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The UNICEF directive surrounded by young people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: © UNICEF. UN0290986. Tremeau

Elvira Roca: "The history of Spain has long been politicized"

  • "We need millions of dollars and we need them now. For many children it is a matter of life or death." That is how blunt the American shows, who has just turned a year and a half at the head of this institution, after a brilliant career in public and private enterprise. Your greatest satisfaction? See an excited girl in science class.

In January 2018, Henrietta H. Fore (70 years old) became executive director of UNICEF . She is said to be tireless , to roll up without problems and that she likes field work. It was precisely released in office visiting one of the toughest countries in the world, South Sudan . Degree in History and with a Master's degree in Science, her career has been developed in private and public companies. The latter highlights her positions as the first female administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the director of Foreign Aid in the State Department . When he received the proposal to lead Unicef, he was the CEO of his family's company, Holsman International , for consulting and investments. Married and mother of four children, Fore has an impressive curriculum. However, he says that what he does above all is to pay attention, especially to minors. "Listening to children makes us better," he says.


What did he think when he was offered to lead UNICEF? When you have the opportunity to help millions of children and young people, you simply say yes. We can improve the world if we work hard. At the end of 30 years of the declaration of the Rights of the Child, we want to celebrate the progress we have made, but in the next three decades we must focus on how to make them a reality for all. She was the first female administrator of USAID and director of Help Outside the US, with a budget of 39,000 billion dollars annually. What did you feel when you broke a glass ceiling like this? It was an honor, although I hope to be only the first on the list and that many more occupy relevant positions. Then I was followed by another woman in office, which is significant. We can do anything. But so important is that they offer you a position like you say yes. You should not be shy or insecure, you have to accept and then do your best. Women are very well prepared to assume positions of responsibility because we are very good at multitasking, we train for it. In my case, I always end up thinking about the quality of life of those around me, something important when you develop an international career that affects everyone. An attitude that would be very necessary in politicians. Of course. It is essential to have a look that extends from the social base to the highest. If you want society to be the best possible, you should see how to reinforce each stratum. Do not fragment it, but create one that works well for everyone. The weakest parties work very hard to get ahead, feed their families and educate them; They need help and we must give it to them. Girls are the most vulnerable. What problems concern you? For them there are ceilings and also glass walls. Not all of us have to break them, but one of us can do it for the others. With one proving that it is possible, we will take care of the rest to show that we can also. That is why it is important to take office, be leaders and show that we are able to build a better world. What would be your general assessment of the childhood situation? Since the 1990s we have seen an improvement. Infant mortality has decreased, but there is still great inequality. Many children will not have the opportunity to go to school or a normal life. The biggest problem affecting children is the growing number of conflicts. In wars, children are torn from their homes, drop out of school and are often separated from their families. The first thing young people tell us is that they need education to have a future. In addition, they talk about violence, they have suffered too much. In Central America, for example, they are exposed to very high levels. When you look through their eyes you realize that the world should defend them. UNICEF has urgently requested $ 3 billion to support 41 million children affected by humanitarian crises in 59 countries. Almost half as a result of wars. Is enough done to end these conflicts? No, we are not doing enough. We have made this call because we urgently need money. In Afghanistan there are children who suffer severe malnutrition. And it's just a place in the world. When a baby is malnourished, his body weakens and is attacked by numerous diseases. For many it is a matter of life or death. The Spanish are being enormously generous, there are many donors. It says a lot about the character of this country. It excites me, because it shows that they are connected with the problems of others and want the world to be better. And politicians, do they do their homework well? Leaders have many problems and forget to put children at the center of their policies, but they should. Children and young people make up approximately 25% of the population, and are one hundred percent of our future, the best possible investment. It is important to remind politicians. People are the most valuable asset of society. Do you feel frustrated sometimes? Yes. You see that you cannot do enough because they do not reach the funds or the governments do not allow you access to certain areas, such as in Syria or Yemen. Or in natural disasters, with overflowing rivers or unused roads. In Afghanistan there are two million children in need of help and it is very difficult to reach everyone. We expect to work with 60%, but I feel [the heart is touched] that it is not enough. Any history that moved her? The first place I visited was South Sudan, which has been at war for five years and whose population has suffered greatly. Most young people are recruited by local militias. I met a boy who had been one of those child soldiers, but he escaped and went to a UNICEF center. I dreamed of studying Medicine, so we got him a scholarship in Uganda. I know he will be a doctor with a heart, because he knows that other life. There too, in a clinic for children with malnutrition, I found a very young mother who had walked four hours with her son to arrive. They were dehydrated and the boy's arms were barely the size of three pencils together. She looked at him with so much despair ... When the treatment was over, she had to go home, where nothing would have changed and she would not have food to give her. I wondered: "What else can we do?" Give them seeds, teach them how to grow and get them to have a way of life. Vaccination saves the lives of two to three million children a year. However, in countries like the United States, France and Britain there is a growing movement against vaccines. When the polio came out, my parents were very worried if we were going to cause the disease, but they informed themselves, they paid attention to science and we grew strong and healthy. My message is very clear: vaccinate your children because you can save their lives. Spain is the third country in the European Union with the highest rate of child poverty. How to fight against it Education is the best tool to get out of poverty. We have to make secondary education so attractive and motivating for children that everyone can finish it. The world needs to create 10 million jobs a year. We will not be able to get it, so it is important to educate young people to undertake and create their own jobs. They need training and help, but the result will be wealth for the whole society. Since 1990, maternal mortality has been reduced by almost half, but every two minutes a woman dies in the world due to pregnancy complications. How to reduce it First, fight against child marriage, which causes many to die during childbirth or shortly thereafter. The second, ensure that adolescents are well fed. Many young people suffer from malnutrition and their babies are born with low weight, which means subsequent complications or death. Third, we must have all the right tools to prevent preventable deaths. What hurts the most and what gives you the most satisfaction? It hurts when I read that a school or hospital has been bombed. Or that a girl has been raped. There is so much news that makes me wonder how we got to that ... It seems incredible what a human being can do to others. What gives me more satisfaction is seeing the sparkle in the eyes of a girl who goes to Science class, so excited about what she is learning and what she can become herself. That gives me hope. She is a mother of four children, how did she reconcile and how did she educate them? Her father has always been very involved in their upbringing and education, we are a team and we have taught them that they need to know what is happening in the world around them. He wrote a letter to all Unicef ​​delegations to avoid discrimination against the LGTBI collective ... We need to ensure that our workplaces are diverse and respectful to all. I did it because of that. People are the most important thing in an organization. If you take care of your people, it will be a strong group. It is a long-term objective.

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