United States Committee for United Nations Children's Fund A future for every child. United States Policy Priorities and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) The Reagan Administration has identified five policy priorities to guide its relations with international organizations, as articulated by Gregory J. Newell, the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. The United States Committee for UNICEF is pleased to offer the following comments on UNICEF's performance and its responsiveness to these United States policy priorities: FIRST PRIORITY: Reassert American leadership in international UNICEF is one United Nations agency in which the United States has never found itself at odds with the majority of other governments or the secretariat on a major substantive issue. UNICEF remains scrupulously non-political in its Executive Board proceedings and in its operations. Only once in UNICEF's 37-year history has its Board taken a vote on an issue, rather than establishing consensus. UNICEF has always been committed to a philosophy of "more for less" through innovative, low-cost techniques to assist children and their mothers. This year, the Executive Director of UNICEF is submitting a proposed budget for the fiscal biennium 1984-1985, which extends zero net growth in core professional staff posts since 1982. This zero growth in staff accompanies a projected 29% growth in UNICEF's programme and budgetary expenditure (in real terms) for the same period, 1982-1985. THIRD PRIORITY: Strengthen U.S. influence in international conferences through leaner, more disciplined delegations. (An internal United States function.) FOURTH PRIORITY: Increase the number of U.S. nationals serving in Already, and traditionally, UNICEF employs a higher percentage of United States citizens than any other United Nations agency. This number, in fact, far exceeds reasonable distribution among UNICEF's donor and recipient countries. In addition, UNICEF has always been headed by an American Executive Director. It should be noted, however, that when the current Executive Director was appointed (taking office in 1980), the U.S. encountered considerable resistance from other donor governments whose per capita contributions far exceeded that of the United States and, in the case of one country (of only 8 million people), the absolute amount of its contribution nearly matched that of the United States (population: 230 million). [For 1982, 1983, and 1984, the Administration has requested massive reductions (up to 37%) in the U.S. contribution to UNICEF; the Congress has instead authorized and appropriated modest increases for 1982 and 1983.] FIFTH PRIORITY: Increase the role of the private sector in programs and activities of the international organizations. UNICEF is unique among international organizations as a partnership of governments and peoples working with governments and peoples. Nearly one-quarter of UNICEF's income is contributed by private sector activities, largely organized by private National Committees for UNICEF in 32 industrialized countries, as well as by other non-governmental organizations and private initiatives. UNICEF's program cooperation with governments of developing countries is focused on building parental and community capacity to adequately protect their children and increasing their capacity for self-reliance, and is largely carried out through non-governmental organizations and private sector initiatives. A UNICEF priority is in helping poor families to develop their own income-generating enterprises. Kimberly Gamble United States Committee for UNICEF 110 Maryland Avenue, NE / Washington, DC 20002 / 547-7946 FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983 Children to Whom We Promised Life To the Editor: I write in reference to a matter that was the subject of considerable attention in the world's press during the Anders Wenngres Christmas season- the plight of the world's poor children. At that time, your newspaper, and many others in many countries, prominently featured a report by Unicef which pointed to new hope for saving millions of chil dren who now die needlessly each year; The message of Unicef's "State of the World's Children" report was clear: Recent developments in lowcost health care technology and in communications and social organiza-, tion now offer the world community a new and real opportunity to save these children's lives. The significance of this opportunity is that these lives can now be saved at considerably lower cost than, say, a decade ago. It would therefore seem that we no longer need to ask ourselves whether we can afford to help these children. The question is, How can we not? What continues to be required in large measure, however, is the willingness to be concerned with implement ing these solutions. That is why I write; to remind you and your readers of the New Year's resolutions that may have been made after seeing those Christ: mas stories of new hope in dark times. The opportunities cited by Unicef continue to hold their promise. Will we hold ours? KURT WALDHEIM. Washington, Feb. 25, 1983 CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT OF UNICEF Senator RUDMAN. Thank you very much, Dr. Sheffield. I would note that the committee approved $42.5 million last year. As I am sure you know, the request for fiscal year 1984 is $27 million. As a matter of fact, several days ago, Ambassador Kirkpatrick appeared before our committee, and I asked her why it was that the administration's request was down, particularly since UNICEF is one of the few agencies in the United Nations that is headed by an American, and we tend to have more influence there. This committee, as you know, and the Chairman, Senator Kasten, have continually been strong supporters of this program. Mr. SHEFFIELD. Yes. Senator RUDMAN. I would not want to close without just mentioning to you that I think everyone has taken note of the remarkable job that UNICEF did in Lebanon. Without it, obviously, there would have been a great more suffering and more death. You certainly are to be commended for that. Thank you very much for appearing today. Mr. SHEFFIELD. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS Senator RUDMAN. The record will remain open for 1 week, during which time additional statements may be inserted for the record from those who were unable to appear in person. If any of the Senators on the subcommittee require any other information, they will so request it in writing from the witnesses. Thank you very much for your appearances. We will now stand in recess subject to the call of the chairman. [Whereupon, at 3:25 p.m., Thursday, March 10, the subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene at the call of the Chair.] |