The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is a specialized institution and agency of the United Nations dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children globally. It was established on 11 December 1946, by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. It was originally named the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund to provide immediate relief to children and mothers affected by World War II. In 1950, its mandate was extended to address the long-term needs of children in developing countries, and in 1953, it became a permanent part of the UN system, though it retained the acronym UNICEF.
UNICEF operates in 192 countries and territories and is governed by a 36-member executive board elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Its work is fundamentally guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted in 1989, which is the most widely-ratified international human rights treaty. The mechanism of its work involves an "equity strategy" to reach the most disadvantaged children through programs focusing on immunizations, nutrition, sanitation, education, and emergency relief. A recent change includes updating its guidance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and children to ensure AI systems respect and promote children's rights in the digital environment.