The Convention on the Rights of the Child at a Crossroads Published by UNICEF Division of Communication 3 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017, USA

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for every child, every right The Convention on the Rights of the Child at a crossroads Published by UNICEF Division of Communication 3 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017, USA

Contact: pubdoc@unicef.org Website: www.unicef.org

Suggested citation. For Every Child, Every Right: The Convention on the Rights of the Child at a crossroads. New York: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2019.

ISBN: 978-92-806-5073-0

For more information about the Convention on the Rights of the Child visit: https://www.unicef.org/ child-rights-convention

Cover photograph: Nom Som Vandy, age 4, poses at his house in Okapel village, Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. He and his mother were part of an innovative longitudinal study conducted by UNICEF to better understand the health and nutrition status of newborns, infants and young children, as well as pregnant women, in vulnerable districts in three provinces.

List of figures

1. Under-five mortality rate by region, 1989 and 2018 page 19 2. Under-five mortality rate by wealth quintile in low- and middle-income countries, page 19 1990–2018 3. Number of unvaccinated infants and national vaccination coverage trends for measles, page 22 1980–2018 4. Number of reported cases of measles (thousands) and vaccination coverage (%), page 23 2000–2018 5. Global number of natural disasters, 1989–2018 page 26 6. Out-of-school girls and boys of primary school age, 1989–2018 (millions) page 29 7. Population projection of primary- and secondary-school-age children from 2019 to 2068 page 30 8. Percentage of children with foundational numeracy and literacy skills, by grade completion page 30 9. Percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who were first married or in union before page 34 age 18, by region 10. Percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who were first married or in union before page 34 age 18, by wealth quintile and region 11. Levels of selected indicators in countries and areas by urban/rural, 2011–2016 page 39 12. Share of countries and areas with relative wealth disparity gaps page 40 (ratio of richest to poorest quintiles by urban/rural, 2011–2016) 13. Share of countries in which the poorest urban quintile fares worse than page 41 the poorest rural quintile, 2011–2016 14. Proportion of country-indicator pairs (39 indicators for each of 202 countries) according page 47 to data availability and progress towards global 2030 goals 15. Government health expenditure and under-five mortality rates (per 1,000 live births) page 51 Contents 1 2 ANNEX 3 The Convention on the the on Convention The CHILD MARRIAGE | MARRIAGE CHILD | CLIMATE SURVIVAL | 5 URBANIZATION | IMMUNIZATION | IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION | EDUCATION immunization for universal 4 6 Action Achievements INTRODUCTION Challenges Data Rights of the Child the of Rights Issues Investment

children on climate of achanging impact The

bypoverty posed risks the and survival Child

Reaching out-of-school children and improving learning for all learning improving and children out-of-school Reaching

for children paradoxes and advantages Urban Understanding the drivers of vaccine acceptance in the push push inthe acceptance of vaccine drivers the Understanding

practice aharmful Ending

page 49 page page 53 page page 45 page page 57 57 page page 11 page page 5 page page 1 page page 17 page

38 28 20 18 32 24 iii iv Introduction 1

for every child, every right The Convention on the Rights of the Child at a crossroads

INTRODUCTION

Thirty years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child at a moment of rapid global change marked by the end of apartheid, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the birth of the World Wide Web. These developments and more brought momentous and lasting evolution, as well as a sense of renewal and hope for future generations. In a reflection of that hopeful spirit, the Convention has since become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.

Having achieved historic progress, In the three decades following the adoption of the the Convention stands at a crossroads Convention on the Rights of the Child, in spite of an exploding global population, we have reduced the number of children missing out on primary school by The expectations raised by the Convention have been almost 40 per cent. Three decades ago, polio paralyzed met by historic gains achieved since 1989 in many or killed almost 1,000 children every day. Today, 99 per aspects of children’s rights. Many of those gains are cent of those cases have been eliminated. Many of the outlined in the ‘Achievements’ section of this report. interventions behind this progress – such as vaccines, They are sweeping and undeniable. oral rehydration salts and better nutrition – have been practical and cost-effective. The rise of digital and mobile UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore sums it technology and other innovations have made it easier up as follows in an open letter to the world’s children and more efficient to deliver critical services in hard-to- marking the Convention’s 30th anniversary: reach communities and to expand opportunities.

In other areas, however, the sense of renewal and hope for children’s rights is muted. In a very real sense, the Convention stands at a crossroads. It is time to choose the path towards fully realizing its vision.

LEFT: While having fun together in Adjamé, a suburb of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, a group of girls demonstrate the bonds of childhood friendship.

Significant obstacles to children’s Food insecurity and water scarcity are rights remain, especially likely to become realities for millions of for the most vulnerable children. Vector-borne disease will be commonplace in places where they are currently not a threat. Three quarters of Speaking during the United Nations In her open letter, Fore notes that the world will live in cities, but much of General Assembly session in New “poverty, inequality, discrimination and the urban environment will be unplanned York, Muzoon Allemehan, a Syrian distance continue to deny millions and unfit for children’s growth and devel- refugee and UNICEF Goodwill of children their rights every year, as opment. Millions more children will be Ambassador, encourages young 15,000 children under 5 still die every on the move, as scarcity fosters conflict people and world leaders to work day, mostly from treatable diseases and and violence, and climate change and together to realize the rights of every other preventable causes.” environment degradation take their toll. child. “We are marching, we are campaigning and we are speaking up for ourselves,” she said. Indeed, dramatic increases in child survival and access to health care and education We must act now if we hope © UNICEF/UNI209617/Chalasani are diminished, to some degree, by issues to realize the rights of every of poor quality and stagnant progress at child in the decades to come the global level in the past decade.

Stubborn challenges persist, and we Against this backdrop, respect for (governments, civil society, development human rights generally – and the agencies, the private sector et al.) have yet rights of children, in particular – will to adequately address them. As a result, be under duress. The Convention will progress on realizing the rights of the remain timeless and relevant, but its poorest and most marginalized children impact and influence may well lessen. has been too slow and, in some cases, is Progress for the poorest children will be at risk of reversal. At the same time, the at the greatest risk. Unless we act now. world’s children face alarming new threats to their survival and well-being, such as This report is intended as an advocacy the resurgence of measles, an increase in tool to both celebrate the achievements overweight in childhood, online bullying, of the past three decades and generate abuse and exploitation, and the impact of dialogue on the critical work that remains. a changing climate. It is not a comprehensive study of the impact of the Convention on the full array of children’s rights, which would require Climate change and other a much wider canvas. Nonetheless, the trends cloud the future of the following pages represent a rallying cry world’s children and demand a for realizing the rights of every child. They echo an appeal that youth activists like fundamental change of course UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Muzoon Almellehan have articulated powerfully. Much is being done to address these and many other challenges, includ- “Children and young people are already ing humanitarian crises triggered by taking a stand,” Muzoon told the United protracted conflicts and mass migration. Nations General Assembly in September But we must do more, and with greater 2019. As a Syrian refugee and survivor urgency. If current trends persist, in of war, the 20-year-old has seen and 30 years the world’s children are likely experienced things no child should. Yet to face a much bleaker outlook. Without her experiences are the inspiration driv- a fundamental change in direction, for ing her work with other young leaders. example, climate change will be irre- versible, inflicting disastrous effects on “We are marching, we are campaigning the planet and humanity well before the and we are speaking up for ourselves,” Convention reaches its 60th anniversary. she added. “We need you to join us.” For every child, every right 3 INTRODUCTION

