Global

James Chinomba sits on the balcony with his youngest son Wisdom, a bright five-year-old boy, before going off to feed the pigs and tend to his farm after a day at work. James is   a   health worker at the Chileka Health Center in central Malawi. When he heard the malaria vaccine was being rolled out as part of a pilot programme, he signed up…, Malaria vaccine in Malawi, Since 2019, health centers in Malawi like Chileka, have been part of a pilot programme for a malaria vaccine supported by UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization. Children are given four jabs from the age of five months to their final dose at 23 months. The programme has shown to reduce symptomatic malaria cases by 75…, More on vaccines

From widespread killing, maiming, abduction and sexual violence to recruitment into armed forces and groups and strikes on schools and hospitals, as well as essential water facilities – children living in conflict zones around the world continue to come under attack on a shocking scale.  To better monitor, prevent, and end these attacks, the…, 1. Killing and maiming of children, Killing and maiming of children can be a result of direct targeting or indirect actions, including torture. Killing and maiming can occur through crossfire, landmines, cluster munitions, improvised or other indiscriminate explosive devices or even in the context of military operations, house demolitions, search-and-arrest campaigns, or suicide…, 2. Recruitment or use of children in armed forces and armed groups, Recruitment or use of children in armed forces and armed groups refers to compulsory, forced, or voluntary conscription or enlistment of children into any kind of armed force or armed group. The use of boys and girls by armed forces or armed groups can be in any capacity, including as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers and spies, or when they…, 3. Attacks on schools or hospitals, Attacks on schools or hospitals include the targeting of schools or medical facilities that cause the total or partial destruction of such facilities. Schools and hospitals should be protected spaces, where children are safe even in times of conflict, yet continued attacks on such facilities have underscored the catastrophic impact of armed…, 4. Rape or other grave sexual violence, Conflict-related sexual violence remains one of the most disturbing violation of children’s rights and has often been used as a tactic of war. Rape or other grave sexual violence includes acts of rape, other sexual violence, sexual slavery and/or trafficking, enforced prostitution, forced marriage or pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or sexual…, 5. Abduction of children, Abduction of children refers to the unlawful removal, seizure, capture, apprehension, or enforced disappearance of a child either temporarily or permanently. Whether it’s an intentional act of violence or retaliation, to instill fear among populations, or to forcibly recruit and/or sexually abuse children, abduction is one of the most pervasive…, 6. Denial of humanitarian access for children, Denial of humanitarian access for children includes the intentional deprivation or impediment of humanitarian assistance essential for children’s survival by parties to the conflict, including willfully impeding the ability of humanitarian or other relevant actors to access and assist affected children in situations of armed conflict.  Warring…, What UNICEF is doing , Lebanon. A Syrian refugee holds a box of supplies. A Syrian refugee holds a box of supplies in Lebanon. UNICEF and partners are continuing to provide care and protection for children living through war, advocating on their behalf, and engaging with all parties to conflict to ensure their rights are upheld. In addition to providing emergency and…

Climate change is disrupting weather patterns, leading to more frequent and more intense extreme weather events, unpredictable water availability, exacerbating water scarcity and contaminating water supplies. Such impacts can drastically affect the quantity and quality of water that children need to survive. Today, a change in climate is felt…

Most people know that you can’t survive without water. But the truth is slightly more nuanced. You need more than just water – you need SAFE water. You also need safe toilets to keep the environment clean, and as well as soap and water to stop the spread of disease. Find out more about why safe water, sanitation and hygiene are so important: 1.…

