Vaccination is one of the world’s safest and most cost-effective public health interventions. Yet growing distrust in science, coupled with misinformation, means that vaccination coverage rates are declining in some countries and communities, resulting in an upsurge of vaccine-preventable diseases. Research shows that those caring for children…

Yura has been a social worker for many years. “When I started working in social services, I was mainly interested in family therapy,” she says . “In time, I found out that supporting communities to become resilient and self-reliant is an extremely rewarding experience.” A year ago, she joined the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) – a…

“I have always had to behave ‘like a girl’ and I am not used to being asked for my opinion, but you ask me to say what I think during these workshops.”   A 13-year-old girl from Syria describes the impact of empowerment workshops in Serbia  Boy is drawing a picture. UNICEF-supported activities for children on the island of Lesvos, Greece The ‘RM…, In Bosnia and Herzegovina, , information workshops have been tailored to the needs of different groups of children, including those who are unaccompanied and separated. Topics over the past year have included personal and oral hygiene, drug and alcohol use and its impact on health, the importance of immunization, early childhood development, medical…, In Bulgaria, , the initiative has supported group sessions that have exceeded their targets, with 99 sessions held for refugee children and mothers – more than three times the 28 sessions envisaged. There were more than twice as many information sessions on gender-based violence as originally planned: 107 rather than 48. In all, 600 refugee and migrant…, In Greece, , support from the initiative has enabled UNICEF and its partners to equip refugee and migrant children with information on health risks, entitlements and services through its non-formal education programme in urban areas and on the islands. In the first full year of the initiative, 1,796 children and 464 parents have received crucial information…, In Italy, , there has been an emphasis on peer-to-peer health literacy over the past year. Young refugees and migrants have shared critical health messages through, for example, the U-Report on the Move platform – a user-friendly, cost-effective and anonymous digital platform with more than 6,000 subscribers, where they speak out on the issues that matter…, Serbia, have also been exceeded, with 1,094 refugee and migrant children and parents receiving information on mental health (original target: 500) and 722 receiving information on GBV (original target: 600). Looking beyond the sheer numbers of beneficiaries, those taking part in health literacy workshops, in particular, have voiced their appreciation. One…

