UNICEF Foundation Day 2024, History, Significance, Theme

UNICEF Foundation Day is observed on 11th December every year, 2024 being the 78th anniversary year of the United Nations Children Fund. UNICEF has been known to be the global organisation, always in the front protecting the rights of children worldwide. The organisation has made various contributions for reducing child mortality, improving education and supporting underprivileged communities. This article will look into the remarkable contributions of UNICEF Organisation, its functions and significance. 

UNICEF Foundation Day 2024

UNICEF Foundation Day 2024 spreads awareness on the importance of supporting unprivileged communities and children. 

UNICEF Full Form

UNICEF Full Form is the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund. The name was changed to United Nations Children’s Fund in 1953. 

What is UNICEF?

UNICEF is an organisation established by the United Nations in 1946 which works on humanitarian grounds to provide emergency assistance to children belonging to underprivileged communities. Currently, UNICEF is working in over 190 countries around the globe and focusing of the following areas and issues: 

• Focus on Children Health: Includes healthcare facilities, nutrition programmes and proper immunisation resources. 
• Education: Ensuring Gender Equality along with universal education.
• Child protection: protection of children against child labor, exploitation and trafficking. 
• Emergency relief fund: UNICEF provides resources to areas that get affected by natural disasters. 

‹ ›

UNICEF History

The UN General Assembly established UNICEF on 11th December 1946. It started its operation as an agency who was providing food, clothing and healthcare to people in Europe affected by World War II. 

Over the years, UNICEF has been collaborating with governments, NGOs and private institutions to work on child welfare programmes. In 1953, UNICEF was declared a permanent organisation of the UN system and in 1956 it gained the Nobel Peace Prize for working for children worldwide. 

UNICEF Headquarters 

UNICEF Headquarters are set in New York City, United States. All the activities ongoing in over 190 countries are coordinated from the central office in New York. Following are the main headquarters of UNICEF Office around the globe: 

• Global Shared Services Centre, Budapest, Hungary
• Private Fundraising and Partnerships, Geneva, Switzerland
• Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Office of Research – Innocenti, Florence, Italy
• Brussels Office, Belgium
• Office for Japan, Tokyo, Japan
• Seoul Office, Republic of Korea 

Functions of UNICEF

UNICEF has a very broad role in ensuring the right care and resources are reached to children. Their responsibilities include: 

• Eradicating diseases like Polio and Measles by conducting immunisation programs. 
• Promoting education equality by building schools, providing books and human resources
• Supporting feeding programs by tackling malnutrition. 
• Ensure drinking water facility and clean sanitation. 
• Providing support and supplies to the countries impacted from natural disasters and pandemics.

Importance of UNICEF

UNICEF has always played a very important role in improving the living conditions of children around the globe: 

• Improving the living conditions of girl childs and their health.
• Providing aid to natural disasters and calamities stuck countries.
• Providing education to all 
• Immunisation and vaccination programmes.