Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore following visit to Honduras
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras聽and NEW YORK, April 3, 2019 /CNW/ -聽鈥淎 child under the age of 18 dies聽from violence聽every聽day in Honduras.聽For a country not engaged in active warfare, this聽figure聽is staggering.
鈥淒espite its efforts to聽reduce violence and protect its youngest citizens,聽Honduras remains a dangerous place for far too many children and young people.聽Gangs聽terrorize neighborhoods聽across the country, offering young people聽an聽impossible choice: Join聽us聽or聽die.
鈥淢ore than half a million children of secondary school age do not go to school, accounting for 1 in聽2聽adolescents in lower secondary and聽2聽in聽3聽in upper secondary. Dropping out of school is聽far聽too often the only way young people can聽escape聽gang threats,聽harassment聽and forced recruitment,聽particularly as they travel to and from school through gang-controlled areas.聽聽
鈥淭he combination of violence, poverty and lack of education opportunities is causing thousands of children and families聽to flee their homes. Without access to protection and safe migration pathways, most are forced聽onto dangerous聽routes聽where they are at risk from violence, exploitation and abuse.
鈥淚n the words of a young woman I met in Paujiles, San Pedro Sula: 'We are not migrating to have nicer lives 鈥� we are migrating to survive.'
鈥淭hese children and young people need real investments in education, protection and other services that can help guide them towards a more hopeful future while also reducing some of the causes that drive them to flee.
鈥淯NICEF is committed to working with governments, the private sector and international financial institutions to make transformative investments in education 鈥� particularly in the countries of northern Central America 鈥� to increase educational participation, attainment and learning outcomes with an emphasis on new technology.
鈥淯NICEF is also working with partners in Honduras to provide children and young people with safe spaces to play, learn and receive training.聽Those who have been returned聽to Honduras receive counselling, help returning to school and guidance on the services available to them.聽聽
鈥淯nless the root causes of聽migration聽are addressed,聽children and families聽will continue to embark on dangerous migration journeys. Funding聽programmes聽to end violence,聽develop skills and create education opportunities will help create the environment these children need to build their futures at home.鈥�
