International Year of the Child 1979

Abstract

The year 1979 was in 1976 declared by the General Assembly the International Year of the Child (IYC). The idea of an international year of the child was proposed by a representative of the community of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at the UNICEF Executive Board meeting in 1974. The matter was referred to the Economic and Social Council, which requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to submit to the 1976 General Assembly "a report on measures and modalities for ensuring the adequate preparation, support and financing of an international year of the child, to be preferably the year 1979". On the basis of this report, the Economic and Social Council recommended the proclamation of the Year, and on 21 December 1976, the General Assembly passed a resolution authorizing it.