Global

There is a dearth of data on the nature, dynamics and magnitude of Gender Based Violence (GBV) against girls in the first decade (age 0-11) globally, and even less in humanitarian settings. What we do know about violence against girls globally suggests that girls in this age range are experiencing and are at risk of sexual violence- including…

Three different families. Three different stories. With one thing in common: Whatever a family’s situation, growing up feeling loved makes a critical difference in a child’s life. A mother hugs her daughter in Bolivia Becoming a single parent in Bolivia has meant a radical change in Sandra’s life. > Read now A man hugs his granddaughter A…, Raising the next generation, “I don’t know yet if I am a good mother, I only know I love my daughter.” Sandra, mother of Nathaly In the northern outskirts of La Paz in Bolivia, many women face the challenge of raising children on their own in an environment marked by economic hardships and patriarchal traditions. For Sandra, who studies law in the morning and designs shawls…, Rebuilding a family, A man hugs his granddaughter. When a devastating earthquake hit Türkiye on 6 February 2023, 10-year-old Sidra and her family's life was changed forever. As Sidra navigates life after the disaster and the death of her father and sister, her grandfather Hassan has stepped in as a pillar of strength and support. A young girls sitting alongside her…, A safe place, A family of three - parents and their son in the middle. In the face of their own mental health challenges, Eleanor, a journalist, and Robin, a major crimes detective, always knew parenting wouldn't be easy. Eleanor, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, has been living with these conditions since childhood.…, The power of parenting, Every child deserves to grow up in a loving, nurturing and safe environment. But providing nurturing care takes time and resources – things that many parents and caregivers don’t have.  UNICEF believes every parent and caregiver should receive the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life. Caregivers who receive the…

In 2022, UNICEF scaled up child protection prevention and response programming to address the most significant risk and protective factors across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus. This included strengthening family and parenting support to prevent violence in the home; expanding our work to address online child sexual exploitation and…

Being mentally healthy gives us the ability to enjoy life and cope with good and bad days. For children, it is vital to their ability to understand and manage their emotions, form nurturing and meaningful connections, play, learn and grow. The pandemic highlighted just how much our mental health is a reflection of the world around us. It isn't…, It starts at home, Safe and nurturing environments at home are fundamental to the emotional and psychological development of children and adolescents. The presence of a stable adult caregiver supports children’s and adolescents’ overall sense of wellbeing. In times of crises, re-establishing routines supports a child’s or adolescent’s coping and recovery.   While…, Caring for the caregiver  , Research  shows that supporting the mental health of parents and caregivers can avert instances of abuse, neglect, and adverse experiences during childhood.  When parents are supported and enabled to parent well, everyone benefits. Evidence-based parenting interventions have a positive impact on the mental well-being of both the caregivers and…, Family-friendly policies , The bottom line is that caregivers need time, resources and services to be the very best they can be. Family-friendly policies, defined as those which enable families to reconcile work and family life, are essential in this context.   Family-friendly policies, including paid parental leave; access to affordable, quality childcare; breastfeeding…, The role of government and business , Despite the clear benefits of family-friendly policies for children, families, businesses and economies at large, progress in the business and public policy spaces is lacking.   Globally,  the vast majority of working parents and caregivers have no or insufficient access to family-friendly policies, especially in informal work settings that fall…

Investing in MHPSS related education programmes is found to be of benefit for children and economies.  During emergencies, a complexity of variables can impact a child's mental health, exacerbating existing mental health conditions, reducing education participation, and worsening educational outcomes. Low educational attainment and mental health…

