Monrovia – As Liberia joined global counterparts in celebrating World Children’s Day on November 20, Andy Brooks, UNICEF Representative in Liberia, has made a call, urging the government to make bold and sustained efforts to address critical issues affecting children’s education, health, and overall well-being.
The event, themed “Listen to the Future”, served as a reminder of commitments made under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Liberia ratified in 1993 and domesticated through the Child Act of 2011.
Brooks, reflecting on his nine months in Liberia, commended initiatives such as the Ministry of Education’s “Back to My Classroom” campaign, the Ministry of Health’s Child Survival Strategy, and efforts by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to reunify street children with their families. However, he emphasized the need for deeper, systemic changes to ensure that no child is left behind in Liberia’s development agenda.
Education remains a cornerstone for Liberia’s future, yet significant gaps persist. Brooks highlighted that despite the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), many children, particularly in rural areas, lack access to quality education. The “Back to My Classroom” campaign aims to boost school enrollment and attendance over the next three years, but Brooks called for more robust investments in teacher training, infrastructure, and evidence-based policies to improve education quality.
“Every child has a right to quality education,” Brooks said. “We must strengthen decentralized structures to ensure equitable access and provide the tools teachers and principals need to deliver.”
The AAID also emphasizes skills development and vocational training, aligning with the CRC’s principle of preparing children for life. Brooks urged the government to prioritize these reforms, particularly in underserved regions, to equip Liberia’s youth with skills essential for the future.
Health equity was another major focus of Brooks’ speech. He called for urgent action to combat high child mortality rates and malnutrition, advocating for increased budget allocations for nutrition and community-based primary healthcare. Brooks emphasized the importance of expanding immunization programs, including new vaccines for measles-rubella and malaria, to reduce preventable diseases.
“We cannot talk about development without ensuring that every child has access to essential health services,” Brooks stated. He also stressed integrating nutrition education into school curricula to foster healthy habits among children and adolescents.
Brooks underscored the need for stronger child protection systems to address issues such as violence, exploitation, and child labor. Liberia’s progress in birth registration, with rates increasing from 4% in 2007 to 66% today, was lauded. However, Brooks stressed the importance of ensuring every child has a legal identity to access vital services.
The UNICEF Representative also highlighted the grim realities faced by children in Liberia’s legal system. “Children should not be detained in overcrowded prisons with adults or subjected to poor health conditions,” he said, urging investment in training for law enforcement and judiciary personnel to create a child-friendly justice system.
With Liberia recently observing World Toilet Day, Brooks called for significant investments in WASH infrastructure to improve children’s health and education outcomes. He urged the government to finalize the Open Defecation Free (ODF) Roadmap and WASH Compact by March 2025.
“Preventing waterborne diseases and improving hygiene can drastically reduce school absenteeism and ensure children reach their full potential,” Brooks explained.
A defining moment of Liberia’s commitment to children was its inclusion of two young representatives in the government delegation to the UN Summit of the Future. Brooks commended this initiative as a testament to the nation’s recognition of children’s voices in shaping their future.
“The ARREST Agenda reflects an important step towards ensuring the rights and well-being of Liberia’s children,” Brooks concluded. “But it’s not enough. We must all join hands—government, donors, civil society—to create a Liberia where every child can thrive.”
As World Children’s Day is celebrated, the UNICEF Representative call to action serves as a reminder of the work still needed to transform the lives of Liberia’s youngest citizens.
