UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, Ms. Jean Gough paid a courtesy call on First Lady, Fazna Ahmed this morning, at Muleeaage’.
The First Lady and the Regional Director conversed on the prospect of increasing collaboration with regard to child protection and children's equitable access to services and mechanisms designed to ensure their safety.
Ms. Gough also highlighted sports as an area in which children often learn important life lessons, such as teamwork and being graceful in both victory and defeat. Accordingly, she strongly recommended incorporating sport into current strategies and curriculums designed to build up children's social skills.
On behalf of the UNICEF, the Regional Director also invited the First Lady to assume the role of an Advocate, a Champion for the rights for the Children and Young People in the Maldives particularly those requiring special care and attention. The First lady stated that she would be delighted to do so and that she is keen on seeking a platform to do more social work, noting the fortuity of their common priorities in this conversation.
She further stated that sports and education are areas that she is interested in to do more work and that the IOIG 2023, due to be held in the Maldives would provide a wonderful opportunity to become constructively engaged in these areas.
Ending the call, the First Lady said she looks forward to working with the UNICEF team in the months and years ahead for the sake of child-welfare, and that she would be more than happy to assist in any capacity that she can.
The focus of the role accepted by the First Lady would be on educating and mobilizing the public, private sector and non-governmental organization for a more proactive role in advocating and addressing issues of the children and young people.
