A catch-up campaign overcomes barriers

MADRID/NEW YORK, 3 July 2019 – NBA All-Star player and two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol has been appointed as a Global Champion for Nutrition and Zero Childhood Obesity by UNICEF. In his role, Gasol – who has been a UNICEF Spain Ambassador since 2003 – will help UNICEF tackle childhood obesity and malnutrition-related issues to ensure all children…

QUINARA, Guinea-Bissau ─ Using toilets and washing hands with soap is essential to keep children and families in good health. But in Guinea-Bissau, open defecation remains a deeply rooted practice.  Going out in open spaces rather than using a toilet is a dangerous challenge: human waste near waterways and homes spreads diseases quickly, putting…

Good afternoon — and welcome, everyone, to this important discussion.   My thanks to Ambassador Bessho and the government of Japan for its commitment to this issue, and to universal health coverage more broadly.   And thank you to our many partner organizations represented here today — including WHO, the Gates Foundation, Harvard and Facebook.  …

KABUL/KATHMANDU/NEW YORK, 1 June 2019 – “The deadly blast that hit the Afghan capital Kabul during rush hour today did not spare children during one of their most mundane and important routines: Being at school. “Initial reports show that more than 50 children were injured when their school was damaged in the attack. This is horrific. “Schools…

The remarkable increase in vaccination coverage levels around the world over the past three decades is a success story to be celebrated. It is a story of what can be achieved through strong political commitment and leadership, adequate and reliable financing that enables countries to plan long term, and efficient coordination between country…, JUNE 2019 LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND ALL CHILDREN IMMUNIZED AND HEALTHY Childhood vaccinations save lives. Prior to the introduction of vaccines, millions of children died or suffered long-term disabilities from diseases such as diphtheria, measles, polio, tetanus, meningitis and pertussis. Most of these diseases are highly contagious, spreading…

Children get a better start in life and parents are better able to balance work and home commitments in countries that have family-friendly policies – paid parental leave, support for breastfeeding and affordable, high-quality childcare and preschool education. This report looks at family-friendly policies in 41 high- and middle-income countries…, 1 Are the world’s richest countries family friendly? Policy in the OECD and EU Are the world’s richest countries family friendly? Policy in the OECD and EU Yekaterina Chzhen, Anna Gromada, Gwyther Rees June 2019 The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the…

WHAT:  UNICEF and the Permanent Mission of Japan are hosting a high-level event at the United Nations in New York to bring together technical experts, policy makers, governments, civil society and the private sector to combat misinformation on vaccines. This will be the first event of its kind to take place at the United Nations in New York,…

NEW YORK, 26 June 2019 – “I am deeply concerned for the wellbeing of migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border. Having already faced perilous journeys, some children are now being sheltered at facilities that are not equipped to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. “Recent reports coming from some of these facilities are grim. Children…

Intro, Dear children of today and of tomorrow,  Thirty years ago, against the backdrop of a changing world order – the fall of the Berlin Wall, the decline of apartheid, the birth of the world wide web – the world united in defence of children and childhood. While most of the world’s parents at the time had grown up under dictatorships or failing…, A final word..., A final word... Finally, the biggest reason for hope is because you – the children and young people of today – are taking the lead on demanding urgent action, and empowering yourselves to learn about, and shape the world around you. You are taking a stand now, and we are listening.  Just as the children of 1989 have emerged as leaders of today,…