From Yangon to Managua (1996-2002) : Juan R. Aguilar

From Yangon to Managua (1996-2002)

by Juan R. Aguilar

The assignment as Representative to the Union of Myanmar (Burma) came with a promotion to D-1. Ines and I arrived Yangon, at the end of August 1996. Our almost four years in Myanmar were a cultural, political, and managerial immersion experience in this vast, convulsed, mismanaged, immensely rich in natural resources, heritage, and wonderful people. Never in my professional life, was the issue of respect and defense of human rights so vividly real as in Myanmar.

The motto of the new Country Programme was “The Children… the Gems of Myanmar”, the main projects were directed to complete the pending agenda of the 90’s while trying to introduce a human rights agenda in the life-skills printed materials for public schools and above all for children kept in the so-called “training schools”. Important gains were achieved in UCI and polio eradication, breastfeeding, salt iodization and basic education. A life-skills training manual SHAPE was introduced to address the growing issue of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A preschool care scheme was started in the outskirts of Yangon. National Sanitation Weeks were organized, and in two successive years nearly 2 million latrines were constructed.

On the UN Day, 24th October 1998, acting as Resident Coordinator, I read the official message of the UN Secretary-General but added a short personal speech in which I recited, in front of the entire Military Junta at the People’s Hall, Article One of the Declaration: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights…” and announced that the UN will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights on 10th December, whilst I dreamed of having both Government and Opposition Leaders under the same roof listening to the conference on Human Rights and Buddhism given by Professor Savitri, a talented Human Rights Scholar from Sri-Lanka. The night before the conference, government officials learned that Aung Sang Suu Kyi would be attending. They tried to boycott the event by stopping official cars on their way to the hotel. Nonetheless, the celebration went on with a full house and the only government presence was that of the intelligence cameramen who videotaped the entire audience.

During our stay in Myanmar, Ines worked tirelessly with the UN Women Association -UNWA, as Secretary and President, organizing the Annual Ball and directing several development projects for children, as well as selling UNICEF cards and products. It was not easy to leave Myanmar and our wonderful friends and extended family.

We arrived Managua, Nicaragua on 17th April 2000, the very same day of our wedding anniversary. We started the immersion process of managing the Office and a fully funded cooperation programme, in a country still recovering from the 1998 Hurricane Mitch. For a full year I coordinated the UNAIDS and tried hard with my UN colleagues to move the HIV/AIDS agenda. The publication “A Call for Action” highlighted the strategy and the plea to act quickly against this crescent epidemic.

In preparation for the Special Session for Children, the “Say Yes Campaign” was launched, and the Ad-hoc Group in Support of Children Rights was organized, and comprised several Government officials and the Network of NGOs working for Children and Adolescents. After the cancellation of the Special Session, the Ad-hoc Group continued to remain active and proved to be an asset to defend the Code for Children and Adolescents, and in their efforts against proposals for amendments to the Code presented to the National Assembly.

The Master Plan of Operations - MPO was signed with the Government on 25 February 2002. The Revolving Fund for the purchase of potassium iodate and preparation of the “Yodocal” premix was established, funded, and became fully operational. The Mother and Child Friendly Initiative continued with the certification of Hospitals, Health Centers, and entire Local Health Systems, throughout the country. The new project-initiatives included the “Friendly and Healthy Schools”, the “Mother and Child Friendly Units”, the “Friendly Municipalities”, as well as the “Citizenship for Peace and Democracy Development”.

My official end-of-tenure with UNICEF arrived with the celebration of my 60th birthday. Surely, we missed the excitement of the day-to-day work, but, I was joined by Ines, my lovely life-companion, wife, mother, lover, as we started a new adventure of future golden years, in our home-town, Guatemala City.

Looking back on these almost twenty years of work with UNICEF, I just can say: THANK YOU ALL, YOU MADE IT HAPPEN! And I will rejoice and be reborn in the smile of every child touched by your minds and your good work, with love and compassion.

Excerpts from “How I Would Like to be Remembered”, notes written upon retirement from UNICEF, March 2002, Managua, Nicaragua.

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