Press centre
Press releases and news notes
Child protection
UNICEF’s State of The World’s Children report commemorates 20 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
NEW YORK, 19 November 2009 – A special edition issue of UNICEF's flagship The State of the World's Children report, tracking the impact of...
UNICEF calls for action on road safety
GENEVA, November 19, 2009 - UNICEF’s Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States...
UNICEF Sudan calls for religious leaders to support A World Day of Prayer and Action for Children
KHARTOUM/JUBA, SUDAN, 18 November 2009 – UNICEF’s Representative in Sudan Nils Kastberg is appealing for religious leaders to pray...
UNICEF to launch special edition of State of the World’s Children to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
NEW YORK/GENEVA, for immediate release – With a press conference at its headquarters, UNICEF will release its flagship report focussing on the 20th...
Social inclusion and integration of children and youth of immigrant families is of critical relevance for affluent societies in future years, according to a UNICEF study issued today
GENEVA, 22 October 2009 – The Innocenti Insight presents for the first time, internationally comparable data addressing the number, share and...
UNICEF: Without a protective environment, it’s a harsh life for children
TOKYO, 6 October 2009 - While progress is being made in reducing some violations of children’s rights, not enough is yet known about the extent of...
Member States commit to greater efforts to release and reintegrate child soldiers
NEW YORK, 29 September 2009 – A number of United Nations Member States added their names to the ‘Paris Commitments’ to protect children from...
Government of the Republic of Korea and UNICEF sign agreement to strengthen collaboration
NEW YORK, 22 September 2009 - The Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and UNICEF signed a new agreement today to strengthen collaboration...
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman decries continued rape and violence against women and children in the DRC
BUKAVU, DRC, 27 August 2009 - UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman met with victims of rape and violence in the eastern provinces of the Democratic...
New Security Council resolution enhances accountability and responses to violations against children in situations of armed conflict
NEW YORK, 5 August 2009 – UNICEF welcomes the UN Security Council’s unanimous adoption yesterday of a new resolution, Resolution 1882...
Is West Africa ready for children’s Ombudsmen?
BAMAKO, 23 June 2009 - This is the question being posed in Bamako by experts as they meet to encourage the development of Ombudsmen for...
Hostilities against aid work in Jowhar put lives of Somali children and women at risk
NAIROBI, 17 June 2009 - UNICEF Somalia is gravely disturbed by the new wave of aggression and hostilities against humanitarian aid work in Somalia which is putting lives of...
UNICEF highlights child survival on the Day of the African Child
NEW YORK, 16 June 2009 – Several African countries have made impressive gains in child survival in recent years but much more needs to be done...
World Day Against Child Labour marks the need to tackle the worst forms of exploitation
GENEVA, 12 June 2009 – On the tenth anniversary of the World Day against Child Labour, UNICEF joins its partners in calling for action to...
Swaziland: Fit for children, one day at a time
MBABANE/SWAZILAND, 1 June 2009 – UNICEF gathered with more than 100 children, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, 7 cabinet ministers...
UNICEF Peru condemns the participation of children and adolescents in any situation of armed violence
LIMA, 1 June 2009 - As a result of the numerous complaints made with regard to children involved with armed groups in Peru, UNICEF Peru condemns the...
UNICEF appeals for funding to urgently assist displaced children and women in northwest Pakistan
NEW YORK/ISLAMABAD, 26 May 2009 - UNICEF has appealed for an additional $41.4 million to provide urgent assistance to people displaced by...
Children displaced by conflict in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, 8 May 2009- UNICEF Pakistan expresses deep concern about the situation of several thousand people who have recently fled armed conflict between...
Situation of children in Gaza remains precarious 100 days after end of conflict
GAZA, 28 April 2009 – More than three months after the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the Israeli blockade and inter-Palestinian tension...
UNICEF Regional Director greets Morocco’s progress for children
Rabat, 22 April 2009 – In her first official visit to Morocco, Mrs Sigrid Kaag, Regional director of UNICEF for Middle East and North Africa Region met the Prime Minister...
UNICEF fears for thousands of children trapped in Sri Lanka’s conflict
KATHMANDU, 20 April 2009 – As 35,000 people today fled Sri Lanka’s conflict zone, UNICEF said it held grave fears for those children who...
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on Child Marriage
Statement - 13 April 2009
UNICEF applauds the launch of first Child Act for Southern Sudan
JUBA, Southern Sudan, 8 April 2009 – The President of the Government of Southern Sudan H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit will tomorrow...
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on the situation in Sri Lanka
Statement - 17 March 2009
Pacific region turning spotlight on achieving justice for children
PORT MORESBY / PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 10 March 2009 – The Government of Papua New Guinea in partnership with UNICEF is hosting for the first time...
UNICEF Executive Director visits Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory
JERUSALEM, 7 March 2009 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on Saturday concluded a week-long Middle-East mission that included field visits to the West Bank, southern...
UNICEF Executive Director in visit to Jordan on first leg of regional mission
AMMAN, 3 March 2009 – UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman, concluded a 2-day visit to Jordan which focused on the country’s...
In DRC, unprecedented opportunity to release all children from armed groups
KINSHASA, 27 February 2009 – UNICEF today urged the release of all children currently associated with armed groups in the Democratic...
UNICEF: Female genital cutting must stop
NEW YORK, 6 February 2009 – UNICEF today called for increased efforts to end female genital cutting, as the world marks International Day against Female Genital Mutilation.
Sudan commemorates International Day against Female Genital Mutilation
KHARTOUM, 6 February 2009 - As the world commemorates International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation today, UNICEF has...
UNICEF welcomes release of 85 children from armed forces in North Kivu
GOMA/GENEVA, 3 February 2009 - UNICEF welcomed today the release of 85 children by the Mayi Mayi armed group in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
UNICEF seeks $34.5 million to address urgent recovery needs for children and families in Gaza
AMMAN/GENEVA, 3 February 2009 – UNICEF is seeking $34.5 million to address urgent recovery needs for children and their families in Gaza.
Increasing number of children injured in fighting in Sri Lanka
Kathmandu, 30 January 2009 – Calling the situation a crisis for children, UNICEF today said that an increasing number of children, some just months old, had been injured in the fighting...
UNICEF condemns attacks on schools in Pakistan
GENEVA, 23 January 2009 - UNICEF is deeply concerned about increasing number of attacks on school buildings in north-western Pakistan.
UNICEF: In Gaza, nearly one-third of fatalities are children; massive destruction of homes, schools and health facilities
NEW YORK, 16 January 2009 - After three weeks of fighting, the Office of the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator (OCHA) reports that nearly one-third of those killed ...
UNICEF aid for Gaza arriving, despite challenges
GENEVA, 15 January 2009 - The humanitarian operation in Gaza has been dealt a blow by the strike today that devastated warehouses in the United Nations compound ...
UNICEF: Number of child casualties still rising in Gaza
JERUSALEM/NEW YORK, 9 January 2009 - The number of children being killed and injured in the fighting in Gaza continues to climb and the humanitarian situation ...
Statement By UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman regarding the humanitarian operation in Gaza
8 January 2009
UNICEF: During short ceasefire, some life-saving supplies delivered in Gaza
AMMAN, 7 January 2009 – A three-hour ceasefire today provided a limited opportunity for UNICEF to release some life-saving supplies for delivery to families in Gaza ...
East Asia and Pacific countries discuss measures to address economic crisis on children
SINGAPORE, 6 January 2009 — At the start of a new year mired by a worsening economic crisis, key leaders in East Asia and the Pacific began discussions ...
HM Queen Rania on the children of Gaza
Statement - 5 January 2009
UNICEF Statement on the crisis in Gaza
AMMAN, 5 JANUARY 2009 – The humanitarian crisis caused by the current violence in Gaza is hitting children and women the most. Children form over half...
UNICEF delivers supplies for children suffering as a result of critical shortages of food, fuel and medicine in Gaza
AMMAN / JORDAN, 5 January 2009 - In an effort to reduce the suffering faced by children in Gaza, UNICEF is delivering urgent supplies of food, fuel and medicine to Gaza hospitals.
UNICEF highlights deteriorating situation of children and women in eastern DRC
KINSHASA, 31 December 2008 - The escalation of conflict and upheaval of people from their homes and shelters have led to further violations of children's and women’s rights ...
