Catherine M. Russell



Catherine M. Russell (born 4 March 1961) is an American attorney, political adviser, and director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. She was the United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues from 8 May 2013, until 20 January 2017. Before that, she was chief of staff to the Second Lady of the United States, Jill Biden. On 10 December 2021, she was appointed the executive director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Russell took office as UNICEF head on 1 February 2022.

Remarks at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine (2022)

 * "Catherine Russell's remarks at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine" (7 March 2022)


 * The past eight years of conflict in Ukraine have already inflicted profound and lasting harm to children. With the escalation of the conflict, the immediate and very real threat to Ukraine’s 7.5 million children has grown. Homes, schools, orphanages, and hospitals have all come under attack. Civilian infrastructure like water and sanitation facilities have been hit, leaving millions without access to safe water. For many, life has moved underground as families seek safety in shelters, subways, or basements, often for hours on end. Women are giving birth in makeshift maternity wards with limited medical supplies. Most stores are closed, making it hard for people to buy essential items, including basic necessities for children like diapers and medication. And even if stores were open, millions of people are too afraid to venture outside for food or water because of continuous shelling and shooting. The intensification of the armed conflict is posing severe human costs, which are increasing exponentially by the day.


 * As the fighting has now reached densely populated areas and across the country, we expect child casualties to increase. We also expect the displacement crisis to continue growing rapidly. As of yesterday, UNHCR was reporting an excess of 1.7 million refugees fleeing to hosting countries. Half of the people on the move are children. UNICEF is working closely with UNHCR to reach them with protection and assistance in receiving countries.