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Misconduct undermines the effectiveness, credibility and integrity of UNICEF, threatening our ability to meet the needs of children worldwide. All UNICEF personnel – regardless of how they're contracted or where they're stationed – are expected to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Those…, What to report, Sexual exploitation or abuse, In every context in which UNICEF operates, people trust us to assist and protect them. The vast majority of aid workers do so with professionalism and integrity. However, some abuse their position of power through the sexual exploitation or abuse of those who depend on them, including children. Sexual exploitation refers to any actual or attempted…, Sexual harassment in the workplace, Our mission to support children requires a workplace that supports staff. But UNICEF is not yet that workplace for every member of our team. Each year, individuals come forward to share experiences of sexual harassment. We know our measures to prevent this have not reached all corners of our working environment. And one case is one too many. Help…, Abuse of authority, Abuse of authority entails the improper use of a position of influence, power or authority against another person. It may also include behaviour that creates a hostile or offensive work environment, such as intimidation, threats, blackmail or coercion. In the workplace, this is particularly serious when affecting the career or psychological safety…, Fraud or corruption, Worldwide, UNICEF is entrusted with voluntary contributions from governments, businesses and philanthropists seeking to protect children’s rights. We're determined to make every dollar count, and to share openly UNICEF Transparency Portal where our funds come from , UNICEF Transparency Portal where they go , and UNICEF Annual Report what they…, Discrimination or racism, Since its inception, UNICEF has stood firmly against discrimination and racism. But we are not immune. Our personnel relay experiences of discrimination and racism, still, perpetrated by peers. They speak up about hurtful and disrespectful actions that betray our most fundamental values.  We will not accept this. UNICEF has one of the most diverse…, Harassment or bullying, Harassment in the workplace can take many forms – words, gestures or actions that tend to alarm, intimidate or belittle another person, including bullying. Overall, any unwelcome conduct that might be expected or perceived to cause offence or humiliation to another may constitute harassment, especially when it interferes with work or creates an…, Conflict of interest, A conflict of interest arises when, by act or omission, staff members’ personal interests cause them to discharge their official duties and responsibilities in a manner inconsistent with the interests of UNICEF.  UNICEF recognizes that engagement in outside activities may enhance personal well-being and professional development, even to the…, Retaliation, All UNICEF personnel have a duty to report any breach of the UN Charter; the UN Staff Regulations and Rules; the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service; and any of UNICEF’s regulations, rules and internal policies, to officials formally designated to receive such reports by UNICEF or the UN. Anyone who submits such a report has…, All other concerns, For issues related to performance management, interpersonal conflicts or other workplace concerns, learn where to turn. UNICEF provides confidential informal and formal channels for seeking guidance, support and resolution. How to report -->, How to report, UNICEF Office of Internal Audit and Investigations, The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) conducts independent, fact-based investigations into allegations of misconduct, fraud and other violations of UNICEF rules, regulations and policies. OIAI’s mission is to investigate reports of misconduct with professionalism, impartiality and fairness towards all parties, as well as to ensure…, UNICEF Ethics Office, The Ethics Office nurtures a culture of integrity and accountability to enhance trust in and credibility within UNICEF and the UN system. Founded on independence, impartiality and confidentiality, this team is responsible for providing advice and guidance, training and outreach, and policy input. They also administer UNICEF’s Policy on Whistle-…, UNICEF Human Resources, UNICEF's Division of Human Resources works with HR practitioners, partners and clients globally to ensure that UNICEF personnel are provided with the work environment and support they need to give their best for every child. HR supports personnel with conduct-related matters by issuing and advising on relevant policies and procedures (including…, Office of the Ombudsmen for United Nations Funds and Programmes, The Office of the Ombudsmen offers dedicated, informal dispute-resolution services to all UNICEF personnel, in addition to personnel from UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS and UN Women. The office is a strictly confidential and neutral place to discuss workplace issues and explore options for addressing conflicts. It operates independently from UNICEF…, Know your rights when reporting wrongs, Right to be protected against retaliation, UNICEF’s policy on whistle-blower protections sets out measures against retaliation for individuals who report misconduct, provide information in good faith on alleged wrongdoing, or cooperate with an authorized inspection.  