A year of tragedies and triumphs for South Asia’s children
KATHMANDU, 23 December 2008 -For many of South Asia’s children, 2008 will go down as a year of triumphs and tragedies - a year in which children...
UNICEF signs agreement with Sudanese government and partners to work together to protect children in Sudan
KHARTOUM, 23 December 2008 - UNICEF welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), the National...
In the wake of dozens of killings of Albinos in Tanzania, UNICEF urges action and respect for human life
DAR ES SALAAM, 23 December 2008 – Following the spate of gruesome murders of albinos in Tanzania, UNICEF has called...
More than 2,000 children die every day as a result of unintentional injury and at least half could be saved
GENEVA/HANOI/NEW YORK, 10 December 2008 - More than 2,000 children die every day as a result of an unintentional, or accidental injury, and every year tens of millions more worldwide....
Juvenile justice topic of first regional conference of judges and prosecutors in South East Europe
SKOPJE, 28 November 2008 - UNICEF, Representative, Mr. Sheldon Yett and Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahimi opened today a conference...
World gathers in Brazil to reinvigorate fight against sexual exploitation of children
RIO DE JANEIRO, 25 November 2008 - Nearly 3,000 participants from over 125 countries are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to exchange lessons and experiences...
UNICEF deplores stoning of child rape victim
NAIROBI, 4 November 2008 - UNICEF has described last week's stoning of a 13-year old girl in Somalia as 'deplorable.' The girl was stoned to death in a...
UNICEF Executive Director visits Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 16 October 2008 - Ann M. Veneman, on the first ever visit by a UNICEF Executive Director to Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the plight of...
UNICEF Executive Director visits Roma community in Albania
Tirana, 3 October 2008 - UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman, on a two day visit to Albania, highlighted the plight of Roma children and efforts...
UNICEF applauds UK Commitment to protecting rights of immigrant children and those in the justice system
NEW YORK, 22 September 2008 - UNICEF applauds the decision by the British government to grant children seeking asylum, migrant children, and those
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
NEW YORK, 8 August 2008 – The contribution and role of the World's Indigenous people has been celebrated and acknowledged by UNICEF today ...
Djibouti women and children in the spotlight
DJIBOUTI, 7 July 2008 – Sigrid Kaag, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa has concluded a three-day visit to Djibouti ...
Justice for children in detention in Afghanistan
KABUL, 24 June 2008 – A new study on the situation of Children in conflict with law by the Afghan Independent Human Right Commission (AIHRC..
UNICEF Statement on the continued abduction, torture and rape of children around the world
Statement - 20 June 2008
UNICEF calls for full resumption of services for children in Zimbabwe
NAIROBI, 13 June 2008 – On the eve of The Day of the African Child, UNICEF today expressed its deep concern at the Zimbabwe...
UNICEF’s German National Committee launches national conference against the commercial sexual exploitation of children
BERLIN / NEW YORK, 10 June 2008- A major national conference, charged with finding ways to combat sexual exploitation of children, opened in Berlin...
UNICEF Highlights Horrific Impact of Cluster Munitions on Children as Governments Meet to Decide on Treaty Banning the Weapon
NEW YORK, 19 May 2008 - The Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions begins today as over 100 governments negotiate an international treaty to ban the indiscriminate weapon.
Rio de Janeiro to Host World Congress III Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents
NEW YORK, 19 May 2008 – The Government of Brazil, UNICEF, ECPAT and the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child officially launched the World Congress III...
UNICEF welcomes the ratification of the UN Disabilities Convention
NEW YORK, 12 May 2008 - The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, which came into force on 3 May 2008...
UNICEF expresses deep concern at reports of child casualties in attacks on North Darfur villages
KHARTOUM, 6 May 2008 - UNICEF is deeply concerned at reports that a number of children have been killed during attacks on two villages of North Darfur...
Statement by Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on food price increases
Statement - 24 April 2008
Policy-makers in South Asia gather to discuss social protection strategies for children
DHAKA, 15 April 2008 - Policy-makers from eight countries of South Asia today gathered in Dhaka for a symposium organized by UNICEF...
UNICEF welcomes signing of Children’s Act into law in South Africa
CAPE TOWN, 8 April 2008 -UNICEF today welcomed the signing of the Children’s Amendment Act by the President of the Republic of South Africa...
Injury a leading killer for children in Asia
BANGKOK, 11 March 2008 - Children in Asia are at great risk of dying from injuries such as drowning and road accidents. Surveys from Bangladesh...
UNICEF supporting the Government of Chad to reunite children taken by French NGO with their families
NEW YORK, 7 March 2008 - The Government of Chad, supported by UNICEF, UNHCR, ICRC and the Chadian Red Cross, is working towards the immediate...
UNICEF Statement on situation in Gaza
Statement - 1 March 2008
UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman concludes visit to Liberia announcing more than $19 million in assistance
MONROVIA, 27 February 2008 - UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman, concluded her three day visit to Liberia announcing more than $19 million....
A national campaign in Zimbabwe against child abuse
HARARE, 27 February 2008 - The number of reported cases of children being raped in Zimbabwe has increased by more than 40 per cent in the...
Global expert on violence urges Jamaican parliament to focus on children
KINGSTON, 26 February 2008 – A leading authority on violence against children today pressed Parliamentarians to concentrate on the plight of children...
UNICEF in Central America to promote of the rights of unaccompanied migrant children
MEXICO CITY, 12 February 2008- UNICEF representatives from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama will visit the border....
UNICEF ready with critical supplies for children affected by unrest in Kenya
NAIROBI, 4 January 2008 - As roads begin opening in Kenya and transport becomes possible, UNICEF is working with the Kenya Red Cross to....
Little respite for Iraq’s children in 2007
ERBIL/AMMAN/GENEVA, 21 December 2007: An estimated 2 million children in Iraq continue to face threats including poor nutrition, disease...
New radio soap opera brings children’s issues into Sudanese homes
KHARTOUM, 13 December 2007 - A new radio soap opera called ‘Sika Tawadi’ will be launched in Sudan, bringing children’s...
Maldives launches its first national campaign on drug prevention
MALE / MALDIVES, 5 December 2007 – A nationwide campaign on drug prevention and promoting recovery among addicts entitled “Wake Up” is being launched today by...
Massive displacement in North Kivu following attack near IDP camps
GOMA, 13 November 2007 – An attack by unidentified troops today in North Kivu has caused panic resulting in some 45,000 displaced persons fleeing...
Joint emergency assistance for 103 abducted children in Abeché
Abeché, 1 November 2007 – Recent events in Abeché, eastern Chad, leading to the arrest of some members of an NGO called ‘Children Rescue/Arche de Zoe...
Machel Study: Ten years on
Media Advisory
Migrant children will have an integrated protection system in Mexico
Mexico City, 15 October 2007 – The Mexican First Lady, Margarita Zavala Gómez del Campo, the Representative of UNICEF in Mexico, Susana Sottoli...
UNICEF calls for protection of schools and learning spaces in Timor Leste
DILI / TIMOR-LESTE, 10 August 2007 – UNICEF strongly condemns the destruction and vandalizing of schools, learning spaces and play areas during the ongoing unrest in certain parts of Timor-Leste.
Statement by Catherine Mbengue, UNICEF Representative to Afghanistan, on the continued attacks on schools and schoolchildren in Afghanistan
KABUL, 10 JULY 2007- “On Monday, July 9, two rockets fired by militants struck a primary school in Kunar province, killing one child instantly and injuring three other children."
Alternative family-based care for abandoned and orphaned children launched in north of Sudan
KHARTOUM, 2 July 2007 – The Ministry of Social Affairs for Khartoum State and UNICEF today announced the launch of a communication campaign to prevent the abandonment of infants, change public attitudes to the issue, and increase kaffala – the Islamic system of community care for vulnerable children – marking a step away from institutional care towards placement of children with alternative families.
Education under fire
NEW YORK / GENEVA, 29 JUNE 2007 – UNICEF today condemned continuing attacks on schoolchildren and educational facilities in conflict zones around the world. "Attacks on schoolchildren are unacceptable,” said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. “Schools must be safe environments for children to learn and thrive.”
UNICEF Congratulates the Government of Madagascar on Two New Laws to Reinforce Child Protection, Including Increasing the Legal Age of Marriage to Eighteen Years
ANTANANARIVO, 28 June 2007 – Today, new ground was broken when the Government of Madagascar’s Parliament approved two new laws; the first a broad bill to ensure increased child protection for vulnerable children throughout the country, and the second to change the legal age of marriage from 14 years for girls and 17 years for boys, to 18 years for both genders.
