text: national immunization campaigns andotherchildhealthactivities. 93.Several delegations notedwithsatisfaction thestrengthened linkswiththe information media, whichwere-resulting inmanymoreconscientious and well-informed journalists taking upthecauseofchildren. Training programmes for journalists andnon-media communicators indeveloping countries hadaleady begunto winnewalliesforchildsurvival anddevelopment. 94.Delegates praised UNICEFforpursuing itspolicyofco-op~ration withthe printandaudio-visual media. TheUNICEFpublications, TheStateoftheWorld's Children, 1986andwithin HumanReach: AFutureforAfrica's Children, hadbeen publicized byagreater numberofnewspapers andradiostations thaneverbefore, inadisplay ofjournalistic interest unprecedented inthehistory ofUnited Nations documentation. Theoutstanding response wasthought tobedueprimarily to thefactthatthepUblications dealthwithhumanreality ratherthanintellectual abstractions. 95.In1985,anelectronic information network, including anelectronic mail service, abulletin boardandafull-text database,wassetuptofacilitate exchanges ofinformation. 96.Another factorcontributing tothesuccess ofUNICEF wasthevisibility ofits programmes, whoseresults havebeenwidelynoted,thankstoinformation media coverage. Thesuccess-of eventsorganized tohelpAfrica wasevidence ofthe extensive publicsupport. Itwassuggested thatgreater useshould bemadeof UNICEF's accesstosources ofinformation abouttheneedsofchildren inorderto obtainwiderpUblicsupport fordevelopment activities andtoenhance theprestige oftheentireUnitedNations system. -15- National Committees forUNICEF 97.TheworkoftheNational Committees forUNICEF wasconsidered excellent, and theywerecommended fortheirinnovative spirit. ItwasfeltthatthesuccesS of theCommittees reflected thegoodpublic imageofUNICEF, andtheCommittees hadan important roleinshaping thatimage. TheCommittees werealsocommended fortheir workfollowing thedevastating earthquakes inMexico. 98.Itwasnoted, however, thatcertain National Committees werecontinuing to takesalescommissions iriexcessof40percentofproceeds, andthatthe 25percentmarginusually allowed wasconsidered already toohigh. 99.Inastatement totheExecutive Board,theChairman oftheStanding Groupof National Committees forUNICEFreported ontheirincreased efforts duringthe 1984-1985 period, necessitated bythecrisisinAfrica. National Committees had increased theircontribution from$44million in1984to$66million in1985, representing 17.6percentofthetotalUNICEF income, ascompared to12.9percent theprevious year. Hestatedthatbecause oftheprospective financial . constraints, thosefigures emphasized theveryimportant roleofNational Committees intheyearstocome. 100.Itwassuggested thatthetaskoftheNational Committees wouldbegreatly facilitated iftheyhadmoreadvanced information regarding UNICEFstrategies and plans. Non-governmental organizations 101.Forthefirsttimeon16April1986,theNGOForummetinjointsession with theExecutive Board. AsnotedbytheChairman oftheBoard,itpresented an opportunity forallparticipants toreflect onthecommonglobalvisionthatunited them- abetterworkforallchildren. ThePresident oftheNGOCommittee for UNICEFstatedthattheNGOForums hadmadeimportant contributions toUNICEF by focusing attention onproblems ornewsituations. Withthetheme"Action for children: unfinished business", theNGOForumrequested UNICEFsupport for "Childhope", aneworganization forstreetchildren. UNICEF was'alsoaskedtotake astrongposition ontheelimination ofextreme exploitation, bondedchildlabour, slavery, sexualexploitation andabuseandotherillegal activities affecting children inespecially difficult circumstances. Theextension ofchildren asa "zoneofpeace"tofostertherightsofchildren inarmedconflicts wasalso recommended attheNGOForum(seeparas. 110-123 below). Delegations welcomed the support givenbyNGOstoUNICEFinthedrafting ofaconvention ontherightsof thechildandurgedUNICEFtospeedupworkinthatconnection (seepara.256below andchap.VI,decision 1986/21). 102.Inmostsocieties, wheretheGovernment isresponsible forassisting children, manyactivities ontheirbehalfcouldbeundertaken byNGOs,whoseindependence and flexibility allowed themtoconcentrate theiroperations andlimittheirscopeto
analysis: The text appears to focus on the efforts of UNICEF and its partners to promote the well-being and development of children worldwide. It highlights various initiatives, such as national immunization campaigns, training programs for journalists, and the work of national committees and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The text also mentions the importance of information and communication in raising awareness and garnering support for these efforts.