What do we do?
We protect childhood, for every child
Childhood is universal, and we are here to protect it, for every child
For over 75 years, UNICEF has been protecting childhood by ensuring more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated, and protected than any other organisation.
We operate the largest humanitarian warehouse on Earth. Therefore, this means we can respond at speed to protect children in emergencies and build long-term resilience.
Additionally, we ensure children’s rights are built on robust, secure foundations by influencing laws and policies.
In UNICEF, the C stands for children.
We celebrate World Children’s Day
UNICEF celebrates World Children’s Day each year as a global day of action for children. On this day, we will highlight the issues children face worldwide while exploring the vast breadth of our work.
When is World Children’s Day?
We celebrate World Children’s Day on 20 November each year, the same day the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was established in 1989. It’s a chance to reflect on our achievements while considering how we can shape a better future for children.
Most importantly, in 2024 we are encouraging adults to listen to the future: children. By inviting children’s perspectives and ideas, we can allow them to envision themselves as the leaders of tomorrow.
How to celebrate World Children’s Day
Explore some of these World Children’s Day activities below.
- Young people: join the U-Report community
- Parents: help your children know their rights
- Teachers: access resources on child rights
- Businesses: become a partner
- Government: take action for child rights now
Read more about our work below
What does UNICEF do during emergencies?
Right now, we are supporting millions of children in the aftermath of conflicts and disasters around the world. We are also working with families and communities to protect children living in vulnerable circumstances.
These are children such as Elan, who lives in Za’atari Refugee Camp, Jordan. Elan was born with four fingers missing on her left hand. Recently she was fitted with a prosthetic hand made with the skill and ingenuity of other refugees in the camp and the support of a UNICEF partnership. Her new hand will help her do the things she loves, like playing and drawing.
In Ukraine our medical teams are looking after the physical and mental health of children.
We’re reaching children in Yemen with life-saving therapeutic food, health care and clean water.
Learn more about how we help keep children safe in an emergency.
When I play I just feel happy.
Elan in a UNICEF-supported inclusive playground in Jordan.
We protect children with clean water and sanitation
The lack of clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities affects children’s heath and education. Many children, especially girls, miss classes because of water-related illnesses.
In 2023, we helped almost 36 million people access to safe water.
In Yemen, we support children like 9-year-old Zainab whose health was at risk without access to clean water and sanitation.
We worked with Zainab’s school to improved their water and sanitation facilities. Now, Zainab and her friends can focus on their education in a safe, clean environment.
Learn more about our water and sanitation work.
Now I can use the bathroom comfortably.
Zainab, 9, on improved water and sanitation facilities at her school, funded by UNICEF.
We protect every child’s right to an education
Every child has the right to learn, yet children with disabilities face multiple barriers to accessing a quality education. Children with disabilities are amongst the most likely to be out of school.
We are committed to ensuring that all children have a fair chance to go to school, learn and develop the skills they need to thrive.
Six-year-old Ari was born with a hearing disorder. With support from UNICEF and innovative technology, Ari is breaking down barriers to his learning and communication. We are working with partners to change the way that textbooks are produced, so that they are inclusive. With accessible digital textbooks, children with a range of disabilities are supported to communicate, learn and engage in classroom activities.
By ensuring that all children have equal access to quality educational content, we can build a future where every child reaches their full potential.
Learn more about our education work.
This is my first time reading a book with sign language.
Ari, 6, is learning to read with an accessible digital textbook.
We protect children with vaccines
Since 1980, we have helped quadruple immunisation rates for children across the world, saving up to 3 million children’s lives a year.
Now, more children are protected than ever before, but there is still more that needs to be done.
Take 2-year-old Anirlan who lives in the far North of Mongolia with her mother, Otgonbayar. The life-saving vaccines Anirlan needs are hundreds of miles away. However, we were able to provide her with the vaccines she needs. We help reach half the world’s children like Anirlan with life-saving vaccines every year, to protect them from dangerous diseases like whooping cough, measles and polio.
Learn more about our vaccination work.
I want my daughter to be vaccinated to keep her healthy and happy.
Otgonbayar, toddler Anirlan's mother
How do I learn more about UNICEF?
A Brief History of What We Do
UNICEF was created in 1946 to protect the rights of children displaced during World War 2. Since then, the scale and scope of our work has grown massively.
But our aim remains fundamentally unchanged—the C in our name has always stood for children. We’re still working with children and caregivers in some of the world’s toughest places.
Now, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the basis of all our work. It provides a complete statement of child’s rights, the absolutes upon which a safe, healthy and happy childhood can blossom.
Our work aims to realise those rights for every child, no matter where they live or who they are.
Children are at the heart of our work. Children are at the heart of UNICEF.
