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Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF United Methodists raised $154,000 in 2008 Every October, United Methodists have the opportunity to improve the lives of children around the world through a long-standing collaboration between the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the United Nation’s Children’s Fund. This collaboration, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, has helped UNICEF save more children’s lives than any other organization, according to Caryl Stern, U.S. Fund president. Last year, United Methodists raised more than $154,000 for UNICEF. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF empowers children to show the world that the rights of every child must be upheld and respected. “Through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, United Methodists can again join the efforts to create a future where the unalienable rights granted in the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child, are a universal reality,” said Jim Winkler, GBCS chief executive. “We can do this by empowering the young people of our communities to join the longest-running youth-volunteer initiative in America: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.” Stern said new, alternative ways to make Halloween count are explained on the organization’s website. “You can order free orange, collection boxes,” she said, “and create your own customized fund-raising page.” She said information is also available by calling (800) FOR-KIDS. “Unfortunately, “24,000 children still die unnecessarily every day,” Stern emphasized. “They die from causes most people in the United States rarely worry about: malnutrition, unsafe drinking water, or lack of a five-cent vaccine.” Stern said UNICEF is doing whatever it takes to reach a day when the number of children dying from preventable causes is zero. And, fortunately, there is hope, according to her. On Nov. 20, 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted. Through the treaty, the world came together to say that those 18 years and younger have the same general human rights as adults. The treaty has inspired changes in laws to better protect children, altered the way international organizations see their work for children, and supported an agenda to better protect children in situations of armed conflict. “The very idea that children are the holders of rights is far from universally recognized, though,” said Winkler. “Too many children are considered the property of adults, and are subjected to various forms of abuse and exploitation.” Stern emphasized that through partnerships like that with United Methodists, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will not stop until there is a day when no more lives are lost due to preventable causes. Winkler added that GBCS will continue to work towards that goal. “Together, we can work towards the day when no child is killed by violence, lack of safe shelter, or exploitation and abuse,” he said. For more information about United Methodist participation in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, call its United Nations & International Affairs office, (212) 682-3633, ext. 3106, or visit the GBCS website. Date: 10/13/2009 ©2005-2009

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