“Very often we have the feeling that this space functions as a container for the absorption of negative emotions of the people who visit us. People who come here often feel safe enough to share their fears, their frustrations and even their darker thoughts. We try to give them space to express their feelings and we always find ways to boost their…, A comprehensive approach to primary health care , The 27-month, €4.3 million ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative, launched in January 2020 and co-funded by the European Union Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, has risen to these challenges over the past year by strengthening the capacity of health systems to deliver health care to refugee and migrant children. The initiative has met or even…, In Bosnia and Herzegovina, , support from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative has helped to ensure that every refugee, migrant and asylum-seeking child aged 0-18 who lives in a temporary reception centre has access to paediatric health-care services, including immunization. Experienced and qualified multidisciplinary teams have referred children to specialized…, In Bulgaria, , UNICEF has worked closely with the Council of Refugee Women (CRWB) and the Mission Wings Foundation (MWF) to develop individual needs assessments for refugee and migrant children and mothers who need pre- and post-natal care and ensure their access and referral to state-led health services, from immunization to regular health checks. In all, 569…, In Greece, , the initiative has strengthened the capacity of national health authorities through complementary support for primary health care and for psychosocial support and referral to specialized mental health services for refugee and migrant children. UNICEF and its partner METAdrasi have, for example, provided mother and childcare services through…, In Serbia, , the initiative has supported UNICEF’s efforts to increase immunization among refugee children and migrants by strengthening the assessment and monitoring process. As a result, refugees and migrants have been included in the national COVID-19 Immunization Plan. UNICEF has also supported access to health and other services through Mother and Baby…, Mental and emotional health , In Bulgaria, , children and parents in four reception facilities benefit from activities supported by the initiative that aim to help them deal with their emotions. As part of this intervention, Caritas has set up a team of health facilitators to identify children and women in serious distress and refer them to high-quality psychosocial support., In Greece, , a total of 1,108 refugee and migrant children in the Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) sites on Lesvos and in Athens have taken part in UNICEF-supported psychosocial sessions in the first year of the initiative, receiving referrals to specialized mental health services when needed. With funding from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative, …, In Serbia, , UNICEF and its partners have provided community-based psychosocial support, recreational and youth activities for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in asylum centres in Sjenica, Belgrade and Bogovadja. This support has included the identification and referral of children at risk to specialized care. The initiative’s original target of…, In Italy, , UNICEF has built on existing approaches to provide both psychological support and GBV prevention and response services in Rome, Sicily, and Calabria in partnership with Médecins du Monde, INTERSOS and Centro Penc. Activities have focused on counselling, case management and referrals, and have been conducted by multi-sectoral teams of qualified…, Gender-based violence , The initiative has built on existing UNICEF interventions for GBV response and prevention in all five countries, helping partners to identify those experiencing or at risk of GBV, and referring survivors to specialized public health services as needed (medical, mental health, legal, and case management)., In Bulgaria, , the initiative has reinforced UNICEF’s efforts to tackle critical gaps in the provision of GBV and protection services and integrate support for refugee and migrant children into national child protection and welfare systems. Work to address the emergency protection needs of GBV survivors and those at risk has been combined with measures to…, In Greece, , UNICEF has ensured that GBV prevention and response services are available for refugee and migrant children through the operation of Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) at an urban Community Centre in Athens run by the Melissa Network, as well as the Child and Family Support Hub (CFSH) (Tapuat Centre) in Lesvos managed by partner Illiaktida. In…, In Serbia, , UNICEF supports safe spaces for girls on the move and their mothers in four locations, where they have access to GBV prevention and response services, including empowerment workshops and information. Here, trained teams identify GBV concerns and refer cases to specialized services. In all, 913 refugee and migrant children have been reached by…, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, , given the critical importance of their health and wellbeing for that of their children., In Bulgaria, , UNICEF and the CRWB are mapping and analysing the health experiences of refugees and migrants in their countries of origin – experiences that have shaped their expectations of health services in general – and have launched a survey on their health status and needs. The goal: to develop and implement a Community Health Programme that is based on…, In Serbia, , cutting-edge field research is exploring the prevalence of alcohol and substance use among young refugees and migrants, and its psychological impact. The findings – expected by the end of 2021 – will guide the development of materials and capacity building for health and community workers who are in regular contact with young refugees and…

Belgrade, Serbia, 18 December 2020, – Sharife Yusufi is a mother of four. Her oldest child is already a teenager. Her youngest son is eighteen months old and has two names – Shahir, a reminder of his native Afghanistan, and Milos, in gratitude to the doctor who, at the Centre for refugees and migrants near Bela Palanka in south-eastern Serbia, helped take care of Shahir Milos, who…, ., “Milos was born at a Reception centre, here in Serbia. We have been changing addresses ever since. We are currently staying at the Asylum centre in Belgrade. These are all difficult circumstances, where I, as a mother, don’t set the rules. And I find it very difficult.” Mother with a baby Sharife and her son Shahir Milos in the mother and baby…, Social worker Andja describes Sharife as a dedicated mother, who gladly takes advice about her child's early development. From nutrition and hygiene to regular vaccination and learning through play which stimulates child development. “Milos is an irresistible child and Sharife is a dedicated mother. She has other children who are great students,…

The health risks faced by refugee and migrant children, More than 1.3 million children have made their way to Europe since 2014, fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty in their own countries. They include at least 225,000 children travelling alone – most of them teenage boys – as well as 500,000 children under the age of five. In 2019 alone, almost 32,000 children (8,000 of them unaccompanied or…, Rising to the challenge: the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative, EU health In response to this challenge, the European Union Directorate General for Health and Food Safety is working with UNICEF to help ensure that refugee and migrant children and their families have access to quality health care and essential  health information in six countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Serbia and…, Strengthen the capacity of national authorities, to deliver health care to refugee and migrant children, including immunizations, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence prevention and response, as well as maternal and newborn health care and nutrition counselling., Increase health literacy among refugee and migrant children, by providing information to safeguard their own health and help them make right decisions about their health and wellbeing, and medical interpreters and cultural mediators to support communication between children and families and health care providers., Strengthen the implementation of health policies, by, for example, increasing the number of health workers with the skills and knowledge to support refugee and migrant children who need health care. “This collaboration between the EU and UNICEF will ensure better access for the most vulnerable refugee and migrant children to vital health care, and to the support they need for their emotional, as…, Voices from the field, Newsletters, RM Newsletter January 2021 UNICEF ECARO RM Newsletter June 2021 UNICEF ECARO The content of this webpage represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the…

