DUSHANBE, December 22, Asia-plus -- To mark the 60 ^th anniversary of its establishment the Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is organizing activities in the Dushanbe youth center today afternoon.  

More than 300 children from Dushanbe will take part in these activities, including drawings and quizzes.   

UNICEF started its activities in Tajikistan in earnest beginning in 1994.  In 1995, the organization established its first country program of cooperation with the Government.

The current UNICEF country program of cooperation with the Government of Tajikistan runs from 2005 to 2009.  It supports initiatives in maternal and childcare that aim especially at improving child-care practices, strengthening primary health care and enhancing national policy development in maternal and child health. It also supports efforts to establish quality education for all particularly by supporting better school management and better classroom environments and by advocating for participatory approaches to learning that are gender sensitive and child centered.  UNICEF likewise provides assistance for initiatives focusing on young people''s health and participation more generally by strengthening its collaboration with the Government, the media and local non-governmental networks, especially young people''s non-governmental organizations, in order to promote child rights and young people''s participation. Finally, UNICEF also undertakes efforts to promote social policy reform and child protection.