Context: Every year December 11 is celebrated as UNICEF Day or UNICEF Foundation Day.

About UNICEF Day

• Origin: After World War II in 1946, the United Nations General Assembly decided to look after and protect children’s lives across the world and formed an emergency fund.
  • In 1953, this fund came under the management of the UN and thus became a separate organization called UNICEF.
  • December 11 was celebrated as UNICEF day when thousands of UNICEF associates across the world renewed their pledges to work to uplift the condition of underprivileged children of the World.
• Significance of the UNICEF Day
  • Honour Efforts: UNICEF Day honours the role of UNICEF in protecting the rights of every child everywhere by working in tough places to reach the most disadvantaged children.
  • Vaccinating Children: UNICEF is also one of the world’s largest providers of vaccines and supports the health of children and nutrition.
  • Protection against Exploitation: UNESCO also takes responsibility for protecting children and adolescents from violence and exploitation.
  • Awareness of Children’s Needs: UNICEF Day raises awareness at a global level to help children who need help and assistance, including food, clean water, education, and health facilities. 

About UNICEF

• About: The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is an aid group that saves children’s lives by providing them with humanitarian aid across the world. It was founded in 1946 to meet the emergency needs of children in post-war Europe and China. 
  • Later, the mandate was broadened in 1950 to deal with the long-term needs of children and women in developing countries everywhere.
  • UNICEF also works to defend children’s rights and helps them fulfill their potential from childhood through adolescence. 
• Objective:
  • Remove discrimination, and ensure every child has an equal opportunity to grow to their full potential, addressing the lack of food, education, health, and sanitation across the world.
• Resources: UNICEF relies completely on voluntary contributions from governments and private donors. 
• Governance: A 36-member executive board governs UNICEF by establishing policies, approving programs, and overseeing administrative and financial plans. 
  • The board includes government representatives elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, usually for three-year terms.
• Functions: 
  • Collaboration: UNICEF brings together governments and nonprofits to collaborate on sustainable solutions to these global issues affecting children.
  • Protective Environment for Children: UNICEF creates a protective environment for children by involving all stakeholders.
  • Proper Care at Young Age: UNICEF advocates for measures to give children the best start in life so that they can have a strong foundation in life.
  • Girls Education: UNICEF promotes girls’ education so that they have an opportunity to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their children.
  • Awareness about HIV AIDS: UNICEF works to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people and also allows children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child: UNICEF works towards upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to assure equality for all children.
  • Global Movement for Children: UNICEF is an active member of the Global Movement for Children, which is a coalition that works towards improving the life of every child.

Criticism of UNESCO

• Bureaucratic Complexity: UNESCO is largely a bureaucratic organization that is associated with red tape and delayed decision-making.
• Image Balancing: To uphold its image as a neutral entity, UNESCO has refrained from criticizing wrong actions by failed states.
• Limited Reach: Despite its ability to mobilize resources, UNESCO has limited reach due to dependency on governments.

Way forward

• Fund Boost: UNICEF needs to expand its sources of funding so that it can handle the growing amount of distress around the world.
• Civil Society and Experts: Greater collaboration between civil society and experts needs to be obtained for greater impact.

Conclusion:

UNICEF day is not just an event to remember the founding of UNICEF, but it reminds us of the efforts put by the organization towards the welfare of children across the world.