(2nd meeting) UNICEF Executive Board, First regular session 2026 - Economic and Social Council

Thank you. Thank you very much.

So, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning again. It is my pleasure to call on order and welcome you to the first regular session of UNICEF Executive Board 2026. We will begin this morning with agenda item one, which is the adoption of Agenda.

The provisional annotated agenda, timetable and organization of work for the session can be found in document E ICEF2026 1 rev1, which is available on the Documents page of the Executive Board website. I would like to bring to your attention a request recently received from the Secretariat Under Agenda Item 4B. UNICEF Country Program Documents Extensions of Ongoing Country Programs. The Board is being requested to approve an extension of a Gulf area sub regional program. This request has been communicated to the Bureau representing the regional groups and no objections have been received.

Once the agenda has been adopted this morning, I will kindly request the UNICEF Secretariat to proceed with revisions of provisional annotated agenda, timetable and organization of work and the extensions of ongoing country programs. I now invite the Secretary of Executive Board, Mr. Andres Francois, to introduce the agenda and the conduct of business for the session. Sir, you have a floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. The details of the program have been published on the website for the Executive Board. They were also presented on the 26th of January of 2026 during. During the session, prior to the session and they have been published in the UN Journal.

I'm now pleased to inform you that Today, on the Tuesday 10th of February and tomorrow 11 of February, we will hold meetings in the morning from 10 hours to 13 hours and in the afternoon from 15 hours to 17 hours.

On Thursday the 12th of February, we hope to hold meetings only in the morning, from 10 in the morning to 13 hours in the afternoon. If there are changes in the calendar, we will announce them periodically throughout the session. The updated program for each day will be available on the United Nations Journal website. Please remember that the President will give you the floor based on the following order. First, members of the Executive Board of UNICEF that wish to take the floor, and we will organize them by rank.

Second, representatives of regional groups of the United nations that intervene on behalf of their groups or would like to present joint statements and they will be organized by rank. Third, permanent representatives to the United nations that have sent in advance and in a timely fashion a written request to the Secretariat in order to take the floor. We will prioritize members of the Executive Board, followed by observers, and in fourth and final place, written requests that were sent beforehand and were received after the deadline, followed by requests of all those present that were sent through our electronic system, and we will listen to them on a first come, first served basis. Your microphone will start to blink to let speakers know that they have a minute to wrap up their statement, and microphones will be automatically turned off once your time has been exhausted. Whether this is three minutes or five minutes.

The time limits and turning off the microphone automatically will be applied throughout the session.

We had asked to send your request to take the floor through our online form before the end of Friday 6th of February, 2026, Eastern Standard Time. All requests that were received before the deadline were included in our speakers list that published on the webpage of the Executive Board on Monday. Moving forward, the updated list of speakers will be available on the wall of this conference room before the beginning of our day's work. In order to make our work efficient, we need your cooperation. We invite delegations that have still not sent their request to take the floor to send them as soon as possible.

We would like to ask delegations that will be speaking during the session to send electronic versions to my colleague, Mr. Nogil Saret Vyar. His email is on the screen, if possible, two hours before delivery. As a minimum, please include the title of the agenda item in the statement heading and in the email subject line. Once you have sent this request to the Secretariat, your statements will be considered confidential and embargoed until delivered. Afterwards, they will be published on the webpage of the Executive Board and the United Nations Journal.

We ask all delegations to please respect the time limit during their statements. Extended versions of your statements as they were sent to the Secretariat and the Executive Boarder. The Executive Board will be published on the webpage of the Board. We would like to invite delegations that would just like to act as observers during the session instead of participants to follow our deliberations through UN Web tv. We hope to establish a discussion with all of you during the following days in order to make this session in 2026 a productive one.

Thank you very much, President Secretary, for his remarks. Would any delegation like to comment on the provisional agenda?

If not, then I take it that the Executive Board wishes to adopt the Provisional Annotated Agenda Timetable and Organization of Work Document E ICEF2026 1Rev.1. So, if there is no objection, it is so decided.

Distinguished delegates, in accordance with Rule 50 and the Annex to the Rules of Procedure, I now ask the Secretary of the Board to inform us of observer delegations that have communicated to the Secretariat their wish to participate in the session.

Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The Secretariat has so far received credentials from 47 observer delegations, one intergovernmental organization, one international organization, six non governmental organizations and six national committees for UNICEF. The delegations that have not yet submitted their credentials are requested to share them with us as soon as possible by completing the online credentials accreditation form, as well as informing Ms. Tian Ruby Lu when this has been done so that we can take timely action. The accreditation form is linked in the information Note which has been published on the documents page for the first regular session on the UNICEF Executive Board website. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the Secretary for his remarks. We have now concluded our discussions under this agenda item. Let's move to agenda item two.

And here we have opening statements by the President of Executive Board and the Executive Director of unicef.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to serve as President of the executive board for 2026 and I look forward to working closely with all delegations in a spirit of cooperation, transparency and shared responsibility for the world's children. We are meeting at a time of profound and intersecting challenges. Conflict, climate shocks, economic uncertainty and widening inequalities continue to place children at risk while also testing the resilience of national systems and the multilateral framework. We stir together. A significant funding gap has compelled UNICEF to undertake difficult prioritization of resources and has undermined global programs in education, health, nutrition and protection.

The UNICEF mandate has never been more vital and this Board's guidance has never been more consequential. Allow me to briefly highlight the key elements of our agenda for this session. We will consider the UNICEF financial statements for 2024 and report of the Board of Auditors and Management Response. The private Fundraising and partnerships work plan and proposed budget for 2026 updates on the World Bank Mechanism for Private sector fundraising, on the work of the UNICEF National Committees on Humanitarian Action and Emergency Preparedness and on governance and oversight. In Follow up to 2024 Joint Inspection Unit Report, the board will review eight new country program documents and the extensions of ongoing programs, ensuring that UNICEF support remains responsive to national priorities, focused on results and grounded in evidence and equity.

We will also consider a global Plan for evaluations, 2026, 2029 and an evaluation report and management response. These deliberations are not procedural exercises. They shape how effectively UNICEF can deliver for children, especially those who are hardest to reach, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, efficiency and result based management. I would once again like to congratulate my colleagues for who were recently elected as Vice Presidents on the 2026 board Ambassador Tesla Mariam, Eritrea Johannes Dottir, Iceland Al Kadhiri, Oman and Ben Kosum Castanhos, Dominican Republic. I look forward to our collaboration in support of the UNICEF mission.

I wish to thank all those whose tireless efforts have contributed to organization of this session, the United Nations Documentation and Conference, servicing staff and the UNICEF Executive Director, senior management team and experts. On behalf of the Board, I wish to express our deep appreciation to the UNICEF staff worldwide. In particular, I would like to recognize the colleagues serving in hardship duty stations from Ukraine to Afghanistan and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Myanmar. Your professionalism, courage and unwavering commitment to children and communities under the most difficult circumstances are the foundation of the organization's credibility and impact. We are very grateful for your service.

Looking ahead, this year's presidency will be guided by several priorities, including support for effective and inclusive governance by facilitating focused, well prepared and solution oriented Board discussions. Beyond the program of work, I'm keenly interested in exploring how the issue of innovation in education, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve accessibility and quality of education, can be considered by the Board. Working closely with the Secretariat, I plan to be actively engaged in the Organization of UNICEF commemoration of its 80th anniversary later this year. With the Board's involvement, this milestone can be leveraged to further strengthen the UNICEF brand, to deepen its partnerships and to further its mission. It will offer an opportunity to reflect on the organization's work on behalf of children over the past eight decades, to honor its history and to inspire future success.

I'm confident that working together, we can ensure that UNICEF remains fit for purpose and steadfast in its mission to uphold the rights and well being of every child. I thank you.

I now invite Ms. Katherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, to make some opening remarks. Please, you have a floor.

Great. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I appreciate it.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, It's a real pleasure to welcome you to the first regular session of the UNICEF Executive Executive Board for 2026. I'd like to extend my congratulations to the President and Vice Presidents of the Board and my sincere appreciation to the Bureau for your leadership and continued engagement. We value your guidance, your oversight and your partnership. To say that we are meeting at a moment of significant transition for the world, for the multilateral system and for UNICEF is quite an understatement. In the last year, we have seen challenges to the future of the multilateral system, to the value and effectiveness of international aid, and ultimately to the world's collective responsibility to care for those most in need, especially children.

The world is changing rapidly and that change is not temporary. The challenges facing children are immense, becoming ever more complex, more constrained and more polarized. Together, we must ensure that UNICEF remains effective, trusted and focused on delivering results for children, particularly those living in the most fragile and crisis affected settings. And of course, how we responsibly manage the risks we face every single day. Over the coming days, you will consider a full agenda that reflects both our ambition and our accountability.

This includes updates on humanitarian action and UN reform, the essential role of evaluations to drive consumption, continuous improvement and strategic discussions on finance, partnerships and governance. We will take critical decisions on Country Program documents and hear from a panel of experts on several of the CPDs. I would like to emphasize here that UNICEF Country Program documents are carefully negotiated with Member States. They are essential for ensuring accountability between UNICEF and government partners and between UNICEF and the Executive Board. They are also consistent with the broader cooperation frameworks while adding critical detail and commitment in specific program areas.

I appreciate your careful attention to these essential documents. The CPD discussions this session will focus on health. Despite remarkable progress on child survival over the last three decades, 2025 could be the first year this century where child deaths will have increased, reversing generations of progress. Child and maternal health continue to be key priorities for unicef. Our new Global center of Excellence in Nairobi focuses on child survival.

It brings together our technical assets in health, nutrition and wash to provide top level expertise and knowledge to countries burdened with high levels of child and maternal mortality excellencies. As you know, the global environment for children remains extremely extraordinarily difficult. Conflict, climate shocks, economic instability and inequality place enormous pressure on children, families and communities. The humanitarian situation facing children today is among the most severe we have ever seen. More than 200 million children across 130 countries need humanitarian assistance in 2026.

Last year saw the highest number of verified group grave violations against children on record. These violations include horrendous acts, killings, abductions and sexual violence against children. At the same time, famine re emerged in 2025 when two famines were declared simultaneously, an unprecedented and deeply alarming development. Beyond these formal famine declarations, millions more children suffer from malnutrition and are living one shock away from life threatening catastrophes. Yet even as the needs grow, we see resources shrink.

Abrupt, severe funding cuts are forcing impossible choices across humanitarian operations. Which lives do we prioritize as we limit supplies, reduce the frequency of services and scale back interventions that children depend on to survive? Despite these constraints, UNICEF continues to Deliver. Last year, our teams and partners responded to emergencies across more than 100 countries reaching tens of millions of children with life saving health care, nutrition, immunization, education, protection, safe water and sanitation. We do this at a global scale because we are present before crises strike, because we work through national and local systems, and because we have decades of experience in saving children's lives.

This is why UNICEF is sharpening our humanitarian focus, prioritizing the most vulnerable children, investing in preparedness and anticipatory action, and strengthening the systems that protect children before crises escalate. We are strengthening partnerships working through UN 80 and the humanitarian reset to pool common services, to combine efforts on humanitarian diplomacy, to develop an integrated supply chain and and to collaborate on shared data to strengthen early warning and rapid response. Excellencies this humanitarian reality is unfolding at a time when official development assistance is also undergoing a structural shift. This is not a temporary downturn. In this context, flexible funding matters more than ever.

These regular resources are the foundation that allow UNICEF to respond quickly to emergencies, to support sustainability, sustainable long term solutions and to ensure critical oversight functions. I want to recognize those partners who have demonstrated leadership during this period. It includes those governments that have sustained or increased their regular resource contributions despite fiscal pressure and national committees whose fully flexible support represents an extraordinary vote of trust in UNICEF's mission. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the national committees of Japan, Japan, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Spain and France, among the largest contributors to UNICEF's regular resources. Of course, the impact of national committees extends well beyond funding.

They are powerful advocates for children's rights, mobilizing public engagement and partnerships. One example of that is the Republic of Korea where the National Committee partnered with global artists and private sector to promote youth mental health reaching millions of children while raising significant resources for UNICEF's work. Excellencies in this complex global environment, UNICEF is delivering for children in crisis settings and beyond. We are supporting countries to protect development gains in health and education, to recover from shocks and to strengthen resilience. The ability to bridge humanitarian action and development, to move from emergency response to longer term system strengthenings remains one of UNICEF's defining strengths.

This is a foundation of our new strategic plan endorsed by this board last year. The plan is ambitious, but it is grounded in how we work and in what we know works. It sharpens our focus on five impact results for children, health and nutrition education, child protection, safe water and sanitation and social policy that supports children. And it aligns delivery with the enablers required to achieve them, including financing for scale, digital transformation and solid governance. In addition, we are advancing UNICEF's own future focused reforms to increase effectiveness and efficiency across the organization.

We are focusing on reductions at headquarters and regional levels while prioritizing our work for children at the country level. These efforts have involved very difficult decisions, affecting many of our dedicated staff members. The Global Centers of Excellence I mentioned earlier will strengthen technical support to countries. These centers are already operational, responding to country demand. UNICEF is committed to technical excellence, innovation and ensuring that our work remains agile and focused on impact.

Delivering for every child means finding ways to leverage our capacity to do more with what we have. A decade ago, UNICEF established the Global Shared Services center in Budapest to reduce administrative costs, assure quality and help manage risk. Today, we are scaling that model, centralizing functions such as recruitment, contracting and travel administration, which is freeing capacity in country offices to focus on delivery for children. We are also extending this leadership across the UN system in line with the Secretary General's Union. UN 80 reforms, something we will speak about tomorrow with Under Secretary Guy Reiner.

We are actively engaged in UN 80 reform efforts at the executive level. At regional and country levels, our teams are fully engaged and our contributions are anchored in what we see every day in our country operations. Excellencies. This session also reflects our commitment to accountability and to learning. As I have said many times at these board meetings, I am committed to creating an environment in which we constantly assess, evaluate and look for ways to improve our work.

At this session, you will take a deep look at an evaluation on early childhood development and on education. In closing, let me return to the reason we're all here. Children. UNICEF is present in more than 190 countries, working with governments, partners and communities to give every child a fair chance, no matter where they live or who they are. The choices we make about funding, reform and partnership will shape what is possible for children in the years ahead.

