Seventy-five years on from the birth of UNICEF out of the ashes of World War II, the world is again engulfed in crisis, the consequences of which threaten to undermine almost every measure of progress as set out in the Global Goals. As the Covid-19 pandemic widens inequalities and disrupts every aspect of our lives, it is the world’s most vulnerable children who are being hit hardest. Yet with disruption comes opportunity – opportunity to rebuild and reimagine the future for every child.
This anniversary year is a pivotal moment. UNICEF and partners are again being called upon to help children, their families and the systems upon which we rely to re-emerge from crisis. Building on three generations of experience and achievement, we stand together in calling for global action to support our shared efforts towards an inclusive recovery which prioritizes the needs, rights and wellbeing of children. Through a series of events, publications and activations across the year with, by and for children and young people, we will reflect upon UNICEF’s legacy of impact, highlight our current ground-breaking work and advocacy priorities in vaccine delivery, education, child protection and more, and project forwards with ambition and vision.
Just as we rebuilt out of the ruins of the Second World War, with 75 years of experience behind us, together we can help the world and its children re-emerge from this crisis and reimagine a brighter future.
Objectives
Reaffirm UNICEF’s role as the leading organization for child rights, whose work in delivering for every child, especially in times of crisis, is as critical today as ever
Connect with new partners and audiences, strengthen existing partnerships, mobilize support and renew commitment to UNICEF’s mandate for and with children
Increase the visibility and relevance of UNICEF among children and young people as an organization they see themselves in, can trust and which is working with them to help fulfil their aspirations
Strengthen internal cohesion within UNICEF around our core values through a bottom-up approach
Narrative
This milestone year provides an opportunity to reflect upon how far we’ve come over the past 75 years, spotlight UNICEF’s role as a global custodian, thought leader and convener for child rights and build commitment with urgency to progress our mission. Our narrative thread is framed through the lens of four generations:
The child survival years when UNICEF played an instrumental role in helping children survive the scourge of conflict in the aftermath of World War II.
The child development years when millions of children and their families rose out of poverty to become healthier, more educated and protected.
The child rights years (current generation) when efforts are being made across the world to drive progress for the rights of children through equal access to services, learning and skills.
The reimagine years (next generation) when together with partners we reimagine a new normal which creates opportunities, ignites dreams and enables every child to fulfil their potential.
Approach
UNICEF 75 is a child-centred, child-driven initiative with a country, regional, global and partnership focus that puts the meaningful participation of young people at the heart of everything, opening a space for intergenerational collaboration. Throughout the year we will highlight how together we have and continue to deliver for children, and why the need for our work has never been greater. While we are rightfully proud of our achievements, we are cognizant and alert to the challenges before us. Yet, harnessing three generations of shared experience, we face the future with confidence, innovative solutions and ambition.
I think the Concept Paper is good and if properly knit together from child 'survival' to 'development' to 'rights' and onto the future could form a historical flow over the 75 years which would hold the reader's attention.
ReplyDeleteAs contributors will be presumably the very staff who gave the best years of their lives to UNICEF, I would caution against making it too much about UNICEF and not enough about children.
I found it interesting some months ago when googling on the evolution of the idea or concept of "childhood" to discover that it is a relatively recent stand alone concept. In centuries long past the child was understood as an "incomplete adult". Then we had John Locke's 18th century view that at birth the mind is a 'tabula rasa' or blank slate. More recently in the last 50/60 years, spurned on by different writers/ studies, the nature/nurture balance has been part of the debate on what is a child/childhood.
So my wish would be to see some thoughts on this 75th UNICEF birthday setting out how the concept of "childhood' itself has evolved over that period. Even more interesting would be some views as to whether the planet is moving to a common understanding of "childhood" (or whether that's even a desirable goal). Throughout the 75 years, was UNICEF challenged to embrace a range of slightly different understandings of the idea of "childhood" from Papua New Guinea to Sweden or China, and how did that effect its programmes, activities, and impact.
I appreciate that this could constitute an entire oeuvre in it's own right, and of course that is not what I am proposing. I am suggesting that as the survival, development, rights components of the publications, articles for the 75th Anniversary are being written up that contributors be encouraged to intertwine where possible the work of UNICEF with the evolving idea of childhood during the decade or decades under discussion.
Patrick Hennessy