Korea-UNICEF Policy Council Meeting Held... Strengthening Cooperation on Child Protection, Health, and Education
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 30th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 16th Korea-UNICEF Policy Consultation via video conference to discuss the policy directions for development cooperation and humanitarian support between Korea and UNICEF.
On the Korean side, Cho Young-moo, Director General of the Development Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on the UNICEF side, Charlotte Gornitzka, Deputy Executive Director, attended as chief representatives. The Korea-UNICEF Policy Consultation has been held alternately in Seoul and New York annually since 2004, and this year it was held online considering the COVID-19 situation.
At this policy consultation, both sides comprehensively reviewed the steadily strengthened cooperative relationship and exchanged views on the policy directions of development cooperation and humanitarian support of Korea and UNICEF, including cooperation in response to COVID-19, the status of UN development system reform, participation of Korean companies in procurement, and expansion of opportunities for Korean nationals to work with UNICEF.
Both sides evaluated their close cooperation from the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, which contributed to the international community’s efforts to respond to COVID-19, and agreed to promote a project to support quarantine supplies worth 5 million USD for Africa and Latin America.
Additionally, the Korean side appreciated the entry of excellent Korean products such as COVID-19 diagnostic kits into the UNICEF procurement market and requested UNICEF’s continued interest to expand the participation of various Korean products in UNICEF procurement in the future.
Furthermore, as part of the ‘Action with Women and Peace’ initiative, the Korean side evaluated its contribution to achieving gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the international community through projects such as gender-based violence prevention and response for Rohingya refugees and the Better Life for Girls project. The Korean government is the second-largest donor country in the UNICEF gender program sector.
UNICEF expressed gratitude for Korea’s active support of UNICEF activities not only through financial contributions but also as an executive board member of UNICEF, and stated hope that both sides will continue to strengthen cooperation in areas where Korea has strengths, such as education, health, gender, and innovation.
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The government plans to continue close cooperation with UNICEF to contribute to the protection, health, and education improvement of children and youth worldwide under the COVID-19 situation.
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