UNICEF UK Achievements 2009

Introduction
The global economic crisis is having a shattering impact on
the world’s children, making UNICEF UK’s work even more
urgent and vital.
In 2009, deepening poverty and food scarcity claimed the
lives of children from Kenya to Bangladesh. For me, the
16-year-old girl I met on a visit to UNICEF programmes in
the Philippines embodied the human cost. Her dad used to
work in a factory making rope, but lost his job. Donna was
in tears as she told me her broken dreams. She had hoped
to rescue her family from poverty by completing school, but
now Donna was sure she would have to leave education
and find work.
The year marked the 20th anniversary of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child, which promised a better life
for every child. We have made progress in the past 20
years. For instance, the number of children dying before
their fifth birthday has fallen by more than 25 per
cent. However, millions of children continue to die from
preventable causes. Millions more do not go to school,
or do not have food, shelter and clean water. Children
are suffering from exploitation, violence, abuse and
discrimination. The promises made 20 years ago are still not
being delivered and the voices of children and young people
are not being heard.
David Bull,
UNICEF UK Executive Director
HIV receiving treatment to help their babies be born free
from the virus increase from 10 per cent to 45 per cent in
low- and middle-income countries.
We supported UK children to attend the Children’s Climate
Change Forum and the Junior 8 Summit, helping children
have their right to a voice on matters that affect them.
UNICEF UK also developed Carbon Positive, an innovative
scheme to mobilise money and support to enable vulnerable
communities to adapt to the effects of climate change.
During 2009, UNICEF UK helped children caught in
emergencies in 17 countries and regions. Whether it was
conflict in Sri Lanka or Sudan, earthquakes and typhoons in
Southeast Asia, or malnutrition in East Africa, our supporters
enabled UNICEF to respond rapidly and effectively to
protect children.
In 2010, children will continue to feel the impact of the
global financial crisis. They will continue to be hit first
and worst by food and water shortages as well as natural
disasters. UNICEF UK, backed by our supporters, will
continue to seek to put it right.
David Bull, UNICEF UK Executive Director
This is wrong.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, UNICEF UK
committed £50 million to help put it right for children
worldwide. For instance, to ensure children’s right to survive
and to be healthy, we provided nearly 34 million tetanus
vaccines. To protect children from abuse and exploitation,
we supported 12,000 children every month at camps in
the Democratic Republic of Congo. To help children go to
school, we provided basic education for more than 160,000
working children in Bangladesh. Since the launch of our
Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign in 2005,
we have seen the percentage of expectant mothers with
Dalisay, age 6, lives on the
streets of Manila, Philippines,
with her brother and sister.
UNICEF helps street children
like Dalisay go to school.
Please help more children, visit unicef.org.uk/achieve
UNICEF UK
ACHIEVEMENTS 2009 1