The Social welfare and Research Institute (IBSR) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have launched on Monday the week of the Haitian children in the presence of President Michel Martelly and the First Lady Sophia Martelly.

"Respect our rights, this is what us, children we ask" (Respekte dwa nou, se sa nou menm timoun nou mande) is the theme chosen for the week devoted to the situation of children in Haiti. Awareness activities on children's basic needs such as education, health, and nutrition will be held throughout the week.

The different actors have the goal to attract the attention of Haitian society about the importance of ensuring the rights of children who need to be protected and preserved from all forms of abuse. "Stop being tolerant, we must protect the child against all forms of exploitation" declared Françoise Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF's representative in Haiti.

The President Martelly has promised to pay special attention to the small Haitian during his mandate, renewing his willingness to ensure free access to school to every Haitian children. "...I want to say to the children of the streets, is that even when I was campaigning, I always talked about you. [...] I tell you, I have plans for you, until yesterday I worked on two projects to make enter funds, in the same way I did it for the National Fund for Education (FNE), I want to do a fund that will provide money for street children, to remove you from the street because the street is not for you, is for cars."

HL/ HaitiLibre