7.
Blog Post 07
01/03/2022
ZERO
DISCRIMINATION
DAY
On February 6th we celebrated one of the most important International Days that was established in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The aim of this day is to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice.
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According to the latest data, at least 200 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), with this number being projected to increase by an additional 2 million by 2030 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the world, from the 31 countries that continue this practice, half of them are going through conflict, poverty and other crises that put girls and women in danger. The available data show that younger ages are at risk for receiving FGM, such as in Kenya where girls as young as 9 years old are subjected to this practice.
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UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, along with UNICEF launched a program in 2008 that actively works for ending FGM in 17 countries where the practice is most prominent. Through that program, girls and women will have opportunities to realize their rights in regards to their health, education, and inequality among others, which will help significantly in tackling this practice.
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Protecting every girl
The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme published a statement on February 4, 2022, about this International Day highlighting that “in remote communities and urban areas, girls and women in schools, communities and on social media, are demanding more decisive actions, including increased investments and stronger partnerships, to end FGM and scale up the delivery of services for girls and women affected or at risk of the practice”. Through the Joint Programme, more than 3 million girls and women have benefited from prevention, protection, and care services concerning FGM.
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Now more than ever, UNICEF along with partners are working towards the elimination of this cruel practice, vowing to #EndFGMNow, especially during a time where the pandemic threatens girls and women globally.
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Written by: Chrysanthi Akoni
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7.
Blog Post 06
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
20/12/2019
“Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights or keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose. To that high concept there can be no end save victory.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
The month of December has always signified the arrival of the holiday season. However, December means more than that, as it hosts one of the most important international days, the Human Rights Day!
Every 10th of December, the world celebrates the Human Rights Day, which commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration stands as the first ever document to establish fundamental Human Rights and is constituted by 30 articles, which adhere to rights such as individual freedom and expression, the prohibition of any kind of discrimination, torture and slavery and the equality of all before the law. Even though the declaration does not have a binding character, it has inspired more than 60 Human Rights instruments all over the world and has been translated to over 500 languages.
Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the road to specific human rights treaties opened and today, women, children and people with disabilities share their own declarations which were set to protect them specifically. Nevertheless, some people are still being deprived of their basic human rights because of totalitarian regimes, conflicts, repression and abuse all over the world and as a consequence, the end of injustice has still yet to come.
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From Human Rights Day to the… International Migrants Day!
Along with the Human Rights Day on 10th December, this month also features the International Migrants Day eight days later. On 18th December 1990, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and the members of their families highlighted important Human Rights for migrants worldwide. The issues revolving around migration have been concerning the international community especially since the burst of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. According to the reports of the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 70.8 million migrants have been recorded in 2018 throughout the globe, with 13.0 million people being Syrian refugees.
The biggest and most heartbreaking wave of migration was noted between 2015 and 2016, which influenced the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a set of commitments that would enhance the protection of refugees and migrants on September 19, 2016. The agencies of the United Nations, such as our organization UNICEF, created programmes in order to provide humanitarian aid in Syria and to Syrian refugees who were located in neighboring countries, such as Jordan and European countries.
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Our Team’s 2019 Goal
Currently, hundreds of Syrian refugees are residing in refugee camps set by international and domestic organizations in the country of Jordan. The Za’atari Camp is the state’s biggest refugee camp which hosts around 80.000 people. However, the issue of youth unemployment is Jordan’s main problem and that is where UNICEF and particularly our team is raising awareness and funds. By teaching adolescents in Jordan with innovative education through the programme “The Leaders of the Future” they will be able to learn important skills and take their first steps into the labor market.
Since 2019, all money raised by all UNICEF student teams in the Netherlands is going towards that goal. If you would like to donate to our cause, you can visit this link!
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Written by: Chrysanthi Akoni
7.
Blog Post 05
20/11/2019
WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY
Today is not just any other day; today we celebrate children all around the world, as it is the Universal Children’s Day!
Even though the International Children’s Day is celebrated globally on the 1st of June, the Universal Children’s Day takes place on the 20th of November every year, reminding us how far we have come and how much we still need to accomplish, in order to ensure that every child in this world is free, healthy and happy.
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A little bit of history
The 20th of November was firstly proclaimed by the United Kingdom (UK) in 1954, as a way to influence other countries to actively promote and work for children’s rights. In 1959 of the same day, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which constituted the catalyst for developing a legal framework that would protect children’s rights all around the world. All the same, on 20 November 1989 the UN also adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which makes today the 30th birthday of the Convention. This would promote international togetherness, raise awareness among children worldwide and last but no least, improve the children’s welfare. Find more about the Convention here!