UNICEF says children hit hardest by Zimbabwe’s economic problems
HARARE / GENEVA, 26 June 2007 – UNICEF in Zimbabwe says it is “deeply concerned” about increased suffering for everyday Zimbabweans, particularly...
UNICEF sends emergency supplies in response to growing humanitarian needs in Gaza
JERUSALEM/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 22 June 2007 - UNICEF is delivering emergency medical supplies and vaccines to help prevent outbreaks of disease among children in Gaza.
UNICEF concerned at conditions for orphans and vulnerable children in Iraq
AMMAN/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 22 June 2007 - UNICEF said today that the discovery and broadcast images of children in a Baghdad orphanage suffering horrific...
UNICEF applauds verdict passed by the Special Court for Sierra Leone
FREETOWN/SIERRA LEONE, 20 June 2007 – Today marks a major milestone in the annals of Sierra Leone as the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) handed down the first...
UNICEF calls for increased efforts to prevent trafficking of children
NEW YORK, 16 June 2007 – UNICEF marked the Day of the African Child today by supporting the African Union’s call to increase efforts to prevent child trafficking.
UNICEF condemns shooting outside Afghan school
KABUL/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 13 June 2007 – UNICEF strongly condemned the shooting yesterday, in front of a girls’ school in the Logar province of Afghanistan, which killed two...
Sierra Leone Approves the National Child Rights Bill
FREETOWN/ SIERRA LEONE, 7 June 2007 - The approval of the National Child Rights Bill by the Sierra Leone Parliament on Thursday 7 June is huge step forward for children’s rights.
UNICEF efforts to improve the situation of children in detention facilities in Georgia
TBILISI/GEORGIA, 8 JUNE 2007 - UNICEF is distributing education materials , along with recreation, hygiene and sanitation supplies to juveniles in detention centres across Georgia.
Tackling the rights of disabled children
DUSHANBE/TAJIKISTAN, 1 June, 2007 – Up to 2,000 children celebrated the rights of disabled children in a rally in one of Dushanbe’s major parks.
UNICEF Lebanon joins UNRWA response to urgent needs of children and women caught in El Bared camp crisis
BEIRUT, 29 May 2007 – UNICEF continues to work in close coordination with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as well as...
UNICEF calls for aid to Iraqi children
GENEVA/NEW YORK/AMMAN, 23 May 2007 – Conditions for Iraqi children affected by violence and displacement have reached a critical point, UNICEF said today.
UNICEF and Chad sign agreement to demobilize child soldiers
N’Djamena, Chad, 9 May 2007 – UNICEF and the Government of Chad signed an agreement today for the demobilization of child soldiers throughout the country. The accord, signed by UNICEF Representative...
British Airways staff visit street children centres in Cairo
CAIRO, 10 May 2007 – This week, a group of British Airways staff members are visiting Egypt to witness projects for children supported through money collected from the Change for Good...
Violence causes the deaths of at least two children under 15 every day in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, 19 April 2007 – Two studies aimed at preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against children have been launched in Mexico, where at least two...
Millions lose out in Eastern European and Central Asian growth
GENEVA, April 27 2007 - Millions of citizens across Eastern Europe and Central Asia are not benefiting from the marked economic growth in the region, according to a newly published set...
Memorandum of Understanding and expansion of cooperation agreement on Children Formerly Involved in Camel Racing
ABU DHABI, 25 April 2007 – UNICEF and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, together with delegates from Pakistan...
UNICEF condemns use of a minor in Taliban execution
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 23 April 2007 - UNICEF today condemned the use of a minor in a Taliban execution as a criminal act. A video circulating in Pakistan shows a young boy beheading an adult. The act was a terrible example of how children can be used by adults to commit heinous crimes in times of conflict.
UNICEF issues urgent humanitarian call for Iraqi children
GENEVA, April 18 2007 - Citing the consequences of rising security risks to Iraqi children and families, UNICEF asked Wednesday to step up support to the country’s most vulnerable...
UNICEF, Canadian Government support ‘Vital markers for a safer living environment’
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HEREGOVINA, 4 April 2007 – An additional 133 square kilometers of suspected mine areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)...
April 4 is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
NEW YORK, 28 March 200 7 - Journalists are invited to events here and other cities on April 4, which the UN General Assembly has declared the International Day for...
Eighty-One Countries Sign New Global Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
NEW YORK, 30 March 2007 – UNICEF has welcomed the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 81 countries and the European Community as a major step toward protecting the rights of children with disabilities.
Children are still being trafficked 200 years after the abolition of the slave trade
NEW YORK, 25 March 2007 - Although 25 March marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, slavery still exists today as children are trafficked into bonded labour and the sex trade.
Justice system in Moldova becomes more youth-friendly and moves closer to international standards
MOLDOVA, 26 February 2007 - UNICEF and the Supreme Court Justice of Moldova announced that the justice system in Moldova has become more youth-friendly and...
UNICEF Executive Director commends Egypt’s progress towards Millennium Development Goals
CAIRO/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 20 February 2007 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman today ended a three-day visit to Egypt which included discussions with government officials and...
Launch of the State of Children in Serbia Report 2006
BELGRADE, 8 February 2007 – Despite the important steps that have been taken to improve the status of children in Serbia since the late 1990s, there are still over 300,000 children today who are living in poverty...
UNICEF issues call to eliminate female genital mutilation/cutting within a generation
NEW YORK, 6 February 2007 – In spite of a global commitment following the 2002 UN Special Session on Children to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by 2010...
UN decries deaths of children in Mogadishu conflict
NAIROBI / KENYA , 5 February 2007 - Forces involved in the Somalia conflict must engage in dialogue to avoid deaths of children and innocent civilians as happened last week when three children were killed in...
Global conference to end the recruitment of children by armed groups and forces in Paris
PARIS/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 5 February 2007– A global conference hosted by the Government of France and UNICEF convened in Paris today to address the issue of children in armed conflict.
UNICEF supports continuing International Criminal Court process
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 29 January 2007 -- Today the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed the charges against Thomas Lubanga, former commander-in-chief of the Union of Congolese Patriots' military wing...
UNICEF and Council of Europe agree to cooperate to improve the lives of children
STRASBOURG, FRANCE/GENEVA, 23 January 2007 - UNICEF and the Council of Europe today signed a Joint Declaration to strengthen their partnership to maximize results for children.
End the suffering of Somali children
NAIROBI, 12 January 2007 - Peace and stability are urgently needed in Somalia to end the suffering of thousands of Somali children affected by the recent conflict, UNICEF and Save the Children UK said today.
IKEA, Save the Children and UNICEF joint campaign: ‘A smile is worth so much’
IKEA, UNICEF and Save the Children will join forces for children worldwide again this year, following a successful 2005 effort that raised over €2 million euro for life-saving programs through its “€1 is a fortune. . . A child’s smile is worth so much” campaign.
Regional launch of the UN Secretary General’s study on violence against children for Latin America and the Caribbean
15 November 2006 - Media Advisory
160 children document their surroundings after their villages were destroyed one year ago
NEW YORK, 5 October 2006 – UNICEF today launched an exhibition of children’s photos in New York to mark the one year anniversary of the earthquake which killed over 70,000 people in Pakistan.
UNICEF praises donation from Spanish Government
MADRID, 27 September 2006 – UNICEF thanked the Government of Spain for the generous donation of €21 million Euro toward the agency’s work on behalf of children that was announced today.
UNICEF Regional Director outlines priorities as south Lebanon moves into recovery phase
TAIBEH, 31 August 2006 – Restoring water and health services - and dealing with the menace of unexploded ordnance - will be UNICEF’s priorities as humanitarian efforts gather pace in south Lebanon, according to UNICEF Regional Director, Omar Abdi.
The State recognizes its children as subjects with rights
BOGOTA, August 31 2006 - The 215 articles approved by the Senate of the Republic on 29 August mark the beginning of a new phase for Colombia’s 18 million children and adolescents. With them, the country has updated its legislation on children, adjusting it to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Prevention efforts too little, too late; prosecution of traffickers not sole solution
LONDON, 30 August 2006 - Piecemeal prevention efforts in South Eastern Europe (SEE) are failing to protect children from falling prey to traffickers and have relied too much on general awareness-raising, says a report released today by UNICEF and Terre des Hommes which also urges a shift of focus away from prosecution.
