UNICEF is the world’s leading children’s organisation...

©UNICEF UK/Giamcomo Pirozzi

Working for children globally

UNICEF works with local communities, organisations and governments to make a lasting difference to children’s lives and to help children realise their talent and potential. This is achieved through long-term development programmes in healthcare and education, for example, and emergency work in times of crisis.

• UNICEF was established on 11 December 1946 by the United Nations to meet the emergency needs of children in post-war Europe and China.
• In 1950, its mandate was broadened to address the long-term needs of children and their mothers in developing countries everywhere.
• UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations system in 1953, and it was then that its name was shortened from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to the United Nations Children’s Fund, although the original acronym “UNICEF” was retained.
• For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been helping governments, communities and families make the world a better place for children. UNICEF’s mandate is to advocate for children’s rights and help meet their needs.

©UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

©UNICEF UK/Dan Thomas

The Millennium Development Goals

UNICEF has adopted the MDGs as part of its mandate and focuses on the following five key priorities for children:

• Promoting young child survival and development by providing comprehensive child health care and promoting breastfeeding
• Providing basic education and gender equality by aiming to get all children into school and improving the quality of education by providing training and resources
• Combating HIV and AIDS and providing care and services for affected children through our five year current global campaign Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS
• Protecting children against abuse, exploitation and violence by helping street children, child workers and those being trafficked by providing counselling, education, training and reintegration into their families and communities
• Building partnerships for children’s rights with governments, regional bodies, and private and civil society groups that bring resources and results for children’s well-being

Emergencies

UNICEF has been a leader in providing life-saving help and protection for children left vulnerable by war and natural disasters.

• With a permanent presence in over 190 countries, UNICEF is ready to respond rapidly whenever disaster strikes.
• In 2006, UNICEF UK raised nearly £9.3 million to assist the millions of children caught up in emergencies. This money allowed them to provide emergency relief for children in 13 countries.
• UNICEF continue to highlight the plight of children in ”silent emergencies”, where media interest has waned but children remain desperately vulnerable. For example in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), violence has produced a death toll greater than in any conflict since World War II.

Thank you

Your donation to Coinstar’s Coins that Count programme means that somewhere in the world, children's lives will be made a little safer and happier.

To find out more about their work and to get involved in other ways, please visit www.unicef.org.uk or call 0844 801 2414.