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UNICEF’s work
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is a UN agency, dedicated to the needs of the children. It is the biggest organization in the world working for children, by cooperating with national governments, policymakers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other actors. UNICEF’s values are going hand in hand with the 1989 International Human Rights treaty, ensuring that children share the same rights with no exception.
What we accomplished – What is yet to be done Over the past 30 years…
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More than 50% of children’s mortality under 5 was reduced since 1989
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The population of undernourished children almost halved since 1990
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Clean water is now available for more than 2.6 billion people than in 1990
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But we still have a long way to go…
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262 million children are still out of school
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650 million girls and women are married before they turn eighteen
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1 in 4 children will live in areas of extremely limited water by 2040
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The Universal Children’s Day is not just a day to celebrate the little human beings who bring us joy and happiness, but also a day to inspire us to work harder, so that one day children will be no longer in positions of undernourishment, abuse, conflict and will be able to enjoy their youth in peace. Because, children, no matter how small, have loud and clear voices and we as adults need to hear them and continue to support them in any way we can.
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Written by: Chrysanthi Akoni
7.
CELEBRATING
WOMEN
Blog Post 04
27/03/2019
“Women are leaders everywhere you look -- from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes” – Nancy Pelosi
18th of March - today we not only celebrate women’s day, today we must try to make every woman in our lives feel special. Women complete our society. They are driven, passionate, ambitious and strong. The former First Lady Michelle Obama said that the future of our world is only as bright as the future of our girls. Women everywhere fight for their freedom, education, rights, jobs and equality everyday. If we want the future to open for more possibilities for everyone we must stop holding back the women's freedom of speech, stop the ambiguous comments regarding their potential and capabilities on their workplace or at school. Young girls around the world are joining civil movements because they want to pave the pathway for women who have already faced obstacles pursuing their careers and also to build a way for the ones who are just starting their careers and education.
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With that said, on this day we are reminded that women are equal to men. There should not be a competition but a celebration of humanity and respectfulness. Each one of us deserves to reach their full potential and gender inequalities make it difficult for that to happen. In 2007, UNICEF set in motion the Girls’ Empowerment Initiative to improve the lives of girls across 7 regions of the world. What is inspiring is the fact that their programme provide the resources and opportunities so these girls can become female leaders, business women, and whatever else they wish to be. UNICEF also address the gender-specific discrimination, something that is a global occurrence. They lay out and promote strategies to prevent violence, bullying, discrimination against girls, boys and women.
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Moreover, we live in a digital era, we can all start looking for innovative solutions that prevent discrimination all its forms. Creating forums, guides or just a place where people can find support and understanding. Each step matters, at the end it might become something revolutionary. We just need to take the step in the right direction.
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If you want to learn more about UNICEF’s missions you can start here.
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Written by: Violina Nedkova
7.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION
January 24th, 2019 is the first official International day of Education as stated by the United Nations General Assembly. This day is meant to be the day to celebrate the role of education in peace and development. By officially setting a date to celebrate the role of education in the international community it restated the key role that education plays in building sustainable and strong societies and ultimately contributes towards achieving all other sustainable development goals.
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Beyond building sustainable societies and contributing towards sustainable development education also supports the eradication of poverty, promotes gender equality and improves health outcomes in countries that place high importance on education. The reason why education is so vital in aiding sustainable development is that educating children gives the next generation the tools to improve their own quality of life as well as that of their community.
UNICEF particularly advocates for high-quality, child-friendly basic education for all, with an emphasis on gender equality and eliminating inequality of all kinds. Educating girls, notably, has a ‘multiplier effect'. Educated girls are more likely to marry later and have fewer children, who in turn will be more likely to survive and to be better nourished and educated. Educated women are more productive at home and better paid in the workplace, and more able to participate in social, economic and political decision-making. Without an inclusive and unbiased quality education and lifelong opportunities for everyone, countries cannot succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children and adults behind.
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And while it is well known how education is the way to fight poverty and create a path to a better future, about 264 million children and adolescents do not have access to education. For girls growing up in poor remote areas, staying in school can protect them from being child-brides, intimate-partner violence, and continued poverty. For boys growing up in urban slums, education instead of child labor can provide them with the skills to get better paying and more fulfilling jobs as adults. For children living in states of emergency, education offers safety and a sense of normalcy while gaining the knowledge to build more peaceful futures. Every child regardless of who they are or the circumstances they are living is entitled to have access to quality education, yet many of the world's poorest and most marginalized children are denied this basic right.