Statement of UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman on Uganda
NEW YORK/GENEVA/NAIROBI/KAMPALA, 29 August 2006 – UNICEF welcomes the agreement between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) to cease hostilities, which is aimed at ending 20 years of armed conflict.
UNICEF calls on religious leaders to work together for peace and development
KYOTO, 26 August 2006 - UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman today called for greater cooperation among religions to protect children from the threats of poverty, disease and violence.
Donation of $30,000 from the Iranian Football Federation kick starts UNICEF Iran’s ‘Children of Lebanon Appeal’
TEHRAN, 23 August 2006 – The Iranian Football Federation has donated $30,000 to UNICEF Iran’s Children of Lebanon Appeal to help support UNICEF’s ongoing relief efforts in Lebanon. The money came from a charity football match that took place earlier this month between the Iranian Celebrities’ Club (ICC) and a team made up of two of Iran’s most popular clubs, Pirouzi and Esteghlal.
UNICEF: Children are victims of the conflict in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO/NEW YORK/ GENEVA, 15 August 2006 – The bombing on Monday of a Vallepuram compound in Mullaitivu district that reportedly killed dozens of girls and wounded many more is a shocking result of the rising violence in Sri Lanka, UNICEF, said today.
UNICEF helps children cope with the hidden effects of Lebanon’s ongoing conflict
BEIRUT, 9 August 2006 - Children in Beirut have been deeply affected by the terrifying events they and their families have experienced, including the loss and injury of loved ones, and the destruction of their homes and schools.
UNICEF, Organization of American States and Inter-American Development Bank launch initiative to grant official identity to millions of unregistered children
BOGOTA, 8 August 2006 - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UNICEF and the Organization of American States (OAS) announced a new alliance today to work toward ensuring free, timely, universal birth registration for children in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2015, with 50 per cent progress in that direction by 2010.
UNICEF alarmed as attacks on Afghan schools rise
KABUL/GENEVA, 4 August 2006 – UNICEF warned today that schools in Afghanistan are the targets of increasingly dramatic attacks, noting that reported incidents have spread from the south and southeastern region to all of the provinces and include one missle attack, 11 explosions, 50 school burnings and 37 threats against schools and communities.
Statement by Dan Rohrmann, UNICEF Special Representative in occupied Palestinian territory
JERUSALEM, 1 August 2006 – As the international media is focused on the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Lebanon, sadly enough the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is on the verge of being forgotten. For the 1.44 million Palestinians living in Gaza, out of which 838,000 are children, the humanitarian situation is a daily reality.
Some of the biggest victims of domestic violence are the smallest
NEW YORK/LONDON, 1 August 2006 – A global study published today by UNICEF and The Body Shop International reveals the devastating and lasting impact on children of living with domestic violence.
UNICEF “shocked and outraged” at latest case of child rape in Zimbabwe
HARARE, 1 August 2006 - UNICEF today said it “condemned in the strongest possible terms” news of more horrific sexual child abuse cases in Zimbabwe.
Member states renew commitment to protecting children in armed conflict
NEW YORK, 24 July 2006 – One year after the signing of a landmark resolution to protect children in conflict, United Nations Security Council members today discussed concrete next steps for protecting children in conflict zones from the most unspeakable violations – among them the abduction, sexual abuse and recruitment of children as combatants.
Statement by UNICEF and the World Health Organization on escalating violence in Lebanon and Israel
NEW YORK, GENEVA, AMMAN, BEIRUT, 19 July 2006 – UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) today expressed serious concern about civilian casualties and new risks to health from escalating violence in Lebanon and Israel:
Child Alert: Democratic Republic of Congo
LONDON, 24 July 2006 - The conflict and violence that has consumed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for nearly a decade has killed more people every six months than were killed by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Estimates place the total deaths at four million, although some experts say the figure is far higher. In a report released today in London, UNICEF said that as victims, children have defined this often forgotten, but world’s deadliest, humanitarian crisis in the heart of Africa.
The Special Representative of the Secretary General in Haiti and UNICEF Representative express their concern with the rise of violence and its consequences on children and their families
PORT-AU-PRINCE, 8 July 2006 – The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Haiti, Edmond Mulet and UNICEF Representative, Adriano Gonzalez-Regueral, have expressed outrage about current violent acts against children and their families in Haiti.
Malaysian website to empower young people to resist experimenting with drugs
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 June 2006 - Young people in Malaysia can now log-on to www.whatareyoudoing.net to learn about drugs and why ‘using is for losers’. The website is part of the ‘Keep the Music Clean’ campaign designed to engage, educate and empower young people to resist the temptation to experiment with drugs.
UNICEF condemns abduction and recruitment of Sri Lankan children by the Karuna group
COLOMBO, 22 June 2006 – UNICEF in Sri Lanka is calling for immediate action to halt the abduction and forced recruitment of children by the Karuna group. Over the past week, the agency has verified reports of thirty cases in Batticaloa district. Reports of abduction and forced recruitment of boys under the age of 18 from the area have increased since March of this year.
211 Children Released from the SPLA in Southern Kordofan
KHARTOUM, 18 June 2006 – UNICEF today welcomed the demobilization of 181 children – 174 boys and 7 girls – from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). This release took place on 6 June in Julud in the Nuba Mountains area of Sudan (Southern Kordofan), and the children have been reunited with their families over the past two weeks.
Zero tolerance for child sex tourism in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, 18 June, 2006 - A two year action plan to stop the commercial exploitation of Sri Lanka’s children has been launched today. While the exact numbers are not known, it’s estimated that thousands of Sri Lankan children are drawn into prostitution every year, the majority of them boys. These children are exploited by foreign tourists, as well as by local people.
Seminar discusses juveniles in conflict with the law
TEHRAN, 15 June 2006 - Top officials from different sectors, including judges, legal experts, police and members of the State Welfare Organization gathered in the city of Orumiyeh this week to discuss juvenile justice in Iran. The seminar was organized by the Department of Judicial Development of the Iranian Judiciary with support from UNICEF. It is one of a series of juvenile justice events aimed at aligning Iran’s child protection and juvenile justice practices with international conventions.
UNICEF warns about trafficking during World Cup
NEW YORK, 15 June, 2006 – UNICEF today expressed its deep concern that children and women could be trafficked and subjected to sexual exploitation during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Combating Violence against Children project receives grant from the Netherlands
AMMAN, 14 June 2006 – UNICEF Jordan received today a grant of approximately JD 78,000 from the Embassy of the Netherlands to continue strengthening responses to combat violence against children in the country.
Commitment to protecting the children of Darfur
KHARTOUM/AMMAN 12 June 2006 – UNICEF today welcomed the outcomes of a landmark child protection workshop for Darfur, organized 7-9 June in collaboration with the Darfur States and the National Council for Child Welfare.
Child labour robs children of childhood, impedes development
NEW YORK, 12 June 2006 – Hundreds of millions of children are forced to work when they should be learning and playing, which deprives them, their families and nations the opportunity to develop and thrive, UNICEF said today.
UNICEF provides aid to Timorese displaced by conflict
DILI, 30 May 2006 – Aid has begun to reach the thousands of Timorese living in camps around East Timor’s capital city of Dili, displaced by conflict. The Australian army’s presence in Dili has improved the security situation and UNICEF and other agencies have been able to reach people living in crowded conditions and in desperate need of food, access to clean water and sanitation, and protection for children. There are an estimated 70,000 residing in camps in Dili alone and another 45,000 who have moved to the districts.
Timor’s childhood under threat
DILY, 29 May 2006 – Ongoing ethnic and political tensions in Timor-Leste have escalated into large-scale civil unrest in Dili, with the districts practically cut off and isolated from the capital city. As people flee the conflict, children's lives are being uprooted.
Escalating violence threatens the safety of Sri Lanka’s children
GENEVA, 16 May 2006 - Sri Lankan children in areas most affected by recent clashes are paying a high price for the escalating tension in the island. Thousands of children are still displaced from their homes following the recent violence in Trincomalee District, in which six children were killed and others injured or severely traumatized.