Key data show progress and challenges for children

Inequities in under- Gaps in measles five mortality immunization coverage

Among countries with available data, Even though childhood immunization As many of the facts children from the poorest households coverage against DTP-3 and measles are, on average, twice as likely to die reached 86 per cent globally in 2018, nearly and figures cited in before they reach their fifth birthday 20 million children were still at risk of this report indicate, than children from the most affluent contracting vaccine-preventable diseases. the world has made households. In some countries, Survey data from 36 sub-Saharan children under age 5 from the poorest countries between 2012 and 2017 impressive progress households are about three times as indicate that 85 per cent of children from towards realizing a wide likely to die as those from the richest the region’s richest households received range of children’s rights households. at least one dose of measles vaccine, compared with around one half of those since the Convention on from the poorest households. the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989. Immunization coverage in We rightly celebrate cities versus rural areas Urban child population levels that achievement on the Convention’s 30th Between 2012 and 2017, across a Over the past 30 years, the number subset of 72 countries with available of children living in urban settings anniversary. But the survey data, the rate of immunization has increased by nearly one quarter, available data also show coverage for children living in urban leading to concerns about available that progress has been settings was 10 per cent higher than opportunities and services in cities. the rate for their counterparts in rural Globally, 43 per cent of children lived slowest for children from areas. ‘Immunization coverage’ here in cities in 1989, compared with nearly the poorest households. refers to children receiving three doses 55 per cent today. Regionally, East Asia of the combined diphtheria, tetanus and and the Pacific has seen the biggest pertussis (DTP-3) vaccine and at least increase in the proportion of children At right is a sampling of one dose of the measles vaccine. living in cities – from one third of children in 1989 to two thirds today. The data points and trends next largest increase has been in West illustrating the need and Central Africa, where nearly one half for renewed efforts to of children now live in cities, compared with less than one third in 1989. protect and advance children’s rights in key areas. Mixed results on child marriage

Although the overall prevalence of child marriage has decreased globally, data in all regions show that progress has been faster for children from the richest 20 per cent of households, while progress has been slower among children from the poorest quintile. In some countries – the most extreme examples – children may even be at a somewhat higher risk of child marriage today than children were three decades ago. 4

1 Achievements 5

Part 1 Achievements

Since 20 November 1989, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the world has made historic gains for children under age 18 in almost all aspects of their rights and lives. The Convention has also indelibly changed the way the world sees children: as rights holders. Now it is time to recommit to the Convention, and the interrelated Sustainable Development Goals, by stepping up efforts to ensure that the rights of every child are realized.

The Convention empowers childhood, wherever the child may all children with inalienable, be. The Convention underlines that indivisible rights regardless children are holders of their own rights, which are invested in their of their background or own person and not dependent on circumstances their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, Before the Convention came into national or social origin, disability, being, disadvantaged children were property, birth or other status. These often seen as objects of charity rights empower children as actors in to be given what they needed to their own development, with the right survive and develop, often at the bare to influence decisions that affect their minimum. The Convention changed lives, in accordance with their age that. It crystallized what, until then, and maturity. LEFT: As the number of school-age the nations of the world had not children continues to grow in the next fully acknowledged: the universal, In turn, the Convention lays the 30 years, particularly in Africa, it will inalienable and indivisible rights responsibility to realize children’s be increasingly important to support of children. rights on duty bearers, including interventions such as the accelerated families and caregivers – with school readiness programme attended These rights are imbued at birth, ultimate accountability belonging to by Fafi Jlnani, age 7, in Ethiopia. cannot be taken away by legislation the governments that have endorsed © UNICEF/UN0251910/Tadesse and are retained throughout and ratified the Convention. for every child, every right 6 1. ACHIEVEMENTS

