UNICEF Australia ANNUAL REPORT 2015 CONTENTS About UNICEF 2 President and CEO’s Report 3 The Convention on the Rights of the Child 4 Funds to Our International Programs 6 Policy and Advocacy 8 There in an Emergency 10 Child Survival 14 Education 18 Child Protection and Social Inclusion 20 Fundraising in the Community 22 Our Supporters 24 Our People 27 Summarised Financial Report 30 Financial Overview 33 Committed to Best Practice 35 Front cover: © UNICEF/UNI188958/Rich A young girl smiles during a class in the eastern Adamawa Region. Inside back cover: © UNICEF/UN03237/Ose Street children play at the Child Restoration Outreach. UNICEF Australia | 1 ABOUT UNICEF UNICEF is a leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child. Working for and with children through adolescence and into adulthood, our global presence allows us to produce results and monitor their effects. Established in the aftermath of World War II Our work is guided by the United Nations to provide food, clothing and health care Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to children facing famine and disease, the which states that every child has a right United Nations Children’s Fund has spent to survive, thrive and fulfil their potential – nearly 70 years working to improve the lives to the benefit of a better world. Guided by of children and their families. this mandate, UNICEF Australia works to advance the rights of the most disadvantaged Now more than ever, children and families both in Australia and globally, develop meaningful private sector children are in need. partnerships and raise funds to ensure improved outcomes for children. Today, the twin drivers of humanitarian need – violent conflict and the impact of climate We work to ensure the policies, laws and change – have forced more children from their practices of Australian Governments and homes than at any other time since records other institutions prioritise children’s best began. Children need us now more than ever. interests at all times. And we collaborate with counterparts globally and specialists locally UNICEF operates in 190 countries and to reach the best outcomes for children. territories to ensure the survival, protection UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary and development of children. From providing contributions of individuals, businesses, safe shelter, nutrition and protection to foundations and governments. supplying clean water and sanitation, health care and education, UNICEF works for and with children. 2 | Annual Report 2015 © UNICEF/UN05153/Dragaj PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT CHILDREN IN NEED NOW MORE THAN EVER In 2015, millions of children and families were forced from their UNICEF Australia and our supporters are an important cog in homes to flee violence, persecution, and hardship, risking their UNICEF’s global response on behalf of the most disadvantaged lives in search of safety and a better future. Other climate-related children. In 2015, we successfully gained accreditation with emergencies endangered the wellbeing of hundreds of millions the Australian Government, a recognition of our capacity and of children living in areas prone to floods, earthquakes, cyclones accountability in managing Australian Government funding. and other natural disasters. A number of our programs are highlighted in this Annual Report including findings from two evaluations undertaken in Laos and As the headlines remind us daily, these conflicts and disasters Ethiopia. Our engagement with parliamentary processes and key are multiplying. Last year in Nepal two massive earthquakes left influencers has helped introduce positive additional safeguards more than 1 million children requiring humanitarian aid. UNICEF for Australia’s children in both policy and law. acted swiftly, using pre-positioned supplies to deliver tents and tarpaulins, provide water trucking services, and administer water We would like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts purification tablets and hygiene kits. Closer to home, Cyclone of UNICEF Australia staff over the past year and our Board Pam wreaked havoc across Vanuatu and other Pacific island members for their dedication towards realising the rights of nations and UNICEF worked to ensure that more than 50,000 every child. We consider it a privilege to work alongside you. school-age children returned to class. The Syrian Conflict in all its complexity continues to be the most significant humanitarian And finally, our thanks goes to the many Australians and crisis impacting the world today. As countless Syrians flee Australian businesses who give life to the work we do to conflict, the effects are felt in neighbouring countries and uphold children’s rights everywhere, especially among the across Europe. most disadvantaged. These individuals, families and workforces continue to drive progress, and it is thanks to their support, Never before have so many emergencies put so many children we can continue our life-saving work. Given the continuing