Escalating conflicts, disasters, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks have combined to create unprecedented global humanitarian needs in 2024. From Haiti, to the State of Palestine and Sudan, grave violations , violence and devastated essential services are leaving millions of children at risk. Meanwhile, climate shocks, food insecurity, and…, Afghanistan, Afghanistan. A group of girls drink water from a tap installed with UNICEF support in Balkh Province, Afghanistan. A group of girls drink water from a tap installed with UNICEF support in Balkh Province, Afghanistan. Afghanistan is home to one of the most crushing humanitarian crises in the world. After decades of conflict, Afghans have been cut…, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso. A mother holds her baby at a health centre in Fada. A mother holds her baby at a health centre in Fada, Burkina Faso. More than 3 million children in Burkina Faso require humanitarian assistance against the backdrop of ongoing conflict and massive internal displacement. Burkina Faso is located in the Sahel region, which is embroiled…, Cameroon, Cameroon. A child sips from a cup after a cooking demonstration in Garoua-Boulai, Cameroon. Children receive a nutritious meal after a cooking demonstration in Garoua-Boulai, Cameroon. Cameroon faces a complex mix of armed conflict, inter-communal violence, an influx of refugees from neighboring countries, disease outbreaks including cholera and…, Central African Republic, Central African Republic. A child rests on a bed in the nutrition clinic at L’hôpital de Bossangoa in Bossangoa. A child rests on a bed in the nutrition clinic at L’hôpital de Bossangoa in Bossangoa, Central African Republic. The Central African Republic is one of the toughest places in the world to be a child. Widespread violence and displacement…, Chad, Chad. A mother carries her child on her back at a refugee site in eastern Chad, close to the border with Sudan. A mother carries her child on her back at a refugee site in eastern Chad, close to the border with Sudan. Conflict-induced displacements, a nutrition crisis, natural disasters resulting from climate change, epidemics, poverty, and…, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A baby is screened for malnutrition by a nurse at a UNICEF-supported health centre in South Kivu Province. A baby is screened for malnutrition by a nurse at a UNICEF-supported health centre in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Intensifying violence, massive displacement, and the proximity of…, Ethiopia, Ethiopia. A mother protects her son from the sun with a piece of cardboard in Hegalle in the Somali region. A mother protects her son from the sun with a piece of cardboard in Hegalle in the Somali region in Ethiopia. Overlapping hazards including conflict, severe drought, flooding, intercommunal violence and outbreaks of diseases have left more…, Haiti, Haiti. A boy sits during an interview with beneficiaries of a clean water programme run by UNICEF in Jeremie. A boy sits during an interview with beneficiaries of a clean water programme run by UNICEF in Jeremie, Haiti. Political turmoil, civil unrest, increasing armed violence, crippling poverty and natural disasters: A deadly combination of…, Myanmar, Myanmar. A woman cycles past buildings that were badly damaged during Cyclone Mocha in Rakhine State. A woman cycles past buildings that were badly damaged during Cyclone Mocha in Rakhine State, Myanmar, on 14 May 2023. Widespread conflict continues to have a devastating impact on children and their families in Myanmar. Grave child rights…, Somalia, Somalia. A girl plays with her brother outside their shelter at a camp for internally displaced persons on the outskirts of Mogadishu. A girl plays with her brother outside their shelter at a camp for internally displaced persons on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia. A once-in-a-century drought in 2023 was followed by El Niño-induced flooding,…, South Sudan, South Sudan. A girl washes her face at taps installed with the support of UNICEF in a camp for internally displaced persons in Unity State. A girl washes her face at taps installed with the support of UNICEF in a camp for internally displaced persons in Unity State, South Sudan. South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, has faced multiple…, State of Palestine, State of Palestine. Children collecting water walk past badly damaged buildings. Children collecting water walk past badly damaged buildings in the Gaza Strip. Even before the escalation of violence in October 2023, children in the State of Palestine had grown up under the shadow of recurrent violence and crushing poverty. But the hostilities in…, Sudan, Sudan. Children display vaccination cards after receiving doses of cholera vaccine during a cholera vaccination campaign in Gezira State. Children display vaccination cards after receiving doses of cholera vaccine during a cholera vaccination campaign in Gezira State, Sudan. An outbreak of conflict in Sudan in 2023 created one of the largest child…