All UNICEF personnel have a duty to report any breach of the UN Charter; the UN Staff Regulations and Rules; the Standards…, Right to report confidentially, All UNICEF personnel have the right to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially. Reports made to the Ethics Office and the Office of the Ombudsmen are strictly confidential and will not be shared without your express consent. The Office of Internal Audit and Investigation operates under need-to-know confidentiality, meaning the information you…, Right to receive support, If you’re seeking encouragement through the reporting process, or guidance to better understand our duty to report, you’re not alone. UNICEF staff worldwide have teamed up as Peer Support Volunteers, Staff Representatives and Ethics Champions to provide informal and confidential support to colleagues who may have experienced, or suspect they’ve…, UNICEF's work to prevent wrongdoing, FAQs, I’m not ready to report, but I’d like informal guidance. Where can I go? Can I report anonymously? Are whistle-blowers protected from retaliation?  What should I do if I believe I’ve been retaliated against? Where can I find annual reports from UNICEF’s Ethics Office? Where can I find more information on UNICEF's efforts to prevent wrongdoing in…

The commitment of UNICEF to an equal future for all girls and boys recognizes that promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The Gender Action Plan, 2018–2021 (GAP) is UNICEF’s road map for promoting gender equality throughout its work, guiding its…, This is the final year in the implementation of the Gender Action Plan 2018-2021, UNICEF’s roadmap for promoting gender equality throughout its work. Over the last four years, UNICEF has substantially increased investment in resources, leadership, capacity and accountability to achieve meaningful results for women and girls. And while progress has…, girl-with-tablet UNICEF approach to integrated gender results, GARR2021-Gender-infographic-1 UNICEF focuses on levelling the playing field for girls and boys by addressing gender inequality in key life outcomes; promoting gender equality in how children are supported and cared for, including in households and childcare-related fields; and promoting adolescent girls’ well-being and empowerment.  In 2021,…, mother-and-daughter Equality in health systems and workforce, 80 per cent of live births were attended by skilled personnel in 2021, surpassing the overall target of 79 per cent 40.4 million adolescent girls benefited from services and support for the prevention of anaemia and other forms of malnutrition 57.5 million  caregivers of children under the age of 2 years received infant and young child feeding…, girl-in-classroom Equality in education, 21 million out-of-school girls accessed early learning, primary or secondary education through UNICEF-supported programmes versus 8.4 million in 2019 48 countries had gender-responsive education systems, increasing from 15 countries in 2017 31 countries had systems that institutionalized gender-equitable skills for learning, personal empowerment,…, girl-technician Addressing gender-based violence, 4.4 million children experiencing violence were reached with health, justice and social welfare services in 129 countries, versus 2.5 million children in 2017 3.6 million families across 97 countries benefited from support on positive, nurturing care, almost four times more than in 2017 10 million people participated in community activities to…, school-girl-holding-textbooks Gender-responsive water, sanitation and hygiene systems, 20 million more people had access to basic sanitation services (10.2 million women and girls) 16.7 million girls and women benefited from UNICEF-supported water programmes in humanitarian settings 6.5 million girls were reached with WASH-in-schools services (including gender-segregated, child-friendly and accessible WASH facilities) To address…, woman-walk-past-mural Promoting positive gender norms and socialization, including through social protection, 94 UNICEF country programmes carried out interventions to challenge harmful norms and promote positive gender socialization In 56 countries UNICEF assisted governments to support families to better care for their children, including through family-friendly policies like parental leave; quality childcare; and child benefits. 