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. This report details the accomplishments and activities of UNICEF for the year 2000. The report begins with a timeline describing major accomplishments from 1990 to 2000 and the mission statement. The overview statement from the executive director pledges that UNICEF will continue to build partnerships dedicated to mobilizing the resources necessary to realize children's rights and meet their basic needs. The report next describes the Global Movement for Children as a coalition of governments, United Nations agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private sector and community groups, and families and children who are dedicated to improving children's lives. The accomplishments of UNICEF in 2000 are then detailed, including implementing immunization programs, improving access to education, providing children and adolescents with opportunities for participation in community life, and using media to reinforce health messages to children and adolescents and inform them of their rights. The report describes programs in partnership with the corporate community and delineates international celebrity spokespersons. Information is included on UNICEF's income (by source of funding) for each nation and agency. The report also delineates expenditures by sector, noting that 40 percent of expenditures are for child health and 18 percent for education. The funds targeted for particular programs are listed by program. The report concludes with contact information for various UNICEF committees. (KB)

On 20 November 2009, the global community celebrates the 20th anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the unique document that sets international standards for the care, treatment and protection of all individuals below age 18. To celebrate this landmark, the United Nations Children's Fund is dedicating a special edition of its flagship report The State of the World's Children to examining the Convention's evolution, progress achieved on child rights, challenges remaining, and actions to be taken to ensure that its promise becomes a reality for all children.

Each generation is faced with new challenges - listening for and to the views of children is one of ours. This year, The State of the World's Children focusses on the responsibility of adults to seek out the perspectives and opinions of children and to take them seriously; and on the responsibility of adults to help children and adolescents develop their competencies for authentic and meaningful participation in the world.

Jim Grant was Executive Director of UNICEF from 1980 to 1995, during which period he launched a worldwide child survival and development revolution. The practical result was that by 1995, 25 million children were alive who would otherwise have died, with millions more living with better health and nutrition. This volume contains eight articles by Jim Grant's close colleagues which draw out the lessons of Grant's vision and leadership, which have relevance in many other contexts