UNICEF Chief of Emergency Programmes visits Afghanistan
KABUL, 15 May 2006 – UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Daniel Toole arrived in Afghanistan Thursday on a week-long visit to the country, during which he aims to assess UNICEF’s capacity to respond to sudden emergencies and review the organization’s support to programmes in areas of the country still affected by insecurity.
Afghanistan launches national strategy for children at risk
KABUL, 15 May 2006 – The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will launch a new National Strategy for Children at Risk on Tuesday 16 May, designed to improve care and support for the country’s most vulnerable children.
Displacement and landmines are everyday challenges for children in Colombia
GENEVA, 25 April 2006 – In Colombia, children and adolescents are still severely affected by the ongoing armed conflict, despite the recent decrease in the intensity of armed actions in the country since the 2001-2002 peak of hostilities. UNICEF said today it does not have adequate resources to respond. For programs operating this year, UNICEF has a shortfall of US $ 1.7 million, out of a total amount of US $4.8 million necessary for humanitarian action.
UNICEF welcomes child demobilisation in Southern Sudan
MALAKAL, SOUTHERN SUDAN, 24 April 2006 – UNICEF welcomes the renewed process of disarmament and demobilisation of children associated with armed forces and groups in Southern Sudan. The latest demobilisation, of about 250 children in Upper Nile State today, is the biggest of its kind since the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005 which commits the parties (the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-SPLM/A and the then Government of Sudan) to child demobilisation throughout the country.
UNICEF Concerned that Children a Casualty of Recent Demonstrations
KATHMANDU, April 13 – UNICEF has expressed its deep concern at reports that children have been injured, arrested and detained in the recent demonstrations in Kathmandu and other cities. “Children have no place being near demonstrations that could turn violent,” UNICEF Representative Dr. Suomi Sakai said today.
Reduce Vulnerabilities that Push Iraqi Children to the Edge, Says UNICEF
AMMAN/BAGHDAD, 13 April 2006 – The special needs of thousands of Iraqi children who find themselves in trouble with the law and being held in juvenile institutions as well as detention centres was the focus of a workshop that concluded today. Iraqi Government representatives, UNICEF and non-governmental organizations partners working with vulnerable and marginalized groups deliberated the issue for over five days.
UN Condemns Attack on a School in Kunar Province
KABUL, 11 April 2006 - I am shocked and saddened to have learned that an attack on a school in Kunar province this morning has resulted in the death of six children and wounded fourteen other people.
As leaders prepare to agree Afghan Compact, UNICEF urges “Women and Children First”
Kabul/London/Geneva, 30 January 2006 – As representatives of more than 70 countries sit down tomorrow with leaders of the Afghan Government to shape the reconstruction framework for the nation, UNICEF is urging delegates to maintain a clear focus on the development needs of children and mothers.
UNICEF: End the Abuse in Zimbabwe
HARARE 23 January 2006 - In the wake of a worsening orphan crisis and accusations this week against a headmaster who allegedly raped six primary school pupils, the United Nations Children’s Fund today repeated its call for communities to speak out against all forms of child abuse.
Lao PDR opens first shelter for women, children
The Lao Women’s Union, with support from UNICEF and other international partners, has opened Lao PDR’s first shelter for women and girls who have suffered abuse through domestic violence or trafficking.
New Resource Package Shines Spotlight on Excluded Children
GENEVA, 22 December, 2006 - The marginalized and disadvantaged children of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States feature in a new online information package launched by UNICEF today.
More than 1 million children beyond aid net in Darfur
Khartoum/London/New York, 20 December 2005 – A new report by UNICEF details the impact of conflict on children’s lives in Darfur, almost three years after the violence began.
UNICEF Executive Director Embarks on Year-End Trip
NEW YORK, 6 December, 2005 - UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman travels to India and the U.K. this week for an international trip that focuses on issues critical to children’s health and protection.
UNICEF Launches Flagship Publication in London on 14 December
On Wednesday, 14 December, UNICEF will launch its flagship publication, The State of the World's Children. The theme this year deals with children who are excluded and invisible. Hundreds of millions of children have become virtually invisible. They are victims of abuse, exploitation and discrimination that rob their safety and dignity. And they are children who are excluded from even the most basic services they need to grow and thrive.
Children’s Rights Not Respected in Cote D’Ivoire’s Ongoing Military and Political Crisis
ABIDJAN, Cote D’Ivoire, 21 November 2005 – As the world celebrates the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF is calling attention to the plight of the children in Cote D’Ivoire and the continued widespread violation of their rights as a result of the ongoing three-year-long conflict.
Egyptian TV wins International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Award
NEW YORK, 21 November 2005 – Egyptian TV won the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) award at the 33rd International Emmy Awards Gala on Monday night. The special prize is awarded every year by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and UNICEF.
UNICEF warns against potential exploitation of child earthquake survivors
ISLAMABAD, 17 October 2005 - In the aftermath of the earthquake many children have become separated from their caregivers. UNICEF has responded with concern to reports about children being taken from health facilities by individuals or NGOs, claiming to be able to look after them.
UN appointee to brief on landmark study on violence against children
NEW YORK, 17 October 2005 - Professor Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, independent expert appointed to lead the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children , and Abigeil McIntyre, 17 year-old youth activist from Grenada will brief the press on the progress and intial findings of the landmark study on violence against children.
FAQ: “Smurfs: What’s it all about?”
In case you haven’t heard: UNICEF in Belgium has created a unique and attention-getting video message about the impact of war on children. The 30 second TV ad – to be run free by Belgian broadcasters in the late evening hours – is part of a campaign by UNICEF in Belgium to raise awareness about the many ways conflict destroys children’s lives.
Stalled peace negotiations in Sri Lanka harm children
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 9 September 2004 – A report released today by UNICEF says that the stalled peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a major impediment to assisting children affected by the country’s two-decade long war.
UNICEF and Casa Alianza join efforts against violence
PANAMA CITY, 6 September 2004 – With the expressed intention of protecting Latin American and Caribbean children and adolescents in a more effective manner against all forms of violence that affect the region, UNICEF and the international non- governmental organization, Casa Alianza, have recently signed their first regional cooperation agreement.
UNICEF sponsored photo exhibit by children of Beslan opens today
BESLAN, Russia, 26 August 2005 - Photos taken by children from Beslan go on display in the town’s Cultural Centre today – the result of a photography and journalism workshop for the children organised by UNICEF (22-28 July). The exhibition, entitled Children Are the Most Precious Thing in the World, will run until 9 September.
Children must be safe during Gaza withdrawal
NEW YORK, 12 August 2005 -- UNICEF today urged that children be kept out of harm’s way during the planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank.
36 Bangladeshi camel jockeys arrive home
DHAKA, 11 August 2005 - UNICEF is pleased to announce that the first group of Bangladeshi camel jockeys has been repatriated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and arrived safely in Dhaka this morning.
UNICEF thanks Olara Otunnu
NEW YORK, 3 August 2005 – Reacting to his departure as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF said today that it was deeply grateful to Olara Otunnu for being an outspoken advocate for millions of children caught in conflict around the world.
Official Statement on the Security Council Resolution on Children in Armed Conflict
NEW YORK, 25 July 2005 - UNICEF today applauded the UN Security Council resolution that establishes a monitoring and reporting system for children affected by armed conflict.
New round of child soldier demobilization begins in west Afghanistan
KABUL, 21 July 2005 – The second major phase of Afghanistan’s child soldier demobilization and reintegration campaign got underway in the west of the country this week, with an expected 3,500 children likely to benefit from the initiative in the coming three months.
Call to ban corporal punishment wraps up South Africa meeting on violence
JOHANNESBURG, 20 July, 2005 - A three-day preparatory consultation on the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children ended today with a call for a total ban on corporal punishment.
Regional meeting in South Africa calls for an end to violence against children
Johannesburg, 18 July – A regional preparatory consultation on the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence for Eastern and Southern Africa opened in Johannesburg today with a strong call to end the violence that is afflicting many of the continent’s children.
South Africa hosts a preparatory consultation for the UN Study on Violence against Children
The Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Consultation for the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children is being organized at the request of the Study expert, Professor Paulo Pinheiro. It is one of nine regional consultations being held world-wide that will form an integral part of the study process.
Statement on Iraq child deaths
Responding to the deaths today of 26 Iraqi children in a suicide car bombing, UNICEF said that it deplores the actions of those who would target innocent children.
