Join the global movement for child survival To advance Every Woman Every Child, an initiative launched by the United Nations Secretary-General, partners from the public, private and civil society sectors are uniting around a clear and compelling goal: ending preventable child deaths. For the first time in history we have the knowledge, technical expertise and innovative tools needed to mitigate the risk of young children dying from preventable causes. Evidence shows that tremendous progress is possible, even in the most difficult settings. By pledging support for A Promise Renewed, partners commit to redoubling efforts to accelerate the declines in the number of under-five and maternal deaths, enabling more countries to achieve MDGs 4 and 5 by 2015 and to sustain the progress well into the future. Everyone has a role to play in achieving the goals of A Promise Renewed: • Governments can take the lead in monitoring and strengthening country action plans for maternal, newborn and child survival. • Development partners can align their support with national priorities and targets.
Steady progress has been made, but many more lives can be saved World leaders have been steadfast in their commitment to child survival and well-being – starting in late 1989 with the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 1990, the global community united behind the World Summit for Children. A decade later, world leaders adopted the Millennium Declaration, which led to the subsequent adoption of the MDGs and positioned children at the centre of eight critical targets for human development. In 2002, the United Nations General Assembly passed a landmark resolution to build ‘A World Fit for Children’. This sustained commitment to children has contributed to a remarkable decrease in child mortality that is unprecedented in human history. Over the past two decades, the number of under-five deaths has fallen dramatically, from nearly 12 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011. Yet, even as the global and regional under-five mortality rates have fallen, the number of child deaths still remains unacceptably high. Every year, millions of children die from causes that we have the power to prevent − and diseases that we have the ability to treat.
• Private sector partners can spur innovation and help identify new resources for maternal, newborn and child survival.
The time has come to recommit to child survival and renew the promise to give every child the best possible start in life.
• Civil society can support the communities and families whose decisions and actions have a direct impact on prospects for maternal, newborn and child survival.
Join us.
• Individual citizens can demonstrate support for the principle that every last child, rich or poor, deserves the best possible start in life.
Committing to Child Survival
Facilitated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
A Promise Renewed is a commitment to all children, rich and poor, wherever they live. No child should die of preventable causes.
Photos: Front cover: © UNICEF/AFGA2010-00439/Noorani Inside left: © UNICEF/NYHQ2006-2706/Noorani Right: © UNICEF/NYHQ2011-1795/Pirozzi September 2012
Visit the website for additional information. www.apromiserenewed.org Twitter: #Promise4Children
A Promise Renewed