Press releases

Philip Goodwin, UNICEF UK Chief Executive said: “We’re so thrilled that our UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, David Beckham, has been awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours"

JUBA, 12 June 2025 – The population in two counties in South Sudan are at-risk of famine in the coming months, as conflict in Upper Nile state escalates, destroying homes, disrupting livelihoods, and impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid.

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 11 June 2025 – Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024, including around 54 million in hazardous work likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development, according to new estimates released today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.

Returning to a neonatal care unit for the first time since her own daughter was born prematurely, Oti reflected: “Seeing the work and meeting mums like Ouattara brought everything home.”

New analysis from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) exposes the stark impact of deprivation on babies and young children’s life chances across England. It reveals that where a child is born and raised up to the age of five can influence their future potential.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF condemn an attack on a joint humanitarian convoy near Al Koma, North Darfur, last night. Five members of the convoy were killed, and several more people were injured. Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged.

The Government must immediately remove the two-child limit and end the benefit cap to lift thousands of children out of poverty. Our research has shown children and families across the country are really struggling with parents borrowing money, skipping meals, children going without the essentials they need and starting school already behind their peers. Many are growing up in stressed and stretched households. Those most in need of support and protection continue to bear the brunt of difficult economic decisions.

TV, radio and podcast host Sam Thompson has teamed up with Olympic gold medallist and Soccer Aid for UNICEF stalwart Sir Mo Farah ahead of his ‘Match Ball Mission’ for Soccer Aid for UNICEF.

LONDON/FLORENCE, 14 May 2025 – Children in many of the world’s wealthiest countries saw marked declines in their academic performance, mental wellbeing, and physical health in the period since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to analysis published today by UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight.   UK joint second to last for teenage life satisfaction

06 May 2025 – Today, the leading child rights organisation, UNICEF, was announced as a Team and Charity Partner of the Clipper Race once again. The announcement came ahead of the 2025-26 race season, and marks a decade of commitment from the global yacht race to advancing child rights globally.

PORT-AU-PRINCE/ NEW YORK, 17 APRIL 2025 – Over one million children are facing critical levels of food insecurity in Haiti, UNICEF estimates. Persistent armed violence, repeated displacement, and lack of sufficient humanitarian access continue to threaten vulnerable families – while the risk of famine looms.

12 April 2025 – “Dozens of civilians, including at least 23 children, and several aid workers have reportedly been killed in North Darfur over the past few days.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie Bobby Brown met adolescent girls and young children while in São Paulo, Brazil, this week, to hear about their lives, the challenges they face, and how they are pursuing their dreams.

I have just concluded a four-day mission to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The situation is extremely concerning.

The resurgence of conflict in the province of South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has forced more than 850,000 people—nearly half of them children—to flee their homes. Many are living in precarious conditions, taking shelter in schools, churches, or in the open, with limited access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare, and education.

GENEVA/COPENHAGEN, 13 March 2025 – 127,350 measles cases were reported in the European Region in 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997, according to an analysis by WHO and UNICEF.

DHAKA/GENEVA, 11 March 2025 – “Children in the world’s largest refugee camp are experiencing the worst levels of malnutrition since the massive displacement that occurred in 2017.

DHAKA/COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh, 11 March 2025 – The number of children needing emergency treatment for severe acute malnutrition in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh has surged by 27 per cent in February 2025 compared to the same period last year, as worsening conditions push more young children into life-threatening hunger.

NEW YORK, 5 March 2025 – “Announced and anticipated funding cuts will limit UNICEF’s ability to reach millions of children in dire need.