My top priorities over the next year are to ensure that UNICEF is truly fit for the future, that we are financially stable, that we build new and creative partnerships to reach children, particularly those who are most vulnerable, including girls and children with disabilities. We must never lose sight of our mandate endorsed by this board to do everything in our power to reach every child. Thank you for your partnership, for your leadership and your continued commitment to the world's children.

I thank executive director Ms. Russell for her remarks. Thank you very much, distinguished delegates.

I now open the floor for the general national statements and delegations are kindly reminded that their statements should remain within the agreed time limits. Three minutes for individual delegations speaking in their national capacity and five minutes for delegations speaking on behalf of United nations regional groups or for joint statements of two or more member states. Microphones will start blinking to alert speakers one minute before the end of their allotted time, and speakers will be muted after their time has ended at either the end of the three minutes or the end of five minutes. I now give a floor to the Distinguished Delegate of Iceland,

Executive Director, Distinguished colleagues, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Bureau of the UNICEF Executive Board as we open the first regular session of 2026. We do so at a moment of both reflection and responsibility for the United nations system and for unicef.

This year's deliberations take place against the backdrop of the UN 80 process, ongoing reform efforts and a global environment marked by protected conflicts, humanitarian crisis, climate related shocks and growing inequalities that continue to disproportionately affect children. UNICEF today operates in some of the most challenging contexts in the world, from active conflict zones and fragile states to regions facing recurrent natural disasters and severe economic stress. In many of these settings, UNICEF staff and partners deliver life saving services to under extremely difficult conditions. The Bureau wishes to acknowledge and commend their dedication, professionalism and resilience in ensuring that children's rights, protection and well being remain at the centre of the international community's efforts. For UNICEF, 2026 is a particularly significant year.

The Organization is implementing its strategic plan while adapting to organisational changes, evolving operational demands and a constrained and uncertain funding landscape. In this context, the Bureau underscores the importance of maintaining a clear focus on UNICEF's core mandate grounded in the Convention of the Rights of the Child and of prioritizing impact for the most vulnerable children. We attach particular importance to the UN80 process as an opportunity to strengthen the effectiveness, coherence and accountability of the United nations system as a whole. For unicef, this means continuing to adapt its structures and ways of working, reinforcing cooperation across the UN system and ensuring that reform efforts translate into tangible improvements at country level. Efficiency gains and organizational adjustments must ultimately serve one purpose, delivering better results for children.

The Bureau also stresses the value of constructive, inclusive and consensus based engagement within the Executive Board. The Board plays a critical role in providing strategic guidance, oversight and support to UNICEF while respecting the organization's technical and humanitarian mandate. We encourage all members to approach discussions in a spirit of cooperation, keeping children's needs at the forefront and avoiding the politicization of issues that are fundamentally about child survival, development and dignity. In closing, the Bureau reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Executive Director and the Secretariat in ensuring a smooth, effective and forward looking Executive Board process throughout the year. We look forward to working closely with all delegations to advance UNICEF's mission and to strengthen the organization's capacity to deliver for children everywhere.

Thank you. Thank you. Distinguished representative of Iceland. Next speaker on my list is Oman. You have a floor.

Thank you, Mr. President Sayyid Al Raeeshabsaadam with three dual President, distinguished delegates, participants, My delegation has the pleasure of congratulating you at this opening of this first session of the UNICEF Executive Board for 2026. I also have the pleasure of congratulating the Eastern Republic of Estonia and your excellencies for presiding over this board and we wish you every success.

We hope that this body will continue to play its crucial role in protecting the rights of children and promoting their well being throughout the world, especially in light of the increasing challenges throughout the world today. My delegation would like to express its. Appreciation for you and member States who. Given us our trust as the Vice President of the Executive Board. That's a great responsibility for us we take very seriously.

My delegation would like to work together with the presidency of the Board and all Member States in a spirit of partnership, cooperation and consensus to strengthen of the Board and to support the leading role of UNICEF in developing strategic policies as well as orienting international programs linked to childhood. Oman will continue to align its policies and its national programs with the SDGs as well as the vision of Oman 2040 which places great importance on early childhood programs, education, inclusive education, preventive health, social protection and the empowerment of the most vulnerable groups in order to strengthen the capacity of children to grow up in prosperous and safe environments. The 55th anniversary of the strategic partnership with UNICEF. This partnership will be renewed through a comprehensive list of programs and activities. Common activities, especially the implementation of the Country Program 2026 2030.

This program is based on an approach that's focused on the entire life cycle with a comprehensive vision for human development Starting in early childhood. We are going to strengthen the inclusion of children with disabilities and other programs with regard to data systems and knowledge generation, as well as digital tools and other national measures. Mr. President, we strongly support the efforts of UNICEF, especially in the occupied Palestinian territories and other areas affected by conflict. We underscore the importance of guaranteeing urgent protection to children access, humanitarian access that is unhindered while upholding humanitarian law and preserving the rights to education and health care of all in these areas. In closing, we support UNICEF and its noble mission and we are will strive in the future for a more just and prosperous Future for all children in all the world.

Thank you. I thank distinguished representative of Oman. Next speaker on my list is Dominican Republic.

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, Distinguished members of the Executive Board. On behalf of the Dominican Republic, I would like to thank the Executive Director for her presentation and for highlighting issues that are critical to our organization. This includes reforms from UN 80, the humanitarian situation and the evaluation of national programs. We especially value your emphasis on the importance of flexible financing and new partnerships given the fact that traditional resources are diminishing, as well as recognizing the essential role of national committees. As Vice President of grille, I would also like to recognize the work that UNICEF is doing under your leadership.

Specifically the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2026, 2029 and efforts within the framework of the Future Focus Initiative. These steps are absolutely critical to mobilize organization and keep it relevant. The regional workshop of Gurlife that we hosted in Santo Domingo last year allowed us to consolidate the priorities of Latin America and the Caribbean for this strategic cycle. Among them, we would like to highlight the importance of national leadership in order to ensure appropriation and the sustainability of our actions. Urgent actions to rural children and indigenous children, protecting mental health, preventing all types of violence and reducing school dropout rates among boys, as well as closing the educational gap.

We would also like to highlight the central role of south, south and Triangular cooperation as an engine to widen regional innovation and face common challenges such as change, climate, climate change. With the support of unicef, we would like to reiterate the importance of strengthening predictable and flexible resources in order to consolidate our achievements, especially in the context of crises and inequality. Reducing official assistance threatens our achievements, especially in the context of the climate crisis and inequality. We need resilient systems that value local knowledge. In this sense, in my national capacity as well as as Vice President of Groulac, we would like to reiterate our commitment to work actively in the Executive Board.

We are committed to collaborating in order to achieve UNICEF's goals so that your work can reach all our boys and girls without leaving anyone behind. Thank you very much.

I thank our distinguished representative of Dominican Republic. Next speaker on my list is ICELAND national capacity.

Mr. President, thank you for giving me the floor.

Madam Executive Director, let me begin by expressing Iceland's appreciation to UNICEF for its unwavering commitment to the rights and well being of children in an increasingly complex and challenging global environment that is putting children at unprecedented risk. We acknowledge UNICEF's critical role in humanitarian crisis and extend our thanks to UNICEF staff operating in some of the world's most fragile settings. They deliver life saving assistance to children and their families such as access to safe water and sanitation facilities, necessary basic services to keep children alive. We also recognize the important part UNICEF plays in linking humanitarian response to recovery and longer term development. Iceland values the focus that UN UNICEF places on protecting and promoting the rights of adolescent girls.

We recognize how crucial this is to achieve the objectives of the Strategic Plan. Advancing gender equality is an effective strategy for transforming societies and promoting equity. It also strengthens economies and reduces poverty, delivering results for all children. At the same time, we are greatly concerned by the increasingly challenging funding outlook facing UNICEF and the wider UN development system. Iceland remains committed to providing predictable and flexible funding.

This includes core contributions and thematic funding such as to the Gender Thematic Fund that we have seen yield great results. We encourage continued efforts to broaden and diversify the funding base. This may include using innovative financing mechanisms and new partnerships while safeguarding UNICEF's core mandate. Madam Executive Director, Iceland supports the ongoing UNAD reform agenda and appreciates the information provided by UNICEF on the process so far and we hope to continue the engagement on that matter. We recognize that the UN 80 program process is an opportunity for UNICEF to shape the future operating model of the UN system, including strengthened country level configuration and coordination.

It can also strengthen its own ability to deliver for children at scale. We acknowledge the efforts of UNICEF through the Future Focus Initiative that will align the organization to deliver on the ambitious commitments outlined in the new Strategic Plan. Both processes are essential to ensure that limited resources are used strategically and deliver tangible outcomes. We would, however, appreciate more information on the interlinkages between these different initiatives and how the agency is ensuring that they are mutually reinforcing. In closing, allow me to reaffirm Iceland's commitment to its partnership with unicef.

We stand ready to continue working with you to ensure children's rights and that every child can thrive.

I thank our distinguished representative of Iceland. Next speaker on my list is Lao People democratic republic. Please.

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, distinguished colleagues. I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, and the Bureau on your election and thanking the Executive Director for her comprehensive review of UNICEF work, including updates on unity reforms, humanitarian action and the evaluation of COUNTRY Program documents, among others. The LA PDR values its strong partnership with UNICEF which continues to deliver tangible results for children and strengthen national systems. The COUNTRY Program's priorities align well with our National Socio Economic Development Plan, focusing on the first 1000 days of life learning and skills development, adolescent empowerment and ensuring children and families live in safe, clean and sustainable environments. We appreciate UNICEF's focus on early childhood development and education, recognizing the importance of integrated and evidence based approaches for building long term human capital.

We also support its efforts to prevent violence against children, aligning with our five year National Plan of Action on this issue. Additionally, we welcome UNICEF's emphasis on addressing climate related shocks by linking humanitarian actions with preparedness and resilient national systems. Mr. President, Madam Executive Director With a sharp decline in ODA in 2025 and further reductions projected for 2026, critical health, nutrition and education programs in the Lao PDR are under strain as we also prepare for LDC graduation later this year in connection with the UNHAT initiative. While aiming at enhancing collaboration and efficiency and navigating current financial constraints, we need to ensure that reforms do not compromise effectiveness in delivery on the ground for children in need. In light of this, we stress the importance of predictable and flexible resources and sustained technical support to protect services for children and safeguard progress in education and protection, as well as to strengthen resilience against climate change and disaster risks.

To conclude, my delegation reaffirms its commitment to working closely with UNICEF and partners to advance children's rights and well being, creating a brighter for more equitable future for all. I thank you.

I thank our distinguished representative of Laos People Democratic Republic. Our next speaker is Sweden.

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director will We are very pleased that the new Strategic Plan provides a strong basis for UNICEF's work, but we are also acutely aware that its implementation takes place in a very challenging context, not least as regards funding. This requires even more focus on setting firm priorities and finding ways of increasing cost, efficiency and effectiveness and efforts to secure new and diversified sources of financing. In a world Torn by conflict, UNICEF's stands with children when systems collapse and violence shatters everyday life through protection, education, health and humanitarian aid, UNICEF ensures that children are not forgotten in crises and that recovery also includes them. The pushback on human rights is a strong concern. UNICEF has an essential normative role to play in this regard in partner countries and in multilateral fora.

Sweden welcomes a focus on girls in all the areas of impact of the Strategic Plan. We would especially like to emphasize the issue of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Sweden strongly supports the Secretary General's Unity initiative and expects UNICEF to engage fully with a clear focus on improved delivery at country level. As new initiatives are introduced and developed, the pace of implementation of previously agreed measures must accelerate. This includes measures such as the UN country team reconfiguration and and the establishment of common back offices.

We expect more decisive progress as well as Continued clear updates on the actions undertaken. In December last year, Sweden and UNICEF signed a multi year agreement amounting to approximately US$85 million annually for the next three years. Sweden maintains a high level of funding for UNICEF's core resources. In line with the funding compact, we encourage UNICEF to explore ways of further incentivizing core support from donors. In addition to the core resources agreement, the Swedish International Development Corporation agency CEDAC continues to provide extensive support for UNICEF development and humanitarian work, including several thematic funds and flexible country program support in several countries.

The support reflects our trust in UNICEF and our high expectations that the funding will translate into clear and measurable results at country level. Transparency, sound risk management and accountability must remain key priorities. Sweden also continues to support UNICEF's global Office of Innovation in Stockholm. The strengthening of innovation in close partnership with the private sector is key for delivering stronger impact. In closing, we would like to express our great appreciation to UNICEF staff's dedicated efforts and steadfast commitment also during times of challenging adjustment to promote and protect children's rights.

I thank you. I thank our distinguished representative of Sweden. Next speaker is Georgia, followed by Slovenia and Ukraine. Georgia, you have a floor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Madam Executive Director, at the outset, allow me to express that it is a great honor for Georgia to join the UNICEF Executive Board as a new member. We look forward to immense contributions contributing to its work. Let me assure you of my delegation's full support in carrying out Executive Board's important mandate. My delegation congratulates the President and the Vice Presidents of the Executive Board on their election. Georgia highly appreciates UNICEF's work and values our long standing and productive cooperation.

We reaffirm our strong support for UNICEF's mandate and express our appreciation for its continued efforts to advance the protection of the rights of the child, address children's basic needs and promote opportunities to reach their full potential. Protecting children's rights and ensuring their well being is one of the main priorities of the Government of Georgia. The adoption of the Code of the Rights of the Child significantly strengthens the legal framework for the protection of the children. UNICEF has been a critical supporter and valuable partner for the Government of Georgia and various initiatives aimed at advancing child rights and welfare. This partnership has been instrumental in driving significant legislative and structural reforms over the last decade.

UNICEF's work bears particular importance in supporting peaceful conflict resolution and fostering the confidence building between the communities divided by the occupation line as well as addressing the grave humanitarian and human human rights challenges of the conflict affected areas and people. We are also pleased to note that the well coordinated process which led us to development of a new country program document For Georgia for 2026, 2030 also characterizes the collaboration with UNICEF. We look forward for the adoption of the document. In conclusion, once again, thank you and look forward to active actively participating in the work of the UNICEF Executive Board. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Georgia. Next speaker is Slovenia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Dear Executive Director, colleagues, I want to start the same way as my colleagues started, in the same way that you, Executive Director and the President started. And this is by recognizing that today we gather at a moment of profound challenges and responsibility. In 2026, more than 200 million children will need humanitarian assistance across the world. Sudan has become the world's largest child displacement crisis with over 15 million children in need of humanitarian assistance.