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UNICEF believes that every child has a right to education, and therefore UNICEF works to provide learning opportunities in 155 countries around the world. The work starts by identifying who are the children not in school and why. This is done by gathering data and making it available to governments and communities, and later helping them design policy interventions for the local, regional and national needs. Education transforms lives and is at the heart of UNESCO's mission to build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development.
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As the world marks the very first International Education Day, governments should move to make universal quality education a leading priority. Education is a key driver for inclusion and empowerment, and it should be given the priority it deserves. What will you be doing to highlight the importance of education?
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For more information click here.
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Written by: Stephany Ridderstrap
Blog Post 03
24/01/2019
7.
Blog Post 02
21/12/2018
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
December - The month that always reminds you of Christmas, presents and cuddles.
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People celebrate in different ways all around the world but at the end of the day the most important things that people want to feel during Christmas are love and gratitude.
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In Europe, there are so many different traditions during this holiday. Bulgaria’s biggest celebration date is December 24th which is Christmas Eve. During that day, it is all about cooking, decorating and gathering together to say a prayer. You can see pretty decorations with lights all over the streets and you can hear Christmas music on every corner. The Netherlands celebration of Christmas start in mid-November. This is when Sinterklass (St. Nicholas) arrives with bag full of presents and people go out to see him onto his white horse. Of course, Ireland is the country that enjoys celebrating Christmas in a Pub. They have sort of a tradition called ’12 Pubs of Christmas’ where people gather and attempt to consume 12 different alcoholic drinks at 12 different venues in a single night. Well, that sounds tough! One thing that European countries have in common during Christmas are the famous Christmas Markets. People definitely get into the Christmas spirit when they go through different shops where there are usually many handmade stuff to buy or some hot beverages to try.
All of these celebrations are wonderful and it makes everyone feeling cheerful but during this holy time of the year let us not forget to be good and giving. Not everyone has the chance to enjoy Christmas with their families, not everyone is able to hold their loved ones and to have a magnificent big tree with presents under it.
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Therefore, throughout this time of the year think about people who fight for their freedom and life every day. In the words of Gandhi, let us be the change that we want to see in the world.
You can support the people in Syria and children’s education. Help them feel not only the magic of Christmas but also the magical feeling of freedom. Then again, you can spread awareness about UNICEF’s goals and projects regarding education of children in Syria.
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Written by: Violina Nedkova
Blog Post 01
13/12/2018
GET TO KNOW US
About UNICEF
UNICEF was established as the United Nations International Children’s Relief Fund. The organisation was created in 1946 to help the children in the countries ravaged by WWII. In 1950 UNICEF’s mandate was expanded from humanitarian work to also aiding long-term development for children and women all over the world. In line with this, in 1953, the words ‘international’ and ‘emergency’ were discontinued, although the original acronym is still used; now UNICEF, simply refers to the United Nations Children’s Fund. In 1989 the United Nations adopted the Conventions on the Rights of the Child, and UNICEF works to ensure that all children in the world are granted these rights, to enable every child to grow up healthy and capable of getting the best out of life. UNICEF have a presence in 190 countries, they have offices in 150 countries, as well as 36 national committees. These committees raise one third of UNICEF’s money through donations. One of these national committees is in the Netherlands, it is established as a non-governmental organisation, national committees have a large focus on fundraising to contribute international development issues for women and children. Out student groups is a subgroup of the Dutch national committee for UNICEF.
Some of UNICEF’s key work includes
Promoting the rights of children and taking action to ensure these rights are realised. Including the right to grow up in a protective and inclusive environment. The right for ever child to survive and thrive, meaning that UNICEF are working to reduce child mortality. The right to learn, UNICEF works to support the education of children all over the world. UNICEF also works to achieve gender equality, to empower girls and women so that they have full participation in political, social and economic systems. UNICEF has a large focus on reaching children in emergency situations to deliver lifesaving aid and long term development assistance. UNICEF works with many partners so that they can achieve the best and most innovative solutions to help children throughout the world
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UNICEF Student Team Groningen
There are UNICEF student teams in most Dutch cities, our student team in Groningen is in its 5th year. We work in line with policy from the central UNICEF office in the Netherlands. This means that there is more cohesion between groups and we can achieve more significant results, currently a central project we are fund-raising for is to establish classrooms for children in Syria. The money we raise is given to the central UNICEF office of the Netherlands to be used to help children in the worst situations. Our student team consists of a board and several amazing committees; the Benefit, Social, Media, Season, Connects, Career, Awareness and Gala Committees. These all help to inform people about the work of UNICEF or raise the money which is so important for UNICEF to function. Our student team organises informative events, but also fundraising events, such as movie nights and themed parties, these are lot of fun! Make sure to like our Facebook page to keep updated on when these events are happening!
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Written by: Claire Hudson