100 countries were…, girls-carrying-dignity-kits Gender in emergencies, When disasters and emergencies happen, including public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, people not only are impacted differently, but they are unlikely to have equal opportunities to overcome the crisis. Women and girls are disproportionately affected. Pre-existing discriminatory norms tend to restrict them from life-saving…, girl-in-classroom Adolescent girls’ well-being and empowerment, 81 countries had an inclusive, gender-responsive national plan for adolescent health and well-being, increasing from 50 countries in 2018 7.6 million adolescent girls across 47 countries benefited from child marriage-related interventions, nearly four times more than in 2017 16.8 million girls participated in skills development programmes,…, female-drivers-unicef.jpg Making UNICEF a more gender-responsive organization, UNICEF met 88 per cent of all benchmarks in the UN-SWAP – the United Nations gender equality scorecard – compared to 76 per cent in 2018 98 UNICEF offices met institutional gender results benchmarks compared with 63 in 2018 UNICEF  reached virtual gender parity in staffing in line with UN-system wide standards Over the last four years, UNICEF has…, portrait-girl Looking forward, In 2022, UNICEF is embarking on a new GAP cycle with renewed commitment to promote gender equality and scale up transformative results for girls and women. To do this, UNICEF, with its partners, will apply bolder, gender-transformative approaches that seek to change the discriminatory social norms, stereotypes and structures that hold girls and…, Read more and support our work, June 2022, Global Annual Results Report 2021 Gender Equality Cover image: UNICEF/UN0570461 14-year-old Camila Doutang, who fled the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with her parents, lives in the Villa del Rosario municipality in North Santander, Colombia. Here, she attends a UNICEF-supported Alternative Care and Shelter Space for Children and Adolescents (…

Media and advertising are key agents of socialization for children and adolescents. Promoting positive gender socialization through advertising means helping ensure that children consume media that support positive, inclusive and diverse social norms, rather than perpetuating discriminatory stereotypes that lead to negative outcomes for children…

El Cid Butuyan, El Cid Butuyan, Director of Ethics © UNICEF El Cid Butuyan, Director of Ethics Office El Cid Butuyan assumed his duties as Director of Ethics Office on 8 February 2021. Previous to UNICEF, Mr. Butuyan spent over fifteen years at the World Bank where he led on integrity and legal issues. He also worked as the Integrity Lead in the Green Climate…, Resources for the press, Media contacts See UNICEF's range media contacts, available as communications resources for press colleagues. Press centre Browse our extensive resources for journalists and media, showcasing UNICEF's efforts around the world. Experts Talk to our leading experts, available for commentary on child health, nutrition, protection, water, sanitation,…, More UNICEF to explore

The commitment of UNICEF to an equal future for all girls and boys recognizes that promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The Gender Action Plan, 2018-2021 (GAP) is UNICEF’s roadmap for promoting gender equality throughout its work, guiding its…, Girls and women are bearing the brunt of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has intensified pre-existing gender inequalities based on discriminatory gender stereotypes. Widespread economic insecurity, as well as service disruptions related to maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition and education, are jeopardizing the lives of…, UNICEF responds to the COVID-19 impact on women and girls, Icon representing 15 year old girl 84 country offices implemented gender-based violence in emergencies programmes compared with 46 in 2019 Icon representing gender - male and female symbols combined 90 countries were supported with national gender-responsive social protection interventions, triple the number in 2019 Icon representing COVID-19…, Equality in health systems and workforce, Icon representing a motherholding a baby 38 countries had implementation plans to strengthen quality maternal and newborn health care, surpassing the 2021 target of 30 Icon representing a baby lying on their back 78 per cent of live births were attended by skilled health personnel, almost meeting the 2021 target of 79 per cent Icon representing a…, Equality in education, Icon representing computer connected to the internet 301 million children were reached with distance learning (49 per cent of them girls)  Icon representing Education - open book 18.6 million out-of-school girls participated in early learning and primary or secondary education through UNICEF-supported programmes, compared with 8.4 million in 2019…, Addressing gender-based violence, Icon representing children - boy and girl holding hands 4.2 million children (over 1.25 million girls) who experienced violence were reached with health, social work and justice services, 53 per cent more than in 2019 Icon representing emergency - hospital cross 17.7 million people across 83 emergency-context countries received gender-based…, Gender-responsive water, sanitation and hygiene systems, Icon representing drinking water - water in a glass 17 million additional people gained access to safe drinking water since 2019 (7.3 million women and girls)  Icon representing sanitation - a toilet 13 million additional people had access to basic sanitation services since 2019 (6.9 million women and girls) Icon representing sanitation - hand…, Promoting positive gender norms and socialization, including