Checked against delivery
Mister President, Madam Executive Director, colleagues,
As UNICEF marks its 80th anniversary, we are reminded that progress is possible when we invest in children and protect their rights.
As a member of the Security Council, Denmark strongly values UNICEF’s work in crisis response and early recovery in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Haiti, Yemen and other crises where children continue to pay the highest price.
We commend UNICEF’s determination to stay and deliver. To protect children. To sustain essential services. And to strengthen national and local systems in fragile settings.
Denmark remains firmly committed to the UN and to effective multilateralism. Our support reflects trust in UNICEF’s mandate, results, and ability to deliver – for every child.
We are proud to be among UNICEF’s largest core donors - and thank you for acknowledging this in your remarks Madam Executive Director - providing predictable support at a time when regular resources are under severe pressure.
***
Denmark welcomes the special focus session on Innovation in Education on Thursday. Digital learning, innovation and new technologies can help address the global learning crisis. But they must be deployed equitably, responsibly and in line with children’s rights.
We appreciate UNICEF’s growing leadership on children’s rights in the digital age, including online safety and AI governance. Children must have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their future.
***
Madam Executive Director,
Denmark welcomes UNICEF’s strong commitment to UN80 and broader reform, hand-in-hand with its own internal reform efforts. We encourage UNICEF – and all UN agencies – to engage fully and at all levels.
UN80 must help deliver a stronger One-UN approach at country level. This includes empowering Resident Coordinators to hold real influence over country team configuration. It also means ensuring clear alignment and sequencing of CPDs with Cooperation Frameworks. We welcome UNICEF’s commitment to locally-led responses and encourage further efforts in this area.
As reform implementation moves forward, we encourage continued transparency on implications, risk management, staff well-being, young talent recruitment, and operational capacity. We welcome the independent FFI After Action Review and look forward to seeing lessons learned.
You can count on Denmark’s continued close partnership with UNICEF to protect children’s rights, strengthen delivery on the ground, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to survive, learn and thrive.
I thank you.
