01 September 2023

World Children’s Day

World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children’s rights are human rights. But in too many places today, children’s rights are under attack. On World Children’s Day we make space for children and young people to raise their voices on the…, #ForEveryChild, Every Right!, For every child, peace animation For every child, peace Every child, everywhere, has a right to live in a peaceful world. For every child, a livable planet animation For every child, a livable planet  Children have a right to a safe and livable planet. For every child, a voice animation For every child, a voice  Children must be listened to and…, #WorldChildrensDay around the world, Children work on a hand-painted canvas during an event marking World Children’s Day in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. UNICEF/UNI478111/Sujan In 2023, World Children's Day was an opportunity to recognize children as rights holders, to acknowledge the progress that has been made for and with children, and to demand action to…, Learn more about child rights, Hear from UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, “ Children live in a world that is increasingly hostile to their rights .” Read the child-friendly version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child . Explore resources for parents and teachers on child rights. Watch “We All Have Rights” a video explaining child rights to children aged 3 to…
04 May 2023

Cholera is endangering children globally

Cholera doesn't know borders. Despite being preventable and easily treatable, children continue to suffer from the potentially fatal disease. After years of steady decline, cholera has made a devastating comeback. More than 1.1 billion people are at risk, with children under 5 especially vulnerable. The intestinal infection often spreads because…, What is cholera?  , Cholera is an intestinal infection. It’s caused by ingestion of food or water that’s contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.  Researchers conservatively estimate that every year, there are as many as 4 million cholera cases globally and as many as 143,000 deaths. Young children, especially those under the age of 5, bear the brunt of the…, What makes a country cholera-endemic? , A cholera-endemic area is where cases have been detected during the past 3 years, and there’s evidence that it was caused by local transmission, rather than being imported from elsewhere. Meanwhile, a cholera outbreak (epidemic) can occur in countries where cholera does not regularly occur or in endemic countries.  Children in the village of Hatla…, How does cholera spread? , Cholera disproportionately affects the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities. A lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities is closely linked to an increased likelihood of cholera transmission. That means that children who are living in urban slums and camps for internally displaced people or refugees are particularly…, If a child is infected with cholera, what are the symptoms?  , Most children infected with cholera will have no or mild symptoms, and through the use of oral rehydration solution, they can be successfully treated. But if left untreated, the disease can kill within hours. Severe cases of cholera require rapid treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics.   After ingesting contaminated food or water, it…, How is cholera treated?  , If infected with cholera, most children can be treated successfully through the quick administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS), which is a mixture of salt and sugar. UNICEF and the World Health Organization distribute sachets of this solution that need to be dissolved in clean water.   From 2000 to 2019, the total annual number of deaths…, What can be done to prevent the spread of cholera?  , A multifaceted approach is key to controlling cholera and reducing deaths. First and foremost, ensuring that every child has access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is essential. It’s also important that children in communities at risk have access to the WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines.  Furthermore, community engagement…, Are there vaccines available to prevent cholera?  , There are currently three World Health Organization pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines: Dukoral, Shanchol and Euvichol-Plus. In order to be fully protected, all of these vaccines require two doses. The International Coordinating Group (ICG), which UNICEF is a member of, manages the global stockpile of oral cholera vaccines. The group has…, Where in the world are we seeing cholera outbreaks?  , In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in the number of cholera outbreaks globally. 30 countries faced cholera outbreaks in 2022 – an alarming 145 per cent average increase from the previous five-year average. Countries like Lebanon and Syria reported cholera for the first time in decades. Meanwhile, an outbreak in Haiti in 2022 had a significant…, How is UNICEF responding to these cholera outbeaks?  , UNICEF has stepped up efforts to respond to cholera outbreaks in coordination with national authorities and partners. That includes widely distributing millions of water treatment tablets to ensure families in impacted communities have access to safe water.   We also supply local health departments with oral rehydration salt sachets and zinc, in…, Are we close to eliminating cholera? , Through the successful adoption of prevention measures and increased access to cholera treatment methods, including oral rehydration salt and zinc, we’re closer than ever to ensuring that no child dies from this preventable disease.   In 2021, UNICEF distributed over 93 million zinc tablets and more than 30 million oral rehydration salt sachets…
22 November 2021

A better future for every child – World Children’s Day 2021!

