UNICEF refers to the United Nations Children’s Fund. This organisation came into existence in 1953 which aims to maintain the needs of children and women all over the world. UNICEF has its headquarter in New York, United States. It is present in 192 countries as well as territories. UNICEF is an organisation which deals with the welfare of social society which include all types of treatments and prevention of the disease of children and women. The head of UNICEF is Catherine M. Russel. On 11 December 1946 in New York City, the United States Relief Rehabilitation Administration created the United States International Children’s Emergency Fund through which UNICEF would be the successful organisation, for providing relief to mothers and their children during World War-II.
UNICEF became the permanent section of the U.N. 36 executive board members governs UNICEF and they are the ones who create, approve and implement the program or policies and they also do financial planning. The United Nations Economic and Social Council elected the representatives of government for this organisation and are valid for 3 years.
Achievements of UNICEF
UNICEF got praised many times and some them are as follows;
- In 1965, Nobel Peace Prize
- In 1989, Indira Gandhi Prize
- In 2006, the Princess of Asturias Award
Regional Offices of UNICEF
Following are the regional offices of UNICEF;
- Europe and Central Asia Regional Office in Geneva of Switzerland.
- The Americas and Caribbean Regional Office in Panama City of Panama.
- Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office in Nairobi of Kenya.
- East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
- West and Central Africa Regional Office in Senegal.
- South Asia Regional Office in Kathmandu of Nepal.
- Middle East and North Africa Regional Office in Amman of Jordan.
Goals of UNICEF
UNICEF along with UN agencies and government help the countries to ensure the safety and health of children and mothers and help them in fulfilling their needs as their main goal. The other goals are;
- To promote physical, mental and emotional health of children especially in epidemic or pandemic.
- To provide immunisation against diseases.
- In improving the nourishment and sanitation of the infants and their mother.
- In reducing infections like HIV and AIDS.
- To promote personality development of the children by providing them proper and good education.
- In reducing poverty and hunger.
- To provide sustainable life to the children.
- To maintain peace among the countries.
- To promote safe abortion,
contraceptives use and family plannings.
Functions of UNICEF
The functions of UNICEF are as follows;
- To provide protection to the children from diseases like HIV/AIDS.
- To develop gender equality.
- To promote development of children.
- UNICEF protects the health and survival of children and women.
- For the training of health care workers, nutritionists, teachers, doctors and many more, UNICEF provides funds to them.
- They help in the education of children by supplying them textbooks, instruments, medicine, stationary and likewise.
- It plays a major role in emergency conditions like epidemics, natural disasters, pandemic etc. for providing protection and fulfilling the needs of children and women.
- It helps in arranging the welfare and nutritional diet of the newborns and their mother.
Other information of UNICEF
Denmark has a large facility in the old warehouse of UNICEF. In 1998, the UNICEF Innocenti Research Center was developed and is based on the historic building of Florence, Ospedale degli Innocenti. They also play a vital role in sponsorship. UNICEF sponsored Piacenza Calcio 1919, an Italian football club from 2003 till 2008.
Conclusion
The full form of UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund. This organisation helps in raising the funds for the welfare of children and women. They provide aid to the children and women and fulfill their basic needs of living. It also provides mental, emotional and physical needs especially during emergency conditions like natural calamities, pandemics, epidemics etc. It aims to say no to hunger, poverty and illiteracy.