NEW YORK, JUNE 14 – The 2022 annual session of UNICEF Executive Board is underway at the UN in person for the first time since the first COVID-19 lockdown. Board President Rodrigo A. Carazo of Costa Rica opened the meeting followed by opening remarks by UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell. Italy’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, spoke on behalf of Italy: “We heard your call #ForEveryChild, this is why Italy increased this year its core resources and support to UNICEF programs”, he said.
Massari welcomed UNICEF’s plan to further strengthen its presence at the Innocenti Center in Florence and looked forwards to hosting Director General Russell in Rome next week. He stressed that Italy increased its support to UNICEF’s programs across the board, providing additional support to UNICEF thematic programs besides the core resources, including on COVID-19 immunization.
“Fragility can spread, but so can resilience, solidarity, and progress”, said Russell, highlighting the intensifying risks to children, but also the strength of UNICEF to meet these challenges and deliver on its mission: “We do so because every child is equally precious, equally deserving of the chance to make the most of their lives. And we do this because it is the surest way to secure a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future for everyone.” Russell is back in New York after an impressive schedule of travel to visit children and UNICEF staff around the world.
The Executive Board is the governing body of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), providing intergovernmental support and oversight to the organization. The 2022 Annual Session will be held in-person from 14 to 17 June 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters. (@OnuItalia)
