Highlights from UNICEF at the UN General Assembly

The 74th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly takes place from 17–30 September 2019.

Check back to follow UNICEF and the many events focused on young people, climate change, humanitarian action, child protection, education and health.

For every child, every right

Watch the high level event to mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The event both celebrates the progress made and serves as a call to action for Member States to strengthen their commitment to the advancement of the rights of the child, and recognizing the new challenges of the twenty-first century. 

Read UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore's speech at the event and her open letter that maps out eight reasons why she’s worried, and hopeful, about the next generation. 

Learn more about the Convention on the Rights of the Child – the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.

Climate action 

Children are the least responsible for climate change, yet they will bear the greatest burden of its impact.

Sixteen child petitioners – including Greta Thunberg and Alexandria Villaseñor – from 12 countries around the world presented a landmark official complaint to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to protest lack of government action on the climate crisis.

Children under attack

The number of countries with violent conflicts is the highest it has been in the last 30 years. One in four children live in countries affected by conflict or disaster. More than 29 million babies were born into conflict in 2018.

Safe and quality education

Every child has the right to learn, but for many schooling does not lead to learning. Factors such as a lack of trained teachers and inadequate learning materials make learning difficult for many children. This learning crisis is the greatest global challenge to preparing children and adolescents for life, work and active citizenship.

For millions of students around the world, the school environment is not a safe space to study and grow. Violence in schools – from bullying to sexual harassment and corporal punishment – is sadly common enough to feel inevitable.

And attacks on schools, students and educators are attacks on children’s right to an education – and on their futures.

Partnerships for children and young people

Partnerships across every sector make all of UNICEF's work for children and young people possible.