The Convention has exerted And this progress is increasingly meas- a deep influence on political, urable, as it must be. For although a right public and private life over unrealized is still a right, it is of little use to children in need or at risk. The latter the past three decades articles of the Convention itself stipulate that its normative principles and precepts Thirty years on, it is perhaps hard must be backed up with decisive action for many of us to imagine a world by governments to put them into prac- in which children’s rights were not tice. Signatories to the Convention are acknowledged. Such has been the expected to achieve tangible results for influence of the Convention, which has children, gauged through regular moni- seeped into political, public and private toring and reporting to the Committee on consciousness. Its guiding principles the Rights of the Child. – non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and Monitoring how, when, where and for development; and the right of children whom such results are achieved, and to express their views freely and to be which children are missing out, requires heard – have proven over and over to be solid data and evidence. relevant across decades, geographies, societies and contexts. Data and evidence are critical The years since the Convention’s to assessing the Convention’s advent have witnessed numerous impact on the rights and constitutions, laws, policies and practices adapted to its precepts by well-being of children national governments and regional bodies. Its influence is also apparent A primary indicator of the progress in the rhetoric that individuals, achieved since the adoption of the institutions and the media use Convention is the under-five mortality to describe children, and in their rate (U5MR), which measures the treatment at home, at school and probability of a child dying during the in the community. And while many first five years of life. The global U5MR challenges remain in the effort to has fallen by about 60 per cent over realize children’s rights, there is no the past three decades, with every doubt that the Convention has made region recording a reduction of more an unprecedented impact on the than 40 per cent. This is a phenomenal, protection and promotion of those singular achievement and a testament rights by governments, societies to the commitment and dedication of and families. governments, civil society and families to child survival as a top priority. In fact, the Convention is the world’s most widely supported human Under-five mortality is known to rights treaty. That support is still be the result of a wide variety of imperfect, with many countries tabling inputs. Therefore, its decline reflects reservations and exceptions to the improvements in other areas of child Convention. Still, it represents a near- survival and development, including global consensus that childhood is the nutritional health and education of a separate space from adulthood, in mothers; the level of immunization and which a child’s human rights require other essential treatment to prevent and special attention and protection. In a treat diseases; the availability and quality rapidly changing and uncertain world, of maternal and child health services the Convention is a lodestar to guide (including prenatal care); access to safe and assess our progress in realizing the drinking water and sanitation; and the rights of its youngest citizens. overall safety of the child’s environment. for every child, every right 7 1. ACHIEVEMENTS

Historic advances on realizing – often the precursor to children’s redouble legislative, administrative, children’s rights have occurred access to essential services – has social and educational measures to since the Convention’s advent risen steadily in many low- and middle- eliminate it. income countries, notably in Asia. Despite these and many other Gains in child survival and health On child protection, recent decades successes, in terms of both influence are matched by leaps in access to have seen declines in the global and tangible results, the Convention schooling and enhanced protection prevalence of girls who are married stands at a crossroads as it reaches of children from harmful practices. In before age 18 and those who undergo its 30th anniversary. Its relevance 1990, almost 20 per cent of children female genital mutilation. We have and purpose remain undimmed. But of primary-school age were not in also made advances in the adoption its realization – translating rights into school; now this ratio is below 10 per of national legislation intended to results for children – has been mixed cent globally. Gender disparity in eliminate other forms of violence and uneven. Most disturbingly, there access to primary education has largely against children. is emerging evidence that some of disappeared in most countries, with the gains made for children in the past some exceptions in Africa, the Middle In 1988, before the Convention came three decades could be lost. East and South Asia. into force, only three countries had prohibited corporal punishment in In light of that evidence, the remainder Although access to education for all settings. Today, there are 58 – a of this report will delve into a selected children of lower-secondary age lags sign of enormous progress on the set of issues that need urgent attention. behind primary school access, it has legislative front. However, violent It will call for a renewed commitment to improved immensely; four out of five discipline remains a regular occurrence the Convention and to children. And it children in this age cohort are now in the lives of millions of children will advocate for specific actions in the enrolled in education. Birth registration worldwide, and governments need to effort to realize the rights of every child.