Action for children, UNICEF works for and with children and young people across 21 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia (ECA). This is a Region with resources to meet the needs of every citizen. Yet, too often, the poorest children –those living with disabilities, those who are refugees and migrants, and those from ethnic minorities – are left behind.…, thriving, learning, protected and participating, in the world around them.Yet in Europe and Central Asia, too many children are still left behind. It is only by reaching the most vulnerable children that countries across the Region will achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.   Thriving strategic goal icon., Thriving, Every child learns, Learning, Every child is protected, Protecting, Every child has a chance, Participating, Thriving, for every child, good health, Priority goal, By 2021: Every country in the Region has 95 per cent of its children at national level, and at least 80 per cent in every district, vaccinated with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP 3) or the Penta vaccine, which protects children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)., SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives) target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including effective, quality and essential medicines and vaccines for all., David Bielik, 1.2 y.o., is held by his father Bohdan, as he receives his first dose of MMR vaccine UNICEF/UN0302002/Filippov, The facts, Half of all deaths among children under the age of five in the Region occur in the first month of life. 400,000 children under the age of one have not received the recommended three doses of DTP vaccine, and immunization rates are falling because of system failures and vaccine hesitancy. Less than 30 per cent of Roma children are…, UNICEF in action, We help governments strengthen their health systems, including the skills of health workers, while mobilizing public demand for good health care. We help governments transform care for newborns so they have the healthiest start in life. We help governments procure vaccines and support national immunization campaigns to tackle…, Learning, for every child, a quality education, Priority goal, By 2021, 700,000 girls and boys who would have otherwise been out of school are enrolled in high quality, inclusive pre-primary, primary and secondary education., SDG 4 (quality education for all) target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.,   Турция. Ученица 1-го класса школы, функционирующей при поддержке ЮНИСЕФ, заглядывает через плечо рисующей соседки по парте. UNICEF/UN158166/Noorani, The facts, 5.8 million children and adolescents, typically aged 5 to 17, are out of school across the Region. Only 60 per cent of children, typically aged 3 to 5, are enrolled in pre-primary schooling. Of the estimated 5.1 million children with disabilities in the Region, only 1.5 million are registered as having a disability, and only 15 per cent of these…, UNICEF in action, We work with partners to expand access to quality pre-schooling so that all children arriving at primary school are ready to make the most of their education . We aim to make all schools inclusive, helping to increase the number of children and adolescents with disabilities who attend regular schools. We support monitoring to identify children who…, Protecting, for every child, safety from harm, Priority goal, By 2021, zero children in institutional care in the Region., SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) target 16.2: end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.,   Jeta, 24, and Fabliona, age 4, play in a park in Tirana UNICEF/UN0220726/Babajanyan VII Photo, The facts, Around 664,000 children in the Region are growing up in institutional care - this is more than five times higher than the global average. Around 50 per cent of the children and adolescents in institutional care in the Region are living with disabilities. Most unaccompanied migrant and refugee children are hosted in sub-standard reception…, UNICEF in action, We work with governments to prevent family separation , support outreach to vulnerable families to catch problems before they escalate, and develop community-based services to address the complex needs of children and families. We help governments to systematically increase the number of qualified professional social workers and expand services…, Participating, for every child, a voice, Priority goal, By 2021, 20 million adolescents in the Region, including the most vulnerable, have a chance to be connected, engaged and empowered., SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) target 16.7: ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.,   On 29 June 2016, young people participate in the launch of a Small Grants Programme for active young citizens in Slovyansk UNICEF/UN050224/Hetman, The facts, 2.7 million adolescents of lower and upper secondary age are not in school, with those who feel unwelcome and excluded most likely to drop out. In Bulgaria and Romania, over 70 per cent of young people, aged 16 to 30, say they feel excluded from economic, social and democratic life. In Ukraine, only around half of all girls and boys, aged 15, see…, UNICEF in action, We support the creation of legislation, policies, partnerships and programmes that recognize adolescents as one of the Region’s greatest assets. We work to shift attitudes and social norms that under-value adolescents, aiming to amplify their voices and their influence. We help to build the skills, confidence and abilities of adolescents so that…