In Gaza, despite ceasefire, children are killed. In Ukraine, children are freezing during the constant attacks with deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, ethnically motivated mass killings, conflict related sexual violence, starvation as a method of warfare and obstruction of humanitarian access. International humanitarian law is under unprecedented strain. In the face of this reality, UNICEF's humanitarian mission stands as both a moral commitment and a practical lifeline. UNICEF exists for one reason.

To protect the rights and well being of every child everywhere, especially in the most difficult circumstances. In emergencies, UNICEF is often among the first to respond and the last to leave. From delivering life saving vaccines and clean water, to reuniting families, providing education in emergencies and protecting children from violence and exploitation, UNICEF's work is rooted in the belief that even in crisis, children must not be forgotten. We must always acknowledge children as rights holders in accordance with the UN Convention on Rights of the Child. Today's humanitarian landscape is changing rapidly.

Not in the positive direction. Crises are more frequent, more complex, more protracted attacks on humanitarian principles, on humanitarian workers, cuts in funding, politicization of aid and mounting operational risks are undermining our ability to reach people in greatest need, especially children. The Humanitarian Reset is a call to rethink how we respond to crises by improving efficiency and effectiveness. It recognizes the humanitarian action must be more locally led, more accountable to affected communities and better connected to long term development and peace. Slovenia underlies the need to strengthen partnership with local organizations, national governments and frontline responders who know their communities best.

It is investing in preparedness and early action so crises can be mitigated before they become catastrophes. The challenges before us are immense, but so is our collective capacity to act. When we invest in children, we invest in resilience, recovery and more peaceful future. In closing, Sloveniary firms is Confidence in.

I thank our distinguished representative of Slovenia. I now give a floor to Ukraine, followed by Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan. Ukraine, you have a floor.

Dear Mr. President Tamsar, Ukraine would like to congratulate you on your election and wish you all the success in guiding the Executive Board to meet the unprecedented challenges that we face. Madam Executive Director Russell, I'm grateful for your strategic briefing and your leadership in skillfully navigating the stormy waters in which UNICEF must operate.

Ukraine highly values excellent cooperation with UNICEF and the contribution of the Fund in addressing the grave humanitarian consequences of Russia's full scale military invasion for millions and millions of Ukrainian children severely affected by this barbaric war. In this sense, I wish to express my special appreciation for UNICEF's dedicated mission in Ukraine. Working under constant drone and missile attacks, your courageous colleagues must survive under the same unbearable conditions in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities as the whole population, without electricity, without heating and without running water at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Therefore, I wish to personally thank you, Madam Russell, and the entire team for alleviating the immeasurable suffering of Ukrainian children during these darkest times of Russia's genocidal war. Over US$2 billion were devoted to a range of projects that UNICEF could implement in Ukraine in the last four years.

We are grateful for that. At the same time, we are worried that significant financial challenges that we see now would endanger UNICEF's work. And we would like to appeal to member states and to all the donors to increase their contributions. Dear Executive Director of Russell, we would like to raise one critical issue where the role of UNICEF cannot be underestimated in these times. Last December, the General assembly adopted a resolution demanding the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcefully transferred or deported by Russia.

The assembly has requested the Secretary General to exercise his good offices to remain actively seized with the matter and to take all steps necessary with a view to ensuring effective coordination of the UN bodies with regard to the implementation of this crucial resolution. Ukraine is fully aware of the political difficulties in fulfilling this mandate. We know that previous attempts of UNICEF to act as mediator were rejected by Russia. Now we have this new historic chance. And it is in this context that I would like to request you, dear Mr. President, and the members of the Executive Board to schedule a special briefing concerning practical steps that UNICEF is now planning and undertaking to help return thousands of Ukrainian children home.

I thank you. I thank our distinguished representative of Ukraine. Next speaker is eritrea.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, distinguished delegates. From the outset, we wish to congratulate you, Mr. President on your election and would also like to welcome fellow Bureau members. My delegation is honored to be making the following statement on behalf of the African states that are members of the Executive Board of unicef, namely Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritania, Nigeria, sa, Senegal, United Republic of Tanzania and my own country, Eritrea. We would like to express our deep appreciation to the executive director, Ms. Katherine Russell, for the comprehensive updates she presented to the Board this morning and their leadership to keep moving and delivering at a time when so much is happening from financial constraints to sizable staff relocation and adjustments.

We would equally extend our deep appreciation to her educated staff both in the headquarters and in the field operations and wish them smooth transition in their new roles and new locations which took effect recently as a result of the cost recovery measures adopted by the organization. Mr. President, the changing financial landscape, widening of inequalities within and between countries, poverty, unsustainable debt burdens, increasing climate and disaster related crisis, as well as the geopolitical tensions are all serious problems to the well being and welfare of children around the world with greater impact to children in developing countries. In this regard, we view UNICEF's role as vital in advancing child rights globally, particularly through support in child survival, education, health, nutrition and emergency response. We shall be counting on the implementation of the new strategic plan of UNICEF 20262029 with results expected to be driven through forecast, scale and impacts. In addition to the Quadrillion Strategic Plan, we wish to stress UNICEF's strategy for Africa with more emphasis on Africa's unique vulnerabilities, especially the needs of hard to reach communities and the importance of strengthening national systems at country levels.

This provides the much needed impetus to the work ahead in the continent in the implementation of this important framework. Therefore, the support of all member states, private sectors, international organizations and the national committees will be critical. We reiterate our long standing call for increasing the core contribution to the reverse the current trend by providing adequate, predictable and flexible funding which is indispensable to achieving the Strategic plan plan objectives. Mr. President, a record number of children are living in conflict zones or displaced by conflict and violence under constant fear for their lives with limited access to basic services. Unicef, with its humanitarian research approach has demonstrated its capacity and commitment providing humanitarian assistance in many of the conflict zones through strengthening the capacity at local levels.

Its ability to operate in fragile and conflict affected settings, irrespective of geography or politics is a major strength that we need to keep and support, whether in Gaza, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region or other conflict zones. The faith of children should never be determined by geopolitics or funding politics, but by universal human rights and humanitarian principles to ensure that no child is left behind. Mr. President, during this session of the Executive Board will be considering eight country program documents and two extension requests full recognizing that CPD's are prepared with the full participation of the program countries and in a country led setting, we would like to indicate our full support to their approval on and no objection basis in accordance with executive board decision 2014. 1 Finally, Mr. President, we are undertaking a system wide reform under the UN 80 initiatives and in accordance to our program of work, we will have the chance to hear an update on the reform process. In this connection, the Africa Group is convinced that the UN must reform, modernize and adapt to changing times.

However, we wish to underscore that reform must be inclusive, equitable and responsive to the diverse circumstances and priorities of Member States for our region, success will ultimately be.

I thank the distinguished representative of Eritrea. I give a floor to kyrgyzstan.

Thank you, Mr. President, distinguished members of the Executive Board, Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to thank the Executive Director Catherine Russell for your statement and leadership of the Fund. I also congratulate Mr. President and Bureau for your election and express our full support of the work. Kyrgyzstan is honored to become a member of the UNICEF Executive Board this year. Will look forward to continuing to engage and support the UNICEF in the achievement of its mandate, especially in this time of multiple crises. Mr. President, protection of rights and well being of children considered by my country as a core priority of national policy.

Our approach is grounded in international standards and obligations ensuring that every child has school, grow in safety, dignity and with equal opportunity. For many years, UNICEF has been a key strategic partners of Kyrgyzstan in advancing child protection. Through this close and trust based cooperation, we have achieved tangible and sustainable results that have strengthened the national systems and improved the lives of children across the country. One of the key achievements has been putting in place the nationwide child protection social work system. As a result of long term and coordinated efforts, 550 positions for the social workers have been established alongside the development and the implementation of national professional training program.

This has significantly enhanced early identification of risk prevention mechanisms and the direct support for vulnerable children and families. We have also substantially strengthened our legacy and policy framework including through the adoption of the Children's Code. Mechanisms for intersectional coordination and prevention of violence against children have been introduced and are being further refined. Kyrgyzstan inherits a policy of zero tolerance towards all forms of violence against children. In this context, in 2024, we joined international initiatives launch at the first global ministerial conference on ending Corporal punishment of children held in Bogota.

Particular attention should be given to Kyrgyzstan's experience in the repatriation and reintegration of children and families from zones of armed conflicts. UNICEF plus played a leading role in this process. Kyrgyzstan is also might to share this experience during the city week this year. We would be grateful for support of the UN bodies at the regional level. Kyrgyzstan remains committed to cooperation in Central Asia.

Let me reaffirm our strong commitment to cooperation with the UNICEF. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan. Before we proceed with interventions by delegations, I would like to give a floor to Ed Russell so that she can respond to some of the questions and comments raised so far. You have a floor.

Okay, great. Thank you, Mr. President. And you know, I usually try to do this. Apparently Today we have 50 people who want to speak. So I will definitely keep my remarks brief so that you're not all here until dinner time.

But I did want to just acknowledge some of the points. Many things of course, I already outlined in my opening statement and of course always happy to follow up with any details that anybody needs or any requests you have. But just in general, I would just like to make a few comments. One to Iceland. You know, speaking on behalf of the Bureau, I would just say this.

For me in this position, the Bureau is always incredibly helpful and supportive. And I want to say a special thank you to everybody who joins the Bureau. Bureau, it means a lot to us to have that. I know it takes a lot of your time. It's a big commitment.

But it does, it is very helpful to us and I just very much appreciate that. I do appreciate your comments about staff. Many of you have made those comments. I always appreciate that our staff is incredible. They work in some of the most, not some, all of the most difficult places in the world and they are really fantastic.

So I do appreciate always that the board recognized, recognizes that you also mentioned UN80 and of course we are actively engaged and doing everything we can to support the Secretary General in the work. We have a lot. I think actually every One of the DEDs is involved in one piece or another. And it is, it's a huge commitment on our part to be as constructive as we can to make this process work as well as humanly possible. So appreciate that comment.

To the colleague from Oman, I first, there are two points you made that I wanted to highlight. One was the importance of children's rights. I mean, that animates everything we do and very much appreciate that recognition. Second, you mentioned children with disabilities, and that's an issue that I personally, as everyone I think at UNICEF does, cares a lot about. Children with disabilities are, you know, if you have like, levels of vulnerability, they are just the most vulnerable in so many situations.

And some of those, you know, we see disabilities that are caused by conflict, but many are disabilities that children are born with. And in places where, you know, systems are not in place, they are. They easily fall through the cracks and it's heartbreaking to see. So it is a huge priority for us. To the colleague from Dominican Republic, I appreciate your comments on flexible funding.

I also want to make this the sort of highlight the point you made about national action and the importance of that. You know, at the end of the day, what UNICEF is always trying to do is build the capacity of governments and local authorities to take care of their own children. That's what we see our job as, right? Not that we, obviously in humanitarian settings we've got to provide services, but otherwise we're trying to help governments do that. Governments are the duty bearers to their children.

We want to make sure they have the capacity and we're doing everything we can to try to build that so that these governments are to able, able to deal with these issues themselves. Iceland, in your personal, in your government capacity, you raised many other really important issues. But one I wanted to highlight is your mention, and somebody else mentioned this as well, about adolescent girls. Oh, a colleague from Sweden. That is a real priority for us.

And I say that because I've seen in so many places how adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable. There are about 600 million adolescent girls in the world. Over 119 million of those girls are not in school. When they're not in school, they are so much more vulnerable to so many terrible things that happen to them. There are 12 million girls every year who get married as children.

That is unacceptable. And we all really need to focus on that and make sure that we acknowledge that children, girls in particular, have some particular vulnerabilities here. And we have to try, try to address that. This colleague from Lao pdr. First of all, thank you for your comments about the values and the strong partnership with unicef.

We very much appreciate that. I wanted to just highlight your comments on climate. The way we see our role in this climate space is largely in helping communities and countries adapt to the change, changes that are coming at them and to make sure that the services that children rely on, so healthcare education in particular are resistant to climate shifts. Whether that's too much water, too little water, higher temperatures, and try to make sure that schools and health facilities are built with, as just an example, with solar capacity. And really trying to think down the road what these communities, communities are going to need so we can help them be prepared.

To the colleague from Sweden, as I said, thank you generally for your comments about child rights and other things. But again, mentioning this issue of the importance of core resources for us, you know, we see essentially, you know, there's a. We get a combination of funding, right? We get core resources, we get thematic funding. But the core is really, really important because it enables us to move quickly to respond to the highest needs at any given time.

And we really value it. I know it's not easy always in your capitals to get it done, but it's a special plea, really, and we can provide whatever information you need to make that argument. But it does make a huge difference to us. We are seeing it come down and it does. It makes our work much more complicated.

It is why I highlighted the work of the national committees here, because the national committees really are able to provide so much flexible funding to us that it's a huge asset to us, but it's not enough. It doesn't replace the government's ability and willingness and importance of providing core as well. To the colleague from Georgia, welcome to the board. First of all, we're always happy to have people on the board. And I would say, you know, the comments that you made, excuse me, as well as the colleague from Slovenia, that we face so many challenges in the world, no question about that, when it comes to children.

But by far the most difficult complication is always conflict, right? Wars are the worst enemy of children, right? They're the enemy of everyone, for sure. But children are particularly vulnerable. Why?

Because children rely on government services for health care, for education, and those are always disrupted. Not to mention the fact that children are very vulnerable physically to what happens, and so very much appreciate the sort of recognition that conflict is the number one challenge that we have to try to deal with. And peaceful resolution of conflict would make the world so much better for children, and obviously you all know that, but it is. I just have to reinforce that conflict has a particular and pernicious effect on children. To the colleague from Ukraine, first of all, thank you for suggesting to members that they increase their funding.

I appreciate that that's helping us do our job. I think that the, you know, this issue of children who have been separated is something that, as you indicated, UNICEF has offered to help on multiple times we are actively engaged in reintegration efforts. I think at this point point, about 1,900 children have been returned. Nearly half of those received support from unicef. So we acknowledge the problem.

We are doing everything we can. We would be happy to do more to help. And I acknowledge your comment to the board about whether to do some kind of a special briefing on that to the colleague from Eritrea. First of all, I appreciate your comments on behalf of the African countries and the of focus on child survival. We are very mindful, and I said this in my statement, that we're worried that child survival numbers for the first time in a generation could start to really go in a bad direction.

And it is a top concern for us. I also wanted to mention that we. And Omar is here, Omar is the expert on this. But we also last year did a really good Africa strategy. We were very focused on how we can be as effective as possible in Africa and very much welcome your contributions to that.

And finally to the colleague from Kyrgyzstan, very warm welcome to the board as well, really to all the new members of the board. Happy to have you. I would just highlight one issue you mentioned, which is violence against children. That, I mean, that is a problem in every country in the world, for sure. It takes different forms, and it is more and more or less sort of egregious in certain places, but there's no place that is not challenged by that.

And I think it's an issue that we all need to do better. We need to acknowledge that children are particularly vulnerable. Some of it is violence in the family, violence in the community, obviously conflict, but there is a lot of it out there. And I think, you know, we sort of debate among ourselves how we can try to improve our advocacy on that. Because I worry that so many children are sort of stuck in violent situations that no one even knows about, you know, in their own homes or in their communities, in their schools.

I mean, it's just. It's a huge worry. And I think as a world, we need to be thinking about how we always keep in mind the protection of the most vulnerable among us. Thanks.

I thank Edie Russell for her remarks.

We proceed now with next speaker being Liechtenstein, followed by Lesotho and Republic of Korea. Liechtenstein, you have a floor.

Thank you so much for the floor, Mr. President. And thank you, Ed Russell, for your interventions. Lichtenstein is proud to serve for the first time on the UNICEV executive Board.

This underscores her deep commitment to UNICEF's global mission and to advancing children's rights around the world. UNICEF also enjoys one of the highest levels of public visibility in Liechtenstein, which further underscores the importance of our engagement in the war. The Convention on the Rights of the Child remains at the core of UNICEF's strategic plan, ensuring that every country program is direct tool for strengthening children's rights. In Liechtenstein, we are currently marking a year of events to commemorate 30 years since the ratification of the convention as well as UNICEF's 80th anniversary. We call on all of you to turn this milestone into concrete action for children's rights and to use the anniversary here in New York to advance UNICEF's work.

Over the past five years, Liechtenstein has channeled its financial contributions towards UNICEF's emergency and reconstruction assistance, amounting to a per capita contribution of US$25. Yet government contributions alone are not sufficient to advance UNICEF's mission. Financial support from individuals and the private sector remains essential. Liechtenstein underscores the importance of UNICEF's National Committees and their proven ability to mobilize private sector support for UNICEF's mandate. We therefore value the work of the National Committee for Switzerland and Liechtenstein and appreciate UNICEF's efforts to ensure that the full potential of the national committees is mobilized.

Today, UNICEF is adapting to an increasingly challenging global environment. Its Future Focus initiative is a proactive effort to ensure the organization can meet children's needs as crises intensify and resources diminish. Given UniCerv's important role in humanitarian response, Liechtenstein stresses the importance of deeper cooperation with other UN agencies to increase efficiency and reduce duplication in line with the UN 80 initiative, the humanitarian Reset and the Humanitarian Development Peace nexus. In closing, we would like to thank the Secretariat of the Executive Board for the high quality work and we look forward to a fruitful session. I thank you so much.

I thank our distinguished representative of Liechtenstein. Next speaker is Lesotho.

The President. Madam, Executive Director, Distinguished members of the Executive Board, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen. Let me start by congratulating the President and Vice President on their appointment.

We align ourselves with the statement made. On behalf of the African group and. Now make this statement in our national capacity. The Kingdom of Lesotho is deeply honored to take its seat as a newly elected member of the UNICEF Executive Board for the year 2026. We extend our sincere appreciation to Member States for the trust and confidence placed in us.

We also congratulate fellow incoming members and. Reaffirm our commitment to working collaboratively in. Advancing the rights and well being of every child. Lesotho assumes this responsibility at a time. When children across the world continue to.

Face unprecedented and intersecting challenges. Climate related shocks, persistent poverty, health emergencies, learning losses and widening inequalities threatening the survival and protection and development of millions of children. These realities demand renewed solidarity, stronger partnerships and bold action. Mr. President, we commend UNICEF for its unwavering leadership in responding to these global challenges. Its work in strengthening health systems, expanding.

Access to quality education, promoting children protection. Advancing social protection and supporting climate resilient communities remains indispensable. UNICEF's presence in the most vulnerable settings continues to bring hope and tangible change. To children and families. As a small, landlocked developing country, Lesotho brings to this board the lived experience of communities that confront structural barriers to child development.

We understand the urgency of ensuring that no child is left behind. Our national priorities align closely with UNICEF's strategic vision and we are committed to contributing constructively to the oversight and guidance of its program programs.

Lesotho will advocate for strengthened social protection systems that shield children from poverty and vulnerability equitable and inclusive education, including early childhood development and digital learning improve child and maternal health outcomes with a focus on primary health care, immunization and nutrition robust protection of children from violence, exploitation and harmful practices and climate resilient programming that acknowledges the existential threat climate change. Poses on children's survival and future prospects. I thank you.

I thank a distinguished representative of Lesotho. I now give a floor to Republic of Korea, followed by United Kingdom and Japan.

Thank you, President and Executive Director. The Republic of Korea expresses deep appreciation to unicef, particularly to those working in perilous situations, for their unwavering dedication. Yet the challenges ahead remain grave with multiple crises unfolding amid declining resources. Having that in mind, I would like to highlight our priorities for this regular session. We support UNICEF's effort to become more agile while adapting to the new funding landscape.

In this regard, we look forward to an update on how these efforts align with the UN80 process, especially UNICEF's perspective and engagement. The strategy of relocating close to the field and focusing on delivery is commendable. At the same time, you must preserve UNICEF's crucial role in ensuring coherent approaches to child rights across the diverse country context and translating global norms into practice. Second, we appreciate the update on humanitarian action. While hyper prioritisation appears inevitable, we must consider the long term risks of of addressing only urgent needs while leaving other important needs unaddressed.

We hope our deliberations will equally highlight these risks. Third, we view with anticipation the potential of private partnership. We also appreciate the strategic investment with the World bank and encourage UNICEF to explore more innovative child lens investing. Fourth, on evaluation, we hope greater emphasis will continue to be placed on outcome and impacts, creating a virtuous cycle where evaluations inform programmatic and strategic decisions. We expect the Global Evaluation Plan to be consultative and inclusive, with each evaluation forming others and the Strategic plan plan throughout 2029.

Finally, the unified Framework for Digital Capabilities and Shared Services holds significant potential for efficiency gains. We commend the UNICEF's leadership on AI for children, including its comprehensive policy guidance, and encourage continued efforts to translate these frameworks into practice globally. I thank you.

I thank you, Distinguished Representative of the Republic of Korea. Next, please.

Speaker is United kingdom.

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Executive Director. I'd like to begin by thanking UNICEF for everything it does across humanitarian and development contexts and for recognizing its constructive and collaborative approach towards UN80. At this first regular session, I'd like to highlight three priority areas from a UK perspective for the year ahead. First, in 2025, UNICEF made a strong start with the Future Focus Initiative. We support and encourage the continued implementation of this initiative, which seeks to build resilience within the agency, promote innovative and diversified sources of finance, and supports greater interagency collaboration, including through the staff relocations.

We are pleased that the four Centers of Excellence are now operational and that Common Service Centers are now active in nearly all UNICEF Multi office hubs. We encourage continued transparency with the Executive Board on progress, emerging risks, opportunities and lessons learned. We also support the sharing of these lessons with other agencies as they carry out their own structural reforms and relocations. Second, the United Kingdom recognizes and commends the the work, bravery and commitment of UNICEF staff in their provision of humanitarian assistance in challenging contexts, including in Gaza and Sudan. Continuing to focus on the humanitarian effort, including the provision of education in emergencies, remains critical.

We support UNICEF's prioritization efforts in line with the global humanitarian overview and urge that in doing so you don't lose a focus on the most marginalized. As you work with other partners to deliver on the humanitarian reset, we encourage you to consider what more can be. Done to deliver through local actors. Third, with unprecedented levels of global conflict, the scale of violence against women and girls is unacceptable. We call on UNICEF to redouble its efforts on this issue, working with governments, civil society and other UN agencies to deliver results at scale and in the most difficult contexts.

We ask that UNICEF maintains capacities and a focus on protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment, especially in high risk contexts. Mr. President, climate change continues to be a threat to the lives of many children across the world. The UK was happy to announce additional funding to UNICEF's flagship Climate and Disaster Risk Financing Program. To conclude, I'D like to reaffirm the UK's strong partnership with UNICEF. UNICEF's vision of a world where every child is safe, healthy, educated and empowered is one we remain committed to.

The UK stands ready to work with all partners to make that vision a reality. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. Next speaker is Japan, followed by Germany, Guatemala and United states.

Thank you, Mr. President. In the midst of an increasingly complex global development landscape, UNICEF's clear sense of purpose gives us confidence that today's challenges can be transformed into greater opportunity. For that, it is vital to ensure the effective and proper implementation of UNICEF's strategic plan and to sustain active and close consultation on organizational reform with Executive Board in alignment with UN80 Inc. The situation surrounding children is becoming ever harsher, more interwoven and borderless. Japan supports a strong leadership of Executive Director Russell and will continue our close cooperation with unicef.

Standing as a true friend to children, Japan places particular emphasis on further collaboration with the private sector to generate maximum impact. Partnerships cannot be limited to funding but to problem solving through leveraging the private sector's expertise and digital technology, allowing UNICEF to broaden its reach and expand its impact. We expect UNICEF to continue demonstrating how public private synergies multiply. Sustainable impact for every child Mr. President, Japan has been materializing its commitment together with UNICEF. For example, Japan has projects for the eradication of poliomyelitis in Afghanistan and Pakistan and humanitarian assistance for displaced persons from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Moving beyond, Japan is committed to systematic solutions in areas such as wash and education where Shinsef Excelsior by applying our human security lens, this concept is rooted in restoring the dignity that every human being deserves. Let me conclude by recognizing the extraordinary efforts of UNICEF's teams who persist with courage and resolve in difficult environments to protect the rights and well being of every child. I thank you, Mr. Pleasant. I thank a distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.

Excuse me. I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. Next speaker is Germany.

Thank you, President, Madam Executive Director, thank you for your today's presentation and we share your sober analysis and the way ahead that you sketched out for the organization. Germany recently published its new strategy for development cooperation and in this strategy we prioritize multilateralism and a close cooperation with the United Nations.

A cooperation we believe must be based on efficiency and evidence based programming. Principles that are more vital than ever in the face of persistent global challenges and declining resources for the brevity of time. A few comments on reform for us, reform is not an end in itself. It is a necessity the current reform process, including UNAT and the giu recommendations on governance and oversight are essential and they must be pursued with determination. And they must be based on transparency, inclusive participation and the clarity about the roles of the executive boards.

And reforms must be designed with partners to ensure organizations remain close to the people they serve. Further, we must continue to uphold agreed common values and the universality and the indivisibility of human rights. For us, gender equality, bodily autonomy and inclusion are not optional add ons. They are and remain core prerequisites for sustainable and just development and truly leaving no one behind. Finally, reform must deliver real, measurable impact.

Improved coordination is absolutely critical in this regard. This is why Germany and many others support initiatives to strengthen the ASI system. We do so politically and financially. And we expect UNICEF and other agencies to do their bit in this endeavor, for instance, by incentivizing country directors to fully cooperate with the RCA system at country level.

On the way ahead, Germany will continue to support the reform process and we will increasingly focus our cooperation on those multilateral partners that demonstrate a genuine commitment to reform and a strong focus on results. In this context, we strongly encourage UNICEF to further strengthen coordination with other UN entities, reduce duplication on existing instruments of interagency collaboration. We also encourage UNICEF to further consolidate its reforms and ensure transparent communication with the Executive Board. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the UNICEF staff and leadership for their untiring commitment and work for children across the world. We know you carried these tasks out under extremely difficult circumstances here in New York and in the field.

And our highest appreciation. We really need you for the children of this world. Thank you very much.

I thank our distinguished representative of Germany. I now give a floor to Guatemala.

Congratulamos la election de los miros. We would like to congratulate members of the board for their election. Guatemala has the the honor of speaking right at the beginning of his membership in UNICEF's executive board. This is a responsibility that we assume in a context that is especially challenging, where more than 400 million boys and girls face all kinds of deprivations which are severe in at least three essential areas such as education, nutrition, health and water. This reality, This resonates in areas of Latin America and the Caribbean.

In a country such as Guatemala, where we are highly vulnerable to climate change, including extreme phenomena such as droughts, floods and recurring climate shocks that disproportionately affect our children, specifically those living in rural communities. These structural vulnerabilities can be translated into persistent challenges when it comes to Child poverty, food insecurity, access to basic services and protecting the rights of boys and girls. These challenges are exacerbated due to the combined effects of the climate, economic and social crises. To this, we can add an international financial and geopolitical context that is increasingly restricted. Restrictive.

Recent decisions to suspend or withdraw participation in different international fora generate additional stress when it comes to the predictability of available resources. While we recognize UNICEF's commitment to continue implementing its mandate based on decisions from member states, we cannot deny that the risk of a financial gap can affect the scale, speed, speed and scope of interventions that are pro children. In this context, the Executive Board's role is even more relevant. We value that the Presidency has highlighted protecting the rights of children, equal opportunities and access to quality public services, as well as the importance of innovation, including education and the responsible use of technology as a tool to close gaps. Guatemala will focus its participation around 3 eradicating child poverty and putting it at the center of budgetary and programmatic decision making, strengthening resilience and anticipatory actions in order to strengthen risk reduction and a management that is transparent and geared towards results within unicef.

Lastly, we would like to recognize the work and the unshakeable commitment of the Executive Director, her entire team and all of UNICEF's collaborators. Despite the circumstances and the challenges that we are facing in the world, we will do everything for our children.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Guatemala. Next speaker is the United States, followed by El Salvador, China and Turkey. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President and Executive Director Russell. The United States recognizes that children face lasting impacts from conflict, instability, disease and disasters. That is why the United States seeks to provide life saving, humanitarian assistance and effective, strategic, efficient and time bound responses to disasters. This compels us to ensure that UNICEF carries out its critical work with a focus on resource efficiency and adherence to its core mandate of saving children's lives and helping them fulfill their potential. Building on historic Fifth Committee cuts at the United Nations Secretariat, we recognize the difficult decisions the organization has made so far toward comprehensive institutional reform.

To meet current fiscal realities, UNICEF must continue to advance ambitious reforms that meaningfully address bloat, create a more focused and effective organization and deliver real results. In addition to consolidating offices, staff and services, all of which are critical actions. This means ensuring the organization is focused on getting back to basics. Too often, organizations like UNICEF have veered into progressive ideologies detached from national interests. UNICEF must avoid distracting and wasteful narratives that fall outside that mission, like the 2030 Agenda, harmful gender, ideology and divisive diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies.

As we have repeatedly stated in this fora, the 2030 Agenda impinges upon state sovereignty as a soft form of global governance, and we will not support its incorporation in UNICEF documents, policies or programs as a matter of course. We also will not support any ambiguous gender terminology that does not clearly and exclusively recognize two biological sexes, as we will not accept any diversity, equity and inclusion terminology that undermines recruitment and hiring decisions based on individual merit. As we have made clear time and again, the United States will not hesitate to defund and withdraw from organizations that can, can't or won't deliver results effectively. At the same time, we implore Member States to treat this moment for what it is an historic opportunity to address significant and unsuspecting.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States and I now give the floor to El Salvador.

Mr. President, first, El Salvador would like to sincerely congratulate you for assuming the presidency of this Executive Board as well as all members of the Board for their election. We would also like to signify our support to the work and the activities that will be carried out by the board in 2026. I would also like to thank Executive Director Russell for her statement and for the progress highlighted when it comes to UNICEF's work, El Salvador would like to echo the importance of evaluation efforts that the Fund will carry out in order to have a broader perspective when it comes to the impacts of its intervention. When it comes to programs for the 2026, 2029 period, we consider that these efforts reaffirm UNICEF's commitment to implementing its strategic plan. At the same time, it deepens the analysis and the exercise to identify opportunities in order to address key areas.

This is consistent with our efforts in the framework of UN80 and its call to create greater efficiencies in all of the organization's work. El Salvador would like to reiterate the need for these efforts to be geared towards generating greater and better synergies between UNICEF and government bodies in order to make our actions on the ground effect effective. Likewise, my delegation would like to welcome UNICEF's efforts in order to draft the evaluation report of its work. When it comes to early childhood, this is a priority and strategic issue in the framework of our current national efforts. In this sense, we would like to recall the need to continue strengthening interventions that are targeted on this area and other areas associated to UNICEF's work, thus ensuring that the creation of national capacities and the role of Member States are in the center constantly seeking to strengthen and enrich this process through strategic partnerships that are complementary along with other key actors.

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, my delegation would like to reiterate its willingness to continue contributing to the efforts of the board throughout 2026. Thank you.

I thank a distinguished representative of El Salvador. I see that next speaker is Turkey.

Madame Executive Director, Distinguished colleagues, Turkey attached importance and supports the core mandate of UNICEF to uphold, protect and advance rights on well being of every child everywhere. We highly appreciate the unique role played by UNICEF as the only UN agency explicitly mandated by the Convention of the Rights of the Child which is instrumental in translating legal commitments into concrete and impactful action. In today's increasingly fragmented global landscape, UNICEF Truity's dual role as a both humanitarian responder and a long term development partner to national governments remains a unifying force grounded in universal values and shared responsibility for child rights. Turkey takes pride in its long standing and close collaboration with UNICEF. Since 1951, UNICEF has been a valued partner both in implementing our child related nation development priorities and in extending support to the overall UN efforts for the protection and well being of children around the world.

In this regard, we are pleased to host country office in Ankara as well as the UNICEF Global Office in Istanbul. I am delighted to share with the Executive Board that Turkish Grand national assembly ratified the host country agreements for both offices and the agreements entered into force in 2025. We believe this strengthens our bilateral cooperation with UNICEF carried out under the 20262030 country program document. In line with our National Development Plan and in collaboration with relevant line ministries. The UN system is currently operating under particularly challenging circumstances, notably due to the severe constraints in humanitarian and development funding.

In this context, efficiency and effectiveness are more important than ever. We expect all UN agencies to ensure the best use of their resources. Likewise, we appreciate the efforts undertaken by the UN system to mobilize swift measures in adapting to new operating environment. At the same time, we also underscore the importance of continuous support of Member States, including financial contributions. In this framework, Turkey was pleased to continue its annual voluntary contribution to UNICEF in 2025.

We welcome and support the Secretary General's UN8 initiative which provides a timely and valuable opportunity for UNICEF together with the rest of the UN system to achieve meaningful improvements to their operational modalities in this process. As Member States, we expect from the UN entities to further streamline their operations through reduce duplication and enhance coordination with other UN entities. As discussions on reduction of operational costs continue with the Framework of unity, we believe that Istanbul, with its well established infrastructure as a base for international organizations, provides A significant avenue for addressing these challenges. Taking this opportunity, I would like to reiterate Turkey's readiness to host a growing number of UNICEF personnel and services to re enlarging the UNICEF Global office in Istanbul. I thank you.

I thank a distinguished representative of Turkey. I now give a floor to Norway.

Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Executive Director. Norway thanks UNICEF for its sustained and principled leadership in in addressing the needs of children worldwide. In a period marked by complex and evolving global challenges, children remain among those most affected by conflict, climate impact and socioeconomic crisis. UNICEF's work is indispensable.

We commend UNICEF's rights based engagement including in emergencies. Norway recognizes that that UNICEF continues to achieve tangible results despite significant financial constraints. We value the results across health, nutrition, education, WASH and child protection. Norway is committed to the success of the Secretary General's UN 80 initiative. The reform must ensure increased efficiency and effectiveness, prioritize resources and streamline structures.

We expect UNICEF to fully participate in the reform efforts, especially with regards to the reconfigured country teams and the strengthening of the RCHC system and the new humanitarian compact. The goal must be to improve the UN's impact for people in their communities. We must all contribute to enabling the UN to deliver better impact together on the ground from our side. Delivering as one has been a consistent message. We appreciate and expect UNICEF's continued active engagement in and in support of the humanitarian reset.

The reset must align with the UNITY initiative and be grounded in the centrality of protection, ensuring streamlined coordination and effective localization. A leaner humanitarian system must still safeguard operational capacity and accountability while fostering stronger synergies with development, peace and security and human rights efforts. Norway underlines the importance of more national and locally led efforts. Sustainable results require strong national institutions, community engagement and local ownership. Governments have the primary responsibility for upholding children's rights and ensure access to essential services.

Norway commends UNICEF for their emphasis on this and we emphasize also the need to reach the poorest and most marginalized children, including children with disability. We underline the importance of gender responsive approach, safeguarding sexual and gender based violence prevention and risk mitigation.

I'm sorry, I thank a distinguished representative of Norway. So, before we proceed with next set of interventions by delegations, I would like to give give the floor to Ed Russell to respond to some of the comments that I made. Okay, great.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'll keep my comments brief.

First, I wanted to say that several of the representatives here have talked about the primary goal of this reform should be really improved delivery at country level, obviously, we agree with that. I think that from our perspective, this effectiveness at country level depends on two things. One, the effectiveness, effectiveness of the parts of the system. Obviously, we take that seriously. And second, how closely the parts join hands and collaborate to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

We're working on both of these just to assure everyone our ffi, our Future Focus initiative makes UNICEF more nimble, more agile, more resilient. The UN brings us all together to get rid of duplication and to make our contributions coherent and aligned with national security strategies. We are fully committed on both those fronts and I think are doing at least our part. But I would suggest probably more than that. So just to put that on the record, second, let me just go through a few of the comments.

To the colleague from Lichtenstein. I think that the interesting point you were making about the rights of the child, I thought it just reminded me that these issues around children is really, these are places where everyone can come together. You know, nobody in the world, at least nobody I've ever found, will say it's okay to, you know, violate children's rights or to be violent against children. And it just reminds me that it is a space. It's a place where, you know, people of all different views and perspectives can come together.

And I appreciate when I hear things like that here. To the colleague from Lesotho, first, of course, welcome to the board. You mentioned a couple of really important issues that I haven't focused on too much and I'll just say ecd, and I think others have mentioned that here as well. I'm sorry, I can't remember. I'm sure I'll get there.

But also, this issue about child and maternal health, I've mentioned it a little bit, but it's really a focus for us. Obviously, you know, children, if we can get them to the point where their mothers are healthy when they're pregnant, when they deliver them, they're healthy, the child has a mother better chance of having a decent life. And, you know, we're not playing catch up from the beginning. And I think that commitment from our perspective, obviously it involves nutrition, immunization, all the rest of it. But really getting in there when the mother is pregnant, I think makes a huge difference to the success of our work.

To the colleague from Korea, again, many important points. I always laugh when I hear this. Hyper prioritization. I'm not really sure. I think prioritization is prioritization, but whatever, I'll go with it.

I think you raised a couple things. One importance of the ifis I think that is, you know, we do a lot of work with the World bank and with the regional development banks. We're always looking for more and different ways to sort of stress innovative finance. We've done some really great work on vaccines with the European Investment bank, done some great work with the, as I said, with the World bank in a couple of different areas. And I think it is an area that we take seriously.

Second, you mentioned AI for children. We see AI as tremendously, potentially helpful to children. We're looking carefully at how AI can help with just for example, educating children by training and supporting teachers. There are issues, of course, of making sure that there is digital sort of accessibility in countries. Not every country, not every community, far from it, is connected to the Internet and to other digital potential.

So I think it's an area that we're very focused on. There is another piece of this which we're looking at carefully, which is the kind of dangers to children in this space. And we've seen some very unfortunate examples of home horrible images of children, digitized images. And we're really focused on how that space should be better monitored and regulated to prevent that. So would like to continue those conversations to the uk.

You know, important priorities that you mentioned again, also on resilience and appreciate the points on staff and how important that is. Again, you mentioned violence against children. You know, I said it earlier, this violence against girls in particular is a serious problem in so many places and it's something that is a top priority for us. So just to reassure you of that. To the colleague from Japan, thank you for mentioning in particular the work on wash.

I think, you know, I see Japan's influence actually on this. I see. I have been in many countries where I've seen projects and work that Japan has supported on wash. Obviously, you know, children need access to water, obviously, you know, clearly. And they need access to decent sanitation because otherwise they're so susceptible to disease and other problems. So it's something that doesn't always, it's always, not always at the top of the list in people's minds, but is absolutely essential to protecting children.

To the colleague from Germany, thank you as always for your important comments on reform and transparency. Also on staff, we appreciate that. One thing I would say to you and also to others who mentioned this point, I think that UNICEF is very completely supportive of the RC system, the HC system. I think the key from our perspective is that in both cases their jobs are to coordinate. Right.

That coordination is critical. It makes our work better. It makes our Work, part of a bigger effort. There's less duplication, all the rest of it, but it is coordination. And I think we are very mindful of keeping those lines very clear because otherwise it gets confusing about what's happening in countries.

To the colleague from Guatemala, many good points, but I would say this emphasis on rural communities. You know, we are very mindful of how rural communities can get access to services, whether it's community health workers or, you know, as I mentioned, the challenges of education and other things. It can be really challenging. And I think we keep that top of mind and very much appreciate the focus on that. I would say to the comment to the colleagues from Norway, I can't read my own handwriting here.

Oh, Turkey and the United States, we agree really on the importance of trying to find efficiencies wherever we can. I mean, that is a critical effort for us. We try to stretch every dollar as far as it can go. We try to make sure our work is as effective as possible. And that would also.

I would sort of piggyback on the comments from the colleague from El Salvador about the importance of evaluation. I said this in my opening statement, and I actually added it to the statement, because it is very important to me personally that we are constantly evaluating the effectiveness of our work. We cannot afford to be doing things that aren't working. I mean, sometimes, you know, sometimes things don't work, that's for sure. But it's important to learn what those things are and move on to something new.

And sometimes things do really work, and it's important to learn that and spread that as well. I think that culture of evaluation and commitment and assessment constantly to our work is certainly something that I encourage, but it's also very much a part of the fabric of unicef, because there is very much this sense that we, you know, we have a huge challenge ahead of us trying to protect the children of the world, and we have limited resources and we need to constantly be pushing ourselves to be as good as we possibly can. And I would just reassure you that that is absolutely central to our thinking, and I think that might be it. Oh, Norway, just. Thanks again for mentioning disability.

I mean, it is like something I'm always focused on because I think those kids, as I said earlier, are so vulnerable and so likely to get left behind. And I just think for all of us to keep them in mind, because if you, you know, you just once, once you lose kids once they're not in school, because either they don't have access or they can't hear or they can't see or they're whatever. I mean, it's hard to ever get them back. And to me that's a huge tragedy in every single case and we need to do our best to try to confront it. Thanks.

I thank Ed Russell for her valuable comments. Let us now proceed. Next speaker is Bulgaria.

Thank you, President. Allow me at the outset to thank. You, the Bureau and all members of. The Executive Board for your leadership and commitment. We also thank Executive Director Katrin Russell for her forward looking briefing which provides an overview of the key issues guiding.

This session, including organizations, reforms under the UN 80 framework and updates on humanitarian action. Bulgaria attaches great importance to strong and credible evaluation function. You've mentioned just this track. We support evaluations that assess UNICEF's impact. Strengthen accountability and inform future programming, including in early childhood development and education.

We look forward to the Board's consideration on evaluation findings as a basis for evidence based decision making. We recognize the serious challenges posed by. The decline in traditional humanitarian and development funding. Flexible and predictable financing remains indispensable for UNICEF to respond respond effectively to children's needs, particularly in emergencies. We commend the role of national committees.

In mobilizing fully flexible resources and underscore the importance of diversified partnerships. At the same time, the role of. States as financial contributors remains vital. Despite constraints, Bulgaria continues to prioritize contributions. To UNICEF's core resources and attempts to increase them when possible.

We welcome the fact that The Strategic. Plan 2629 is now operational across the. Five impact result areas and value efforts. To align strategic priorities with organizational reforms, including through the Future Focus initiative and the establishment of Centers of excellence. Humanitarian action remains a core concern for Bulgaria.

We acknowledge UNICEF's life saving work in. Complex crises and stress the importance of. Maintaining strong operational capacity amid growing needs and constrained resources. Mr. President, Bulgaria remains committed partners for UNICEF and will continue to support its mandate while also remaining open to all avenues for further deepening of our partnership. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Bulgaria. Next speaker is Cuba, followed by China.

Gracias, Senor Presidente. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, distinguished men, Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF Distinguished delegations. We would like to to thank you for the presentations and we would like to reiterate our recognition and support to the noble work of unicef. We live in a global context that is increasingly dangerous and complex.

We see many conflicts, a worsening of the climate crisis, a deepening of inequality and exclusion, hunger, preventable disease and poverty. In the face of this scenario, we insist on use of free receiving enough predictable funding in Order to ensure the full implementation of its important mandate. For Cuba, the holistic protection of children and teenagers is a top priority. Our Constitution and our new code for children, teenagers and youth ensure the rights of children and recognize that each boy, girl or teenager is the protagonist of their own destiny. Our national efforts around this topic have always counted on the support of UNICEF in areas such as maternal child health, integral support for early childhood, quality education, climate resilience and facing natural disasters.

Despite the valuable support provided by UNICEF for decades, social indicators for my country in including those related to the rights of children have been considerably affected due to the criminal limitations imposed by the United States against Cuba. For over 60 years, Cuba has been victim of the most complex and wide ranging set of coercive measures imposed against any nation. Its promoters are responsible for the suffering of an entire people. The cumulative effect of this genocidal policy recently worsened due to the U.S. blockade of fuel in our country have a drastic impact on the health, nutrition, education and well being of the Cuban people. And this includes the well being of our children and teenagers.

Even in these circumstances, we reiterate our willingness to broaden cooperation between Cuba and unicef. We hope to count on the valuable support of members of the Executive Board in order to successfully approve our country program. Thank you. I thank a distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to China.

President, China congratulates you on your election. You and the Bureau can count on China's active support. China thanks Executive Director Russell for her statement. Given the daunting survival and development challenges concern confronting children worldwide, UNICEF's role and programs are all the more important. I would like to make three points.

First, China supports UNICEF in fully implementing its Strategic Plan 2026-29 focusing on five results areas namely children's health, education, poverty reduction, protection from violence and supporting children in climate response. UNICEF should pay particular attention to communication with program countries, focus on children's actual needs and more effectively assist developing countries in achieving the child related SDGs. Second, China calls for providing sufficient and predictable resources in support of UNICEF's mandate fulfillment. Developed countries should earnestly fulfill their ODA and humanitarian assistance commitments. UNICEF should continue to take effective and innovative measures to strengthen their partnerships with the private sector and international financial institutions.

China appreciates UNICEF's implementation of audit recommendations for better accountability, transparency and the more efficient use of its valuable resources. Third, China supports UNICEF to leverage the UN80 initiative and its own future focus reforms to improve effectiveness and efficiency. China appreciates Executive Director Russell's update on the progress of the reforms. We hope that UNICEF will continue to advance reforms in a transparent and inclusive manner, maintain close communication with the entire UN membership, heed the views of member states, especially program countries, and ensure better performance of its mandate in response to the developmental and humanitarian needs of children. President China and UNICEF have enjoined four four decades of fruitful cooperation.

We will work with UNICEF to effectively implement the China Country Program for the new cycle and support the better development of Chinese children. As our economic and social development steadily progresses, China will, based on its own circumstances, provide more support to UNICEF through various forms including South South Cooperation and under framework of Global Development Initiative with a view to making greater contributions to the common development of and brighter future for children in the Global south and everywhere. Thank you, President. I thank distinguished representative of China. I now give a floor to Republic of Moldova followed by Australia and Syrian Arab Republic executive director Russell.

Mr. President, Excellencies, I am delighted to address the UNICEF Executive Board and to reaffirm our commitment to the well being, protection and development of every child in our country and worldwide. The Republic of Moldova fully supports the vital work of UNICEF in promoting the rights, health and safety of children around the world and we recognize the invaluable role UNICEF plays in advocating every child's access to social assistance, education, health care and protection from violence. We note with concern the immense challenges and crises the UN and UNICEF in particular are currently facing, fulfilling their essential mandates. In this vein, the UN18 initiative presents a valuable opportunity to enhance the organization's effectiveness, coherence and responsiveness to global challenges. We welcome the implementation of Strategic Plan 202629 across the five key impact results areas and fully support the Future Focus Initiative and related organizational reform, including the Centers of Excellence.

This approach and vision will ensure that child focused policies interventions are better coordinated, more impactful and increasingly adaptable to emerging and evolving crises. Mr. President, despite limited resources, growing global emergencies and unprecedented demands, we value the work and dedication of UNICEF staff who continue tirelessly to protect and uplift the world's most vulnerable children. In this context, I am pleased to mention that in 2024 my country made a modest voluntary contribution to UNICEF. We believe that any contribution can make a meaningful difference in UNICEF Vital work. Excellencies, Lately my country has made significant strides in improving child welfare, especially pursuant to the National Child protection program for children 2024 26.

Moreover, the national legal and institutional framework on rights of a child is now in place and in line with both EU AQIS and International Framework. The Initiative Country Office in Moldova, in close cooperation with the Covenant of Moldova has a long standing collaboration to strengthen child protection and social assistance systems. We are grateful to UNICEF Assistant Responsibility Response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis in the field of child protection, primary health and nutrition, immunization, access to education and psychosocial support. As we look to. I thank you.

That's the spirit. I thank the distinguished representative of Moldova. Next speaker is Australia.

Thank you very much indeed, President and thank you Executive Director. Australia is proud to work with UNICEF and I want to acknowledge the tireless work of our UNICEF family around the world. Australians see the impact of UNICEF's work every day and this is evidenced by the fact that in 2024 people across Australia donated nearly $39 million to our national committee, UNICEF Australia and I commend the Committee's long contribution to the work of unicef. I thank UNICEF for what it does best protecting children, supporting families in crisis and making sure every child can grow up safe, healthy and educated. Australia wants UNICEF to stay focused on practical results, especially for children living through conflict, disaster and poverty.

As the UN sets its direction for the coming years, I want to highlight three three points. First, Australia supports UNICEF's practical role in working to strengthen the United nations through UNAT reforms and the humanitarian reset. Simplifying systems, improving supply chains and pushing for more joined up humanitarian action will make a real difference. Australia wants UNICEF to stay at the front of these reforms, helping the UN move faster in crises, cutting duplication and keeping support focused on the children and families who need it most. Second, as other colleagues have touched on this morning, we need a resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator system that works too often.

Reform, stall false hierarchies, separate funding streams and competition between UN agencies weaken results. Australia wants UNICEF to help fix this. We expect UNICEF to work with resident coordinators and humanitarian coordinators as part of a one UN team with joined up, planning, shared services and less administrative burden. And Executive Director, I thank you for your comments on the efficiencies that you're looking at that you mentioned this morning. UNICEF has real influence at country level and must use it to help drive reform.

Third, UNICEF's work in smaller and more remote member states, especially Pacific island countries, remains essential. Early childhood services, clean water and sanitation in schools and vaccine delivery protect children from the daily impacts of climate change, disasters and economic shocks. Australia wants UNICEF to listen to Pacific governments, protect hard won gains and help the United nations recognize the real vulnerabilities sids face, including through tools like the Multidimensional Vulnerability in Index. Thank you very much indeed, Executive Director and President. I look forward to Our further engagement this week, I thank a distinguished representative of Australia.

Next speaker on my list is Italy.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to your Excellency. Executive Director. Ms. Russell. We started this 2026 conscious that it shall be a year of reform across the UN system to adapt to the change of political and financial landscape. UNICEF demonstrated his willingness to tackle this challenge proactively, engaging constitute with the unity process and launching its own Future Focus Initiative.

Italy as an observer state to this year's board shares this view directly at the future as a long standing partner, unicef. We have consistently supported the agency throughout these years. And as confirmed last December by the announcement of an additional 10 million euros grant to the Agency for Child Protection, Education Services and Learning Centers in the Gaza Strip. Our relationship is rooted in concrete synergies in project implementations as well as shared strategic priorities for the protection of children worldwide. It's a synergy which spans beyond the excellent relationship between UNICEF and our government, but also involves the many Italian national working inside the organization as well as the active engagement of Italian civil society and the private sector through activism and funding.

Your Excellency, we are now on the verge of further increasing our cooperation by expanding our role as host country. With the prospective enlargement of the florencinocenti office and the establishment of a new important UNICEF center in Rome. Italy will do its best to facilitate the relocation of staff within its national borders and to provide the necessary legal, institutional and operational ground to allow UNICEF to operate in full synergy with the pre existing agencies in Rome. In line with the speed of the UN80 initiative. Your Excellency will stand ready to continue working with UNICEF and the members of its Executive board to further strengthen our cooperation to the benefit of millions of children worldwide.

I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Italy. I now give a floor to France, followed by Montenegro and Denmark.

Merci, Monsieur President. Thank you, President. Madam Stephen. Director. Allow me to begin by congratulating your actions.

Madam Director. The energy that you have demonstrated has helped UNICEF in a difficult context and circumstances to continue to play its crucial role. I also pay tribute to your teams for their commitment on the ground. Whether in Ukraine, Gaza, the drc, Sudan or Haiti. You know that UNICEF is operating under extreme conditions to assist children.

The action of UNICEF is essential to address various emergencies when it comes to education, health care, food, access to drinking water, as well as to strengthen population's resilience and to implement the SDGs. France is a committed actor when it comes to global health. It supports the efforts of UNICEF to expand access to HIV AIDS prevention. As laid out in the report that we will soon be considering, our mobilization to help the most vulnerable must be unwavering to ensure that an HIV free generation can emerge. Today, the means for our common action for development and humanitarian aid have been upended and the context is challenging us to transform.

We commend, Madame Director, the resilience that you have shown in light of the financing shocks you've experienced, as well as your commitment for humanitarian initialization and the UN aid initiative. These adaptations are needed to increase the impact of aid on the ground to benefit the most vulnerable by combining our capacity, strengthening synergies and carrying out economies of scale. When it comes to the future of the agencies, we are aware of the responsibility of our Executive Board and must be closely linked to decisions that must be taken. UNICEF has an important role to play as leader of UN's work on children due to its triple expertise when it comes to advocacy, emergency response and development on the ground, as well as its successes when it comes to raising private funds, collecting and using data and its role in the supply chain of certain medical goods. Madam Director, the commitment of UNICEF to mobilize innovative financing or coming from the private sector is indeed commendable.

These efforts are the Action Plan 2026 for private fundraising and partnerships and helps to strengthen the agency financial resilience. France calls on UNICEF to continue its work in this direction, based in particular on the national committees of UNICEF, which like committee friends have been doing outstanding work in terms of advocacy and fundraising. We are standing with you, Madam Executive Director, to support the action of UNICEF in all of its intervention areas to benefit her future generations. Thank you. I think a distinguished representative of France.

Next speaker is Montenegro President. Thank you. At the outset, allow me to congratulate you, Ambassador Tamsar, on your election. We also thank the Executive Director for her clear and forward looking overview which provides an important framework for our discussions. Excellencies.

Dear colleagues, this session takes place against the backdrop of compounding crises, all of which continue to have a disproportionate impact on children. In this context, UNICEF's mandate remains not only relevant, but indispensable. We therefore welcome the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2026. 2029 with its strong focus on integrated child centered results and its emphasis on reaching the most vulnerable. First, as a committed supporter of multilateral action for children, Montenegro attaches a particular importance to UNICEF's role in strengthening national systems and ensuring that no child is left behind.

We particularly appreciate the central role given to evidence evaluation and accountability. Robust evaluations, including those focused on early childhood development and education, are essential for strengthening impact, fostering organizational learning and ensuring responsible stewardship of resources. We look forward to engaging constructively on the evaluation agenda and the proposed plan for global evaluations for 2026 2029. Montenegro also welcomes the update on humanitarian action, including UNICEF's leadership in developing principled need based assistance in complex and protect crisis. We encourage continued alignment with global reform efforts, including the UN80 initiative, and we support UNICEF's engagement in shaping more agile, effective and fit for purpose UN development system.

Finally, we value the Board's continued attention to governance, oversight and organizational culture, including efforts to address racism and racial discrimination. A strong, transparent and inclusive institution is fundamental to maintaining trust both among Member States and with the community's units of service. Mr. President, Montenegro remains firmly committed to constructive dialogue, principled decision making and collective responsibility. We stand ready to support UNICEF in delivering its mandate and in ensuring that the rights and well being of every child remain at the center of our shared multilateral efforts. I thank you.

I thank a distinguished representative of Montenegro. Next speaker is Denmark, followed by New Zealand, Finland and Mexico. Thank you President, Madam, Executive Director Let me begin by expressing Denmark's sincere appreciation to UNICEF staff and partners who continue to deliver for children around the world, including in Gaza and Sudan, despite, as we all know, extremely difficult circumstances. We commend UNICEF for its unwavering commitment to its mandate and for bringing the needs of children, adolescents and women to global attention even when it's challenging and stakes are high. As 2026 unfolds amid geopolitical uncertainty and a shrinking ODA landscape, Denmark remains firmly committed to the United nations and to effective multilateralism.

In this regard, we stand behind the Secretary General's ambitious UN AD reform agenda as well as the humanitarian reset. Reform should be judged by its ability to enable the UN to act as one coherent system at country level under clear Resident Coordinator leadership with no duplication and stronger results on the ground. We expect all UN entities, including UNICEF, to exercise leadership in furthering the SDGs and focus on their core value added mandate and comparative advantage. We note UNICEF's efforts to streamline headquarter functions, better align resources with strategic priorities and the strengthening of field delivery. We further stress that UNICEF's Future Focus Initiative should be aligned with the system wide UNAID reform efforts.

UNICEF now enters the implementation phase of its strategic plan 20262029 Denmark supports the plan for its clear strategic direction and strong focus on delivering on UNICEF's core mandate to uphold the rights of all children everywhere. The real test now lies in transforming the strategy into results on the ground. We welcome the work of UNICEF's Independent Evaluation Office and the Global Evaluation Plan 20262029 and we commend its emphasis on evaluation as core oversight and evidence function. We also encourage UNICEF to draw on the forthcoming MOPEN findings to guide its work. We look forward to continue and deepen our long standing partnership with UNICEF, including hosting the global Supply and Logistics hub in Copenhagen that enables UNICEF to respond quickly and effectively to global emergencies.

Denmark remains committed to allocating 0.7% of its DNI to ODA. And Denmark is proud to increase its core contribution to UNICEF this year, placing Denmark among UNICEF's expected top five public core donors. I thank you.

I thank our distinguished representative of Denmark. Next speaker is New Zealand.

Thank you President and thank you Executive Director and all UNICEF staff for your steadfast commitment to advancing the rights and well being of children, particularly in a global context marked by conflict, climate pressure and widening inequalities. UNICEF's leadership across health, education, protection and social services remains indispensable as children face severe and overlapping risks. Rising poverty, learning loss, malnutrition and violence continue to erode children's rights and long term prospects. New Zealand strongly supports UNICEF's evidence based, child centred approach and its deep commitment to reaching the most marginalised, including children with disabilities, children in humanitarian settings and those living in fragile and conflict affected contexts. New Zealand reiterates the critical importance of predictable, flexible core funding which enables UNICEF to uphold humanitarian principles, sustain essential services and respond rapidly to emerging needs.

In a fiscally constrained environment, this funding is more vital than ever. We also acknowledge the changes UNICEF's leadership have made to align the organisation's operations with with the realities of a drastic reduction in voluntary funding. While such measures are clearly necessary, we recognise the difficult decisions this has required and the toll this will have taken on staff. As a Pacific nation, New Zealand places particular importance on UNICEF's engagement with Pacific island countries. Children in our region face disproportionate challenges, climate related disasters, geographic isolation, fragile health and education systems and and heightened vulnerabilities to violence and exploitation.

We welcome UNICEF's strengthening work across the Pacific including support for climate resilience, child protection, data driven policy, disability inclusion and gender equality. Locally grounded partnership based approaches remain essential to delivering lasting results for children in our region. New Zealand also emphasises the importance of the UNAIT initiative. UNICEF's engagement in unity is key to ensuring the a more coherent, efficient and impactful UN development system. We wish to underscore a number of priorities in this regard.

First, reforms must strengthen systemic coherence to ensure the UN can deliver for children with greater efficiency and clarity of purpose. Second, transparency is essential. Member States must have clear information on proposed reforms, decision points and responsibilities. Third, reforms must be shaped through meaningful consultation recognising the diverse context in which UNICEF operates, including across the Pacific, so that systemic changes enhance rather than hamper country level delivery. Fourth, any structural or operational adjustments must be grounded in robust analysis, focused squarely on improving outcomes for children and must safeguard UNICEF's life saving humanitarian and development mandates.

New Zealand stands ready to continue working closely with UNICEF, the executive board and member states through throughout 2026. We remain committed to a multilateral system that is inclusive, fit for purpose and responsive to

I thank our distinguished representative of New Zealand. Next speaker is Finland.

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, let me begin by thanking you and the entire UNICEF staff for the remarkable efforts you continue to make every day. At a time when an estimated 500 million children live in conflict affected areas, we count on your important work more than ever. Finland welcomes the human rights based approach of UNICEF's strategic plan for years 20262029 which recognizes children as rights holders, leaders and agents of change. We also underscore the necessity of upholding disability inclusion as a foundational and cross cutting commitment within UNICEF's activities. We encourage UNICEF to be ambitious in implementing the programmatic and institutional commitments of its Gender Equality Action Plan.

We also appreciate your continued attention to sexual and reproductive health and rights in your work, including in improving access to Health Services. UNICEF's work on AIDS is a prime example of its dedicated and successful efforts in health services. While progress in the HIV response has been very promising, children and adolescents, especially girls, remain at higher risk of infection than adults. We commend UNICEF's dedication to ensuring that the needs of the most vulnerable groups remain a clear priority. Also in this area of your work, innovation is an important driver of progress towards the SDGs and improved welfare of children worldwide.

We are very encouraged by the results that we have already seen from the Learning Innovations Hub and the Innovative Finance Hub in Helsinki and and we remain convinced of their added value going forward. For this reason, Finland will continue to provide financial support to the Helsinki based hub and UNICEF's research and foresight office in Ocenti.

Let me make a final point to acknowledge your efforts in mobilizing resources from private sector and non traditional donors which is an increasingly important issue in the current funding environment.

UNICEF remains A highly valued partner for Finland. Madam Executive Director. And we look forward to our continued collaboration for every child. Thank you. Thank you, distinguished representative of Finland.

Next speaker is Mexico, followed by Syrian Arab Republic and Algeria. Mexico, you have a floor. Thank you very much, Mr. President and distinguished Executive Director. Mexico would like to join the recognition expressed by other delegations to thank UNICEF for its constant support and for its role in promoting pro child public policies. The collaboration between UNICEF and my country has been and continues to be pillar to move forward in the construction of safe spaces that protect children and underpin the full development of boys, girls and teenagers.

One of the main challenges currently is the acute need for accountability in the face of human rights violations committed against children. In this extremely difficult context faced by millions of girls and boys, the work of international human rights mechanisms and multilateralism is more important than ever before. Schools are destroyed by missiles. There is a lack of food and medicine. Children die due to hypothermia.

They are recluded in armed conflicts, forced marriages, genital mutilation. I'm mentioning some of the most heartbreaking examples in which the world demands action immediately from this organization and our members. This UNICEF meeting is happening at a moment that is particularly complex. Our individual efforts matter. Mexico has had significant global influence by insisting in recognizing girls and boys as rights holders, by working for gender equality and by paying attention to groups that are in special situations of marginalization and vulnerability as well as one.

And we have promoted children's participation in different international fora in Mexico. Ensuring the protection, well being and integral development of each boy and girl is a state commitment and a commitment of our society as a whole. UNICEF is a key partner in these efforts supporting public policies that ensure access to health, education and spaces that are free from violence. Our country would like to reiterate its willingness to strengthen strengthen cooperation with the organization to push forward policies and actions that ensure the integral development of girls, boys and adolescents, thus contributing to the creation of a sustainable and equitable future for all. We wholeheartedly hope that our country program for 20262031 will be approved in order to continue working hand in glove with UNICEF so that each girl and boy in Mexico has a better present and in order to ensure success in their futures.

Thank you. I thank you. Distinguished representative of Mexico. Now give a floor to Syrian Arab Republic. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President of the Executive Board. Madam Executive Director of the unicef. Ladies and gentlemen, at the outset I. Would like to congratulate the president of the Executive Board and the elected Vice. Presidents and we Wish them and the board every success.

The Syrian Arab Republic would like to. Express its deep appreciation for UNICEF as. A true partner in protecting children and. Creating hope in spite of all pain. Mr. President, Syria today is not merely a country that has started its journey of recovery.

It is not merely a country rising. From beneath the rubble. Syria today is a success story being. Written with the resolve of its people and its faith in its children. The country that has known war is today choosing peace.

The country that has faced destruction is. Today choosing to build. Syria, which has been through so much pain, has chosen to overcome its pain and begin anew. Today, Syria is beginning with its children. And boys and girls.

Syria is beginning again with these children who are no longer at the center of crisis and appalling headlines. They are now at the center of. The future development and hope. Today, Syria is putting children at the. Heart of its national plans.

This is because we realize that true development starts with children. We realize that true recovery is measured. In people, not bricks and mortar. We are beginning to rehabilitate schools and develop the educational process. We are enhancing everyone's access to education and working to reduce school dropout rates and child labor.

Children taking steps to school are drawing with every step they take the path. Towards the future and development. Syria is also working on expanding expanding psychosocial support programs for the children affected. By the years of war. We are developing health care services for children and enhancing immunization and nutrition and working on water and sanitation services, especially in the areas most affected by climate change.

Syria knows fully well that powerful societies. Begin with a healthy childhood. We believe that investment in children is. The most sustainable investment. In conclusion, Syria today looks to the international community for partnership and investment, not assistance and donations.

We move forward believing that the protection of children is the shortest path towards stability and development. We are committed to enhancing children's rights. And developing national frameworks for child protection and and empowerment. And we will continue to work with. UNICEF and all international partners because we believe that the child we protect today.

Is the one writing the story of our success. Thank you. I thank a distinguished representative of Syrian Arab Republic. Next speaker is Algeria.

Mr. President, at the outset, we would. Like to congratulate you on your election. And we would like to congratulate the elected members of the Bureau. And we would like to thank the. Executive Director for her introductory statement and.

Her commitment to the goals of the organization. We emphasize the importance of our strategic. Partnership with unicef and we renew our. Commitment to multilateralism and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the. Importance of children's enjoyment of all their rights without discrimination.

We have launched two national initiatives that. Have been implemented since the previous session. SESSION the first was launched in September. In 2025, the National Entity for the. Protection of Childhood and the UNESCO Algeria office have renewed their partnership for a consistent program for the protection of children.

On the basis of a multi sectoral approach that brings together the international community. Different parties, around a strategy that puts child's interests at the core of children's strategies. The second initiative is an achievement that we consider a qualitative step towards improving children's participation in the newly minted Children's Parliament so that they can enhance their understanding of participation in public life and responsibility. We are concerned that traditional funding for humanitarian action and development is reduced, especially. Given the increase in needs and especially in light of the challenges that the.

UN 80 reforms might lead to. And we believe that reforms within UN80. Should take into account the administrative and financial specificities of UNICEF so that its. Operational flexibility and ability to respond quickly to crises is not undermined. We also emphasize the importance of providing.

Sufficient and predictable funding to the unicef, along with partnership that enables UNICEF to assist in national goals, along with the importance of donors providing all that they. Are obligated to provide in order to. Ensure the continued mandate of UNICEF. We emphasize that any reforms within UN 80 must be implemented in a gradual and consultative manner, taking into account all the operational standards of UNICEF, without implementing. Additional administrative burdens that would undermine fieldwork.

In conclusion, we are glad to see that The Strategic Plan 2026-2029 is now beginning and we renew our support for UNICEF and its noble message. Thank you. Thank you. Distinguished representative of Algeria. I now give a floor to Edie Russell to respond some of your comments.

You have a floor.

Okay, great. Thank you so much. Well, first, let me say several of you have mentioned the importance of flexible funding and I want to really say thank you to that. Thank you to you for that.

Bulgaria, Cuba, I mean, predictable funding makes such a difference to us. And I very much appreciate also Algeria that you recognize that and endorse it. So. So thank you for that very much. To the colleague from China, I wanted to really highlight for a moment your point about transparency, because I think in UN80 and FFI, being as transparent and informative to the board and others about what we're doing is really critical.

We have tried to do that. Happy to do more of it. If that's useful to you, please don't ever hesitate to ask if we can provide any additional information. I think this is one of those situations where, you know, we're all essentially in this together, and to the extent that we can share ideas, learn from each other, hear your priorities, we very much appreciate that and encourage it really, always. So thank you for that.

To the colleague from Moldova, I think, again, thank you for your voluntary contributions. And I want to say something about that, which is that, you know, you mentioned it in sort of a humble way about, you know, that it was a modest contribution, but I think if you step back and consider, if taken as a whole, even the smallest contributions, which. That certainly is not one of them, but taken as a whole, these contributions make a huge difference to us. So it's not just the big donors. It is everyone coming to the table, doing what they can.

That means everything to us. And I just really wanted to thank you for that. To the colleague from Australia, Ambassador, thank you so much. I agree totally. Your National Committee is excellent and very, very vocal and has a lot to contribute, and we very much appreciate that.

I think that the point you made about the Pacific, and obviously the colleague from New Zealand made the same point about how we need to keep that in mind. And, you know, I traveled there two years ago, had a fantastic trip, but I think it was definitely one of those places. I would say this about many places, but it was certainly one of those places where you had to see it to really understand just the scale of the sort of the challenges, the incredible beauty of the place, but also the challenges that children are facing. So huge thank you to the work that you're doing there, and grateful to be a part of that. To colleague from Italy, thank you very much for your support.

We're grateful to have you as a host country. I've often threatened to move the entire operation to Florence because it's such a beautiful place, but I can't get any traction on that, so I'm not really sure why, but huge thank you. Thank you to France. I did want to just make a point because you raised Haiti, and I realized I hadn't mentioned that before, but the challenges in Haiti are enormous, and I just want to take a minute to. To focus on that.

You know, we're estimating 3 million children there are in need of humanitarian support. It's a small island. The nature of the violence is horrific. The children who are suffering from malnutrition, it's a huge challenge for us, and I think I'm grateful to you for raising it. I think we all need to keep it on the radar screen because it is just a very Very difficult place.

Mexico also mentioned, not necessarily in the context of Haiti, but the recruitment of young people. We see that in high, high numbers in Haiti, but we see it in other places as well. And it's such a tragedy, honestly. These young people get either forced or coerced into, you know, participating in armed groups. It's hard to.

It's hard to imagine what their future looks like if we can't get them out of those situations and do it as quickly as possible. There are programs, course, to reintegrate, but it's hard. And they see terrible things, they experience terrible things, and it's just an awful way for their childhood to progress. To the colleagues from Montenegro and Denmark, just, again, I want to say how committed UNICEF is to reform, and I appreciate your commitment to that as well. We see it as, you know, it's kind of a moment in time here where there is a focus on the multilateral system.

I think the UN has got to be at its best. UNICEF has got to be at its best. We are doing everything we can to be an active and constructive part of that conversation and certainly, you know, appreciate any thoughts and ideas about that. But it's a top priority for us. I also wanted to.

You mentioned Copenhagen and I wanted to thank you. That's supply division there is just a jewel of unicef, and we're so grateful to the government for supporting that. To Finland, I wanted to say that the. You mentioned innovation, certainly innovation for us as a general principle is incredibly important. I've said this earlier and many times, actually, that because we feel like we're trying to do so much with so little, that trying to find new and important ways to do things are critical.

But those innovation labs are so important to us. I think it's a place to really push ourselves, bring together expertise that might not come to the table with UNICEF otherwise, certainly in Finland, on learning and innovative finance, they're just absolutely fantastic. And I want to say a huge thank you to the government for supporting those to the Syrian Arab Republic. I think, you know, what we see now is we have an important opportunity there to really make sure that as things are built up and restored, that services include children, that children are central to your thinking. And I'm grateful to hear your comments about that.

We very much want to be as helpful as we possibly can and look forward to doing that. So I think that's hopefully. Everyone, thank you again for your comments. Very grateful for them.

I thank Edie Russell for her valuable comments.

Let us pray proceed now with next speaker being Romania.

Madam Executive Director, our delegation takes the floor to add its voice in support of the vision you have put forward for implementing the UNICEF Strategic Plan which advances efforts to alleviate the disproportionate challenges faced by children in the current global environment. We feel support your rights based approach. We also join others in noting the challenging process of implementing the Strategic Plan while adapting to institutions institutional changes through active engagement in the UNAT reform efforts. We cannot overemphasize the importance of maintaining a clear focus on efficiency while safeguarding UNICEF's core mandate during this difficult process. Romania places children high on its national agenda and in its external action with partners around the world.

With this in mind, I would like to emphasize our agreement with your assessment and that of other speakers on the self evident devastating impact of war on children. We have and we will continue to support children from Ukraine who arrive in Romania as a result of the Russian aggression. We have joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and co sponsored the UN General assembly resolution on this topic. UNICEF Romania remains a key partner in the process of providing this assistance through the programs it implements. On the topic of funding, allow me to highlight our efforts to contribute to the search for creative solution during this challenging times, including among other examples, through our timely response and support for last year's appeal on humanitarian action for children East Asia and the Pacific.

Also on funding, while speaking from direct experience, we would have a process suggestion that UNICEF used the unity reform process as an opportunity to also work towards trying to reduce the time between the completion of a funded project and the moment when Member States are informed of any remaining unspent grants. Shortening this interval would allow Member States to take swifter action to the benefit of children. Thank you.

I thank you, distinguished representative of Romania. Next speaker is Morocco.

Mr. President, my delegation wishes to express its sincere appreciation to you and to the Bureau members and convey our trust and support for the success of this Executive Board session. We also extend our gratitude to the Executive Director for her comprehensive and compelling statement and we commend the tireless efforts of UNICEF to protect and promote the rights of every child. Mr. President, poverty remains one of the gravest threats to children worldwide. It undermines their health, their development and their ability to learn. Globally, hundreds of millions of children live without access to basic necessities such as education, clean water, health care and adequate shelter.

In this context, Morocco remains fully committed to advancing children's rights. Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed vi, children's rights are a strategic national priority rooted in social justice, human development and international Responsibility presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Lala Mariam. Morocco's National Observatory for Children's Rights celebrated in its 30th anniversary in 2025, reaffirming the kingdom's commitment to advancing children's rights and well being. In 2025, Morocco strengthened its child protection system by establishing a national child protection agency tasked with coordinating policies and improving prevention in education. Over 3,000 children with disabilities were integrated into public schools under National Inclusive Education Strength Strategy.

On the social and health front, the generalization of compulsory health insurance and direct social support programs now benefits millions of families, ensuring that the vast majority of children have access to essential services and protection from poverty. At the multilateral level, Morocco will be Hosting tomorrow, on 11th February 2026 in Marrakesh, the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child labor co organized with ilo, bringing together governments, international organizations, civil society and social partners to advance collective action against child labor. Finally, Morocco calls on all member states to prioritize children's rights, strengthen protections and mobilize resources so that every child can live with dignity, opportunity and hope. I thank you. I thank a distinguished representative of Morocco.

Next speaker is Russian Federation, followed by Panama and Djibouti.

Distinguished President, I'd like to first of all use a right of reply with regard to the statement by Ukraine. We'd like to remind you that the goal of the Executive Board is intergovernmental leadership and oversight of the activities of the unicef, including when it comes to. Finances, audits, evaluations and risk management. The topic that the delegate of Ukraine proposed discussing as a separate briefing of the Executive Board goes outside of the scope of the mandate of this body and was not stipulated in the agreed program of work. The outrageous non consensual resolution pushed through by an absolute minority of UN Member States mentioned by Ukraine ignores objective information and is based on false propagandist templates.

It does not give any instructions to UNICEF and Executive Board. We must understand that the goal of Ukraine is to politicize the work of the Executive Board and to undermine the neutral and impartial role of unicef. This can only have a negative impact on our collective efforts to ensure the well being of children. President, you listened closely to the joint statement by the Bureau in which the delegate of Iceland and all of its members underscored the importance of preventing politicization of the issue of protecting children. We hope that this was not just empty words and that you will be guided by this imperative on this issue as well.

We mentioned that the Executive Board has not held briefings on any other country subjects. And we would like to ask you to think about what kind of precedent that would set and what message that would send. Thank you for your attention. Now I'd like to speak in my national capacity with my statement. Distinguished Executive Director.

The Russian Federation is gravely concerned by the setbacks in global progress in the area of the survival and well being of children, including the rise in mortality among children under five. We view this as a direct consequence of systems systemic failures and in particular the failure of developed countries to uphold their financial obligations when it comes to development. In this regard we reaffirm our support for unicef, the contribution of which to the world is incredible, is impossible to overstate. We welcome the efforts of UNICEF to provide assistance to states including when it comes to reorienting budgetary resources on priorities including health care, food and early education. We believe this is an important element of strengthening the resilience of national systems against external shocks and instability.

We also support and trust the leadership of UNICEF in its efforts to adapt UNICEF to new realities, including the reduction in the amount of UN earmarked financing. We believe at the same time that the structural transformations that are underway, including on the regional level, which should not. Lead to a reduction of attention to. Countries and their specific needs. In this regard, we'd like to underscore in particular the continuing importance of the work of UNICEF in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

We Note that in 2025 the Russian Federation increased its voluntary contributions to UNICEF fourfold. Of course this is an increase from a relatively low base, but we plan. To continue to support and expanded cooperation. With UNICEF in the interest of children. From the most vulnerable countries.

Thank you. Thank distinguished representative of Russian Federation. I now give a floor to Panama. Thank you, Mr. Distinguished Board Members, Excellencies.

I'd like to greet our Executive Director Russell and thank her and her team for the collaboration that she has given Panama in our Security Council term, particularly particularly in the meetings that we have convened regarding security and safety of children. Panama. Panama reaffirms its commitment with the promotion, protection and effective enjoyment of the rights of the child enshrined in the Convention about the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols. We recognize the essential role carried out by UNICEF to translate these rights into concrete actions, specifically in fragile context humanitarian crises and prolonged emergencies. As members of the Security Council, we would like to underline the fundamental importance of the children in armed conflict agenda, paying special attention to the prevention of recruitment, something that the ED already mentioned in her statement.

We note with concern the rise in the recruitment and use of children, attacks against schools and hospitals, sexual violence, forced displacement and the sustained loss of educational opportunities. These violations do not just affect individual lives. They undermine the very foundations of peace and sustainable development. Panama considers that it is indispensable to strengthen a holistic focus that tie together protection, education, mental health, reintegration and community resilience, ensuring that our responses are victim centered and take into account any age and gender. Mr. President, at a national level, we would like to highlight the approval of Bill 111 that strengthens family support and promotes safe contacts for children.

In keeping with the principles supported by unicef. As a country that proudly is a regional headquarters for several UN agencies, Panama would like to reaffirm its willingness to work with this board in order to strengthen its efficiency, accountability, innovation and the work that UNICEF does on the ground. In the framework of the spirit of UN80 which we are closely following up on from Panama. Panama would also like to reiterate its full support to UNICEF and its commitment, its unwavering commitment to the defense of the rights of all boys and girls, without exception. Thank you.

I thank a distinguished representative of Panama. Next speaker is Chiputi. Mr. President. Madam Executive Director. At the global level, children today are facing an unprecedented convergence of challenges.

Protracted conflict, climate shock, forced displacements, widening inequalities and persistent poverty. As highlighted in the UNICEF annual Report, these pressures are occurring at the time when humanitarian and development resources are increasingly constrained, threatening to reverse hardware gain for children. Yet UNICEF has shown that principled multilateral action grounded in efficiency, innovation and strong partnership can still deliver life saving and life changing results. Djibouti, take notes of the Secretary General UN Initiative which call on the UN system to become more agile, effective and impact driven. We underline that system wide reform and efficiency must reinforce not weakened UNICEF operational capacity and field presentation.

Financial pressure and reform effort cannot and must not translate into reduced ambition or diminished services for the world's most vulnerable children. Africa remains at the epicenter of global child related challenges, but also of global opportunity. As the annual report underscores, the continent hosts one of the world's youngest and fastest growing population. Alongside persistent vulnerabilities related to health, nutrition, education, climate resilience and social protection. Within Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa, overlapping humanitarian, climate and public health emergencies continue to place immense strains on children and national system disproportionately affect children with disabilities.

UNICEF integrated approach has proven indispensable in this region. From nutrition and WASH services to education, continuity and social protection. Turning specifically to Djibouti My delegation wishes to underscore my country's strong partnership with UNICEF in advancing child education, protection and resilience, particularly in the context marked by climate stress, migration flows and regional instability. UNICEF's support in health and nutrition, access to safe water and sanitation, education and child sensitive social protection has been critical in strengthening Djibouti national system and reaching the most vulnerable children, including those in host and refugee community. Djibouti remains committed to working closely with UNICEF to ensure national ownership, sustainability and alignment with national development priorities.

Mr. President, the message of the annual report is clear. Resources are limited, but our needs should not be something that we should compromise on. The international community should make sure that this doesn't put in danger UNICEF's credibility on the ground. We reiterate our support to UNICEF and call upon all partners to show political commitment, solidarity and to invest even more. Investing in children means investing in a more stable, fair and sustainable world.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Djibouti and last speaker before of the morning session is India.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, we take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election as President of the UNICEF Executive board bureau for 2026 and assure you of India's full support and constructive engagement as a member of the Board. We are confident that under your leadership, the Board will continue to provide strategic guidance to advance UNICEF SCORE mandates. At a time of complex global challenges affecting children worldwide, it is imperative that UNICEF retains a laser sharp focus on development of children and not stray into areas that may be peripheral to this core mandate. India, home to the world's largest youth population, attaches the highest importance to the well being, protection and empowerment of children who represent not only our future but but that of the global community.

In this context, UNICEF's long standing partnership with India has played a significant role in supporting steady progress across key indicators including child nutrition, foundational learning, immunization, sanitization, digital awareness and social inclusion. These collaborative efforts have strengthened our national systems and contributed meaningfully to improving outcomes for the most vulnerable children. Mr. President, we are deeply concerned at the ongoing funding crisis and its impact on the UN entities, including unicef. At a moment like this, we hope that efforts within UNICEF will be to return to its core mandate, especially the work on the field that brings a positive change to a child's life. Adequate, predictable and flexible resources are essential to safeguard programmatic delivery and ensure that well being of children remains safe central in all our endeavors.

At the same time, financial architecture must remain transparent, accountable and enabling while also addressing gaps that may hinder timely and effective implementation. The strategic plan must ultimately be judged by its tangible and lasting impact on the ground, measured through real improvements in the lives of children as prioritized by the host government. Further, we reiterate that the reporting mechanisms undertaken by UNICEF should be authentic, politically non biased and geographically balanced. In conclusion, we reaffirm a commitment to further deepen our partnership with UNICEF to scale up resilient systems and leverage diverse financing streams to maximize impact. Together, we must ensure that every investment translates into meaningful progress for children everywhere.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give a floor to Ed Russell to respond some of the comments followed by announcement by Mr. Franco.

Okay, very briefly and thank you colleagues really for all of your excellent comments. I would just say a couple things.

One, to the representative of Romania, you know, I appreciate the focus on the impact of war on children. And I always say this, but, you know, it is war. To the extent that it's the concern of anybody, it's the concern of adults, it is not children. Children don't start wars, can't stop them, but they really do suffer in those, in those situations. And I very much appreciate the recognition of that.

To colleague from Morocco, thank you very much for commenting on children's rights. I thought especially highlighting the issue of child labor, which is just a horrific problem in many places. And I appreciated that comment. To the Russian Federation, thank you for mentioning Eastern Europe and Central Asia. I traveled to Central Asia last year, had a very good trip and understand that there are challenges there that, you know, UNICEF is grateful to be a part of those discussions.

On Panama, again, you know, just this issue of recruitment of children, it keeps coming up because it's such a horrific problem. And we have seen, I think last year was the highest reporting of child rights violations, grave rights, grave violations against children. Recruitment of children is one of those. You have to wonder what's happening in the world and why this is going on. It is absolutely terrible.

To the colleague from Djibouti, I thought that, you know, your point about the African continent having the youngest and fastest growing population, we think about that a lot, want to make sure that, you know, we're helping countries get children educated, make sure they're healthy. Water and sanitation is critical. And I think, you know, that population, the demographic changes there I think can be a huge asset if we can make sure children are healthy and educated. So appreciate those comments. And to the colleague from India, thank you for your remarks.

And I would say I agree with you that UNICEF and India have done some really fantastic work together. And I think there is a lot of learning there for us and for other countries in how India has done a lot of the work and very much appreciate that. So thank you. I thank Edie Russell for her most valuable comments. I now give a floor to Secretary of executive board Mr. Andres Franco.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Two announcements. The first one is to remind the delegation that we have the QR code for the survey. You will see it there and you will also get it in an email.

Of course, it's very useful for me as secretary, but it's extremely useful for management and also for the Bureau to get your thinking. So your feedback is always very welcome. Second, we will have in this conference room from 1:15 to 2:45, we will have the informal consultations on the draft decisions that will be considered for adoption. We will also have them after the session in the afternoon from 5 to 6. And if we need more time, we will go to Mary's Pate conference room in unicef.

Just want to remind everybody that the informal consultations on draft decisions are intended for UNICEF Board member states and member state observers, including the facilitators of the draft decisions. UNICEF focal points and relevant experts will be available during the informal consultations, as well as staff from my office. Thank you, Mr. President. I thank Secretary of Executive Board Andres Franco for his announcement. We adjourn for lunch and we will convene here at three o' clock sharp.

Thank you.