Children’s advocacy highlighted in Global Action for Children organization

Leila Nimatallah is Global Action for Children's Policy director. Photo: Rebecca Yount

Jennifer Delaney is the Board President and Executive Director for Global Action for Children. Photo: Global Action for Children.

January 28, 2008

2008 brings a strengthened partnership with Global Action for Children (GAC) and Church World Service(CWS). GAC is a “nonpartisan, results-oriented coalition dedicated to advocating for orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) in the developing world.” Their mission is to “increase the level of funding by the governments of the wealthy countries for orphans and other vulnerable children in some of the poorest countries of the world.”

Church World Service (CWS) has been working with GAC since its inception as a coalition in September of 2003. CWS was one of GAC’s first members. According to Jennifer Delaney, Executive Director of GAC, CWS hosted many of the coalition’s meetings before GAC acquired their own offices. She says, “ It was the assistance of CWS advocates that helped lay the ground work for where GAC is today.”

While GAC’s founding focus was advocating on behalf of orphans and other vulnerable children, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS, they also focus on other challenges facing children worldwide. This year GAC has two main campaigns. The first is to ensure the continuation of the 10% funding for OVCs in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to broaden that funding to encompass all U.S. investment in global HIV/AIDS programs, and the implementation of a full-time special advisor to oversee OVC programs the world over. Their second campaign will focus on child survival and development by putting pressure on the U.S. government to expand funding for such programs and improve accountability to ensure the resources reach those for whom it was intended. In addition, GAC will encourage U.S. direct investment in United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Accelerated Child Survival and Development Initiative, a package of life-saving interventions that have achieved reductions in child deaths of up to 20 percent in West and Central Africa.

GAC will also invest time in advocating for education for all children, protecting children against sexual abuse, and protecting children caught in conflict situations. They will advocate through policy analysis and advocacy, media outreach and public education, coalition building, and grasstops and grassroots mobilization.

GAC’s Policy Director, Leila Nimatallah says, “The children of our world have a right to a good future. A future of health, security, education, protection and love. Global Action for Children exists to ensure such a future for all youngsters. “

CWS looks forward to continued work with GAC. For more information on Global Action for Children, visit their website at http://www.globalactionforchildren.org.