Thanks to funding from the European Union ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative, UNICEF works to ensure that all refugee and migrant children in Bosnia and Herzegovina have access to primary health care, including paediatric services and, in the case of 10-year old Maisa, a vital pair of glasses. “I will wear these glasses all the time. I hope I won't lose…

Logo Logo  , BRUSSELS, GENEVA, 5 May 2020, – Under the Health Programme of the European Union, the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety has committed a project grant to  UNICEF to support work ensuring refugee and migrant children and their families have access to quality health care and accurate health information in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain, Bosnia Herzegovina and Serbia…

"When COVID arrived here, I thought: ‘It's over, it will spread throughout the building’. I didn't think it was possible to avoid the spread of the outbreak. Instead, we have had very few cases and we owe this, above all, to the support we received from INTERSOS and UNICEF."  Josehaly (Josy), a refugee living in Rome A field worker from Intersos…, In Bulgaria, , UNICEF and its partners were able to take immediate measures with support from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative to alleviate the impact, including online awareness raising and information sessions and the use of different channels for communication, including social media. UNICEF’s partners, the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria (CRWB) and…, In Greece, , the initiative supported the development of child-friendly information posters and stickers for refugee and migrant children and their families on critical preventive measures and on what to do and where to go if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms., In Italy, , the initiative has supported outreach teams and community mobilization, providing refugee and migrant families with the information and resources they need to keep the pandemic at bay. In Rome, for example, health promoters from Intersos continued to work directly with refugee and migrant communities in informal settlements, not only to prevent…, In Serbia, , the initiative has supported UNICEF’s efforts to improve the immunization process for refugee children and migrants by strengthening the assessment and monitoring process. As a result of such efforts, refugees and migrants have been included in the national COVID-19 Immunization Plan.  , Building on what works, As these examples show, support from the ‘RM Child-Health initiative’ has helped UNICEF and its partners rise to the challenges posed by the pandemic over the past year. The initiative has enabled frontline workers to accelerate, adapt, expand and intensify work that was already underway, and to mobilize social media and other channels, as well as…

"I want to be a photographer, and you know that the most valuable tool for any photographer is their eyes," says 17-year-old Ferhat* as he contentedly nods to his reflection in the mirror, adjusting his glasses. It has been three years since he left his home in Tehran together with his parents and younger sister in search of a better life in…

FLORENCE/NEW YORK, 3 September 2020, – Suicide, unhappiness, obesity and poor social and academic skills have become far-too-common features of childhood in high-income countries, according to the latest Report Card issued today by the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. UNICEF’s Report Card Series – now running for 20 years – uses comparable national data to rank EU and OECD…, Key findings from the Report Card  , Mental health:, In most countries, less than four-fifths of children report being satisfied with their lives. Turkey has the lowest rate of life satisfaction at 53 per cent, followed by Japan and the United Kingdom. Children who have less supportive families and those who are bullied have significantly poorer mental health. Lithuania has the highest rate of…, Physical health:, Obesity and overweight rates among children have increased in recent years. Around 1 in 3 children across all countries are either obese or overweight, with rates in Southern Europe also sharply increasing. In more than a quarter of rich countries child mortality is still above 1 per 1,000., Skills:, On average 40 per cent of children across all OECD and EU countries do not have basic reading and mathematics skills by age 15. Children in Bulgaria, Romania and Chile are the least proficient in these skills. Estonia, Ireland and Finland the most proficient. In most countries, at least 1 in 5 children lack confidence in their social skills to…, Notes to editors:, Worlds of Influence builds on previous rankings of child well-being in Report Cards 11 ( 2013 ) and 7 ( 2007 ) to provide a more comprehensive view of well-being that assesses children’s own actions and relationships, the networks and resources available to their caregivers as well as national policies and context., Visit the report microsite and download the full report:, http://www.unicef-irc.org/child-well-being-report-card-16 Worlds of Influence UNICEF/UNI360129/