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“Excellencies, thank you very much for giving me the floor. And thank you to His Excellency President Lula and the COP30 Presidency for convening us here in Belém. “Children today live in a world that is hotter and more polluted than the one we grew up in. “This climate crisis is, at its heart, a child rights crisis. “Children make up one-third of the world’s global population and half of all people living in extreme poverty. Half the world’s children live in countries at extreme risk of climate chaos. And because children are smaller with less developed systems, they are much more vulnerable to climate change than adults are. “The risk to children begins even before they take their first breath. For every one-degree Celsius increase in temperature, the odds of a pregnant woman experiencing a preterm or stillbirth rise by 5 per cent. “Once born, the threats continue. During heatwaves, children’s bodies heat up faster and sweat less efficiently, putting them at greater risk. They also ...

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell NEW YORK, 8 October 2025 — "For more than 700 days, children in Gaza have been killed, maimed, and displaced in a devastating war that is an affront to our shared humanity. Israeli strikes on Gaza City and other parts of the Gaza Strip continue. The world cannot, and must not, allow this to go on.

Meeting comes amid warnings that millions of children could die because of global cuts to foreign aid and waning protection of children’s rights 06 October 2025 UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican today to focus world attention on the plight of vulnerable children, especially those impacted by conflict, poverty and the global foreign aid funding and debt crises.

Following UNICEF’s recent statement marking two years since the October 7 attacks, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) and the Jordan National NGOs Forum (JONAF) addressed a letter to Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. Below is the full text of the letter sent to UNICEF’s Executive Director: _______ 7th October 2025 Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director UNICEF Headquarters New York, USA I am writing on behalf of the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), a Jordan-based organization and the coordinator of the Jordan National NGOs Forum (JONAF), a network that brings together national civil society organizations committed to advancing human rights, justice, and dignity for all.

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NEW YORK, 17 September 2025 “It has been four years since adolescent girls in Afghanistan were barred from attending school beyond grade 6. By the end of 2025, more than 2.2 million adolescent girls will have been excluded from education. “With more than 2 million Afghans returned from neighboring countries this year, the number of girls unable to attend school will rise further.

Editor's Note:  For the schedule and documentation of the session click here. 2 September 2025 "Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues and friends … "It is my pleasure to welcome you to this second regular session of the UNICEF Executive Board for 2025. I begin by extending my sincere gratitude to Ambassador Hikmat, President of the Executive Board, and to the entire Bureau for your steady leadership and support.

"Excellencies, good afternoon. Thank you to Pakistan, as president of the Council, and to Member States for bringing us together this afternoon. Thank you for inviting UNICEF to share our firsthand perspective on this desperate situation for Gaza’s 1 million children.

“More than 450 civilians, including at least 24 boys, 11 girls, and two pregnant women, were reportedly killed in horrific attacks in communities around the city of Bara, including the villages of Shag Alnom and Hilat Hamid, in Sudan’s North Kordofan State over the weekend. With dozens more injured and many still missing, we fear that the number of child casualties could rise further. “These attacks are an outrage. They represent a terrifying escalation of violence, and a complete disregard for human life, international humanitarian law, and the most basic principles of humanity. “UNICEF condemns the attacks in the strongest possible terms. We call on all parties to the conflict to end the violence immediately and to uphold their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. “Civilians – particularly children – must never be the target of attack. All alleged violations must be independen...

NEW YORK, 10 July 2025 – “We are appalled by the reported killing of 15 Palestinians, including nine children and four women, who were waiting in line for nutritional supplies for children in Deir al Balah, the Gaza Strip, this morning. An additional 30 people were reportedly injured, including 19 children. “This assistance was being provided by Project Hope, a UNICEF partner organization, to families in desperate need. The killing of families trying to access life-saving aid is unconscionable. “These were mothers seeking a lifeline for their children after months of hunger and desperation. Among them was Donia, whose 1-year-old boy, Mohammed, was killed. She said he spoke his first words to her just hours earlier. Donia now lies in a hospital bed, critically injured by the blast, clutching Mohammed’s tiny shoe. No parent should have to face such tragedy. “This is the cruel reality confronting many in Gaza today after months of insufficient aid being allowed into the territory, and pa...

15 June 2025 – “This weekend’s surge in violence across the Middle East signals a dangerous escalation. Children are once again paying the ultimate price. “Since Friday, an intense military escalation in the region has seen strikes on Iran and Israel hit residential areas, killing and injuring civilians – including children – and causing damage to civilian infrastructure. “Beyond the death toll, this alarming escalation creates widespread fear and trauma among children in all communities.

"Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, "It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 Annual Session of the UNICEF Executive Board. Let me begin by extending heartfelt thanks to you, Ambassador Hikmat for your leadership as President of the Executive Board, and indeed to the entire Bureau. We deeply appreciate your guidance and your steadfast support to UNICEF.

Article shared by Tom McDermott Click here for the op-ed in the NY Times Click here for the article  in MEM

Dear Colleagues, I hope this message finds you well. I know this is a difficult time for all staff. The funding situation we are facing, as you all know, continues to be challenging.

For two months, children in the Gaza Strip have faced relentless bombardments while being deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care. With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death – nothing can justify this.

On North Darfur Fighting continues to escalate in Sudan's North Darfur with at least 15 more children reportedly killed. Over the past week, more than 330,000 people have fled Zamzam camp.No place is safe. Hostilities must end immediately to protect civilians and allow the delivery of aid.

“Excellencies, good afternoon. It is good to be with you for this important discussion on the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Je tiens à exprimer ma gratitude à Monsieur l’Ambassadeur Jérôme Bonnafont, for convening and hosting this briefing during France’s presidency of the Security Council. The Security Council’s continued attention on children affected by armed conflict in the DRC is more critical than ever. “Excellencies, the significant escalation of conflict in the eastern region of the DRC has reached levels not seen in the last three decades. The intensifying violence has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, leaving millions of children at risk. “Since January, more than one million people – including an estimated 400,000 children – have been displaced by violence in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. This new wave of displacement comes in addition to the more than 5 million people in the region who were ...

“Dozens of civilians, including at least 23 children, and several aid workers have reportedly been killed in North Darfur over the past three days.