Climate change threatens the lives, health and well-being of children. They are the most vulnerable to its effects, and those who live in low-income communities are at particularly high risk of harm. To save and protect lives and prevent climate change’s worst impacts on children, we need to act now. There are clear, practical solutions that work…, Paving the way for a climate resilient education system in India, A group of students using polybags from waste and fill them with field soil to grow the saplings for school nursery  during environmental activities session at a school in Maharashtra, India India, 2023. Students use polybags from waste and fill them with field soil to grow saplings for their school nursery as part of an environmental activities…, Early detection of groundwater depletion in Madagascar, The semi-arid southern region of Madagascar has been hit hard by years of severe droughts, which has left more than 4.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The region has the country’s lowest water supply coverage, which is further exacerbated by climate change. The lack of rainfall and other environmental factors have also affected…, Innovations in climate risk reduction in Venezuela, A boy, 10, collects safe water at the UNICEF-installed solar-powered water treatment plant in Venezuela Venezuela, 2023. Dahir Franco, 10,collects safe water at the UNICEF-installed solar-powered water treatment plant in San Francisco de Guayo, Venezuela. Disaster risk reduction is an essential element of responding to climate change as children…, Reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from sanitation in Kampala, Uganda, Two masons construct a new pit latrine with a bathroom in a village in Uganda. Uganda, 2022. Two masons construct a new municipality-approved pit latrine with a bathroom, for a commercial structure in Mukono, Uganda. Climate change and sanitation are intrinsically connected. Poorly managed sanitation emits significant greenhouse gas (GHG)…

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.   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 protect and…, Child rights under attack, In too many places today children's rights are under attack. Read Executive Director Catherine Russel's message on World Children's Day: " Children live in a world that is increasingly hostile to their rights .” Wars. Climate change. Economic turmoil. Crisis after crisis is robbing children around the world of their lives and their futures. ENOUGH…, Kids stand up and speak out, Children have a right to be listened to and included in all decisions that affect them. On World Children’s Day, children and young people raised their voices on the issues that matter to them. On #WorldChildrensDay , UNICEF is making space for children to raise their voices on the issues that matter to them. Children in #Gujarat handed over their…, #KidsTakeover, 📣 Today, the #KidsTakeOver challenge for #WorldChildrensDay brought Iarina, Ioana, Matei, Nicholas, Patrizia, Ștefania, and Tony from the Children's Board to Kiss FM, Magic FM and Rock FM! Millions of listeners tuned in to hear their insights on mental health & climate change. pic.twitter.com/zv1AFGFbRs — UNICEF Romania (@UNICEFRomania)…, Children are leaders in protecting their environment, Climate action for every child, Children have a right to a safe and livable planet. Yet climate change is affecting children everywhere – their lives, their communities and their health. UNICEF staff in #SierraLeone also went blue today in support of children's rights and climate action. Happy #WorldChildrensDay from all of us. #ClimateActionMatters #ForEveryChild , every right…, Going blue for child rights, Iconic building across #Tajikistan go blue to mark the #WorldChildrensDay ! From #Dushanbe , to #Bokhtar and #Khujand children & young people celebrate the #childrights and the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Child Rights' ratification by the country. pic.twitter.com/zjFtXOhaa7 — UNICEF Tajikistan (@UnicefTajik)…, What are child rights? A playlist for kids, Explore our YouTube Kids playlist showing how we can work together to uphold every right, for every child, and the transformative power of children and young people’s participation in creating a better world., Youth advocates in action, UNICEF Youth Advocates raised their voices, calling for the change they want to see in the world. Read about  UNICEF's youth advocates from around the world. This #WorldChildrensDay , young leaders are taking over our platforms to share the issues they care most about, how they would navigate solutions and how they envision the world 15 years from…, Children, young people and world leaders, Children and young people met with Presidents and other leaders to mark World Children’s Day.   President Petr Pavel marked a historic moment in the Czech Republic by celebrating World Children's Day at Prague Castle with the winners of the Child of the Czechia Award 2023, Kristýna and Matěj. 💙 #WorldChildrensDay #KidsTakeOver pic.twitter.com/…, Friends of UNICEF mark World Children's Day, In honour of #WorldChildrensDay , we want to celebrate children's fundamental right to play. Play helps them learn the skills they need to change & thrive in an ever-changing world 🌍 pic.twitter.com/9YfY2rRzSx — The LEGO Foundation (@LEGOfoundation) November 20, 2023   We believe EVERY child everywhere has a right to 🥘 Food 📚 Education 🏠…, Walk, run or climb, Children, advocates and leaders showed their support for children's rights by taking part in inspiring activities. "No to child marriage" and "Let's end #ChildMarriage in South Sudan" were some of the slogans shouted by children and young people during Friday's run in Juba to commemorate #WorldChildrensDay . pic.twitter.com/dexkC1vYdz — UNICEF…

