"On 11 December 1946, the global community proclaims a new ethic of protection and care of children, establishing the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to respond to the millions of displaced and refugee children deprived of shelter, fuel and food in the aftermath of World War II.
"The story of UNICEF is a story of childhoods lost and reclaimed, childhoods nurtured and protected. It is the story of how much good the human family can do when it unites to protect the rights of its youngest and most vulnerable citizens."*
The following year-by-year account provides an overview of significant events and achievements through UNICEF's history from its creation in 1946.
Videos:
Great Moments in UNICEF History, narrated by Sir Roger Moore
UNICEF 1990-1999: Recognizing Child Rights
UNICEF 1960-1979: The Development Decades
UNICEF 1946-1959: An Agency for Children is Born
Milestones:
1946-1955 | 1956-1965 | 1966-1975
1976-1985 | 1986-1995
Milestones for years later than 1995 are in preparation.
*Quotation from 1946-2006: Sixty Years for Children.
UNICEF at 65
On UNICEF's 65th birthday, this article takes a look at the organization's history.
History in multimedia
The following multimedia website on UNICEF’s history was released for the organization’s 60th Anniversary. Each segment includes an illustrated timeline, posters and stamps, and video interviews about developments in the given period. Some include music and coins as well.
60-year documentary
Well-known actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Vanessa Redgrave and her son, documentary filmmaker Carlo Nero, produced the film 'Wake Up World' -- tracing the history of UNICEF from a very personal point of view. Read more and watch an excerpt.
