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The Australian Committee for UNICEF, also known as UNICEF Australia, is a non-governmental organisation that raises funds in support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and advocates for the rights of children. Founded in 1966, UNICEF Australia is one of 36 National Committees that support UNICEF’s emergency and development work. UNICEF upholds the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by delivering health, nutrition, education, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene programs in more than 190 countries.

Emergencies
UNICEF responds to an average of over 200 humanitarian emergencies each year, including natural disasters and armed conflicts. It works with government and partners to restore medical services, water and sanitation, to deliver hygiene and nutritional supplies, and to keep children safe with ‘child-friendly spaces’, counselling and family reunification. UNICEF also supports communities in long-term recovery and disaster risk reduction.

UNICEF Australia supports emergency responses by raising funds from the Australian community.

UNHCR
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes the rights that all children have and is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty. Countries are required to protect the rights of children as they are set out in the Convention. UNICEF Australia supports the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Australia signed in 1990.

Programs
UNICEF Australia fundraises for and supports international development programs in education, child survival, protection, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene. UNICEF Australia directly supports programs in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

Fundraising
UNICEF is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. It receives no funding from the UN. One of UNICEF Australia’s key fundraising initiatives is the Global Parent program, a monthly giving program which supports children in their first 1000 days of life.

Inspired Gifts
UNICEF Australia also supports UNICEF’s work through Inspired Gifts, whereby supporters buy supplies that are distributed internationally to children and their communities. Gifts include blankets, vaccines and school supplies.

Advocacy
UNICEF Australia works with governments, civil society, young people and their communities in Australia to promote and protect the rights of children, whilst also co-leading the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, a group of more than 100 child-focused organisations and experts which reports on Australia’s performance in upholding children’s rights to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF Australia also works with the Australian Parliament to promote policies that are in the best interests of children. The Australian Parliamentary Association for UNICEF is a group of more than 70 members of Parliament who promote the rights of children, support UNICEF’s work and encourage the Government to prioritise children, both domestically and overseas.

Corporate Partners
UNICEF Australia works with the private sector to deliver programs for children and is currently partnered with organizations including Qantas, Starwood, MMG, IKEA, 3P Learning, Bankwest, Commonwealth Bank, DLA Piper, Unilever, Global Corporate Challenge, H&M.

Governance
UNICEF Australia is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation overseen by a board of ten directors. UNICEF Australia is also a full member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for Australian non-government organisations involved in international development and humanitarian aid.