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how inequality affects the rights of every child. Children and young people are raising their voices on the issues that matter to their generation and calling for adults to create a better future. This World Children’s Day, children and young people were joined by stars and leaders to reimagine a better world., A celebration of children's rights and a powerful reminder to listen to young people, View this post on Instagram A post shared by Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebobbybrown)   32 years ago, world leaders made a promise to children: we will keep you safe, help you learn, and uphold your right to speak and be heard. This #WorldChildrensDay , and every day, UNICEF works to help fulfill that promise #ForEveryChild . pic.twitter.com/…, To the top in Burundi, It’s World Children’s Day! UNICEF’s global day of action for children, by children. And today, we go blue To celebrate the rights of every child Anywhere Everywhere #ForEveryChild pic.twitter.com/JnGU28ApYZ — UNICEF Bhutan (@UNICEFBhutan) November 20, 2021   After showcasing their artwork at our #WorldChildrensDay event on Tuesday last week, the…, No barriers in Costa Rica, Inspiration through music, "Be brave, be carefree to pursue whatever your heart desires to be." 🎶 This #WorldChildrensDay , UNICEF China National Ambassador Roy Wang empowers children and young people to be themselves and shape their own futures. pic.twitter.com/uykObyQ9jF — UNICEF (@UNICEF) November 21, 2021   Reem has simple dreams😶‍🌫️🌟 On #WorldChildrensDay , children…, #KidsTakeOver, "Playing the role of the editor-in-chief, I’ve learned so many things about how publishing the news works that I never could have imagined before as a child journalist”, says Rupkatha Rahman who took over the @ProthomAlo editor-in-chief role for this #WorldChildrensDay ! 👏📰 pic.twitter.com/MbFjSB0pME — UNICEF Bangladesh (@UNICEFBD) November 20,…, Young people speaking out and taking action, From bridging the digital divide in education to fighting climate change to championing LGBTQI+ rights and social justice. This #WorldChildrensDay , meet our 2021 Youth Advocates — thought leaders with diverse goals. @voicesofyouth — UNICEF (@UNICEF) November 20, 2021   Ahmad, 15 from #Syria , wanted to bring children and parents closer together.…, Ireland: How a positive climate future for every child can be achieved, Farmer and climate activist Liadh Dalton, 15, meets Taoiseach Micheal Martin., Children, young people and presidents, A bridge brings together children and presidents from Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe > Learn more The bird's eye view when Kazungula went blue on Saturday. Beforehand, Heads of State from Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe pledged to work together to improve the lives of children in the region. #WorldChildrensDay #GoBlueKazungula…, Rijad, 17, takes over the Kosovan presidency, *Under UNSC resolution 1244, Turning the world blue for child rights, Going blue on #WorldChildrensDay represents our mandate to stand for the rights of every child wherever he lives. This year as children are impacted by #NagornoKarabakh conflict & COVID-19 it is not a celebration but a resolve towards reimagining a better world #foreverychild pic.twitter.com/l51KGUIW4k — UNICEF Armenia (@unicefarmenia)…, Friends of UNICEF celebrate World Children's Day, It's #WorldChildrensDay ! A day we remind everyone about the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A day to focus on the most pressing issues facing children. Here is a message from our Regional Ambassador, @siwonchoi 💙 pic.twitter.com/HHyon1tIUu — UNICEF East Asia Pacific (@UNICEF_EAPRO) November 20, 2021   "We want to live." It’…
18 January 2021

Young climate activists demand action and inspire hope

As the impacts of climate change intensify with each passing year, more and more young people are joining the movement for positive change. By leading the discussion around climate change, they are also spreading awareness and motivating others to take action. UNICEF partnered with Fridays For Future , an organization founded by Greta Thunberg, to…, María, Mexico, Since childhood, María, 19, has seen the impacts of the climate crisis up close, especially the water crisis that runs throughout Mexico. While droughts and rising temperatures are causing forest fires, cyclones are causing flooding and harvests to be lost. To fight this, she became a full-time climate activist. She believes that the issue of…, Russell, Dominica, Russell Raymond, 17, is a reporter from the Caribbean nation of Dominica. When Hurricane Maria made landfall in September 2017, it devastated his country, submerging streets, blowing roofs off homes and schools and forcing his family to seek shelter. Since then, he has used photography to chronicle the impacts of the hurricane on the island he…, Mitzi, Philippines, Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, an activist from Manila, has been campaigning for climate justice. As the Philippines was hit by two back-to-back hurricanes in 2020, her organization sprang into action – feeding the communities left hungry and asking them about their problems and how they felt after the storm. “This isn’t just…, Nkosi, Zimbabwe, Nkosilathi Nyathi, 17, is a UNICEF climate activist from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He walks us through changes he has witnessed first-hand as a result of climate change. He feels that although young people can see and feel the effects of climate change, many don’t know what’s happening and he wants to change that. “There’s no other time for acting…