Diana Hill in East Timor
Diana Hill, President of UNICEF Australia
Diana
Hill is a professional psychologist and educator with an extensive record of
service to children and young people. Her career includes over 20 years service
as a school psychologist and then as Deputy Principal. Most recently she has
served as an adviser and advocate for children at state, national and
international levels.
Diana
was elected to the Board of UNICEF Australia in 1994, and became President in
late 2002. Her dedication to the interests of children has seen her sit on
various other Boards connected to children’s and youth affairs, including the
Board of Child and Youth Health in South Australia and the Coordinating
Committee of Advisory Bodies for Children. She has chaired a South Australian
Ministerial Advisory Committee on students with disabilities, and from 1988 to
2002 chaired an Anti Tobacco Ministerial Advisory Task Force in South Australia.
Diana
travels extensively and since joining the Board of UNICEF Australia has visited
UNICEF’s field programs in Timor Leste, Myanmar, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua
New Guinea and the United Arab Emirates. She is married with four children and
two grandchildren.
Below:
Interview with Diana Hill
Speech by Diana Hill for Anti-Poverty Week 2003
Becoming a Global Parent
Interview with Diana Hill
Why did you become involved in UNICEF?
I believe
strongly that children are the future. UNICEF is the driving force that helps
build a world where the rights of every child are realised. UNICEF is unique in
that it has the global authority to influence decision-makers, and a variety of
partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. I
became involved because I wanted to play my part to build a world fit for
children.
What
does your position as President of UNICEF involve? What skills and qualities do
you feel your position requires?
As President of UNICEF Australia, I
believe first and foremost that the fundraising and advocacy work we do must
focus on the best outcome for children. The position requires that I chair the
meetings of the Board of UNICEF Australia and that requires understanding of the
role of a director of a not-for-profit organisation and all legal requirements
under Australian law.
In addition
there must be a willingness to participate in all aspects of fundraising,
a preparedness to speak publicly to groups, governments, school children and the
media about the issues facing children, particularly the most vulnerable
children – wherever they may be in the world. To do this I need to work
closely with the staff of UNICEF Australia, examining issues related to
children, preparing strategies for raising awareness of UNICEF in Australia and
assisting in raising much needed funds for UNICEF’s programs for children.
The driving force behind my work is
the attitude of the children for whom we work. Their resilience and wish to
participate in life as children before they are adults, their joy and enthusiasm
when they can play, learn, enjoy good nutrition and better health with their
families and in their communities, brings a sense that the world will be a
better place because of their participation.
What have
been some of the highlights of your work with UNICEF?
The highlights are my visits to the
field where I have the opportunity to sit with children, their mothers and their
communities and experience first-hand the difference UNICEF has made to their
lives. My visits to a UNICEF Child Friendly Centre and an orphanage in East
Timor, to children and women’s shelters in the Solomon Islands and most
recently a Centre for Children with Disabilities in the United Arab Emirates
have all provided such opportunities.
Other highlights were when I
learned of the success of a girls’ education campaign in Afghanistan. This
campaign supported by UNICEF managed to get three million children into school,
many for the first time. And in Cambodia, the tremendous progress we’ve made
immunising children. These are all success stories that prove that every dollar
we raise here in Australia can make a difference to a child’s life.
What
factors are considered when deciding which health, education and child
protection programs are funded by UNICEF Australia in the developing world?
UNICEF
Australia raises funds from the private sector, including from individuals; and
also from the Australian government through AusAID.
Funds
raised from the Australian public are the most important kind of funds to UNICEF
Australia because they are untied and can be directed to the most vulnerable
children. These funds are generally directed to UNICEF headquarters, which then
distributes them according to the areas of greatest need. They are directed
towards programs that assist children in countries where there is an unmet need.
On the other hand, governments for instance may wish to earmark their
contributions towards specific water and sanitation programs in Iraq, which
means that protection, health or education programs in Iraq may not have
sufficient funds. Public funds can then be used to address the many shortfalls
in these areas.
UNICEF
Australia raises a proportion of funds from the Australian government by
submitting proposals which are in line with both UNICEF’s and AusAID’s
strategic and geographic priorities. Most AusAID-funded programs are located in
the Asia-Pacific region. We ensure that our AusAID-funded programs are in line
with UNICEF’s core strategic priorities – namely Girls’ Education;
Integrated Early Childhood Development; Immunisation Plus; Fighting HIV/AIDS;
and Improved Protection of Children from violence, abuse, exploitation and
discrimination - and that they incorporate strategies to ensure they reach the
most vulnerable children and women. We also look at whether the proposed program
is appropriately designed to meet the relevant development needs; and whether it
incorporates strategies to ensure sustainability, capacity building and
consideration of gender issues; and whether it can be achieved within the
proposed timeframe.
Our
AusAID-funded programs should also match AusAID’s priorities for funding in
the region. For example, UA/AusAID is currently funding a juvenile justice study
with UNICEF Cambodia. An important issue that needs addressing in Cambodia,
juvenile justice is an area of focus for both AusAID and UNICEF in Cambodia.
