News and stories

Today, UNICEF joined forces with young people from across Africa to hold a unique side-event on youth-led innovations and policy change for skills and entrepreneurship at the first ever Africa Skills Week organized by the African Union in Accra, Ghana. Co-created and led by youth, this dynamic session brought together five young people from Kenya…

NEW YORK, 15 October 2024 , – Nearly two million children suffering from severe wasting, also known as severe acute malnutrition, are at risk of death due to funding shortages for life-saving Ready-to-use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) to treat wasting, UNICEF warned today.  Levels of severe wasting in children under five years remain gravely high in several countries, fueled by…, Notes to editors: , Below is a timeline indicating when RUTF stock is projected to run out in the 12 hardest-hit countries:, Country, Projected Stockout, Mali Stockout has begun Nigeria Stockout has begun Chad October 2024 Niger October 2024 Cameroon December 2024 Pakistan March 2025 Sudan March 2025 Madagascar April 2025 Kenya May 2025 South Sudan June2025 DR of the Congo June 2025 Uganda June 2025 RUTF is an energy dense, micronutrient paste made using peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oil, vitamins…

The white cane, as we know it today, emerged in the early 20th century as a symbol of independence for blind people. In 1921, James Biggs, a photographer from the United Kingdom who became blind after an accident, painted his cane white to make himself more visible to traffic. This simple innovation paved the way for greater mobility, leading to…, The long cane, is the most common, used to detect obstacles and changes in ground level by extending a few feet ahead of the user. The, support cane, offers both mobility and physical stability, helping those who need assistance with balance. A, guide cane, is shorter and used to identify nearby obstacles, while a, symbol cane, is quite short and not designed to touch the ground as its function is specifically to illustrate someone’s sight loss. A white cane with, two, red stripes, indicates a, dual disability – deafblindness (hearing and sight loss), . Some people may use a, white walking stick, to show they have sight loss, alongside or instead of a cane. Users sweep the cane in front of them, and when it encounters an obstacle or change in elevation, the feedback travels through the cane, alerting them. This allows them to identify hazards, such as steps or curbs, and find clear paths for safe movement. Watch this video of Gisèle …

Joint statement on International Day of the Girl (11 October), by Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Directors: Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS; Lydia Zigomo, UNFPA and Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF and Dr Moeti Matshidiso, WHO Africa. Girls’ vision for the future, this year’s theme, conveys both the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by…

NEW YORK / NAIROBI / DAKAR, 10 October 2024, – More than 79 million girls and women—over 1 in 5—across sub-Saharan Africa have experienced rape or sexual assault before turning 18, a staggering reality revealed by UNICEF's latest estimates. Globally, an alarming 370 million girls and women have faced sexual violence, with the region bearing the highest number of victims. The first-ever…, Challenging and changing social and cultural norms, that allow sexual violence to occur and discourage children from seeking help., Equipping every child with accurate, accessible, and age-appropriate information, that empowers them to recognize and report sexual violence., Ensuring that every child victim and survivor has access to services, that support justice and healing and reduce the risk of further harm., Strengthening laws and regulations to protect children from all forms of sexual violence, , including in organizations that work with children, and investing in the people, resources, and systems needed to implement them., Building better national data systems, to monitor progress and ensure accountability by implementing international standards like the International Classification of Violence against Children. ### Notes for editors: Estimates are based on data from a subset of countries, varying by indicator. The most comprehensive data coverage is on girls' and women’s experiences of contact sexual…

JOHANNESBURG / NAIROBI / DAKAR / AMMAN, 7 October 2024 –, Governments in Africa overwhelmingly allocate social spending toward older children while overlooking the youngest, according to Fit for the Future: How a Rethink of the Human Capital Model is Needed in Africa to Optimise the Return on Social Spending new data released by UNICEF and the Learning for Well-being Institute . These results suggest…, Gilles Fagninou. “Even though our youngest children are at least a decade away from adulthood, this is where investments can produce the biggest impact and set children up for success.” A country’s human capital is crucial for wellbeing of households and central to national economic growth and development. While much guidance to governments in the…, Note on data and methodology:, The Fit for the Future: How a Rethink of the Human Capital Model is Needed in Africa to Optimise the Return on Social Spending brief presents analysis of the latest data on key social spending by age across countries in Africa for children and youth. It is based on the methodology laid out in UNICEF’s “Too Little, Too Late” publication (2023) ,…

International Day of Sign Language , was first celebrated on, September 23, 2018, , after the United Nations General Assembly officially declared it in, 2017, . The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the establishment of the, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), in, 1951., Children who are deaf have historically faced many barriers such as access to quality services, which constitutes a denial of their human rights.  The theme this year for the International Sign Language Day advocates for equal access, recognition, and inclusion of the deaf community, ensuring their right to communicate and participate fully in…, Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030,  , emphasizes inclusive communication, providing resources in sign language and promoting its use in advocacy to ensure full participation of children with disabilities by 2030. Sign languages differ across countries due to cultural, historical, and linguistic influences, resulting in unique grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. Uganda Sign Language (, USL), has been recognized since, 1995, , with, Uganda, being a pioneer in the East and Southern Region making sign language an official language, leading to better services and political representation for people who are deaf. More countries in the region have made sign language official including, Zimbabwean Sign Language (ZSL), in, 2013,, Kenya Sign Language , (, KSL) , in, 2021 , and recently, South Africa Sign Language (SASL) , in, 2023. , The official recognition of sign languages across these countries has enhanced accessibility in public services, legal systems, and education, fostering greater inclusivity and reducing stigma. It has also improved educational outcomes as schools incorporate sign language into curriculums and allowed increased political representation for people…