in danger. But while the challenges are enormous, so too are challenges so many children face, we need your support the opportunities to save not only lives but also the futures now more than ever. of millions of children. Children need us now more than ever. The progress we have seen in the last 25 years is immense. The number of children dying before their fifth birthday has declined from 12.7 million in 1990 to 5.9 million in 2015. But we can and must do better. That’s why, in 2015, UN member states Adrian Graham John Stewart adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint UNICEF Australia UNICEF Australia to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity. Acting Chief Executive President UNICEF Australia | 3 THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ARTICLE 01 ARTICLE 10 ARTICLE 18 If you’re under 18, you are A child should be where Parents must share the a child, and you have rights. its family is – all together. responsibility of raising their children and be supported ARTICLE 02 by society to do so. No matter the race, religion, ARTICLE 11 ability, family unit, or the No one can take a child illegally. ARTICLE 19 things they think and say, Laws must protect children a child has rights. ARTICLE 12 from being hurt or mistreated. ARTICLE 03 Children can give an opinion and those with power should ARTICLE 20 Everyone must work toward listen. what is best for a child. Respect for a child’s cultural background must be considered if they can’t be cared for by ARTICLE 04 ARTICLE 13 their family. Governments must help children Children have the right to be realise their rights. shown, share and shape ideas and information, as long as it ARTICLE 21 causes no harm. If adopted by another family, ARTICLE 05 the best interests of the child Families must help protect must be the first consideration. children’s rights and be guided ARTICLE 14 by Government to do so. Children can choose what to believe in, with guidance from ARTICLE 22 their family about what’s right If a refugee, a child should be ARTICLE 06 and wrong. Children have the right to live protected by his/her host country. a full life. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily. ARTICLE 15 ARTICLE 23 Children can join groups and Children with disability need ARTICLE 07 make friends of their choosing. care and support to live a full life. A name and place to call home is every child’s right. ARTICLE 16 ARTICLE 24 Children have a right to privacy. Good health, clean water and ARTICLE 08 nutritious food are a child’s right. A child must have an identity and an official record of it. ARTICLE 17 ARTICLE 25 The mass media has a Living arrangements for children ARTICLE 09 responsibility to provide in State care must be regularly Children should not be separated information children understand reviewed. from their parents unless it is in and protect them from their best interests. information they don’t. 4 | Annual Report 2015 © UNICEF/UN03212/Ose ARTICLE 26 ARTICLE 32 ARTICLE 38 Governments must help Children must be safe from work Children should be protected children who go without. that harms them or threatens from war. Those 15 years and their education. younger must not serve in armed forces. ART ICLE 27 All children must have their basic needs met, no matter how ARTICLE 33 ARTICLE 39 Children who have been disadvantaged or marginalised. Children must be made safe from dangerous drugs. neglected or abused have the right to receive help to recover ARTICLE 28 and have their dignity restored. All children have the right to a free and fair education. ARTICLE 34 Children should be safe from ARTICLE 40 sexual abuse. Children who break the law must be given fair treatment and jailed ART ICLE 29 only as a last resort for the most Education should develop serious of offences. a child to participate fully ARTICLE 35 in their community. Children should be safe from ARTICLE 41 being abducted or sold. If a country’s laws better protect a child’s rights, it should take ARTICLE 30 precedence to the Convention. It’s a child’s right to speak their language and practice their own ARTICLE 36 culture. Children should be safe from ARTICLE 42 exploitation. Children must know and ARTICLE 31 have access to their rights. Children have the right to play and rest. ARTICLE 37 ARTICLE 43-45 Children must be safe from These articles set out how society being cruelly punished. works to protect children’s rights. UNICEF Australia | 5 Humanitarian Emergencies $439,811 Humanitarian Emergencies $4,156,383 Education Child Protection Health $17,889 $25,000 Child $939,740 Protection Humanitarian $69,226 Emergencies Education $118,003 $581,757 Health Humanitarian Emergencies $354,631 Education $58,389 $20,631 Nutrition Education $1,296,838 Humanitarian $174,413 Emergencies FUNDS TO OUR $1,465,640 Nutrition INTERNATIONAL $20,388 Water, Sanitation PROGRAMS and Hygiene (WASH) $290,593 WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST In 2015, UNICEF Australia distributed $21,494,463 to international programs.