Pernille Ironside has commenced her tenure as UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, formally submitting her credentials to Nabeel Munir, Special Secretary (UN), at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the presentation, Ironside reiterated UNICEF’s dedication to safeguarding the rights of all Pakistani youngsters.
Ironside will oversee the organization’s nationwide program, which encompasses a comprehensive strategy for child welfare, aiming to cultivate, educate, shield, and empower children from infancy through adolescence.
‘It’s a privilege to spearhead UNICEF’s crucial work for children in this nation,’ Ironside stated. ‘Children’s requirements are extensive, and their potential is even vaster. I anticipate expanding upon robust groundwork and collaborating closely with the government, UN and other developmental collaborators, civil society, public and private divisions, and ardent child rights supporters.’
Under Ironside’s direction, UNICEF will maintain its assistance to the Pakistani government, providing sustained developmental aid and emergency relief. Priority areas include bolstering the educational framework, enhancing maternal and newborn healthcare, mitigating child undernourishment, improving access to clean water and sanitation, reinforcing child protection, birth documentation and gender parity, and shielding children from calamities, climatic shifts, and environmental hazards.
A Canadian national, Ironside contributes over two decades of expertise in global development, humanitarian endeavors, and child rights advocacy in various capacities with UNICEF. Before this posting, she held positions as Deputy Director of Data, Planning, Analytics and Monitoring at UNICEF’s New York headquarters; Deputy Representative in Nigeria; Chief of Field Operations in Iraq; Chief of the Gaza Strip Field Office; Senior Global Advisor on Child Protection in Emergencies; and Child Protection Specialist in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with further deployments in Yemen, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
‘With almost half of Pakistan’s populace below 18 and two-thirds under 30, Pakistan possesses remarkable potential,’ Ironside commented. ‘This youthful demographic can be a driving force for change. By allocating resources to education, early childhood and newborn healthcare, sustenance, clean water, child protection, and increasing resilience to climate change, we can unleash the skills and ingenuity of adolescents and young individuals to propel advancement and prosperity.’