News & Commentary
Article
Increase in child and adolescent mental disorders spurs new push for action by UNICEF and WHO
PRESS RELEASE
(New York/ Geneva/Florence, 5 November 2019) With the alarmingly high rates of self-harm, suicide and anxiety among children and young people around the world, UNICEF and the World Health Organization are teaming up with some of the world’s leading minds to tackle this growing threat.
“Too many children and young people, rich and poor alike, in all four corners of the world, are experiencing mental health conditions,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “This looming crisis has no borders or boundaries. With half of mental disorders starting before age 14, we need urgent and innovative strategies to prevent, detect and, if needed, treat them at an early age.”
Article
UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival concludes on a high note
(4 November 2019) The inaugural UNICEF Innocenti Film festival concluded on a positive note on 27 October at Cinema La Compagnia in Florence. Thirty two films from 28 countries were screened over three days, receiving enthusiastic reception from audiences. Apart from the diversity and quality of the film programme, a highlight of the festival was the panel discussions which featured dialogue between film directors and UNICEF child rights research experts.
Article
UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival programme announced
(16 October 2019) A new film festival on childhood will take place from 25-27th October 2019 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival (UIFF) will present a diverse programme of films that feature narratives of childhood from all over the world. A total of 32 films representing 28 countries—Including features, documentaries, short dramas and animation—will be screened at Cinema La Compagnia, Florence.
Article
UNICEF and WHO to hold first joint consultation on young people’s mental health
(10 October, Florence) – With suicide a leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 19 years globally, and growing awareness of the scale of mental health disorders among children and young people, on 7-9 November UNICEF and WHO will convene a global consultation on child and adolescent mental health. The consultation, organized by the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, will be held in Florence and inaugurate the Leading Minds for Children and Young People annual conference on the future of childhood.
Event
UN Special Rapporteur holds expert consultation on prevention of the sale & sexual exploitation of children
(24 September 2019) The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material, Ms Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, in partnership with the UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti, will hold a two-day expert meeting in Florence. The aim of the meeting is to reflect on the current state of play of this problem, its root causes and new manifestations, as well as the relevance and the impact of interventions to eliminate the sale and sexual exploitation of children. The meeting will take place on 24th and 25th September 2019, at UNICEF Innocenti and will gather over 30 experts in child rights.
BOOKS
New catalogue of research and evidence publications on children in East Asia and the Pacific
(17 September 2019) The UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (UNICEF EAPRO) has published the first edition of the Knowledge for Children publications catalogue. The catalogue features research studies, evaluations, reviews, assessments and other reports providing evidence and knowledge on the situation of children. The publication includes works produced by the 14 country offices and their partners in the region, and by the Bangkok Regional Office, in 2017 and 2018. The catalogue includes knowledge products that focus on UNICEF EAPRO’s three areas of advocacy priority or ‘Regional Headlines.’
BOOKS
The online gaming industry and child rights
(9 September 2019) How should the booming global online gaming industry take child rights into consideration? A new UNICEF discussion paper, Child Rights and Online Gaming: Opportunities & Challenges for Children and the Industry, tackles the opportunities and challenges for children in one of the fastest growing entertainment industries. UNICEF Innocenti’s expert on digital technology and child rights, Daniel Kardefelt-Winther co-authored this discussion paper in collaboration with UNICEF’s Child Rights and Business Unit, supported by many colleagues from UNICEF country offices and national committees around the world.
PHOTOS
Diverse group of films on childhood selected for the UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival
(5 September 2019) The selection panel has completed work on the programme of films that will be showcased at the first UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival (UIFF) to be held 25 - 27 October in Florence, Italy. Some 1,174 entries were formally received from more than 100 countries and territories. UIFF is one of several special events being organized by UNICEF to commemorate three important anniveraries for children falling in 2019.
Article
Leading Minds for Children and Young People
(26 August 2018) UNICEF is launching a new annual conference: Leading Minds for Children and Young People, with an inaugural event on 7-9 November 2019 in Florence, Italy, hosted by the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. This year, the conference will focus on mental health.
BOOKS
Best of UNICEF Research 2019 Winners Announced
(26 July 2019) Now in its seventh year, the Best of UNICEF Research competition continues its tradition of inspiring rigorous and influential evidence across the global organization. Each year, UNICEF offices around the world – including country offices, regional offices, national committees, and headquarters – are invited to submit their best and most recent examples of research for children. The aim is to bring attention to work that contributes to shifting policy agendas and has a high potential for impact on policies and programmes that benefit children.
Event
Global Effort to Strengthen Available Evidence on Violence Affecting Children
(22 July 2019) Ending violence against children (EVAC) by 2030 is among the most important goals for children in the SDGs. While advocacy and political will is on the upswing, improving the availability of quality evidence, and building cooperation to scale up promising programmes to end violence represent major challenges.
Event
Multidimensional Child Poverty Training Held for Researchers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
(11 July 2019) How can we measure child poverty in the unique contexts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia? UNICEF Innocenti held a training course to introduce multidimensional child poverty measurement to national stakeholders and UNICEF country office specialists from the Europe and Central Asia region. Participants were introduced to measurement of child poverty and completed exercises using national statistics to develop nationally contextually appropriate indicators for measuring child poverty in their countries.