Do
the Programs originate from within the country by UNICEF advisors who are in the
region? How are the programs’ outcomes evaluated?
Yes.
Each UNICEF field office develops a 5-year Country Program of Operation in
coordination with the relevant government. UNICEF Country Programs focus on how
UNICEF - in partnership with government - will address the needs of children,
women and their communities as established through consultation with
communities, baseline studies, situation assessments, evaluations and so on.
UNICEF country programs focus on implementing specific education, health,
protection and other programs throughout the country at the grass-roots level,
as well as advocating for children’s rights at the government level – for
example, working to introduce legislative and policy frameworks to protect
children’s rights. UNICEF also consults with local committees, community based
organisations, local non-government organisations and international
non-government organisations to determine areas of greatest need and appropriate
program interventions.
Every
UNICEF country office has their own monitoring and evaluation section, so that
UNICEF is able to internally evaluate its programs on an ongoing basis. UNICEF
evaluates its programs through community feedback and consultations, collection
of relevant data, and monitoring of outcomes and of implementing partners. For
UNICEF Australia’s AusAID funded projects, UNICEF Australia engages external
evaluators to evaluate the programs from the perspective of the communities
involved. UNICEF also conducts joint evaluations with donors, such as AusAID.
Financial evaluations are conducted on an ongoing basis, with both UNICEF and
donors like AusAID employing independent auditors to assess UNICEF finances.
What
are some of the difficulties in raising funding for UNICEF’s programs?
UNICEF
derives its income entirely from voluntary contributions. We receive no funding
from the UN. The two primary sources of contributions are: governments and
intergovernmental organisations; and private sector groups and individuals.
UNICEF
has 37 national committees in developed countries – including UNICEF Australia
– which fundraise specifically for UNICEF programs in developing countries. As
we essentially operate as a small business, we must ensure that we fundraise to
provide a sustainable, regular income to support UNICEF programs. This is why
UNICEF Global Parents are so important to us. UNICEF Global Parents provide a
regular, reliable monthly income to UNICEF outside of emergencies, disasters and
appeals. Our UNICEF Global Parents are incredibly supportive and loyal, but it
can be difficult to convince the public of the importance of contributing
regularly to a charity.
Another
difficulty is that we must keep our overheads low, and that includes staff and
resources. In all fundraising, the greatest problem is that the needs are huge
whilst all work must be done at minimum cost.
Where
does UNICEF obtain most of its funding from?
Contributions
in 2002 from governments/intergovernmental organisations accounted for two
thirds of total contributions, while one third came from private sector sources
including the Australian public.
Regular
resources – that is, untied funds - are the foundation of UNICEF country
programs. We depend on these to have an effective global presence, to provide
continuity in our work, and to ensure long-term planning. Regular resources also
allow us to respond quickly to emergencies and changing priorities. While
earmarked resources are indispensable for expanding the reach of our country
programs, the assured base of regular resources provides predictability for
UNICEF’s interventions at the country level. As such, we are working to
increase our income from private sector sources and individuals to 50% of our
total income.
How
do you personally deal with your encounters with children and adults
experiencing poverty and injustice and the awareness of
over
half a billion children living on less than $1 US per day?
When I meet children and families and communities experiencing poverty and injustice, it only strengthens my resolve to do more.
You have
said, “Eradicating poverty depends upon the commitment from governments,
communities and individuals at national and international levels,” and that
eradicating poverty requires:
1
World leadership and clear Goals
2 Basic services through investment by Governments
3
Protection of Human Rights and
4
Strong advocacy and support
(Children
and Poverty an International View Anti Poverty Week 13 –17 October 2003)
why
do you believe that governments fail to do the above given that the divide
between the haves and the have-nots continues to grow?
Worldwide, there
has been a growing focus on national security and defence. Over the last decade
international aid has dwindled. In 2000 it was at a record low of 0.22 per cent
of GNP of developed countries – less than a third of the 0.7 per cent target
agreed by the UN some 30 years ago.
But compared to
what the world spends on weapons or luxury consumer items, the resources needed
to provide for the basic needs of children are modest. The problem is not one of
insufficient resources, but a combination of misplaced priorities, and a lack of
vision and commitment by leaders.
In some countries,
traditions and taboos – such as those surrounding HIV/AIDS - are barriers to
progress.
By contrast,
countries that have achieved significant progress in human development in recent
years are those that have made immediate social investments a priority and spent
proportionally more on basic social services, viewing these investments as a
foundation for development. For example, the Kenyan Government abolished school
fees last year to make education free for all children. Since then more than 1.3
million children have entered school for the first time, pushing national
enrolment from 5.9 million to 7.2 million.
To what do you attribute
Australia’s reluctance to ratify
the
United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (CTOC) 4 and its
three optional protocols?
To
the best of our knowledge, the Government is currently in the process of
ratifying the Convention and the 3 Optional Protocols. Their explanation for the
delay in ratification is that the internal procedures of ratification take time.
