Leading the way:

Children’s Defense Fund (www.childrensdefense.org) – working since 1973 under the leadership of Marian Wright Edelman, has been advocating for all children in the US. The best place to find information about children’s well-being in the US.

UNICEF (www.unicef.org) – as a part of the United Nations, advocates for children in 158 countries and territories around the world. We all know UNICEF, but it’s a site you have to visit to understand UNICEF’s amazing impact. You name it, you’ll find it here.

Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) - creates real and lasting change in the lives of children in need in the US and in over 43 countries around the world. Visit their Website for information and lots of really beautiful pictures of children.

Global Action for Children (www.globalactionforchildren.org) - is working to marshal the political will and financial resources to ensure, through community-based solutions, that all children have access to healthcare, education, nutrition and life-saving medicines.

Global Movement for Children (www.gmfc.org) - is a world-wide movement of organizations, institutions, individuals and children. It unites efforts to build a world fit for children. Read about the movement in six languages.

Free the Children (www.freethechildren.org) – was started by a 12-year-old boy in 1995 to free children from slavery, poverty and exploitation. As an international network of children helping children on all levels, the organization is also freeing children and young people from the idea that they are powerless to bring about positive social change and to improve the lives of their peers.

Every Child Matters (www.everychildmatters.org) - promotes the adoption of smart policies for children and families by making children's needs a national political priority. Visit their website for a free "I'm voting for Kids" bumper sticker!

Give Kids Good Schools (www.givekidsgoodschools.com) - an initiative of the Public Education Network working for safe schools, small class size and quality teachers.

Mothers From Hell 2 (www.mothersfromhell2.org) - a national group of parents, relatives, friends, and anyone who just plain 'gets it' fighting chipped tooth and broken press-on nail for the appropriate education, community acceptance, desperately needed services, rights of and entitlements for individuals with disabilities. (Hey, we're moms, we can rattle off really long sentences like that without stopping!)

Kidsactingup.org (www.kidsactingup.org) - join MAU kids in acting up.

Important initiatives to share:

Millennium Goals (www.undp.org/mdg/) - are an ambitious agenda for reducing poverty and improving lives that world leaders agreed on at the Millennium Summit in September 2000. For each goal, one or more targets have been set, most for 2015, using 1990 as a benchmark.

The Convention of the Rights of the Child (www.unicef.org/crc/crc.htm) - is the most universally accepted human rights instrument in history—it has been ratified by every country in the world except two (guess who?).

What You Need to Know to Truly Leave No Child Behind (www.cdfactioncouncil.org/2003_ActionGuide.pdf) is an action guide complete with stats, actions and moving words from many. You won’t regret printing the 60 pages!

All the facts you need to speak powerfully to everyone (including your father-in-law):

UNICEF Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women (www.childinfo.org) - is the place to find all the info you need to assess the state of the world’s children. Great charts, graphs, etc.

How Well Do Your Members of Congress Protect Children? (www.cdfactioncouncil.org/scorecard2003.pdf) - is a non-partisan scorecard for our Members of Congress. This is the best place to find out if you are voting for a wolf in sheep’s clothing!!