Indigenous Children from Latin America demand their rights at Madrid meeting
MADRID, 8 July 2005 - “We are boys, girls and adolescents belonging to 34 indigenous peoples; we are creators, bearers and transmitters of our cultures whose contributions to humankind contribute to coexistence, diversity and peace.
MENA consultation on violence against children
CAIRO / 26 June 2005 - The first regional meeting dealing exclusively with violence against children is opening tomorrow amid calls for countries in the region to do more to prevent physical and psychological harm to young people.
EAPRO consultation concludes: violence is not inevitable
BANGKOK, 16 June 2005 – “Violence is not inevitable but rather an injustice that can be ended by recognizing that peace is a human right and that this responsibility belongs to everyone,” more than 250 delegates proclaimed at the end of the three-day Regional Consultation on Violence Against Children.
Paraguay takes concrete steps in the effective implementation of the Optional Protocol against the use of child soldiers
Asunción, Paraguay, 15 June 2005- Representatives of the Government of Paragay, UNICEF and the members of non-governmental organizations and community groups presented the results of the first round of visits to monitor implementation of the Optional Protocol on the Use of Child Soldiers which prohibits the forced recruitment of children under 18 years old as soldiers.
Study highlights rape in Northern Uganda's largest IDP camp
GULU, UGANDA, 15 JUNE 2005 – A new study on sexual and gender-based violence has identified rape, the sexual abuse of children and physical assault as being among the most common forms of sexual violence inside the Pabbo internally displaced persons camp in Gulu District, the largest and one of the oldest such settlements in northern Uganda’s conflict-affected districts.
Efforts to end child labour must focus on education
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 10 June 2005 – Ensuring access to quality basic education is critical for removing children from hazardous labour, UNICEF said today.
Benin and Nigeria pledge to fight child trafficking
Cotonou / Abuja, June 9, 2005 - UNICEF congratulates the Governments of the Republic of Benin and the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the signing today, in Cotonou, of a "Cooperation agreement to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons with emphasis on trafficking in women and children.”
Youth delegates and experts address violence against children in Canada and U.S.
TORONTO, 3 June 2005 – Today, youth delegates and experts from across Canada and the U.S. will convene in Toronto to take part in a major global initiative to stop the most pervasive forms of violence against children.
Government of Lao PDR, UNICEF launch media awareness campaign to protect young people from dangers of trafficking
Vientianem, 1 June 2005 - The Government of Lao PDR and UNICEF today launched a multi-media campaign designed to raise awareness of the risks posed by trafficking and protect those most at risk from its dangers. Lao youth music celebrities will perform a concert in Vientiane, the nation’s capital, to mark Children’s Day and promote the campaign’s themes.
Children in residential institutions desperately vulnerable to abuse
GENEVA, 31 May 2005: Violence against children in residential institutions can be found across Europe and Central Asia, according to research gathered by UNICEF in the run-up to a major conference on violence against children. The research also reveals glaring gaps in knowledge and data.
International experts meet in Buenos Aires to analyze violence against children and adolescents in Latin America
BUENOS AIRES, 30 May 2005 – In the framework of the United Nations Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children, international experts and representatives of governments, civil society and adolescents are meeting in Buenos Aires today until June 1st to analyze and gather information on violence against children in Latin America.
Calls to end violence against children made at groundbreaking South Asia meeting
ISLAMABAD/ 19 May 2005 - The first regional meeting dealing exclusively with violence against children ever to be held in South Asia is opening amid calls for countries in the region to do more to prevent physical and psychological harm to young people. More than 165 people, including delegates from all governments in the region, staff from UN agencies and child care agencies, are taking part in the three day meeting as part of the global consultation for the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children.
UAE supports UNICEF in safe return of camel jockeys to home countries
DUBAI/AMMAN – 8 May 2005 – In a major step to provide protection and support to children involved in camel racing, the UAE Ministry of Interior and UNICEF today signed an agreement to provide some $2.7 million to help in return and re-integration of child camel jockeys in their home communities.
UNICEF praises Armenian progress towards a protective environment for all children
YEREVAN, 13 April 2005 - UNICEF has hailed Armenia’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. Both were signed by President Kocharyan today after being cleared by the Armenian National Assembly on 21 March 2005.
Bellamy urges legislators to use their power to protect children from exploitation
MANILA / NEW YORK, 4 April 2005 – Echoing a theme that has become a hallmark of her tenure, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy today challenged legislators from around the world to do more to protect the health and well-being of children.
Report: Root causes of human trafficking in South Eastern Europe not being addressed
GENEVA, 31 March 2005 – The root causes of human trafficking are not being adequately addressed in South Eastern Europe, says a new report launched in Geneva today.
Female genital mutilation must end
NEW YORK, 6 February 2005 – UNICEF today reiterated its call on governments to move swiftly to stop the harmful practice of female genital mutilation and cutting.
Statement on shooting of a three-year old girl in occupied Palestinian territory
JERUSALEM, 27 January 2005 - The UNICEF Special Representative in oPt, Dan Rohrmann, expressed his sadness today in the aftermath of the latest fatality, when yesterday, a three-year-old Rahma Ibrahim Abu Shamas was struck dead by a bullet while sitting in her house in a very poor area in the central Gaza Strip.
How to protect children in the tsunami zone
LONDON, 8 January 2005 – Measures to protect children in the Tsunami zone from exploitation, abuse, and criminal trafficking are needed immediately to prevent them from slipping between the cracks, UNICEF said today, outlining the key steps essential to protecting orphans and other vulnerable children.
UNICEF launches $144.5 million appeal
NEW YORK, 6 January 2005 - UNICEF is seeking $144.5 million to support urgent humanitarian aid for the estimated 1.5 million affected children in South Asia, many of which have been orphaned or separated from their families and are in critical need of basic care and support. UNICEF has estimated that children account for more than one-third of tsunami deaths.
UNICEF identifies key steps to save "Tsunami Generation"
JAKARTA, 4 January 2005 – Two days ahead of a global conference here to coordinate aid for the countries devastated by tsunamis, UNICEF today proposed four fundamental priorities for children that the agency said are essential to the overall success of the relief effort.
Bellamy to visit Tsunami zone
NEW YORK, 1 January 2005 – UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy begins a five-day tour of the worst-affected tsunami zones this weekend, where she will survey the needs of hundreds of thousands of children and assess the UNICEF relief efforts to date.
Effort to identify unaccompanied children begins
NEW YORK, 31 December 2004 – UNICEF said today it is concerned that children throughout the tsunami-devastated region have been orphaned or separated from their families and are in critical need of basic care and support.
Hundred of schools damaged in the Maldives
MALE, MALDIVES, 31 December 2004 - Hundreds of schools in the Maldives are now known to have been damaged by the Asian tsunami that struck the archipelago.
The State of the World's Children: Childhood under threat
LONDON, 9 DECEMBER 2004 – Despite the near universal embrace of standards for protecting childhood, a new UNICEF report shows that more than half the world’s children are suffering extreme deprivations from poverty, war and HIV/AIDS, conditions that are effectively denying children a childhood and holding back the development of nations.
UNICEF calls for joint effort to support integration of disabled Afghans
KABUL, 2 December 2004 – Public perceptions of disabled Afghans will be in the spotlight today, with the presentation of preliminary findings from a new report on the issue commissioned by UNICEF and CDAP.
Landmines pose gravest risk for children
NAIROBI/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 2 December 2004 – Millions of antipersonnel landmines and other explosive remnants of war across the globe pose a vicious threat to children, who are being injured, killed and orphaned by them long after wars are over, UNICEF said today.
Danny Glover visits mine-affected Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, 27 November 2004. - UNICEF’s new Goodwill Ambassador, Danny Glover, on his first visit to Ethiopia, today called on the three nations that continue to stockpile anti-personnel mines, to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty immediately.
Parliamentarians in the Arab world: Champions for child rights
AMMAN, 23 November 2004 - More than 50 members of Arab parliaments adopted on Tuesday the Amman Declaration and Plan of Action for Arab children; these are a result of two-day discussions around various child-related issues which concluded in the Jordanian capital today.
Despite progress, children’s rights far from universal
NEW YORK, 20 November 2004 - On the 15th anniversary today of the international adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said that despite major advancements for children that include the creation of new laws in many countries, the rights of millions of children remain forgotten or ignored.
