Short for United Nations Children’s Fund according to Abbreviationfinder, UNICEF is a member body of the United Nations whose mandate is to help countries fulfill their commitments on human rights.
To carry out its work, UNICEF provides technical and financial assistance to countries with funds from the governments that make up the United Nations System and others collected from donations and the sale of cards and other products.
UNICEF cooperation is part of the international community’s response to the implementation of the rights of the world’s children and women. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes every individual under the age of 18 as a child, provides the legal basis for the ethical and moral principles that govern UNICEF actions.
History
UNICEF was created on December 11, 1946 by the United Nations in order to meet the urgent needs of children in Europe and China after World War II.
In 1950, its mandate was expanded to address the long-term needs of children and mothers in developing countries around the world.
UNICEF became an integral part of the United Nations System in 1993. Then its name was shortened and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund became the United Nations Children’s Fund, although the initial acronym was maintained.
The 20 of November of 1989 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which entered into force in September 1990. The Convention became the human rights treaty in history more accepted.
In 1990 the World Summit for Children was held, an unprecedented meeting held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Heads of State and Government from all over the world participated, goals were set for the decade in terms of children’s health, nutrition and education.
Executive Directors
| UNICEF Executive Directors | ||
| Name | Period | Country |
| Maurice Pate | 1947 – 1965 | USA |
| Henry Labouisse | 1965 – 1979 | USA |
| James P. Grant | 1980 – 1995 | Canada |
| Carol bellamy | 1995 – 2005 | USA |
| Ann M. Veneman | 2005 – 2009 | USA |
| Anthony Lake | 2010 – In office | USA |
Functioning
UNICEF has a staff of more than 7,000 people serving in 57 countries and territories around the world. Nine out of 10 of the organization’s staff work closely with national and local governments and other partners.
Throughout the history of UNICEF, its priority work has been aimed at guaranteeing the validity of the intrinsic rights of children at a basic level of life, rights that world leaders defined more precisely in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
UNICEF bases its action on the results of its experience and research on the factors that contribute to children starting life in the best possible way, surviving and progressing -especially in emergencies- and going to the school.
This work closely corresponds to the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations in 2000, and is of fundamental importance in their achievement. UNICEF is primarily responsible for making progress on 13 of the 48 indicators of progress towards achieving the Millennium Goals.
Millennium Development Goals
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
- Achieve universal primary education.
- Promote gender equality and empower women.
- Reduce infant mortality.
- To improve maternal health.
- Fight HIV / AIDS and other pandemics.
- Sustainability of the Environment.
- Promote a world association for development.
Publications
UNICEF publications play an important role in the organization’s mandate to promote the human rights of girls, boys and adolescents. UNICEF presents three important reports annually at the global level:
- The State of the World’s Children: Where human interest stories, country profiles and statistical data are combined. Each year is dedicated to a theme identified as a priority by the Organization [1] .
- Progress for Children: Provides information on achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
- UNICEF Annual Report: In which the results achieved by UNICEF and its partners in favor of children and adolescents are described.
In addition to these regular publications, throughout the year UNICEF publishes and participates in the publication of other documents of interest.
Goodwill Ambassadors
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors are often celebrities from the world of culture or sports, who have demonstrated a true commitment to supporting the Fund’s programs.
UNICEF benefits from the fame of certain people: famous people attract the attention of the public, so they can turn their gaze to the needs of children, both in their respective countries and when visiting field projects and programs emergency in other countries; Likewise, they can become direct representatives before institutions endowed with the capacity to make changes; They can use their talent and fame to raise funds and advocate for the cause of children, as well as support UNICEF missions to guarantee the right of every child to health, education, equality and protection.
UNICEF has been the first of many causes that have been supported by famous people. Danny Kaye was the pioneer of traveling ambassadors; later they were joined by other personalities, such as Audrey Hepburn and others, to form the current group, international, regional and national, of distinguished Ambassadors and Goodwill Ambassadors.
| (Deceased) | |
| UNICEF Goodwill AmbassadorsName | country |
| Danny kaye | USA |
| Peter Ustinov | United Kingdom |
| Audrey hepburn | Belgium |
| (International Ambassadors) | |
| UNICEF Goodwill AmbassadorsName | country |
| Richard Attenborough | United Kingdom |
| Emmanuelle Béart | France |
| David beckham | United Kingdom |
| Harry Belafonte | USA |
| Jackie Chan | Hong Kong – China |
| Judy collins | USA |
| Ali daei | Iran |
| Mia farrow | USA |
| Roger Federer | Switzerland |
| Whoopi goldberg | USA |
| Ryan giggs | United Kingdom |
| Ana Ivanović | Serbia |
| Nwankwo kanu | Nigeria |
| Angélique Kidjo | Benin |
| Johann olav koss | Norway |
| Tetsuko Kuroyanagi | Japan |
| Biyouna | Algeria |
| Femi kuti | Nigeria |
| Leon Lai | China |
| Jessica lange | USA |
| Ricky Martin | Puerto Rico |
| Roger moore | United Kingdom |
| Nana Mouskouri | Greece |
| Youssou N’Dour | Senegal |
| Vanessa redgrave | United Kingdom |
| Sebastião Salgado | Brazil |
| Susan_Sarandon | USA |
| Shakira | Colombia |
| Ruslana | Ukraine |
| Sell it Thommessen | Sweden |
| Maxim Vengerov | Russia |
| Orlando Bloom | United Kingdom |
| Selena Gomez | USA |
| Lionel messi | Argentina |
| (Regional) | |
| UNICEF Goodwill AmbassadorsName | country |
| Mahmoud Kabil | Egypt |
| Mercedes sosa | Argentina |
| Anatoly Karpov | Russia |
| Milena Župančič | Slovenia |
| (Cuba) | |
| UNICEF Goodwill AmbassadorsName | country |
| Nancy gonzalez | Cuba |
| La Colmenita | Cuba |
| X Alfonso | Cuba |
| Ernan Lopez-Nussa | Cuba |
| Raul Paz | Cuba |
