U.S. slams UNICEF over sexual programs for children – breaks consensus on new strategic plan

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NEW YORK, September 5 (C-Fam) In an unprecedented move, the U.S. refused to endorse the 2026-2029 UNICEF Strategic Plan presented for adoption this afternoon due to the inclusion of controversial language used to promote harmful gender ideology, sexual rights and abortion to children.

“The United States strongly supports the work that UNICEF does to help children around the world, but we cannot endorse a plan that contains elements that are at odds with U.S. policy,” U.S. representative Jonathan Shrier stated after calling for the vote.

The U.S. asked UNICEF to focus on “its core mandate to protect children with a focus on fostering education, health, and well-being.” “The United States strongly opposes the inclusion of harmful gender ideology, including comprehensive sexuality education as we believe it is detrimental to the well-being and development of children,” Shrier continued.

UNICEF is the UN agency charged with helping children in need around the world. Over the years, UNICEF has faced growing criticism for promoting sexualized programming to children within the “sexual and reproductive health and rights” agenda.

Despite months of objections by African countries over the inclusion of the controversial term “sexual and reproductive health and rights” in the Strategic Plan, it nonetheless remained due to pressure from Nordic and European countries.

“There has unequivocally never been an international commitment on ‘sexual and reproductive health and rights,’ and we strongly oppose UNICEF including this non-agreed term in the Strategic Plan,” the U.S. delegate said.

Tanzania, Senegal, and Nigeria, while endorsing the Strategic Plan, expressed similar concerns over the inclusion of the non-consensual language.

During adoption, the U.S. made clear its opposition to gender ideology consistent with the executive action taken by President Trump. “Under the Trump Administration, it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called “transition” of a child from one sex to another and will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures. We call on UNICEF to protect the most vulnerable human beings – children – from such horrid procedures.”

The U.S. statement concluded stressing its commitment “to supporting families, promoting women’s health, and protecting children at all stages of life” and reaffirmed “there is no international right to abortion.”

The Strategic Plan was adopted by a vote, rather than the longstanding UN practice of adoption by consensus. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said she deeply regretted the lack of consensus, and while she did not address U.S. criticism of agency programs, UNICEF removed several inappropriate brochures from its website. The documents in question encouraged children in Ukraine to question their sexual orientation, develop a positive view of homosexuality and masturbation, and engage in sexual experimentation.

C-Fam (the publisher of Friday Fax) learned that during negotiations this week, UNICEF staff tried to convince a U.S. delegate to endorse the Strategic Plan by claiming that UNICEF is not “the lead agency of sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR)” but instead has “a role to play in it in the context of the UN.”

UNICEF partners with UNFPA, the major UN agency on sexual and reproductive health and rights, on SRHR, including by developing tools “to work with groups to clarify their values not only on abortion but also with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity, disability justice, and work with displaced and refugee communities.”

The U.S. has been UNICEF’s largest financial supporter. In 2024, the U.S. contributed $1.1 billion to the agency’s work.

 

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