BUJUMBURA, 17 September 2024, – School-age children between 5 and 19 years old now account for 33 per cent of mpox cases in Burundi, presenting a new challenge as families prepare for the upcoming school year. “The rising number of mpox cases among children in Burundi, including children under five, is deeply concerning, and protecting them is our top priority,” said France…

Maseru, Lesotho, 12 September 2024 –,  The European Union (EU), UNICEF, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched the Youth Power Hub Programme today, with the goal of empowering young people as key players in governance and development at both local and national levels. The event, held at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, brought together youth…, networkingpitsos, and other spaces created by the Youth Power Hub, the European Union Delegation and its implementing partners will regularly engage with young representatives from diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives and insights on policy, projects or processes, as part of a youth led advisory structure –, Youth Sounding Board, . Today, the young participants collectively engaged in a Youth Foresight exercise to convey their views on the Lesotho of the future to the decision makers present at the event, as a practical example of the dialogue that the project seeks to encourage. Emphasizing the importance of youth participation in decision-making,, UNICEF Lesotho Country Representative, Deepak Bhaskaran , stated “The Youth Power Hub comes at an opportune moment when the Government of Lesotho is also demonstrating its commitment to youth empowerment through various initiatives. Through the Youth Power Hub, young people have the opportunity to shape the world around them, which is crucial in terms of their feelings of ownership and responsibility in…, Ambassador of the European Union, H.E. Paola Amadei.,   Youth-led civil society organizations, particularly those working with adolescent girls, young women and mothers, youth living with disability, young migrants, youth from LGBTIQ+ communities, those in the diaspora, rural youth, herd boys, street youth, and youth living with HIV/AIDS, are strongly encouraged to join the Youth Power Hub. To get…, About the project, The Youth Power Hub, a joint initiative of the European Union, UNICEF, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) aims to foster an inclusive, participatory, and accountable environment that empowers young people in Lesotho to actively participate in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their engagement is…

NAIROBI/DAKAR, 9 September 2024 – , Millions of children across Africa still lack access to schooling due to ongoing conflicts across the continent, UNICEF warns.   As the world celebrates today the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, an alarming number of schools remains closed, destroyed or occupied by conflict parties, in what is the 2024 African Union Year of…

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can be particularly severe in children and pregnant women.   On 14 August 2024, the World Health Organization declared that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of…, What is mpox?, Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox—a more severe disease which was eradicated in the 1980s. A new variant of the mpox virus (clade Ib) is causing concern due to its potential for wider transmission across age groups, including young children. The mpox virus does not…, children, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women are at risk of severe disease, .   Children who are malnourished or affected by other illnesses are also vulnerable to complications from mpox.    , How is mpox spread?  , Mpox can spread from animals to people, between people and from the environment to people. The virus can spread through: contact with lesions on the skin or infectious bodily fluids   contact with contaminated materials such as clothing, linen or sharps injuries in healthcare settings   contact with respiratory droplets, from an infected person's…, What are the symptoms of mpox in children?, Mpox causes symptoms that are similar to smallpox, though less severe. Common symptoms include: skin rash,   fever,   sore throat,   headache,   body aches,   back pain,   low energy, and   swollen lymph nodes.  , Fast facts: mpox and children, Embedded video follows, Where are children at the highest risk?, The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the epicenter of the current outbreak, where children under 15 represent more than half of the cases.   So far, cases have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Cases are also rising in Central African Republic (CAR) and beyond. Across the most impacted countries, wide-spread malnutrition,…, What is the best way to protect children from mpox?, To protect children against mpox: Know the symptoms of illness, how the virus spreads and what to do in your area if someone becomes ill. Avoid close contact or sharing personal items with anyone who has mpox or its symptoms. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and help children to do the same. If anyone in your household develops mpox…, How is UNICEF responding?, A coordinated international effort is essential to stop the outbreak and save lives. UNICEF is working with Africa CDC and WHO, as well as other partners such as USAID and FCDO, to support national governments. Our response is comprehensive, focusing on children, pregnant women and underserved communities, prioritizing the interruption of disease…, Donate to support UNICEF’s response to mpox

NEW YORK/NAIROBI, 22 August 2024, : UNICEF notes with deep regret the execution of four young people in the Somali state of Puntland this past weekend for offences committed as children when they were under the age of 18, while they were associated with Al Shabaab. The convictions and sentences were issued by military courts, which lack specialized child justice procedures, and…