Effort to protect Darfur's children is failing
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 18 November 2004 - UNICEF said today that reports of violence against women and children, in and around Darfur's camps for civilians displaced by fighting, seems to be increasing rather than diminishing.
Healing Beslan's wounds
GENEVA, 16 November, 2004. UNICEF has announced plans for a new programme to promote peace and tolerance across the troubled North Caucasus.
UNICEF hails world’s first regional agreement on human trafficking
YANGON, MYANMAR, 29 October 2004 – Today ministers from China, Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and Myanmar signed a landmark memorandum of understanding that sets forth a framework of action to fight human trafficking.
Child trafficking requires action in Lao PDR
VIENTIANE, LAOS, 26 October 2004 – Child trafficking is an important problem for Lao PDR which requires urgent action, according to the first national study on the subject released today by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and UNICEF.
Colombia destroys its anti-personnel mines arsenal
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, October 24, 2004 - Meeting the commitment assumed in the Ottawa Convention, the Colombian Government today destroyed its last arsenal of anti-personnel mines, in a ceremony held simultaneously in Bogotá’s Plaza de Bolívar and in the northern city of Barranquilla, where more than 6,800 mines belonging to the Armed Forces were destroyed.
Children in South Asia deserve better protection from sex abusers and traffickers
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, 1 October, 2004 - A call to do more to target those supplying children in South Asia for the sex trade and other forms of labour has been made at a meeting in Colombo.
"The return and reintegration of child soldiers in Sudan: the challenges ahead"
NAIROBI, KENYA, 30 September, 2004 - About 20,000 children have been demobilised from the ranks of southern Sudanese rebel forces since 2001, according to UNICEF. An article published this week in the journal "Forced Migration Review" (Oxford University, UK) summarises a major evaluation of child demobilisation in Sudan commissioned by UNICEF.
More than one million Palestinian children return to school
JERUSALEM, 6 September 2004 - Some 1.2 million children returned to school last week in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after a summer break.
Statement by Bellamy on hostage-taking of children at Russian school
NEW YORK/GENEVA/HONG KONG, 3 September 2004 - "The Beslan siege represents a new and discouraging low -- children used as hostages and denied food and water for three terrifying days," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy.
Asian children and societies still being crippled by landmines
BANGKOK, 30 August 2004 – As landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue indiscriminately to maim and kill children across the region, UNICEF called today for governments to redouble their efforts to prevent conflict-related injuries, which represent the fourth leading cause of all fatal injuries worldwide.
47 children, formerly abducted by LRA, come back home
KAMPALA, 27 August 2004 – UNICEF in Uganda today urged civilian and military authorities responsible for receiving 47 formerly abducted children – repatriated today from southern Sudan by the International Organization for Migration, after their abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – to ensure the children’s rights remain protected.
Reintegrating children associated with fighting forces in Liberia a "success"
MONROVIA/NEW YORK/GENEVA, 26 August 2004 – Just four months after the launch of a massive disarmament campaign, almost 85 per cent of about 5,800 demobilized children have gone home to their families. Over 115 children were reunified this week.
Bellamy lands in Liberia for a three-day visit
MONROVIA, 23 August 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy landed in Liberia today for a three-day visit to assess progress in reintegrating children formerly associated with fighting forces with their families.
Dafur breeding new generation of "child survivors"
Khartoum/Geneva/ New York, 2 July 2004 – UNICEF reports today that a significant number of children displaced in Darfur have either been direct victims of violence or have witnessed violent acts.
Demobilization programme for former Afghan child soldiers reaches 2,000 children
KABUL, 24 June 2004 – The programme to demobilize and re-integrate former child soldiers in Afghanistan, led by UNICEF with Government, NGO partners and local communities, has now helped to demobilize 2,203 children in eight provinces of the country, since its launch in February. The majority of children demobilized to date – all of whom are boys – are aged between 14 and 18 years old.
UNICEF welcomes special court ruling establishing child recruitment a 'war crime'
NEW YORK/FREETOWN, 17 June 2004 – The Special Court for Sierra Leone recently ruled that the recruitment or use of children under age 15 in hostilities is a war crime under customary international law. This landmark ruling may result in the first ever conviction for the recruitment of child soldiers. UNICEF welcomes the Court’s decision as a bold effort to hold perpetrators accountable for serious crimes against children.
On Day of Families, remember children who are alone
NEW YORK, 14 May 2004 - Children growing up without parental care are at greater risk of violence, exploitation, trafficking and discrimination, UNICEF said today, commemorating the International Day of Families.
Efforts against child labour often overlook domestic workers
GENEVA / NEW YORK, 11 June 2004 – The widespread use of children as domestic servants is one of the most hidden forms of child labour, and one that leaves millions of children, mostly girls, at risk of sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking, UNICEF said today.
UNICEF calls for the protection of children in Rafah
JERUSALEM, 19 May 2004 – UNICEF said today it is deeply concerned about the impact on children of the ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip, particularly a missile strike Wednesday that claimed the lives of at least 10 Palestinians, many of them children.
UNICEF hails promise for children by Peru President
NEW YORK, 10 May 2002 - UNICEF today hailed the President of Peru, Alejandro Toledo, who pledged in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday that his government would reduce military spending in order to redirect public funds to basic social services for children.
Launch of "Code of Conduct" for travel industry to protect children from sex tourism
NEW YORK, 21 April 2004 – Striking a blow against the sex tourism industry that entraps tens of thousands of children, UNICEF today joined the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the international advocacy group ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) in launching a “Code of Conduct” for the North American travel industry. The code is designed to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation.
Ten years after genocide, Rwandan children suffer lasting impact
GENEVA/NEW YORK, 6 April 2004 – Ten years after the genocide in Rwanda that took the lives of 800,000 people, the country’s children continue to struggle with the lingering impact of the atrocities, UNICEF said today.
Indigenous children face greater threats to survival
MADRID, 25 February 2004 – Indigenous children are among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in the world and global action is urgently needed to protect their survival and their rights, says a new report from UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in Florence.
Statement by UNICEF on death of children in Kandahar
KABUL, 7 January 2004 – Following the news announcements that a majority of those killed in the 6 January bomb blast in Kandahar were children, the UNICEF Afghanistan Country Office has released a statement.
UN calls for cessation of hostilities and protection of children in Liberia
DAKAR, MONROVIA, Tuesday, 22 July 2003. "We urgently appeal to the leaders of all parties involved in the conflict in Liberia to stop all hostilities immediately. We are deeply concerned by the dramatic deterioration of the situation in Monrovia and by the unacceptable mobilisation of children and women, in violation of all agreed international norms and standards. Some of the actions against children and women constitute crimes of war under the Statute of the International Criminal Court.
New study to assist Iraq’s most vulnerable children launched
BAGHDAD 26 June 2003 – UNICEF has teamed up with five international aid organizations to investigate the situation in which children live in Iraq today. The study will focus on the risks to children’s wellbeing and the coping mechanisms that exist within their families and communities to help them overcome the current challenges they face in post-war Iraq.
To end child labour nations must fight trafficking of children, UNICEF says
Thursday, 12 June 2003 – UNICEF said today that efforts to end the worst forms of child labour would not succeed without effective cooperative efforts to fight the trafficking of children and women within and across national borders. On World Day Against Child Labour, UNICEF pointed to estimates that the global trade in human beings is beginning to rival the illicit trafficking of arms and drugs. (Press release)
Leaders urge East Asia and Pacific to do their utmost for children
BALI, 5 May 2003 – President of Indonesia, H.E. Megawati Sukarnoputri, opened today the Sixth East Asia and Pacific Ministerial Consultation on Children calling on all nations of the world to work hard for the protection and well-being of children. (News Note)
UNICEF opens summer camps for Palestinian children
GAZA, 6 July 2002 - A record number of Palestinian children will have a chance to attend child-friendly summer camps this year, with the first of more than 180 such camps opening in the Occupied Palestinian Territory today, UNICEF said.
Unicef welcomes release of Ugandan children
NEW YORK, 14 June 2002 - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) welcomed the release of nearly 100 women and children by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), but called for the unconditional release of thousands more children still held.
Where are the Missing Ugandan Children?
NEW YORK / GENEVA, 4 April 2002 - The United Nations Children's Fund expressed grave concern today over the fate of thousands of children that the Ugandan government said were abandoned in southern Sudan over the weekend by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA.)