Many people associate pneumonia with the elderly, but it is actually the biggest infectious killer of children worldwide. Every year, it claims the lives of more than 725,000 children under the age of 5, including around 190,000 newborns, who are particularly vulnerable to infection.  Every day, at least one child dies every 43 seconds from…, What causes pneumonia?, Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection of the lungs. It doesn’t have one single cause – it can develop from either bacteria, viruses or fungi in the air. When a child is infected, their lungs are filled with fluid and it becomes difficult to breathe. Children whose immune systems are immature (i.e. newborns) or weakened – such as by…, What are pneumonia symptoms?, As pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, the most common symptoms are coughing, trouble breathing and fever. Children with pneumonia usually experience fast breathing, or their lower chest may draw in or retract when they inhale (in a healthy person, the chest expands during inhalation)., Is pneumonia contagious?, Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread through airborne particles (a cough or sneeze). It can also be spread through other fluids, like blood during childbirth, or from contaminated surfaces., How is pneumonia diagnosed in children?, Health workers can diagnose pneumonia through a physical exam, including checking for abnormal breathing patterns and listening to the child’s lungs. Sometimes they may use chest x-rays or blood tests for diagnosis. In countries without strong health care systems (i.e. few doctors, lack of access to chest x-rays and laboratories), health workers…, What are pneumonia treatments?, The treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia. In developing countries, a large number of pneumonia cases is caused by bacteria and can be treated with low cost antibiotics. Yet many children with pneumonia do not receive the antibiotics they need because they lack access to quality health care. Other causes of pneumonia are viruses…, What role can oxygen play in pneumonia treatment?  , Oxygen is an essential and life-saving treatment for children and newborns suffering from severe pneumonia. That’s because the inflammation of their lungs prevents enough oxygen from entering their bloodstream.  Access to oxygen has for a long time been unavailable to those who need it. In many countries without strong health systems, oxygen is…, What can be done to prevent pneumonia?, Pneumonia can be prevented in the first place by increasing protective measures, such as adequate nutrition, and by reducing risk factors like air pollution (which makes the lungs more vulnerable to infection) and using good hygiene practices. Studies have shown that improved handwashing with soap reduces the risk of pneumonia by lowering exposure…, Is there a pneumonia vaccine?, Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable with vaccines. However, 40 per cent of children around the world are not fully protected with the primary vaccine to prevent pneumonia – the Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine. In addition, other vaccines such as Diphteria-Tetanus-Pertussis and measles-containing vaccines and Hemophilus Influenza B (Hib)…, Where are the most children dying from pneumonia?, The countries with the largest number of child pneumonia deaths are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Child deaths from pneumonia are concentrated in the world’s poorest countries. Within these countries, it is the most deprived and marginalized children who suffer the most. They often have limited or no access to basic health services…, How does air pollution factor into pneumonia?, Air pollution can significantly increase the risk of respiratory infection, including pneumonia. Almost half of all pneumonia deaths are attributable to air pollution.   The climate crisis is a child rights crisis and poses a serious threat to children’s health and well-being. Outdoor air pollution is a risk to children, especially with growing…, How big a factor is malnutrition in pneumonia related deaths?   , Wasting is the leading risk factor for deaths from pneumonia among children. It’s the most visible and life-threatening form of malnutrition. When a child is too thin and their immune systems are weak, they’re far more vulnerable to diseases like pneumonia. Wasting tends to occur very early in life and disproportionately impacts children under 2…, What is needed to stop pneumonia? , Swift action is required to ensure that no child dies from pneumonia and other preventable or treatable diseases.   That response requires reducing risk factors, protecting children’s immune system and ensuring access to good-quality health care, free at the point of use, with well trained and equipped health workers to all children. Preventing…

All children have the right to safe drinking water and sanitation. These resources are as critical to a child’s survival as food, medical care, and protection. However, from the State of Palestine to Ukraine, to Yemen and beyond, protracted crises and conflict are depriving children of these rights.  In fragile contexts and areas affected by…

