Children must remain at the heart of UN reform efforts
18 May 2026 News
The Group of Friends of Children and the SDGs — co-chaired by Bulgaria, Jamaica, and Luxembourg — convened its second meeting of the year under the theme: “Ensuring UN80 Delivers for Every Child.”
Bulgaria was represented by Ambassador Gergana Karadjova.
The discussion brought together Member States and UNICEF leadership to explore how the ongoing UN80 reform process can better protect and advance children’s rights across the UN system.
The meeting featured remarks by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden, and Permanent Representative of Jamaica Brian Wallace, who moderated the discussion, as well as a video message from UNICEF youth advocate Fernando.
Participants emphasized the importance of:
- delivering effective services for children at the national level
- strengthening coordinated advocacy across the UN system
- ensuring children remain central to UN reform efforts throughout 2026.
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