The full form of UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund. The United Nations Children's Fund originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, now officially known as UNICEF, is a UN agency responsible for providing humanitarian and development aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories. As part of its mission, UNICEF provides immunizations and disease prevention, treats children and mothers with HIV, promotes nutrition, improves sanitation, enhances education, and provides emergency relief to victims of disasters.
UNICEF works in the world's most difficult places to reach the most disadvantaged children and youth - and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. In more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and realize their potential - from early childhood through adolescence. As the world's largest provider of vaccines, we are committed to child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skills building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and protecting children and young people from violence and exploitation. Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground to bring life-saving aid and hope to children and families. We are non-political and non-partisan and never neutral when it comes to defending children's rights and protecting their lives and futures.
As early as September 1943, in an article published in Free World magazine entitled "A United Nations Health Service - Why not?", Polish health expert Ludwik Rajchman proposed that a health service be included in the future international organization. He also proposed a "health tax" to be paid by member states.
At the end of UNRRA, Rajchman proposed that the remaining funds be used for a child nutrition program to be funded by the United States. The organization was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57(I) on December 11, 1946, and was named the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). As its first chairman, Rajchman chose Maurice Pate of the Belgian Relief Commission to head the organization and "to consider the organization of action, a fund for the benefit of children, especially war victims. "Rajchman, as head of a special subcommittee UN and with the support of La Guardia, Herbert Hoover, and Maurice Pate, submitted the resolution to the General Assembly. From a temporary emergency relief organization providing food and clothing to children and mothers displaced by the World War in 1946 II, the organization became a permanent UN organization in 1953 and expanded its efforts to include general child welfare programs.
UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories and in the world's most challenging places to reach children and youth in greatest need.
They work through country offices around the world, as well as 33 National Committees, seven regional offices, a research centre in Florence, a care centre in Copenhagen, a shared services centre in Budapest, and additional offices in Brussels, Geneva, Seoul, and Tokyo. About 85 per cent of our employees work locally. UNICEF is headquartered in New York.
There are national committees in 34 countries, each established as an independent local non-governmental organization. Their main task is to raise funds from the private sector since UNICEF depends entirely on voluntary contributions. Together, the national committees generate about one-third of the agency's annual revenue, including from businesses, civil society organizations and some six million individual donors worldwide.
In the United States, Nepal, and some other countries, UNICEF is known for the "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" program, in which children collect money for UNICEF on Halloween night in the homes where they trick-or-treat, sometimes in lieu of candy. In Canada, the program was discontinued in 2006.
Many people in developed countries first learn about the work of UNICEF through the activities of one of the 36 national committees for UNICEF. These non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are primarily responsible for fundraising, selling UNICEF greeting cards and products, building private and public partnerships, advocating for children's rights, and providing other support. The US Fund for UNICEF is the oldest of the national committees and was founded in 1947.
Since 1950, when a group of children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, donated $17 they had received on Halloween to help victims of World War II, the trick-or-treat UNICEF box has become a fall tradition in North America. These small orange boxes are distributed to children at schools and other locations before Oct. 31. By 2012, the trick-or-treat UNICEF campaign had raised about C$91 million in Canada and more than $167 million in the United States.
UNICEF Ambassadors are leaders in the entertainment industry representing film, television, music, sports and beyond. They help raise awareness of children's needs and use their talent and status to fundraise, advocate and educate UNICEF.
The old UNICEF World Warehouse is a large facility in Denmark that houses UNICEF deliverable goods and emergency relief supplies for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Until 2012, the facility was a 25000{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^2} warehouse at Marmormolen in Copenhagen. With the construction of a 45000{\text{ }}{{\text{m}}^2} UN City to house all UN activities in Copenhagen under one roof, the warehouse service was relocated to the outskirts of Copenhagen Freeport. The facility houses the UNICEF Supply department, which manages strategic hubs in Dubai, Douala and Colón.
On December 11, 1946, the United Nations established UNICEF, to meet the urgent needs of children in post-war Europe and China. Their full name was United Nations International Children's, Emergency Fund.
In 1950, the mandate of UNICEF was expanded to include the long-term needs of children and women in all developing countries. In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations system, and its name was shortened to United Nations Children's Fund. UNICEF, however, retained its original acronym.
The Executive board is the governing body of UNICEF, which provides intergovernmental support and oversight to the Organization, in accordance with the general policy guidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.
UNICEF is present in 191 countries and territories around the world, but not involved in nine others (Bahamas, Brunei, Cyprus, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Singapore, and Taiwan).
UNICEF is financed exclusively by voluntary contributions. They rely on the commitment of our partners to provide life-saving assistance to children and their families.
UNICEF India country office UNICEF House, 73 Lodi Estate New Delhi 110 003
Tel: + 91 11 2469-0401, + 91 11 2469-1410 Email: newdelhi@unicef.org