The National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents 2004 - 2015
"Investing in our Children"
What is the NPA?
The National Plan of Action (NPA) is Belize's foremost child-specific national policy document that represents a joint political intent of the People's United Party (PUP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) to put the issue of child protection and child development high on the national agenda. The document aims to draw a comprehensive picture of the required inter-sectoral inputs that are deemed necessary to achieve a set of targets in 2015, assumed to be indicative of a satisfactory state of Belize's children and adolescents.
How was the NPA created?
In November 2002 both leaders of the major political parties appointed three representatives from their respective parties to a “working group” to actively engage in a process of achieving consensus on the National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents (NPA). The Working Group also included a representative from the National Youth Council, the National Committee for Families and Children, PAHO/WHO and UNICEF, supported by technical experts from the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia. The consensus was achieved in June 2004 and the results is a document that sets out the overall goals, principles, priority areas, objectives, targets, strategies and actions that will guide efforts to advance the rights of children over the next eleven years.
The development of the National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents was guided by Belize’s national development priorities, as well as by key international instruments that speak to the development of children and adolescents including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Education for All and the outcomes document of the United National General Assembly Special Session on Children “A World Fit for Children.”
What will the NPA do for our children?
To ensure that the overall goals are met the National Plan of Action singles out six main areas for attention under which specific objectives, targets and strategies are developed. The six main areas of attention and their specific objectives are:
Education: To provide accessible and affordable quality education that equips students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes for moral, mental and physical development and self-fulfillment so that they can become creative and productive citizens. This area of attention includes targets and strategies to address the following issues: accessibility and affordability, quality of education, repetition and dropout, literacy, gender equity and equality.
Health: To provide conditions that ensures the optimum health of children and adolescents. Targets and strategies in the area of health address the following issues: infant and child mortality, nutrition, disabilities, public health and hygiene, adolescent’s health and mental health.
Child Protection: To safeguard the rights of children and adolescents, especially those at risk. The area of child protection outlines targets and strategies to address the concerns of abuse, abandonment, child labour, adolescent parenthood, disabled children and juvenile justice.
HIV/AIDS: To combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and minimize its effects on children and adolescents. This area of attention includes targets and strategies to address the issues of prevention (mother to child transmission, infections among adolescents), care to orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination.
Family: To promote the right of children and adolescents to grow up in a nurturing family environment. Targets and strategies under the area of family are intended to address the concerns of poverty and economic survival, family strengthening and support.
Culture: To provide accessible and affordable programs that enable children to develop a sense of self and a healthy respect and appreciation for the diverse culture in Belize. This area of attention includes targets and strategies to address the issues of creative arts, cultural exposure and expression.
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