UNICEF was established in the aftermath of World War II to help children whose lives and futures were at risk – no matter what country they were from. More than 75 years after UNICEF’s founding, the world faces a variety of momentous crises including armed conflict, the effects of climate change, economic downturn and the fallout from the COVID-19…, 6 WAYS UNICEF GETS RESULTS, 1. Local presence, global reach, UNICEF is active in more than  190 countries and territories . Our vast network of skilled and committed staff means we can take successful approaches from one place in the world and adapt them to meet challenges elsewhere, helping drive results for children and young people at a global scale.  Safe births: A mother and her newborn 356 million…, 2. Unlocking greater impact for children, As one of the world’s largest buyers of lifesaving supplies such as vaccines and ready-to-use therapeutic food, UNICEF has unique leverage with suppliers. Our expertise in anticipating demand, a strong knowledge of markets and ability to work with industry enables UNICEF to consider production and supply chain challenges, provide timely access to…, 3. Emergency response and readiness, UNICEF is on the ground before, during and after humanitarian emergencies. Our global supply chain and local presence mean we can get help to where it's needed fast – we can ship lifesaving supplies almost anywhere in the world within 72 hours. Just as important, UNICEF stays and delivers. How we respond in crises lays the foundation for long-term…, 4. New solutions to old problems, Innovation is at the heart of UNICEF’s ability to achieve results for children and young people. Our global innovation centre helps scale up proven solutions, while a dedicated innovation fund provides financial resources to promising early-stage projects. The results? A new wave of technologies and products to help us reach the hardest-to-reach…, 5. Powerful partnerships, Strong partnerships with governments, NGOs, civil society and the private sector make UNICEF’s work for children possible. In turn, our credibility, impartiality and record of achieving results make us a partner of choice. Global brands – from Ikea and Lego to Microsoft – leverage their resources and drive innovation to help children and young…, 6. An influential voice for children, UNICEF is the world’s leading voice for – and with – children. Impartial and non-political, we are never silent about violations of children’s rights. Our research and reports are a leading source of data and information on the situation of children and young people around the world for journalists, researchers, policy makers and advocates. Our…

As a young person, it can be hard to open up about our feelings and what we are experiencing. Starting the conversation is the first step to getting the help you may need. These youth activists from Jamaica, Nepal, the United States and Zimbabwe answer questions on how young people can improve their mental health and share their own experiences on…, Jamaica: Ree-Anna Robinson, "There must be someone on this planet that you trust with your feelings and emotions. Try to confide in them."  , Nepal: Shitanshu Dhakal, "Make mental health a normal part of your conversation. Check up on each other from time to time.", United States: Carmel Alshaibi, "The challenge isn’t about giving young people a voice but getting ensuring that adults in the room are willing to listen."  , Zimbabwe: Takudzwa Dongo, "World leaders must promote youth leadership and participation in decision making that affects young people."

Young People’s Participation and Mental Health: A Protocol for Practitioners supports individual and organizational capacities to safeguard the mental health and psychosocial well-being of young people in participation processes, to ensure young people’s meaningful participation across programming, research, advocacy and communications. Developed…

NEW YORK, 20 September 2022 - "Your Majesty, Excellencies, Colleagues, "I am very happy to welcome you to UNICEF House.  "We are honored by the presence of Queen Letizia and deeply grateful for her leadership on this urgent issue. "I would also like to thank WHO, UNESCO, and the Government of Thailand for co-organizing this event – and for their…

Early childhood education, schools, and learning environments play a critical role in promoting, protecting, and caring for children's and young people's mental health. The purpose of this report is to inform policymakers and practitioners about current interventions that promote the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of learners, delivered…

Over the past three years, the pandemic has brought profound disruptions to children’s learning, exacerbating the pre-existing global learning crisis. We need to act urgently to recover learning and seize this opportunity to build education systems back better. Yet, new findings from the fourth round of the Survey on National Education Responses…, 1. Implement a ‘REACH all’ effort., Reaching every child is the common denominator of education recovery. At primary and secondary education levels, most countries are taking measures such as automatic re-enrolment and community mobilization campaigns to return children to school. However, a quarter of countries have yet to collect information on children who have and have not…, 2. ASSESS children’s learning levels, In March 2022, a review of existing studies found that fewer than 20 per cent of countries had published information on the actual impact of school closures on learning. As children return to school, we need to assess what they know, understand and can do, to inform policies and instruction. Encouragingly, a majority of countries have resumed…, 3. And PRIORITIZE curriculum standards and teaching to meet students where they are, We need to prioritize fundamental knowledge and skills in the curriculum to help children recover more quickly from learning loss. In many countries, children lacked foundational skills even before the pandemic, and overloaded curricula makes it difficult for them to catch up – especially after long periods of school closures. Despite the loss of…, 5. DEVELOP children’s overall well-being, Aside from its negative effects on learning, the pandemic has imperiled children’s mental health and overall well-being. The reopening of schools presents an exceptional opportunity to ensure that all children have access to a safe and supportive learning environment with enhanced access to essential services. Yet, fewer than two thirds of…

Five essential pillars for promoting and protecting mental health in schools and learning environments: a briefing note for national governments  Mental health and psychosocial well-being are fundamental to health and well-being, and influence academic, social, and economic outcomes across the lifespan. This short briefing note is intended for…