FOR MEDIA 18 December 1981
UNICEF
The attached is the text of a letter the Prime Minister today
sent to the Representative of the United Nations Children's
Fund in Australia, Mr Hugo Idoyaga. 21
PRIME MINISTER CANSEERRA
Dear Mr Idoyaga,
I would like to pay tribute to the work of the
United Nations Children's Fund on the occasion of
its 35th Anniversary
UNICEF, since its inception in 1946 has done valuable,
indeed vital work, initially in providing emergency
assistanc& to children in war-ravaged countries and
subsequently in responding to the continuing struqqlec
of the vast majority of the world' s children simply to
survive and to enjoy a basic social and physical
environment which might allow them decent opportunities
for continued well-being.
Australians have every reason to be proud of their
country's association with the establishment of
UNICEF and its contributions through the years.
When UNICEF came into being Australia was one of the
first four countries to pledge its support and was
represented on UNICEF's first Executive Board, and is
currently a member. The Australian Government's
contribution to UNICEF for 1982 will be a $ 3.5 million,
one of the ten highest on a per capi'ta basis, amnongj
the 157 member countries of the United Nations.
In my opinion, UNICEF is special in two ways it
puts its emphasis on children as the hope of the future,
and it serves as a means through which governments and
private people around the world can work together to
deal with the problems of children in need.
The Australian Government gives full support to
UNICEF in its mission of responding to immediate
emergencies, to long-term deprivation and to acting
for the improvement of the conditions and opportunities
of children all over the world.
Again I extend to UNICEF my own congratulations on the
occasion of its 35th Anniversary and wish it well in
its important mission ahead. Yours sincerely,
N
' I K;
( Malcolm " Fraser)
Mr Hugo Idoyaga,
Representative, United Nations Children's Fund,
Box 4045,. G. P. O.,
SYDNEY N. S. W. 2001 Q)
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