May 30, 2011 - Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. John W. Ashe has received the endorsement of the UN’s Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC), to serve as President of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). Ambassador Ashe will serve for a one-year term beginning 1 January 2012.

Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. W. Baldwin Spencer made the announcement on 28th May 2011.

The Executive Board is the governing body of UNICEF, providing intergovernmental support and oversight to the organization, in accordance with the overall policy guidance of the United Nations General Assembly and its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It reviews UNICEF activities and approves its policies, country programmes and budgets.

“This is no small achievement for our twin-island nation and I would like to thank the thirty-two countries of the Latin American and Caribbean region for the singular honour they have bestowed on the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda,” said Prime Minister Spencer.

“UNICEF is globally recognized as a driving force that is working towards a world where the rights of every child are realized and through a variety of partners at grassroots level is unique among world organizations working with the young to try and turn the most innovative ideas into reality,” he added.

UNICEF,
which was formally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, was created with the goal of working with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path.

UNICEF’s current mandate include:
•       advocating for measures to give children the best start in life;
•       promoting girls education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum;
•      acting so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished;
•      working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people;
•      upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and
•      serving as a partner in the Global Movement for Children – a broad coalition dedicated to improving the life of every child.

Ambassador Ashe, who recently completed a successful tenure as President of the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA, will bring considerable expertise to to the post. The UNICEF Executive Board meets three times each year, in a first regular session (January/February), annual session (May/June) and second regular session (September).

  Executive Board sessions are held at the United Nations headquarters in New York