_______
Afghan girls and women deprived from basic rights
In Afghanistan, 21 million women and girls are systemically excluded from public life. Since 2021, girls have been banned from education from the age of 12, marking the beginning of the spiral of oppression. In 2022, women lost the ability to move freely without the presence of a guardian. As of 2024, the effort to make them invisible reached its peak: they are now legally forbidden to speak, sing, or laugh in public. Now, in 2026, the situation has reached new levels of horror with the implementation of a criminal procedure code that permits violence and corporal punishment against women and children.
_______
Sonita Alizadeh, a voice for those who no longer have one.
To combat this social oppression, artist Sonita Alizadeh raises her voice. Born in Herat in 1996, Sonita Alizadeh survived two attempted forced marriages and discovered rap as a teenager, inspired by Eminem. Music became her way to fight oppression and advocate for girls’ rights.
She wrote “Can Someone Find My Friends” for all the friends she has lost : some were forced into marriage and living in seclusion, others were killed or forced to flee to save their lives. In an Afghanistan where women can no longer speak in the streets or make their voices heard, the song pays tribute to those she has never seen again and to all the women silenced. The video transforms individual contributions into a unified, powerful message, symbolizing global support for Afghan women’s rights.
Those voices join to form a powerful call to action against the forced isolation of women in Afghanistan, inviting as many people as possible to support Afghan women by donating to UNICEF to support programs benefiting girls in Afghanistan.
rgb(28,171,226)
______
Why your support matters?
You can help UNICEF meet the urgent needs of vulnerable Afghan girls and their families. Support UNICEF's efforts to deliver essential nutrition and health services, protection and education to vulnerable girls in Afghanistan. Thank you
______
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does UNICEF support and where does UNICEF work?
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged and those hardest to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfil their potential.
We provide and advocate for education, health and nutrition services. Protect children from violence and abuse. Bring safe water and sanitation to those in need. And keep them safe from climate change and disease.
UNICEF also plays a major role in global vaccine supply. We are the largest single vaccine buyer in the world, procuring more than 2 billion doses annually for routine immunization and outbreak response.
And when emergencies hit, speed matters. UNICEF runs a global supply operation, including the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and logistics hub, helping move life-saving supplies to where children need them most.
Before, during and after emergencies, we're on the ground with life-saving help and hope.
Why is UNICEF fundraising and asking individuals for donations?
Because children's needs don't wait, and UNICEF is entirely funded by voluntary contributions from governments, private sector partners, and people like you. Your support helps keep essential services going for children and families and allows UNICEF to respond quickly during an emergency.
And if you choose to give monthly, it helps UNICEF plan ahead and scale faster when needs surge, because consistent support makes it easier to move supplies and keep help reaching children without delay.
Will I get a tax receipt if I donate via this platform?
Donations made through this page are not eligible for a tax receipt.
As a United Nations entity, UNICEF operates under international privileges and immunities and is not registered for tax purposes in any country. This means we're unable to issue tax receipts for donations made here.
That said, if a tax receipt is important to you, we’d encourage you to check with your local UNICEF office team for more information on the options available in your country.
Why are regular donations important?
Not every child in crisis makes the news. But every one of them still needs us. Children rebuilding their lives after years of conflict. Families piecing things back together after a flood, a devastating earthquake, or an emergency the world has long stopped talking about.
Those children need just as much support as the ones making headlines today. But when the cameras move on, so does a lot of the funding.
A regular donation makes a huge difference for these children.
It helps make sure a child in a forgotten emergency still has access to safe water next month. It helps a health clinic in a community recovering from years of hardship keep its doors open. It helps a girl who finally made it back to school find a teacher, a book, and a safe place to learn, month after month, not only when the world is watching.
Most importantly, a regular gift, no matter the amount, is your commitment to children who are counting on us not to forget them.
What payment methods are accepted?
You can donate using a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay - whatever is easiest for you. Please ensure your credit card has international transactions enabled.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my donation?
We're here to help. If you have any questions about your donation — whether it's updating your details, changing your donation amount, or anything else — just get in touch with our team and we'll sort it out for you.
How can I verify I'm donating through an official UNICEF channel?
A good rule: donate only through official UNICEF websites. For global donations, that's unicef.org or help.unicef.org.
Before you enter any details, do a quick safety check:
- Look for the correct UNICEF web address (no extra words, misspellings, or strange domains).
- Check for the padlock icon in your browser address bar. UNICEF donation pages use secure encryption to protect your information.
- If anything feels off, pause and contact UNICEF directly to confirm.
And one important note: UNICEF warns about scams that misuse the UNICEF name online, especially messages promising money, prizes, or asking for sensitive personal info. If you see anything like that, treat it as a scam.
If you suspect someone has contacted you fraudulently representing UNICEF, please be aware: UNICEF never solicits funds via Western Union, never expects employees to pay their own expenses, never participates in lottery awards, and never solicits donations with the promise of a commission.
When in doubt, don't proceed. Pause and verify through official UNICEF channels first.
How quickly can UNICEF respond during an emergency?
Fast, and that speed is something UNICEF has spent decades building.
UNICEF keeps pre-positioned supplies and contingency stock in over 250 warehouses across more than 70 countries, so when a crisis hits, life-saving help is often already nearby.
At the same time, UNICEF's Global Supply and Logistics Hub in Copenhagen, described by UNICEF as the world's largest humanitarian warehouse, can deliver pre-positioned life-saving supplies within 72 hours at the onset of an emergency, anywhere in the world.
The exact speed on the ground can vary depending on access and conditions, like security restrictions, damaged roads, or border procedures.
That readiness is powered by consistent support. When you give regularly, you're not only helping today, you're helping UNICEF stay ready to move the moment the next emergency begins.
Who are the beneficiaries of UNICEF?
Every child, everywhere. Especially the ones who are hardest to reach — children caught in conflict, displaced by disaster, living in extreme poverty, or growing up in places where the basics aren't guaranteed.
UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories, going wherever the need is greatest. That includes children and families in places like Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Myanmar, and many others, where growing up safely is far from certain.
And because children don't live in isolation, supporting the families and communities around them — parents and caregivers, local health workers, and teachers — is part of how we protect every child.