There does not appear to be any reluctance to ratify the Convention and the
Optional Protocols on their part. The Federal Attorney-General’s Department is
currently researching all relevant state legislation to ensure that it complies
with the Convention and the Protocols and to establish what – if any –
domestic action is required in order to comply with the obligations under the
Convention. The feedback from this process is that little or no amendments will
be required to either federal or state legislation to ensure that Australia
complies with the Convention and the Protocols. If any amendments are required,
it is expected they will be minimal. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
appeared before the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in December 2003 to
update the Committee on the process of ratification. Once all internal
procedures are complete, ratification is expected to take place within the next
12 months, at the longest. UNICEF Australia encourages the Government to ratify
the Convention and the 3 Protocols and to put in place appropriate mechanisms to
protect vulnerable children and women from the serious crime of people
trafficking.
In relation
to your current Child Trafficking campaign, why was this campaign initiated and
what kind of a response was anticipated? What has been the response to it?
The
kidnap and abduction of young children from their homes and families is now big
business in many parts of the world, earning traffickers an estimated $12
billion every year. It’s a horrifying thought that when children should be
learning, playing and simply enjoying their childhood, hundreds and thousands
are being robbed of their innocence and living in fear.
By far, the best way to combat the
evil industry of child trafficking is by raising awareness and developing
rehabilitation programs. Education is vital. UNICEF educates parents and
children about the dangers of child trafficking. Girls who are enrolled in
school are in less danger than those who aren’t. Law enforcement officials,
judicial authorities, media and communities are made aware and trained to deal
with the problem. For those who have been rescued from the hell of child
slavery, UNICEF reunites them with their families, offers trauma counselling and
support for those who have been exposed to HIV/AIDS, provides economic support
for their families and access to skills training when the children are ready.
The
campaign has helped contribute to the current debate on the issue in Australia.
It is too early to calculate what the response has been since the campaign is
ongoing.
How can women
in third world countries be empowered so that they can break the cycle of
poverty? What have been some of the programs UNICEF has run to benefit women?
All
UNICEF’s work is about empowering people to help themselves. Our programs are
aimed at long-term sustainability.
The
AIDS education program in India is a good example of how UNICEF is empowering
women and children to change their lives. Many children don’t have
the
information they need to protect themselves because AIDS and sex education are
often taboo topics - any information they get is from friends – and there are
many misconceptions about how AIDS is contracted. So it’s really a case of
what they don’t know might kill them.
But
in village women’s groups and schools in Southern Indian states such as
Maharashtra, children and women are learning about life-skills now thanks to
UNICEF efforts and materials. They learn not just how to protect themselves from
AIDS but also about hygiene, teenage pregnancy, basic anatomy and reproductive
health.
They then pass on this
new-found knowledge to brothers and sisters and parents, and in many schools
children have taken it upon themselves to make posters and plays which they’ve
performed in the slums, so even more people benefit from this knowledge. Meeting
these children and women you see how confident they are, how they have taken
their lives into their own hands. Many girls have told their parents they
don’t want to marry before 18 or even 21. They now know that the physical and
emotional changes they’re going through at this time in their lives are
normal.
Empowering
women and girls through education is one of UNICEF’s priorities. Only
education can empower girls with the confidence to make the most of their
abilities and make decisions that result in such social benefits as later
marriages; better nourished and healthier children; fewer childbirth-related
deaths, and greater opportunities and life choices for women. Under-educated
parents, particularly women, are less able to see to it that their children get
the education they need. This contributes to factors that help perpetuate the
cycle of poverty, such as child labour, ongoing health issues, and low wages.
Presented by Diana Hill President of UNICEF Australia
Anti Poverty Week 13 –17 October 2003
UNICEF is the United Nations Children's Fund. Set up in 1946 it was originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. UNICEF was originally designed to be a short term operation bringing relief to children in 13 European countries who had suffered from the impact of the second world war. In 1953 UNICEF became a permanent fixture in the UN system. Today UNICEF's mandate is to assist women and children in the developing world. The UNICEF mandate is to help protect the lives of children and women and promote their development.
The Australian branch of UNICEF, UNICEF Australia, is a non-government organisation, affiliated as a National Committee to the UNICEF international family through a recognition agreement. This contractual obligation obliges UNICEF Australia to fundraise in Australia on UNICEF's behalf. In 2001 UNICEF Australia delivered over $6 million for projects within the Asia/Pacific region and Africa, all with an Australian identity, using UNICEF's extensive field network as the implementing partner. It works towards eradicating the major illnesses and diseases that kill children by addressing the following areas: health, education, water and sanitation, girls and women, children and conflict.In a speech for Anti Poverty Week on 13 –17 October 2003, Diana Hill, President of UNICEF Australia said that eliminating poverty requires:
" World leadership and clear Goals; Basic services through investment by Governments; Protection of Human Rights and Strong advocacy and support"
and that the people " must be provided with the basic capabilities to live in dignity" by
"Guaranteeing that every child gets a good start in life, from birth to adolescence; Ensuring that anti-poverty strategies are determined locally and not imposed from outside; Mobilizing a stronger sense of commitment within the International Community and; Abiding by principles of good governance and sound social policy."
To view the speech see: Children and Poverty - An International View
Becoming a Global Parent Campaign by UNICEF
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For further information see: http://www.unicef.org.au/globalParent.asp