through social protection, Icon representing social norms - a man and a woman with a rainbow over their heads 49 UNICEF country programmes had interventions to transform gender-discriminatory roles and norms and promote positive gender socialization Icon representing government building - building with flag flying  In 46 countries UNICEF assisted governments to support…, Gender-responsive social protection, Inclusive and well-managed social protection systems hold enormous potential for transformative outcomes for women and girls, and gender equality more broadly. UNICEF expanded support for gender-responsive social protection programmes, particularly addressing the gender norms that create barriers, preventing women and girls from benefiting from…, Innovation for gender equality, Icon representing skills development - pencil and wrench Icon representing innovation - a light bulb beaming Icon representing generating demand for services - students with trainer pointing to board UNICEF’s Innovation for Gender Equality Portfolio promotes digital skills and creative social enterprise models, while amplifying adolescent girls…, Adolescent girls’ well-being and empowerment, Icon representing skills development - pencil and wrench 3.2 million girls were reached through UNICEF-supported skills-development, empowerment and employability training, an increase of 900,000 from 2019 Icon representing child marriage Nearly 6 million adolescent girls were reached with prevention and care interventions related to ending child…, Dignified menstrual health and hygiene (MHH), Globally, 1.18 million girls and women benefited from emergency MHH services in 2020, increasing from one million in 2019. UNICEF delivered hygiene kits – with menstrual products included as mandatory items – focusing on the most vulnerable communities, such as girls and women from ethnic and indigenous communities in Peru and Ukraine, and those…, Girls' health and nutrition, UNICEF continued to focus on improving gender-responsive adolescent health policies and services, including addressing the persistently high HIV infection rates among adolescent girls, through tackling barriers to comprehensive testing, counselling and treatment. Human papillomavirus vaccination results were encouraging in 2020—there was a…, Girls' secondary education and skills, During widespread health crises, girls and young women are often the first to be removed from school and the last to return. This compounds the fact that pre-pandemic, there were already concerning gaps in secondary school completion among adolescent girls.  UNICEF and partners supported gender-transformative strategies that address barriers to…, Child marriage and early unions, Despite a decline in the practice over the last decade, no region is on track to eliminate child marriage by 2030. Indeed, gains are under serious threat due to COVID-19, which has put an estimated 10 million additional girls at risk. UNICEF country programmes addressing child marriage have steadily increased from 38 in 2016 to 50 in 2020.  In…, Making UNICEF a more gender-responsive organization, Icon of a clipboard UNICEF met 88 per cent of all benchmarks in the UN-SWAP – the United Nations gender equality scorecard – compared to 82 per cent in 2019 Icon representing country office - shape of undefined country 75 per cent of country offices completed GenderPro, UNICEF’s globally-accredited course on gender equality  Icon representing…, Looking forward, A young woman standing in a classroom in front of a blackboard A boy standing in front of solar panels and waving A girl standing in front of a white wall with colourful butterflies and flowers painted on it Amid the challenges of the pandemic, opportunities emerged to leverage the crisis as an accelerator and catalyst; to build back better beyond…, With thanks, This report highlights the achievements made possible by the generous contributions of softly earmarked thematic funding received from various partners. UNICEF would like to express it's sincere appreciation for these contributions. UNICEF would especially like to thank the governments of Canada and Luxembourg, and private sector partners Chloé…, Global Annual Results Report 2020 Gender Equality Cover image: UNICEF/UN0348821/Ayene Kalkidan Hailemariam, aged 15 years, is the President of the Addis Ababa Childrens parliament. UNICEFs work is funded entirely through the voluntary support of millions of people around the world and our partners in government, civil society and the private…

Despite significant global investment and efforts to create a more equitable and safer world for children, some challenges such as female genital mutilation (FGM) are so deeply rooted in the long-standing beliefs and social norms of communities that they continue to persist. This toolkit is a practical ‘how to’ document for researchers, programme…

For over 70 years, UNICEF has attracted generations of talented, committed women and men around the globe to serve the needs of children and young people. Like any large, decentralized organization, our culture must reflect our mission. There is no separation.  Learn about UNICEF's journey to build a more ethical, inclusive and empowering…