The thematic exhibition “UNICEF: children in the spotlight”, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of United Nations Children's Fund, has been opened since December 9 till January 4 in the documents of international organizations reading room (207g).
United Nations Children’s Fund is a worldwide largest organization, which activity is aimed at children safeguarding, helping to meet their basic needs and opportunities to develop their full potential. Surviving, development and a happy life of every child are in the spotlight of UNICEF.
International Children’s Emergency Fund was created on December 11, 1946 by the decision of the UN General Assembly as an emergency organization for helping children who suffered during the Second World War. It was planned that the fund would be temporary, but in 1953 the UN enlarged its activities and prolonged its term of office for an indefinite period. The fund got its present name – United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF. Since 1953 the organization has been included in the UNO as a specialized institution, which activity is dedicated to protection and support of children’s rights to a safe, healthy and happy childhood. The headquarters is in New York.
The main organ of UNICEF is the Executive Council, which is appointed by the UN Economic and Social Council for 3 years. This Council holds annual sessions. The secretariat and CEO direct the current activities. Anthony Lake has been appointed to this post since May 1, 2010.
UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and is interested in all sides of child’s life – health, education, dignity, protection. The Fund is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to make these rights firm ethical principles and international standards of conduct towards children. UNICEF calls for cooperation politicians and different state and international organizations, carries out and supports programs aimed at children’s health and lives protection, their physical and intellectual development.
The Fund doesn’t receive finance from the UN and fully depends on voluntary donations. International Children’s Emergency Fund is supported by individual, corporate and governmental donors. UNICEF sends the received money from all over the world for programs of children’s support, provides them with all the necessary, helps create normal living conditions for them and their families.
The Fund is engaged in children’s problems, when they are in poor conditions, are victims of wars and other kinds of violence, natural disasters and extreme poverty. Among the priorities are assistance in children’s development in early age, for disabled children, disease prevention, especially HIV/AIDS, children’s rights encouragement and protection.
Belarus is a member of International Children’s Emergency Fund since 1953. The Executive Council confirmed a state UNICEF program for Belarus for 2016–2020 on September 9, 2015 on the regular session in New York. The budget of the program is 8.5 mln US dollars.
The program is aimed at assistance in children’s interests insurance at the national level. A special attention is paid to support of families in their creation of a safe, caring and friendly environment and strengthening of responsible fatherhood and motherhood.
The exposition offers more than 70 documents in English and Russian: books, periodicals, UN mimeographed materials, brochures, booklets.
The exhibition consists of the following sections:
- UNICEF: history and modernity;
- Main aims and tasks;
- UNICEF in Belarus.
The exhibition is aimed at teachers, lawyers, sociologists, educational, healthcare and cultural workers, and those who are not indifferent to children’s future.
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