UNICEF UK is a registered charity raising funds and awareness to support UNICEF's work to protect child rights worldwide, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). We raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign for the fulfilment of child rights in the UK and abroad. UNICEF UK also runs programmes in hospitals, schools and local communities in the UK.
Breastfeeding: The Baby Friendly Initiative
Through the Baby Friendly Initiative, we work with health professionals to promote breastfeeding and ensure that all parents are helped to make informed decisions about feeding their babies. In hospitals that have received our Baby Friendly accreditation, which recognises best practice in providing support for breastfeeding, mothers are 10 per cent more likely to initiate breastfeeding, helping to ensure their babies’ right to be as healthy as possible is protected.
Education: The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA)
Our Education team provides expertise on child rights and global citizenship for young people and those involved in their education. Our Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) provides a framework to help schools to use child rights and the CRC as the foundation for their community.
Child Friendly Communities
Child Friendly Communities is an exciting new programme which aims to improve rights realisation, wellbeing and outcomes for children in the UK by embedding child rights in local communities. It builds on the success and learning from the Rights Respecting Schools Award, Baby Friendly Initiative and international Child Friendly Cities programme.
In Parliament
Our Public Affairs team works to change the policies and practices of the UK Government that are in contravention of the CRC and detrimental to children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We do this by working directly with MPs and Peers and by inviting members of the public to join us in campaigning for children’s rights.
Young People: Tagd
We also run a network for young people called Tagd. Members of Tagd campaign and lobby the Government, raise money for UNICEF’s work and spread the word about child rights.
