UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

Key background information and events:

• Convention on the Rights of the Child - Chartered in 1989, one of the guiding documents for UNICEF
• State of the World's Children - Published each year with a focus on different issues. Last year the focus was an urgent call to leadership to keep Children's issues as a priority.
• Progress of Nations - A scorecard to assist governments in meeting the goals set out by world leaders
• UNGASS on Children - The UN General Assembly Special Session on Children will be held from May 8-12, 2002. The IFMSA is an accredited NGO invited to this session and will send a team of delegates to attend this event.

IFMSA's Current Status and its meaning

IFMSA has an unofficial relationship with UNICEF with communications being channeled through our designated Focal Point in UNICEF. All our correspondence and activities with UNICEF, at international, national and local levels, should be reported to our Focal Point by the IFMSA Liaison Officer.

Key contact persons

IFMSA Focal Point - UNICEF Health Section

History of collaboration

UNICEF has worked with IFMSA on various projects in the past, with contacts made independently at the regional level. We now have a more formal relationship with UNICEF Headquarters in New York - seeking to esbalish the IFSMA as a credible, valuable and unique organization driven by youth. To this end, we have been assigned a Focal Point in the Health Section of UNICEF and are in regular contact, building a sustainable relationship. UNICEF now recognizes the strength in IFMSA as advocates for youth involvement in discussions and interventions. Our working relationship with UNICEF relies on all communications - including those at the local and national level - to be channeled through our Focal Point who will then coordinate and validate our activities by communicating with the regional office.

IFMSA Projects with UNICEF support

• IFMSA Workshop on Human Rights - 1997
• Sudan I Village Concept Project - 1994 to 1997
• Burmese Refugee Project
• Maternal and Child Health Workshop - 1999
• International Stop HIV/AIDS Education Programme (Istanbul) - 1999
• Landmine Exhibition - 1997-2000

IFMSA participation in UNICEF's meetings or consultations

• June 20-23, 2000, UNICEF Workshop on IMCI (Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses), attended by Chanakya Jonnalagadda - International Coordinator of the Maternal and Child Health Workshop.

More information about UNICEF can be found on the web site: www.unicef.org