UNICEF
Maurice Pate (1894-1965) was UNICEF's first executive director from January 1947 until his death in January 1965, a few months before he was to retire.
The year Pate joined UNICEF, millions of children were suffering the effects of World War II. Pate had made it a condition of his service that UNICEF, founded by the United Nations in 1946 to bring relief to war-affected children, support equally those in vanquished as well as victorious countries. As a result UNICEF helped distribute milk and other supplies to children all over Europe, and soon after helped bring relief to children affected by various conflicts in China, Greece and the Middle East.
Pate saw the organization through major watersheds. The first came in 1950, when UNICEF's mandate was extended to include working with children and families throughout the developing world. Then in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Pate helped UNICEF take up the challenge of fighting poverty in the newly independent countries of the developing world.
Before joining UNICEF, Pate had worked for the US Commission for Relief in Belgium during World War I, and had organized American Relief Administration efforts to feed more than a million children in Poland after the war. He pursued a career in business until 1939 when World War II broke out, and was appointed head of the Commission for Polish Relief in 1939. He later joined the American Red Cross as director of relief supplies for prisoners of war in Europe and Asia. In 1946, he analyzed the needs of children as a member of former US President Herbert Hoover's tour to assess global food shortages.
Pate was characterized by his successor as UNICEF's architect and builder and as a great practical idealist.
UNICEF past,present and future.
1946
Food to Europe.
After World War II,European children face famine and disease.Unicef is created in December 1946 by the United Nations to provide food,clothing and health care to them.
1953
Unicef becomes permanent part of the UN.
The UN General Assembly extends Unicef's mandate indefinitely.Unicef begins a successful global campaign against yaws,a disfiguring disease affecting millions of children,and one that can be cured with penicillin.
1954
Danny Kaye
The movie star Danny Kaye become's Unicef's ''Ambassador at Large.'' His film Assignment Children,about Unicef's work in Asia,in seen by more than 100 million people.
1959
Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
The UN General Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of the Child,which defines children's rights to protection,education,health care,shelter and good nutrition.
1961
Education.
Following more than a decade of focus on child health issues,Unicef expands its interests to address the needs of the whole child.Thus begins an abiding concern with education,starting with support to teacher training and classroom equipment in newly independent countries.
1965
Nobel Peace Prize.
Unicef is awarded the 1965 Nobel Peace Prize ''for the promotion of botherhood among nations.''
1979
International Year of the child.
Marked by celebrations around the world,people and organizations reaffirm thei commitment to children's rights.
1981
Breastfeeding Code approved.
The World Health Assembly adopts the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in order to encourage breastfeeding,and in so doing diminish the threatsto infant health.
1982
Child Survival and Development Revolution.
Unicef launches a drive to save the lives of millions of children each year.The 'revolution' is based on four simple,low-cost techniques:growth monitoring,oral rehydration therapy,breastfeeding and immunization.
1987
Landmark Unicef study.
Unicef's study Adjusting with a Human Face prompts a global debate on how toprotect children and women from the malign effects of the economic adjustments and reforms taken to reduce national debt in poor countries.
1989
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Convention is adopted by the UN General Assembly.It enters into force in September 1990.It becomes the most widely-and rapidly- accepted human rights treaty in history.
1990
World Summit for Children.
An unpresedented summit of Heads of Stateand Goverment at the Unated Nations in New York City sets 10-year goals for children's health,nutrition and education.
1996
Children and conflict.
War's effect on children receives serious attention in the Marchel Report:The impact of Armed Conflict on Children, a study supported by Unicef.
1998
United Nations Security Council debates children and conflict.
The Council's first open debate on the subject reflects the strength of the international concern over the effects of the war on children.
2001
Say Yes for the Children campaign launched.
The Global Movement for Children begins mobilizing every citizenof every nation to changethe world with children.The Say Yes for Children campaign builds on the momentum,with millions of children and adults around the world pledging their support for critical actions to improve children's lives.
2002
Special Session on Children.
A landmark Special Session of the UN General Assembly was convened to review progress since the World Summit for Children in 1990 and re-energize global commitment to chiladren's rights.It was the first such Session devoted exclusively to children and the first to include them as official delegates.
UNICEF's work is carried out in 191 countries through country programmes and National Committees. Some 88 per cent of the organization's posts are located in the field. There are eight regional offices and country offices worldwide, as well as a research centre in Florence, a supply operation in Copenhagen and offices in Tokyo and Brussels. UNICEF headquarters are in New York.
