UNICEF turns 70 | All media content | DW | 11.12.2016
  1. Inhalt
  2. Navigation
  3. Weitere Inhalte
  4. Metanavigation
  5. Suche
  6. Choose from 30 Languages

News

UNICEF turns 70

The world’s first organization dedicated to children was established on December 11, 1946, to help children in need after WWII. Today, one of the UN's most well-known agencies reaches out to children worldwide.

  • small children holding out bowls (UNICEF/UNI41884)

    70 years for every child

    The United Nations General Assembly set up UNICEF to help the starving and impoverished children in post-war Europe. Back then, health and food were major concerns. But even in 2015, almost three million children worldwide were being treated for severe malnutrition, according to UN figures. The above photo dates back to the founding year, and shows giggling, but hungry, youngsters in Greece.

  • UNICEF Malariatest in Ecuador (UNICEF/UNI41904)

    Relentless mission

    By 1955, the world’s largest children’s organization was working for children in more than 90 countries. Above, a toddler in Ecuador in 1958 is being tested for malaria - a major cause of child mortality, then and today. UNICEF has since become a founding member of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership to support malaria treatment and research.

  • many children holding hands in a circle (UNICEF/UNI46342/Pirozzi)

    Childhood needs

    The UN, in 1959, defined children’s rights to protection, education, health care, shelter and good nutrition in the "Declaration of the Rights of the Child." In Mozambique, these kids enjoy recess time at a "child-friendly" school UNICEF helped support, where the focus is not just on teaching, but also on sanitation, social welfare and communication.

  • Henry Labouisse recieved Nobel prize (UNICEF/UNI99955)

    "Compassion knows no boundaries"

    Recognizing work for children as work for peace, the UN children's emergency fund was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 for the "promotion of brotherhood among nations." Above, Executive Director Henry Labouisse accepts the award in Oslo. Despite the commendation, the agency hasn't been spared its share of scandals involving fraud and bribery over the decades.

  • Baby, hand dropping a drop of vaccine into its mouth (UNICEF/UNI29868/LeMoyne)

    Path to a better future

    UNICEF has responded to thousands of humanitarian emergencies affecting children. The vision for the next 70 years is "a world in which our work is no longer necessary - a world in which every child is healthy, safe, educated, cared for and protected and all children can make the most of their potential," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

  • UNICEF Bangladesch Vorführung Händewaschen (UNICEF/UNI122066/Haque)

    Safe water and hygiene

    UNICEF launched its first water, sanitation and hygiene programs back in 1953. Since then, almost three billion people have been given access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities. Above, school children in Bangladesh are shown how to properly scrub their hands.

  • UNICEF Schulmädchen in Pakistan (UNICEF/UNI46382/Isaac)

    Defender of children worldwide

    Millions of children, like these school girls in Pakistan, have access to an education thanks to UNICEF, which reports it has helped reduce out-of-school rates among primary school children by more than 40 percent since 1990.

  • people with backpacks and blankets on train platform (UNICEF/UN012725/Georgiev)

    Crises and emergencies

    An estimated one in four children worldwide - or some 535 million - live in areas affected by conflict or disaster, UNICEF said in December 2016. It also reports that almost 50 million children worldwide have been uprooted, - "a disproportionate and growing proportion of those who have sought refuge outside their countries of birth."

  • young people lying on carboard and forming word 'construire' (UNICEF/UNI173333/Pirozzi)

    For the benefit of all children

    Youngsters use their bodies and various objects to spell 'construire", Italian for "to build" - they feel it's time to build a new generation with better values. A 2014 UNICEF report showed that 2.6 million children that year had sunk below the poverty line in the world's most affluent countries.


  • small children holding out bowls (UNICEF/UNI41884)

    70 years for every child

    The United Nations General Assembly set up UNICEF to help the starving and impoverished children in post-war Europe. Back then, health and food were major concerns. But even in 2015, almost three million children worldwide were being treated for severe malnutrition, according to UN figures. The above photo dates back to the founding year, and shows giggling, but hungry, youngsters in Greece.

