UNICEF Challenges

The United Nation’s International Children’s Fund is a non-governmental organization that is focused on providing children from developing countries a chance at a long, healthy, prosperous life. Their website states that they believe each child has “a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential - to the benefit of a better world,” (“‘Who we are’ UNICEF,” n.d.). Their mission, albeit broad and seemingly difficult to achieve, has been broken down into smaller goals, such as Child Protection, Child Survival, Education, Emergency Response which are then in turn broken down further into even more specific goals and methods to succeed. One of the more recent projects done by UNICEF is ensuring health of babies born in Iraqi displacement

Because women are treated unequally, they don’t receive proper maternal nutrition and bear unhealthy babies (“What are the challenges?,” 2003). Another challenge facing UNICEF is the constant pressure from society on women to stop breastfeeding. For decades, it has been controversial and looked down upon to breastfeed. In situations where malnutrition and diseases run rampant, it is more important than anything for mothers to breastfeed in order to protect their children. Overcoming this false stigmatization of breastfeeding has been a large challenge for UNICEF. UNICEF is still working on rapid response to emergency situations, as well as advocating the use of iodized salt in order to protect children from iodine deficiencies (“What are the challenges?,” 2003). Overall, UNICEF has been working selflessly to provide much needed assistance to the most precious part of our population- our children. It may be unrealistic to believe that one day all child suffering can be eliminated, however UNICEF has made drastic steps towards greatly reducing it and they continue to provide assistance and educate children and their mothers to move towards a better future for all