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| Monday, 19 July 2004 |
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Children's vision for 2015 on the theme of UN Millennium Goals by Christie Fernando, Chilaw special correspondent A painting and essay contest titled "What we think we will be doing in the year 2015" for Sri Lankan beneficiary children of "Terre des Hommes" ("Earth for Mankind") organisation of the Netherlands, was held in the island recently. Other countries which participated in this contest were; Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Chilie, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Laos, Kenya, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Timor, Tanzania, Uganda, and Uruguay. The children were required to articulate their vision and expectations for 2015, in their own words in an intelligible manner, in essay and art. The contributions of participants were judged by Regional Education Directors.
The contributions were evaluated and sent to the regional offices. The best contributions from each country are forwarded to the head office in the Netherlands. The head office will in turn select from these a number of contributions that will be published in a booklet. It's a contest, but not a competition and there are prizes. The primary aim was that the children, in groups, should discuss the topic. Children should be aware of what the 'big people' talk about and the decisions they take that will influence the lives of the children. Children should have the opportunity to participate in the 'big people' talk and the decisions they take that will influence the lives of the children. The secondary aim was to show decision-makers, what is in the minds of children - their ideas and thought - and to use them in the decision-making process realising the 'Millennium Development Goals'. Some Millennium Development Goals affirmed at the United Nations Assembly: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day. Indicators: - Proportion of population below $1 a day - Poverty gap ratio (incidence and depth of poverty) - Share of poorest quintile in national consumption Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. Indicators: - Prevalence of underweight in children (under five years of age) - Proportion of population below minimum level of dietary energy consumption. Achieve universal primary education Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. Indicators: - Net enrolment ratio in primary education - Proportion of pupils starting grade 1 who reach grade 5 - Literacy rate of 15 to 24 year olds. Promote gender equality an empower women Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005 and in all levels of education no later than 2015 Indicators: - Ratio of girls to boys in primary, secondary, and tertiary education - Ratio of literate females to males among 15 to 24 year olds - Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector - Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament Reduce child mortality Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under five mortality rate Indicators: - Under five mortality rate - Infant mortality rate - Proportion of one year old children immunised against measles Improve maternal health Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio Indicators: - Maternal mortality ratio - Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS Indicators: - HIV prevalence among 15 to 24 year old pregnant women - Contraceptive prevalence rate B - Number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS Have halted by 2015 and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases Indicators: - Prevalence and death rates associated with malaria - Proportion of population in malaria risk areas using effective malaria prevention and treatment measures - Prevalence of death rates associated with tuberculosis - Proportion of TB cases detected and cured under DOTS Ensure environmental sustainability Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and program and reverse the loss of environmental resources Indicators: - Change in land area covered by forest - Land area protected to maintain biological diversity - GDP per unit of energy use - Carbon dioxide emissions (per capita) |
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