UNICEF Information Package 1
About UNICEF Global presence we are on the ground in 191 countries to advance the rights of children, through country programmes and National Committees. Five organizational priorities and re-focusing on equity. Total income in 2010: $3.7 billion. Depend on voluntary contributions mainly from governments (donor governments) and approx. 40% from 36 National Committees. Total number of staff members: approx. 12,000. 2
Organizational Priorities Young Child Survival & Development Basic Education & Gender Equality HIV/AIDS & Children Child Protection Policy Advocacy & Partnerships for Children's Rights Re-focusing on Equity 3
Young Child Survival & Development In 2007, an estimated 9.2 million children worldwide under the age of five died from largely preventable causes. Some are directly caused by illness such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria. Others are caused by indirect causes including conflict and HIV/AIDS. Malnutrition, poor hygiene and lack of access to safe water and adequate sanitation contribute to more than half of these deaths. Two thirds of both neonatal and young child deaths over 6 million deaths every year are preventable. Half a million women die in pregnancy each year, most during delivery or in the first few days thereafter. UNICEF s Medium Term Strategic Plan for 2006-2009 identifies Young Child Survival and Development as the first right of the child. UNICEF works with governments, national and international agencies, and civil society to support effective and essential actions at each phase of the life cycle of the child, including in pregnancy, early childhood, preschool and school-going years, and in adolescence. More information on Young Child Survival and Development: http://www.unicef.org/childsurvival/index.html 4
Basic Education & Gender Equality Education is a fundamental human right: Every child is entitled to it. It is critical to our development as individuals and as societies, and it helps pave the way to a successful and productive future. When we ensure that children have access to a rights-based, quality education that is rooted in gender equality, we create a ripple effect of opportunity that impacts generations to come. UNICEF works tirelessly to ensure that every child regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background or circumstances has access to a quality education. We focus on gender equality and work towards eliminating disparities of all kinds. Our innovative programmes and initiatives target the world s most disadvantaged children: the excluded, the vulnerable and the invisible. More information on basic education and gender equality: http://www.unicef.org/education/index.html 5
HIV/AIDS & Children UNICEF's response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic extends from high government offices to small, remove villages in the developing world. With a single objective: ending the epidemic for children and their mothers, we provide expertise, support, logistical coordination and innovation, in the following structure: Our Programme Staff are based in UNICEF's New York headquarters, and in our offices in 190 countries wordwide. They specialize in HIV prevention, as well as in protection, care and support for babies, children, young people and mothers affected by the virus. Their work includes the theory and practice of ending the epidemic and caring for those it reaches. Our Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS Campaign is dedicated to reversing the HIV and AIDS epidemic by 2015. The Campaign was launched in 2005 as a worldwide call to action for all those dedicated to the care, treatment and support of children affected by the epidemic. Its work is aligned with UN Millenium Development 6 - ending HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis. Support for Programme and Campaign activities is provided by colleagues in UNICEF sections specializing in fundraising, supply and procurement, communications and related areas. More information on HIV/AIDS and Children: http://www.unicef.org/aids/index.html 6
Child Protection All children have the right to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse. Yet, millions of children worldwide from all socio-economic backgrounds, across all ages, religions and cultures suffer violence, exploitation and abuse every day. Millions more are at risk. In many cases, a child will be exposed to different types of violence, exploitation and abuse, each with their own characteristics. Changes in legislation, policies, services and social norms can improve the protection of children in multiple ways. UNICEF therefore works with partners on a number of issues by strengthening child protection systems and promoting positive social norms in all contexts - development and emergency - to prevent and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse directed at children. More information on child protection: http://www.unicef.org/protection/index.html 7
Policy Advocacy & Partnerships for Children's Rights UNICEF's work on policy advocacy and partnerships for children s rights strives to transform the organization into a more effective partner for advancing Human Rights, the Millennium Declaration and its Goals. It aims to do this through generating evidence and knowledge on the situation of children, by analysing the impact of public policies on children, and using this evidence to advocate for policies which foster the realization of children's rights. It will also serve as a critical underpinning to the other MTSP focus areas. Building on field experience and in alliance with other United Nations agencies, UNICEF will collaborate with partners to stimulate dialogue around macrolevel policies that guide national frameworks, legislative reform and budgetary allocations affecting children and women, and advocate for actions, build capacities and leverage resources such that national and global investments contribute to fulfilling the rights of all children, including in emergency situations. More information on policy advocacy and partnerships for children s rights: http://www.unicef.org/policyanalysis/index.html 8
UNICEF and UN Coherence UNICEF is strongly committed to UN Coherence and its primary objective to achieve sustainable results in an effective and efficient way. This basic principle guides UNICEF s approach to engagement in UN Country Teams, UNDAFs and country programme planning processes. We collaborate with UN organizations to implement development and humanitarian programmes for the protection and promotion of children s rights, as mandated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Delivering Better Results to Children: A Handy Guide to UN Coherence is a concise yet comprehensive, easy-to-read handbook on UN Coherence. http://www.unicef.org/unreform/handy_guide_final.pdf The UN Coherence Newsletter summarizes UNICEF s recent engagement in UN Coherence developments. http://www.unicef.org/unreform/june_2011_newsletter_final.pdf http://www.unicef.org/unreform/donor_newsletter_sept_2010_final_final.pdf UNICEF s interdivisional UNICEF Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) Action Plan was developed in 2008. It tracks progress on the TCPR. All of the 90 actions therein have either been completed, are continuous or are in process. http://www.unicef.org/unreform/unicef_tcpr_action_plan.pdf More information on UNICEF and UN Coherence: http://www.unicef.org/unreform/ 9
Re-focusing on Equity For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favouritism. This interpretation is consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which guarantees the fundamental rights of every child, regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, income, physical attributes, geographical location, or other status. Inequities generally arise when certain population groups are unfairly deprived of basic resources that are available to other groups. Whether a disparity is unfair or unjust depends on the context. For example, young adults tend to be healthier than elderly adults, and female newborns generally have lower birth weights than male newborns. These disparities cannot be described as inequities since they are caused by unavoidable biological factors. If, however, girls and boys showed dramatic differences in nutritional status or immunization levels, the disparity would likely be due to social rather than biological factors, and would therefore be considered unnecessary and avoidable. Gender discrimination and other social, political, and economic forces that systematically deny the rights of specific groups - such as girls, children of minority groups, or children with disabilities - are cause for grave concern from an equity perspective. It is important to emphasize that equity is distinct from equality. Equality requires everyone to have the same resources. Equity requires everyone to have the opportunity to access the same resources. The aim of equityfocused policies is not to eliminate all differences so that everyone has the same level of income, health, and education. Rather, the goal is to eliminate the unfair and avoidable circumstances that deprive children of their rights. An equity-based approach to UNICEF s programmes and policies seeks to understand and address the root causes of inequity so that all children, particularly those who suffer the worst deprivations in society, have access to education, health care, sanitation, clean water, protection, and other services necessary for their survival, growth, and development. 10
UNICEF Information by Country UNICEF is the leading advocate for children s rights, active through country programmes in countries and territories of the following regions: Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS) East Asia and the Pacific (EAPRO) Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO) Latin America and the Caribbean (TACRO) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) South Asia (ROSA) West and Central Africa (WCARO) More information on every country: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html 11