  • UNICEF Malariatest in Ecuador (UNICEF/UNI41904)

    Relentless mission

    By 1955, the world’s largest children’s organization was working for children in more than 90 countries. Above, a toddler in Ecuador in 1958 is being tested for malaria - a major cause of child mortality, then and today. UNICEF has since become a founding member of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership to support malaria treatment and research.

  • many children holding hands in a circle (UNICEF/UNI46342/Pirozzi)

    Childhood needs

    The UN, in 1959, defined children’s rights to protection, education, health care, shelter and good nutrition in the "Declaration of the Rights of the Child." In Mozambique, these kids enjoy recess time at a "child-friendly" school UNICEF helped support, where the focus is not just on teaching, but also on sanitation, social welfare and communication.

  • Henry Labouisse recieved Nobel prize (UNICEF/UNI99955)

    "Compassion knows no boundaries"

    Recognizing work for children as work for peace, the UN children's emergency fund was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 for the "promotion of brotherhood among nations." Above, Executive Director Henry Labouisse accepts the award in Oslo. Despite the commendation, the agency hasn't been spared its share of scandals involving fraud and bribery over the decades.

  • Baby, hand dropping a drop of vaccine into its mouth (UNICEF/UNI29868/LeMoyne)

    Path to a better future

    UNICEF has responded to thousands of humanitarian emergencies affecting children. The vision for the next 70 years is "a world in which our work is no longer necessary - a world in which every child is healthy, safe, educated, cared for and protected and all children can make the most of their potential," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

  • UNICEF Bangladesch Vorführung Händewaschen (UNICEF/UNI122066/Haque)

    Safe water and hygiene

    UNICEF launched its first water, sanitation and hygiene programs back in 1953. Since then, almost three billion people have been given access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities. Above, school children in Bangladesh are shown how to properly scrub their hands.

  • UNICEF Schulmädchen in Pakistan (UNICEF/UNI46382/Isaac)

    Defender of children worldwide

    Millions of children, like these school girls in Pakistan, have access to an education thanks to UNICEF, which reports it has helped reduce out-of-school rates among primary school children by more than 40 percent since 1990.

  • people with backpacks and blankets on train platform (UNICEF/UN012725/Georgiev)

    Crises and emergencies

    An estimated one in four children worldwide - or some 535 million - live in areas affected by conflict or disaster, UNICEF said in December 2016. It also reports that almost 50 million children worldwide have been uprooted, - "a disproportionate and growing proportion of those who have sought refuge outside their countries of birth."

  • young people lying on carboard and forming word 'construire' (UNICEF/UNI173333/Pirozzi)

    For the benefit of all children

    Youngsters use their bodies and various objects to spell 'construire", Italian for "to build" - they feel it's time to build a new generation with better values. A 2014 UNICEF report showed that 2.6 million children that year had sunk below the poverty line in the world's most affluent countries.


More in the Media Center

Damascus steps up assault on eastern Ghouta 07.03.2018

Some help arrives in desperate eastern Ghouta 06.03.2018

Shocking level of violence targeting children - UNICEF 28.12.2017

Syrien Kinder im Krieg in Aleppo

World Children's Day: Why millions of kids face a bleak future 20.11.2017

Read also

Boko Haram lässt entführte Mädchen frei

Boko Haram has abducted over 1,000 kids since 2013: UN 13.04.2018

The UN says more than 1,000 children have been kidnapped by Islamist group Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria since 2013. The announcement came ahead of the fourth anniversary of the abduction of 276 girls from Chibok.

Deutschland KZ-Gedenkstätte Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen concentration camp: Anniversary of liberation 22.04.2018

On April 22, 1945, Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin was liberated. Over 700,000 visitors flock to the museum and memorial site each year. But its director is nevertheless concerned.

USA Washington Anti Schußwaffendemo

US students call for end to gun violence on Columbine anniversary 20.04.2018

Thousands of students across the US staged a walkout to demand gun reform on the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. The walkouts were spearheaded by the survivors of the February Florida shootings.

Israel Feier Unabhängigkeitstag Tel Aviv

Israel marks its 70th anniversary, but not everyone shares the joy 19.04.2018

Independence Day celebrations kicked off on Thursday, with festivities set to last for the next couple of days. But as Dana Regev reports from Jerusalem, a joyful day for some could mean something different for others.