Championing children’s rights in Argentina

This month in UNICEF Spotlight, we’re heading to Argentina, where innovative solutions and strong partnerships are creating lasting change for children.??

From securing clean water for remote communities to addressing environmental risks, discover how UNICEF Argentina is making a difference on the ground.?

Subscribe, stay connected and see the impact we’re driving #ForEveryChild, everywhere.??

This year marks 40 years of UNICEF’s presence in Argentina. Since 1985, we’ve been working hand-in-hand with local governments and organizations to advance children’s rights.??

A key milestone came in 1990 when Argentina ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, later incorporating it into the national Constitution in 1994.??

But even with these important steps, challenges remain. One of the most urgent issues is access to clean water, a basic right that many communities still struggle to secure.??

In the next story, we’ll take you to Salta in mountainous northwestern Argentina, where UNICEF is turning unsafe water into a lifeline for children and families.?

Marcelo and Clemencia are from the municipality of Colonia Santa Rosa in the province of Salta. They point to the side of a dirt road. Among the grass is a well with stagnant water and moss.??

"We draw water from there because it is difficult to get to the water storage tank; we have to resort to this," they explain.?

"The children get sick: they have diarrhoea and vomiting because the water is dirty," says Marcelo.?

Access to clean water is essential for life and a fundamental human right. During the summer, because of high temperatures and high rainfall, safe water is scarce in northwestern Salta. This affects thousands of families in the area, mainly the most vulnerable population, specifically children under 5 years of age from the Ava-Guaraní and Wichi indigenous communities. The limited access to safe drinking water exposes children to diseases that can be fatal.?

"Unsafe water, whether used for drinking or cooking, increases the risk of producing infectious diseases and diarrhoea. In underweight or malnourished children, it can lead to death," says Javier Quesada, Health and Early Childhood Specialist at UNICEF Argentina.???

To address the emergency, UNICEF Argentina developed a response plan and supplied Salta’s Ministry of Health with 80,000 water purification tablets, enough to produce 40,000 litres of safe drinking water.?

This critical intervention will help prevent waterborne diseases and improve health, reaching 19,000 families and 33,000 children under five from vulnerable populations.?

UNICEF’s work in the region has been ongoing since 2023. In January, the office collaborated with the Ministry of Social Development to deliver 100 cisterns to local communities enhancing sanitation infrastructure by storing water from wells.??

With just one water purification tablet for every five litres, families can turn this water into safe drinking water for cooking and consumption, significantly reducing health risks.?

"We are in an arduous battle in our province, so that no child loses his or her life due to a preventable causes such as diarrhoea," said Gabriela Dorigato, Undersecretary of Social Medicine of Salta.??

"This is a great leap in quality; the fight against infant mortality is everyone's responsibility: parents, the health team, the social team. We are going to achieve the highest possible level of health in the province," she concluded.

How did you get into this career??

I started my career at UNICEF in 1994. Originally from Patagonia, Argentina, I moved to Buenos Aires to study journalism.??

UNICEF was my first work experience, and from the beginning, I took on various tasks that gave me insight into different aspects of the organization. Eventually, I had the opportunity to join the communications team, an area I’ve always been passionate about, particularly due to my interest in social issues and everything related to children and adolescents.?

Proudest moment at UNICEF??

Over the years, I’ve had countless proud moments. One of the first I remember was having the opportunity to highlight the struggles faced by the most vulnerable children and their families. It was an honour to showcase UNICEF's vital role in these situations. Additionally, UNICEF has given me the opportunity to work alongside exceptional people and create meaningful initiatives for children and adolescents.??

Among these experiences, my collaboration with national football team players stands out. The players still collaborate with us in various fundraising campaigns and also advocate on issues such as parenting and health, maintaining a relationship of cooperation and support to this day.?

What advice would you give to young people wanting to follow a similar career path??

My main advice would be to have a strong belief in UNICEF's mission. Our work is a privilege, and it’s important to understand that through our actions, we can help change situations of injustice affecting children.??

It’s crucial to be well-prepared and committed, because the more prepared we are, the greater the impact we can have in ensuring and protecting the rights of children.?

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is helping UNICEF improve the lives of children in Argentina who face environmental risks such as pollution, deforestation, droughts, floods and disease outbreaks like dengue.?

In 2023, Takeda contributed $100,000 to the Municipality United for Children initiative (MUNA, for its Spanish acronym), which focuses on strengthening local public policies to better protect children.?

Through this partnership, UNICEF provided technical support to municipalities, guiding them in developing environmental action plans that address the risks threatening nearly 3 million children in Argentina.

These plans focus on creating healthier environments, improving housing, managing climate-related risks and expanding access to clean water and sanitation.??

Thanks to Takeda’s support, 23 municipalities have already made significant progress in environmental planning, directly benefiting 439,000 children and adolescents.?

Learn more about our partnership with Takeda here.?

At UNICEF, we believe every child deserves a chance to thrive and we make this happen with the support of generous partners.

From governments and organizations to foundations, the private sector, and individuals, our diverse network of supporters helps protect the rights of the most vulnerable children.?

If you’d like to make a difference, donate here.?

To discover how we’re working with private sector partners to change children’s lives worldwide, subscribe to UNICEF’s “Making It Count” newsletter.?

Interested in partnering with us? Learn more here.??

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