UNICEF to protect health of Sudanese refugees in Chad
CHAD, 23 January 2004 - In response to the rapidly deteriorating situation of Sudanese refugees in Chad, UNICEF is moving ahead on a series of activities, including a measles campaign for nearly 86,000 children from six months to 14 years old (refugees and host population), as well as a Vitamin A distribution, in coordination with MSF Belgium and MSF Holland.
Children’s rights threatened in Cote d’Ivoire violence
Zambia to hold symposium on child sexual abuse and violence against women
MEDIA ADVISORY, 11 June 2004 - The symposium aims to initiate dialogue on gender-based and sexual Violence. Zambia recognizes that if the region is to respond to the epidemic effectively, it must confront the cultural practices, strengthen legislation and policies and challenge the factors that perpetuate these human rights abuses in this dangerous era of HIV/AIDS.
Unfinished business: Global push to save 11 million children
Stockholm/Geneva/New York, 12 March 2002 - Almost 11 million children die every year from preventable and treatable causes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Jessica Lange urges Parliamentiarians to protect children from exploitation
MEDIA ADVISORY, 15 April 2004 - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jessica Lange will address the Plenary Session of the IPU calling on parliamentarians to use their clout to protect children from exploitation, and launch the IPU/UNICEF Handbook for Parliamentarians on Child Protection.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Harry Belafonte to visit Kenya and Senegal
MEDIA ADVISORY, 12 February 2004 - In Kenya, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Harry Belafonte will assess progress in education one year after the Kenya government eliminated primary school fees. He will visit a Nairobi primary school and meet with government and business leaders to discuss the achievements since school fees were abolished and highlight the challenges that remain, particularly the schooling and care of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and the need to get more girls enrolled in school. On Friday, February 20, Harry will travel to Senegal for a one-week visit during which he will attend a regional conference on birth registration and stress the importance of this issue for protecting the rights of children.
UNICEF calls for change in justice systems on behalf of child prisoners in E. Asia and Pacific
BANGKOK, 18 March 2004 – A UNICEF report released today calls for urgent improvements in judicial systems for children and young people in East Asia and the Pacific.
Guinea: a window on West Africa’s war-weary children
CONAKRY/GENEVA, 4 November 2003 -- UNICEF today said that reports from border monitors and NGOs reveal that Guinea is becoming a burgeoning refuge for thousands of children fleeing West Africa’s wars.
Jessica Lange tells parliamentarians to ask tough questions
MEXICO CITY, 20 April 2004 – UNICEF Ambassador Jessica Lange today launched a “Handbook for Parliamentarians on Child Protection,” a joint UNICEF/IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) report. She called on parliamentarians to live up to their responsibilities as legislators and become champions for children.
Peace process falters for child soldiers of Sierra Leone
FREETOWN/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 22 July 2003 - UNICEF says that the re-integration into civilian life of former child soldiers in Sierra Leone is under threat by flagging support from international donors.
UNICEF Statement on Iraq
GENEVA / NEW YORK, 11 May 2004 – UNICEF is profoundly disturbed by news reports alleging that children may have been among those abused in detention centres and prisons in Iraq. Although the news reports have not been independently substantiated, they are alarming nonetheless.
UNICEF speaks out for children amidst Haiti crisis
Port-au-Prince/Panama/Geneva, 12 February 2004 -- “The intensification of the political crisis in Haiti is taking a heavy toll on families and communities; children are increasingly affected by the violence and must be protected,” said Françoise Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF Representative in Haiti.
UNICEF trains Sudanese police to assist child victims of sexual violence
Khartoum/Geneva/New York, 26 July 2004 – Amidst widespread reports of sexual violence and rape of women and children in Darfur, UNICEF concluded a three-day training of Sudanese police officers designed to assist them in investigating cases of rape of children.
Bellamy heads to Uganda to tackle issues for children
MEDIA ADVISORY, 21 May 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy will meet with representatives of the Government of Uganda, donors, and non-governmental organisations to discuss strengthening the national, regional and international response. In south-western Uganda, Ms. Bellamy will see the progress achieved in programs supported by the Government of Uganda and UNICEF, particularly in the area of community-based development.
Bellamy to Africa leaders: Use child well-being as measure of progress
Wednesday, 11 June 2003 – The Executive Director of UNICEF today called on African leaders attending an economic summit here to embrace child-centred standards as the primary measure for gauging progress across their continent. (Press release)
Latin America and Caribbean unite to prevent sexual exploitation of children and adolescents
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, 20 May 2004 - The Follow-Up Meeting of the II World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, concluded with an agreement among the 24 countries present to join efforts to prevent and to reduce the causes of child and adolescent vulnerability, to promote change in cultural patterns, to reform legislation and penalize perpetrators, to implement migratory measures, and to improve mechanisms to prosecute and condemn nationally and internationally those who exploit children. UNICEF calculates that on a yearly basis, 2 million children and adolescents are victims of these crimes around the world.
UNICEF condemns killing of children in ongoing Iraq fighting
NEW YORK, 21 April 2004 – Responding to the deaths Wednesday of children on a school bus in Basra, UNICEF said it is alarmed by the growing impact of the ongoing fighting on Iraqi children.
UNICEF to governments: End female genital multilation
Thursday, 6 February 2003 – Troubled by figures indicating that between 100 million and 130 million women suffered female genital mutilation or cutting as girls, UNICEF said today governments must abide by commitments they made at the UN Special Session on Children and move immediately to end the disturbing phenomenon by 2010. (Press release)
UNICEF calls for changes in how drug treatment programmes work
CHIANG MAI, 10 April 2003 – UNICEF is calling for changes in the way drug treatment programmes care for young people with drug addiction problems. (News Note)
New study shows one billion children suffer effects of poverty
LONDON, 21 October 2003 - Drawing from the largest, most accurate survey sample of children ever assembled, a new UNICEF-sponsored report has found that over one billion children suffer the severe effects of poverty.
Child sex tourism and exploitation increasing in The Gambia
BANJUL, 5 May 2004 - A report released today by the Government of The Gambia and UNICEF reveals that sexual abuse and exploitation of children is on the rise in the tiny West African nation that is a favorite destination for tourists from several European countries.
UNICEF thanks Italian government for 1.8 million euro donation
NEW YORK, 18 June 2004 – UNICEF today thanked the Italian government for a 1.8 million euro donation aimed at putting an end to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), a procedure that is still performed on some 2 million girls each year.
Bellamy urges attention on Uganda's displaced people crisis; Calls on LRA to release children
KAMPALA, 25 May 2004 – Arriving for a four day visit to conflict troubled Uganda, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy called on both the Government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army to protect children, noting that the number of people displaced by the fighting has tripled in just the past 24 months.
Read the Philadelphia Inquirer's Op-Ed on the UNICEF Model for Protecting Children
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER - My "All Join Hands" columns have taken two tracks. One is to improve the protection of children in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties from violence, be it from a finger on a trigger or the hand of an adult. The second runs through the African nation of Uganda. Thousands of children in the north there have been abducted and forced into being soldiers or slaves in a civil war.
UNICEF names top five concerns for children in 2004
NEW YORK, 31 December 2003 – Marking the New Year by calling attention to the immediate needs of children in developing countries, UNICEF today named the top five concerns for children in 2004: child survival, the effects of HIV/AIDS, children caught in war, exploitation, and insufficient investment.
After war, child friendly space give Iraqi children a chance to play
BAGHDAD/ 7 August 2003 – With Iraq still in a state of post-war crisis, UNICEF and Italian NGO – INTERSOS, are spending the summer break providing Iraqi children with a chance to play.
Madagascar launches campaign to end child sex exploitation
MADAGASCAR, 10 December 2003 - At the official launch of a national campaign to end child sexual exploitation in Madagascar, UNICEF and ILO presented the resumes of three studies that highlighted the sexual exploitation of children in Madagascar. According to the UNICEF-sponsored study, between 30 per cent to 50 per cent of all sex workers in two of country's main cities, Nosy Be and Tamatave, were children under the age of 18.
Elizabeth Gibbons delivers speech to House of Commons on child poverty report
"There are those who argue that poverty and its discontents have always been with us and always will be. Yet today, the persistence and global scale of poverty - and the grotesque inequality that underlies it – is widely recognised not only as a moral outrage, but a growing threat to world peace and stability...." (21 October)
CHILD PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES
