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Type: Statements

Call for support for appropriate infant and young child feeding in the current Asian emergency, and caution about unnecessary use of milk products

WHO, UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies call for support for appropriate infant and young child feeding in the current Asian emergency, and caution about unnecessary use of milk products.

Published in 2004, by WHO, UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Communicable diseases and severe food shortage situations

The combination of communicable diseases (CDs) and malnutrition is the most prevalent public health problem in the world today; together they are responsible for millions of preventable deaths worldwide each year.

Published in 2005, by WHO

Community-based management of Severe Acute Malnutrition

A Joint Statement by the WHO, the WFP, the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition and the UNICEF on the community-based treatment of severely malnurished children, promoting it's effectiveness in detecting the cases of SAM and treating them with RUTF. Update 2011 The Joint Statement has been updated to reflect the revised MUAC cut-off of 115 mm on pages 2...

Published in 2007, by WHO, WFP, UNSCN, UNICEF

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.

Published in 1979, by UN

Convention on the Rights of the Child

This convention bans discrimination against children and provides for special protection and rights appropriate to minors. The preamble recalls the basic principles of the United Nations and specific provisions of certain relevant human rights treaties and proclamations. It reaffirms the fact that children, because of their vulnerability, need special care...

Published in 1989, by UN

Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies

UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies, build on UNICEF’s experience in recent crises and outlines UNICEF’s initial response in protecting and caring for children and women. It states UNICEF’s core response at all levels of the organization.

Published in 2010, by UNICEF

Don’t forget the food crisis: New policy directions needed - UN DESA Policy Brief No. 8

In view of the present global financial crisis, it is more important than ever to strengthen the development finance architecture, not only to limit the negative effects of the crises and to enable countries to respond effectively, but also to ensure that the internationally agreed development goals can be met without diverting either external or domestic...

Published in 2008, by UN DESA

Draft Statement on the Use of the WHO 2006 Growth Standards in Emergency Nutrition Programmes

Draft statement issued on behalf of all the agencies (United Nations and non-governmental) who are members of the working group.

Published in 2007, by SCN Working Group on Nutrition in Emergencies

El derecho a la salud - OACDH Folleto informativo No. 31

El presente Folleto informativo tiene por objeto arrojar luz sobre el lugar que ocupa actualmente el derecho a la salud en las normas internacionales de derechos humanos, teniendo en cuenta la gran cantidad de iniciativas y propuestas respecto de lo que el derecho a la salud puede o debe ser. Por consiguiente, no se pretende ofrecer una lista exhaustiva de...

Published in 2008, by OACDH - OHCHR, OMS - WHO

Focusing on anaemia - Towards an integrated approach for effective anaemia control

This document is a joint statement by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund on strategies to combat anaemia.

Published in 2004, by WHO, UNICEF

Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - OHCHR Fact Sheet No. 33

The publication of a separate fact sheet on economic, social and cultural rights should not give the impression that they are somehow a distinct category of rights that can be dealt with in isolation. On the contrary, strengthening the protection of economic, social and cultural rights is an integral part of strengthening the protection of all the rights...

Published in 2008, by OHCHR

Global strategy for infant and young child feeding

Joint Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding to revitalize world attention to the impact that feeding practices have on the nutritional status, growth and development, health, and thus the very survival of infants and young children. The document includes an overview of the challenges, the implementation and the responsibilities involved in...

Published in 2003, by WHO, UNICEF

HIV and Infant Feeding - A policy statement developed collaboratively by UNAIDS, WHO and UNICEF

This statement provides policy-makers with a number of key elements for the formulation of policies on HIV infection and infant feeding.

Published in 2003, by UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO

Human Rights and Poverty Reduction: A Conceptual Framework

The Conceptual Framework presents a clear vision of a human rights approach to poverty reduction, a vision that explicitly encompasses accountability and empowering people as actors for their own development.

Published in 2004, by OHCHR

Implications of Climate Change on undernutrition

UNSCN statement prepared for the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen (7-18 December 2009).

Published in 2009, by UNSCN

Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies - a Joint Statement - Haiti

A call for support for appropriate infant and young child feeding and caution about unnecessary and potentially harmful donations and use of breast-milk substitutes. Statement given shortly after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Published in 2010, by WHO, UNICEF, WFP

Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies - a Joint statement - Model

A model joint statement on IFE worked upon and agreed by participants at a regional IFE workshop in Bali in March 2008. This version is based on a joint statement issued by WHO, UNICEF and IFRC during the Indonesia earthquake response. It was developed in the interest of emergency preparedness in the region.

Published in 2008, by IFE Core Group

Innocenti Declaration 2005 on Infant and Young Child Feeding

A call for action following 15 years since the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding and the 2002 Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding and in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. It calls on governments, manufacturers, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral organizations and financial...

Published in 2005, by UNICEF

Iron supplementation of young children in regions where malaria transmission is intense and infectious disease highly prevalent

Following the publication of two studies evaluating the impact of iron and zinc supplementation on childhood mortality and severe morbidity in Nepal and Zanzibar, WHO and UNICEF published a Joint Statement to emphasize the fact that iron and folic acid supplementation should be targeted only to those children who are anaemic and at risk of iron deficiency....

Published in 2006, by WHO

Les droits de l’homme et la lutte contre la pauvreté: Cadre conceptuel

Le présent cadre conceptuel offre une vision claire d’une stratégie de lutte contre la pauvreté fondée sur les droits de l’homme, une vision qui englobe explicitement l’obligation de rendre des comptes et la participation des acteurs à leur propre développement.

Published in 2004, by HCDH - OHCHR

Los derechos humanos y la reducción de la pobreza: Un marco conceptual

El presente marco conceptual presenta una clara visión de un enfoque basado en los derechos humanos con respecto a la reducción de la pobreza, visión que abarca explícitamente la responsabilidad y habilitación de las personas como protagonistas de su propio desarrollo.

Published in 2004, by OACDH - OHCHR

Making pregnancy safer: the critical role of the skilled attendant

This statement clearly argues for the rapid training of skilled birth attendants, and suggests how the role of the traditional birth attendant can be transformed into one in which they encourage women to seek care from a skilled attendant.

Published in 2004, by WHO, International Confederation of Midwives, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict

The protocol sets 18 as the minimum age for direct participation in hostilities, for recruitment into armed groups, and for compulsory recruitment by governments. States may accept volunteers from the age of 16 but must deposit a binding declaration at the time of ratification or accession, setting out their minimum voluntary recruitment age and outlining...

Published in 2000, by UN

Preguntas frecuentes sobre los Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales - OACDH Folleto informativo No. 33

La publicación de un folleto informativo separado sobre los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales no debería hacer pensar que existe una categoría en cierta medida distinta de derechos que pueden abordarse de manera aislada. Por el contrario, el fortalecimiento de la protección de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales forma parte...

Published in 2008, by OACDH - OHCHR

Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in people affected by the Asian tsunami

In any humanitarian crisis, micronutrient deficiencies can easily develop or be made worse if they are already present. This happens because livelihoods and food crops are lost, food supplies are interrupted, diarrhoeal diseases break out and cause malabsorption and nutrient losses, and infectious diseases suppress the appetite while increasing the need for...

Published in 2005, by WHO, UNICEF

Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in populations affected by an emergency

Provides guidance on the composition of multiple micronutrient supplements for vitamins and minerals and for the fortification of general rations for women and children.

Published in 2006, by WHO, WFP, UNICEF

Questions fréquemment posées concernant les droits économiques, sociaux et culturels - HCDH Fiche d'information No. 33

La publication d’une fiche d’information séparée sur les droits économiques, sociaux et culturels ne devrait toutefois pas donner l’impression qu’ils constituent en quelque sorte une catégorie de droits à part, pouvant être traités isolément. Au contraire, le renforcement de la protection des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels fait...

Published in 2008, by HCDH - OHCHR

Rôle de la supplémentation hebdomadaire en fer et en acide folique chez la femme en âge de procréer pour favoriser une santé optimale de la mère et de l’enfant

La présente déclaration repose sur le consensus obtenu lors d’une consultation mondiale de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) sur la supplémentation hebdomadaire en fer et en acide folique en prévention de l’anémie chez la femme en âge de procréer, organisée à Manille (Philippines), du 25 au 27 avril 2007. Elle fait la synthèse des...

Published in 2009, by OMS - WHO

Reaching optimal iodine nutrition in pregnant and lactating women and young children. Joint statement by WHO & UNICEF

The statement presents the conclusions of a technical consultation and subsequent follow up meeting in 2005, on the prevention and control of iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women and in children less than two years of age.

Published in 2007, by WHO, UNICEF

Recommendations on wheat and maize flour fortification meeting report: Interim Consensus Statement

This statement is based on scientific reviews prepared for a Flour Fortification Initiative (FFI) technical workshop held in Stone Mountain, GA, USA in 2008 where various organizations actively engaged in the prevention and control of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and various other relevant stakeholders met and discussed specific practical recommendations...

Published in 2009, by WHO

Rising Food and Fuel Prices: Addressing the Risks to Future Generations

The moderation in global prices over the past few months is scant consolation to the millions who are still facing high domestic prices and have cut back on eating nutritious food and on investing in their child’s schooling.

Published in 2008, by Human Development Network (HDN), Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) Network, World Bank

Sustainable livelihoods guidance sheets

As a whole, this set of Guidance Sheets attempts to summarise and share emerging thinking on the sustainable livelihoods approach. It does not offer definitive answers and guidelines. Instead, it is intended to stimulate readers to reflect on the approach and make their own contributions to its further development.

Published in 1999, by UK Department for International Development

The Right to Health - OHCHR Fact Sheet No. 31

The fact sheet starts by explaining what the right to health is and illustrating its implications for specific individuals and groups, and then elaborates upon States' obligations with respect to the right. It ends with an overview of national, regional and international accountability and monitoring mechanisms.

Published in 2008, by OHCHR, WHO

Weekly Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) in women of reproductive age: its role in promoting optimal maternal and child health

This position statement is based on the consensus of a World Health Organization (WHO) Global Consultation on Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) for Preventing Anaemia in Women of Reproductive Age held in Manila, Philippines, 25-27 April 2007 and summarizes recommendations based on a desk review commissioned by the WHO Regional Office for the...

Published in 2009, by WHO

WHO child growth standards and the identification of severe acute malnutrition in infants and children

The statement presents the recommended cut-offs, summarizes the rationale for their adoption and advocates for their harmonized application in the identification of 6 to 60 month old infants and children for the management of severe acute malnutrition. It reviews the implications on patient load, on discharge criteria and on programme planning and...

Published in 2009, by WHO, UNICEF

WHO HIV Consensus Statement on Infant Feeding

Researchers, programme implementers, infant feeding experts and representatives of the IATT, UN agencies, the WHO Regional Office for Africa and six WHO headquarters departments gathered in Geneva in order to review the substantial body of new evidence and experience regarding HIV and infant feeding that has been accumulating since a previous technical...

Published in 2006, by WHO