UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Published purpose

March 2013 - Founded in 1946, UNICEF is mandated by the UN General Assembly to protect the rights of children and women in developing countries through its development and humanitarian assistance programming. In humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF's activities include the provision of: commodities to treat severe acute malnutrition; safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene programming; emergency education; basic healthcare; and, protection services for children and women. With Canada's support, UNICEF will support the ability of the humanitarian community to implement the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, launched in October 2012. The Minimum Standards aim to improve the quality, predictability and accountability of child protection responses in humanitarian situations. The Minimum Standards will be implemented through training and dissemination activities, technical assistance to humanitarian agencies, and monitoring and evaluation of child protection programming.