenda. 

Tatu, Uhusishwaji wa vijana: Kuwekeza katika haki, usalama na ustawi wa watoto na vijana kutawawezesha kuleta mabadiliko katika maisha yao na jamii.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Fostering the ideas and actions of a young, informed and engaged generation will help motivate, inspire and guide those charged with making the SDGs a reality, so they live up to the commitments they have made. Today, we have the honour of hearing from young people directly, don’t be shy and speak up. We are here to listen to you.

Achieving the SDGs could give every child a fair chance in life. What we decide to do for children and how we engage them in building the future will ultimately determine whether we are successful in creating a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

Kwa kumalizia, Familia ya Umoja wa Mataifa Tanzania itaendelea kufanya kazi na serikali pamoja na wadau mbalimbali ili kuhakikisha kwamba watoto wanapata mazingira bora, yenye amani na wezeshi kwa ukuaji wao.

Nimalizie kwa kusema Asanteni sana na Kila la Kheri katika majukumu yenu!