In 1989, UNICEF Executive Director James Grant, United Nations Under Secretary-General Jan Martensen and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Audrey Hepburn (left to right) watch as Boy Scouts place a call from United Nations headquarters in New York to the world body’s offices in Geneva to announce the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

CAPTIONLEFT: CAPTION

TOP: In South Sudan, a 13-year-old boy is officially released from the ranks of an armed group in a ceremony that marks the start of the process of reintegrating him into his community (© UNICEF/UN0202133/Rich). ABOVE: South Sudanese children set down their weapons to mark their release from armed groups at a ceremony attended by more than 200 former child soldiers aged 11 to 17 (© UNICEF/UN0202138/Rich). for every child, every right 9

Strengthening the Convention through Optional Protocols

Protecting children in armed conflict In 2000, more than a decade after The Optional Protocol on the involvement of children the adoption of the Convention on in armed conflict requires signatories to “take all feasible measures” to ensure that members of their the Rights of the Child, the United armed forces under the age of 18 do not take a Nations General Assembly adopted direct part in hostilities. It further bans compulsory two Optional Protocols on critical recruitment of children. States parties must also take legal measures to prohibit independent armed groups issues of growing concern: the from recruiting and using children in conflicts. involvement of children in armed conflict and the use of children for sale, prostitution and pornography. Protecting children from sale, A large majority of United Nations prostitution and pornography Member States are parties to these Optional Protocols, both of which The Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child entered into force in 2002. A third prostitution and child pornography focuses on the Optional Protocol, which was criminalization of these serious violations of children’s rights. It emphasizes the importance of increased public adopted in 2011 and entered into awareness and international cooperation in efforts to force in 2014, allows children to combat them. And it requires punishment for offenders bring complaints about violations – not only for those offering or delivering a child for purposes of sexual exploitation, transfer of organs or forced labour, directly to the Committee on the but also for anyone accepting the child for these purposes. Rights of the Child.

Allowing children to submit Optional Protocols complement complaints, appeals and petitions and add to existing treaties. They are ‘optional’ because governments This Protocol allows the Committee on the Rights must independently choose of the Child to hear complaints that a child’s rights whether to be bound by them. have been violated. Children from countries that ratify the Protocol can use the treaty to seek justice if their national legal system has not been able to provide a remedy for the violation. 10

2 Challenges 11

Part 2 Challenges

It is sobering to consider that while we have achieved nearly universal ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the rights of millions of children remain unrealized. Indeed, gaps in realizing those rights have widened among and within countries, indicating that progress has not only been uneven but often inequitable. In many regions, countries and communities, the poorest and most marginalized children are falling behind. Lagging figures on various indicators of their health and well-being speak volumes about the challenges we face.

There are worrying signs somehow, over the past decade or that some of the gains for so, the drive for global immunization children achieved under coverage has stalled. the Convention are at risk This slowdown has yielded of stagnation – and even devastating effects – particularly reversal in a few cases for measles vaccination coverage, which has stagnated since 2010, contributing to a resurgence of the Consider immunization, long deadly disease in many countries. LEFT: Children are evacuated from heralded as one of the greatest Almost 350,000 cases of measles Abaco Island in the Bahamas after their family’s home was destroyed successes in the history of public were recorded in 2018, more than by Hurricane Dorian in September health. Childhood vaccination has double the preceding year’s total. 2019. UNICEF sent staff and water, contributed to saving millions of Given that measles cases dropped sanitation and health supplies to children’s lives, and its efficacy is sharply across Africa during the era help reach families in desperate well established. Since the adoption of the Millennium Development need in the aftermath of the of the Convention, safe and Goals (MDGs), from 2000 through Category 5 storm. effective vaccines have become 2015, their resurgence is even more © UNICEF/UN0341859/Moreno more widely available, often disquieting. It demands urgent Gonzalez free of cost to families. And yet, investigation and action. for every child, every right 12 2. CHALLENGES

In some aspects of children’s Cultural, social, economic rights, stagnation at the global and political obstacles level is alarmingly apparent remain entrenched

