Advocate for Zero
U.S. government funding for UNICEF
To help us get to the goal of zero children dying from preventable causes—everyone has a part to play, including the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government makes a contribution to UNICEF which is funded in the annual appropriations. Although Congress is looking for ways to reduce Federal spending, money still will be appropriated for international assistance. We want to make sure that the money spent makes vulnerable children a top priority. UNICEF is the indispensable partner of the United States in the global effort to save and improve the lives of children everywhere.
TELL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT $132 MILLION FOR UNICEF IN FISCAL YEAR 2013
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) lays out a comprehensive set of rights for children, and recognizes the essential role and importance of parents and families. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is joining with other child welfare organizations to ask President Obama to order a review by the Department of State and send the treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification—but we need to show that it has the support of thousands of people like you. Sign the petition to ask President Obama to demonstrate that the U.S. stands firm for children’s rights around the world.
ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA TO SUBMIT THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD FOR U.S. RATIFICATION
Stop Child Trafficking
Trafficking in persons is a violation of fundamental human rights, and trafficked children face severe threats to their well-being and their futures. The International Labor Organization estimates there are at least 12.3 million people subject to forced labor, including trafficking victims. At least 1.2 million children are trafficked each year, many of them forced into prostitution, unpaid labor, or armed groups.
ASK YOUR SENATORS TO HELP FIGHT CHILD LABOR AND TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD BY RE-AUTHORIZING THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2011
Help prevent child marriage
Though the United States supports many programs that assist children and mothers, there is no specific U.S. Government effort to focus on the problem of child marriage. Bipartisan legislation in both the House of Representatives the Senate would bolster U.S. efforts to prevent child marriage by condemning child marriage as both a human rights violation and a drag on developmental outcomes.
TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS THAT YOUR CARE ABOUT PREVENTING CHILD MARRIAGE
Keep cluster munitions out of children's hands
Children caught up in the conflict in Libya are at great risk from unexploded weapons and ordnance, including cluster munitions. The U.S. Government is a world leader in helping clear these unexploded weapons, but in addition to helping finding and eliminate old cluster bombs, as a Nation, we need to make sure that we never use cluster munitions that leave dangerous duds. Today, that is not current U.S. policy. HELP US CHANGE THAT
Support the Water for the World Act
We know that clean water and appropriate sanitation are critically important to keeping children alive and well. The U.S. Government can do a better job of helping increase access to clean water and sanitation in poor countries. The newly introduced Water for the World act sets an ambitious goal: for U.S.-funded programs to reach 100 million people with first-time access to clean drinking water and sanitation. LEARN MORE