Since 1988, the number of children affected by polio has reduced by 99 per cent. While the end of polio is within reach, immunization efforts can easily be derailed by the rapid spread of vaccine misinformation, putting vulnerable children at risk.  Take for example Pakistan, one of just two countries where polio remains endemic, where fake videos…, The polio ‘listening post’, “Social listening is like a disease surveillance system, but instead of the virus, we track and analyze polio misinformation. Using cutting-edge digital media and tools we collect and analyze publicly available data on polio and vaccines across social media, digital media, broadcast news and print media platforms,” says Adnan Shahzad, the Digital…, Clear and accurate messaging, “What we say must be accurate and easy to understand for everyone,” says Soterine Tsanga, Polio Outbreak Response SBC specialist with UNICEF, who is also involved in the roll out of DCE to countries. “When there’s a polio outbreak, our goal is to respond swiftly to reach children with vaccination and stop further spread of the virus. We cannot…, Examples of accurate polio vaccine messaging created for digital sharing., UNICEF A photo of a mother holding her baby paired with text stating that vaccinations are the best way to fight polio. Polio vaccination messaging - Digital Community Engagement, Examples of accurate polio vaccine messaging created for digital sharing., UNICEF Graphic showing a smiling child next to text accurate messaging on polio Digital Community Engagement social media graphic - Polio paralysis, Examples of accurate polio vaccine messaging created for digital sharing., UNICEF A graphic shows a young girl in a yellow shit next to positive messaging on polio. Digital Community Engagement social media graphic - Polio WHO, Examples of accurate polio vaccine messaging created for digital sharing., UNICEF A polio awareness graphic showing facts, cartoon droplets, and a photo of a young child. Polio vaccination social campaign content. UNICEF, Examples of accurate polio vaccine messaging created for digital sharing., UNICEF A green cut-out style graphic showing a photo of a child receiving a vaccination alongside accurate information about vaccine safety. Polio vaccine information social graphic DCE, UNICEF., Examples of accurate polio vaccine messaging created for digital sharing., UNICEF A graphic shows a photo of a child next to text that states the benefits of vaccination. A photo of a mother holding her baby paired with text stating that vaccinations are the best way to fight polio. Graphic showing a smiling child next to text accurate messaging on polio A graphic shows a young girl in a yellow shit next to positive…, Digital volunteers quash rumours, Mariama, a digital social mobilizer in Dakar, looks at her phone and laptop screens. Mariama, a 20 years old digital social mobilizer working with UNICEF in Dakar, shares polio information, tracks misinformation, and responds to questions about polio. A big part of UNICEF’s social behaviour change work for polio eradication involves engaging local…, Local outreach and digital engagement, Digital Community Engagement enables countries to bridge the gap between their on-the-groundwork and digital communities, while fostering trust in childhood immunization. Pakistan’s polio eradication programme has managed several misinformation crises. In October 2022, a Facebook post falsely claimed that a child had died after receiving the polio…, More opportunities ahead, While there has been tremendous progress in getting the social listening and misinformation alert systems up and running, there is always more to do. DCE is now focused on strengthening local misinformation response teams while continuing to engage online communities through digital volunteers.  For Gulzar Ahmed Khan, a 28-year-old polio social…

The right to safe drinking water and sanitation is rooted in the Convention on the Rights of the Child , United Nations resolutions and the Geneva conventions. It is a right that is as critical to the survival of children as food, medical care, and protection from attack. But from State of Palestine to Ukraine, to Yemen and beyond, it is clear…, Attacks on water are attacks on children, Water resources and the systems required to deliver drinking water have been attacked for centuries. All too often, the human dependence on water has been exploited during conflict. Nearly all of the conflict-related emergencies where UNICEF has responded in recent years have involved some form of attack hindering access to water, whether directed…, Explore the reports, UNICEF launched the Water Under Fire campaign, including its Water Under Fire report , in March 2019 to draw global attention to three fundamental areas where changes are urgently needed to secure access to safe and sustainable water and sanitation in fragile contexts. As part of the campaign, it has launched three additional volumes: Vol. 1:…

It was the middle of the night. Raneem Hani Ahmed Hasan was worried. She knew she had to do something immediately. “I was so scared when my son got sick. I jumped on a motorbike at 2 a.m.,” she remembers. Raneem’s 4-month-old son, Sanad, had been vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea. “Women in our town don’t ride bikes normally, but I didn’t care…