“Protecting human rights has for many years been an integral part of Estonia’s foreign policy. We consistently follow this principle in our work at the United Nations and within its executive bodies. We wish to promote the same approach at the helm of UNICEF, emphasising the importance of protecting children’s rights, equality and access to high-quality public services, particularly education and healthcare. Child protection is also closely linked to Estonia’s work in the UN Human Rights Council, where Estonia will serve as a member until the end of 2028 and where children’s rights are one of Estonia’s priority issues,” Ambassador Rein Tammsaar said.
“In my role as President of the UNICEF Executive Board, I will pay particular attention to innovation in education, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve the accessibility and quality of education,” Tammsaar said. “Estonia’s experience in developing a digital state and educational innovation demonstrates the critical importance of technology in advancing people’s lives and well-being. As President of the UNICEF Executive Board, I wish to support practical and forward-looking solutions that help children embarking on their educational journey to better cope in our rapidly changing world. As the father of two school-age children, I see that this need has grown exponentially in recent years,” Tammsaar added.
UNICEF is one of the UN’s central subsidiary bodies, with a mandate to protect and promote the rights, health, education and well-being of children in more than 190 countries and territories. Estonia will hold the presidency throughout 2026.