Progress on realizing children’s right to In the above areas, among others, A tenuous global outlook, driven by education is also a cause for concern. long-standing barriers of poverty, short-term political and economic Globally, the number of out-of-school discrimination and marginalization uncertainties and longer-term children at the primary level has continue to leave millions of the most trends, makes the future even more remained largely static since 2007, as disadvantaged children unreached. uncertain. At their worst, forces such increased access to primary education Armed conflicts, rising xenophobia and as climate change and rapid, unplanned has barely kept pace with global child the global migration and refugee crisis urbanization could endanger some of population growth – particularly in Africa. have a devastating impact as well. the gains made for children since the Learning outcomes, too, are at issue, as Convention came into force. a remarkably large number of children For children living in impoverished are experiencing learning difficulties. areas, both rural and urban, geographic distance from centres of prosperity It is increasingly clear that children and also results in poorer services and young people are leaving school and outcomes. Cultural, social, economic formal education without the skills and and political obstacles often remain competencies required to succeed entrenched despite years of efforts in the competitive, globalized labour to remove them. Conflict and market of the twenty-first century. humanitarian crisis disrupt services and discourage social investment. Gender In sanitation, a prerequisite for child gaps, while diminishing in some cases, health, progress has led to a large jump persist in many areas of child rights in the global population using safely that have seen strong gains, including managed sanitation services: from access to sanitation and secondary 28 per cent in 2000 to 45 per cent in education. Girls also remain at a higher 2017, the latest year for which globally risk of bias and discrimination. comparable estimates are available. Despite this advance, only one in four In short, despite global improvements countries is on track to achieve ‘nearly in gender equality, girls are still more universal’ basic sanitation services by likely than boys to marry as children 2030. Progress is slowest in rural areas and do unpaid work. They are also at a and among the poorest quintile significantly higher risk of gender-based – 20 per cent – of households. violence and receive less education than boys – though it is important to And while the harmful practice of child note that boys from disadvantaged marriage is in decline globally, many backgrounds also confront obstacles countries have made little or no progress. to quality education, suffer from poor This situation reflects the challenge of learning outcomes and are at a higher addressing and changing gender norms risk of homicide and gang violence. – the standards by which societies define male and female behaviour – which are Meanwhile, new risks to children’s among the drivers of child marriage. rights are emerging, with parents Of the five countries with the highest doubting the value of key interventions prevalence of child marriage in the such as immunization, for example. world, four have not made significant Other ongoing challenges include progress in the past decade. In many of complacency about children’s rights the countries that have made progress among many governments, donors and on child marriage, it is limited primarily to the public, and the burgeoning youth the richest segments of society, leaving populations of low- and middle-income the poorest girls vulnerable. countries in Africa and South Asia. for every child, every right 13 2. CHALLENGES

It is time for a renewed to stamp out diseases, as we have to be heard; and by Article 5, which commitment to the done with polio – eliminating 99 per empowers families and communities Convention and to the cent of cases worldwide – we can to guide their children in learning to accelerate progress despite setbacks. exercise their rights, consistent with world’s children, particularly There is hope in the potential of digital their evolving capacities. the most disadvantaged and mobile technology, and other innovations; at their best, these tools Young people are going to have As we celebrate the Convention’s can be used to share knowledge and an increasingly important role in relevance and influence, it is also solutions, facilitating the delivery of shaping the future of childhood. As imperative that we look at the gaps that essential services to hard-to-reach, such, established institutions have a remain in realizing children’s rights and remote and marginalized communities. responsibility – and an opportunity – to renew our commitment to accelerating find new ways of collaborating with progress, particularly for the most Most of all, there is hope in the them and co-creating solutions and marginalized and disadvantaged. For children and young people of the breakthroughs. amid the doubts and fears, there is hope. world who – like Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai – are speaking out on We must understand that hard-won There is hope in the fact that many issues that directly affect their lives, gains for children are often easily lost or established and emerging partners such as climate change and protracted put at risk in a changing world, and that are coming together to work on such conflict. As they demand urgent action reaching the hardest-to-reach 10 per issues as the global learning crisis and and propose new solutions, many cent to 20 per cent of children is the proposing innovative solutions, like the of these children and young people biggest challenge of all. It is time to learn Global Learning Passport, to improve are emboldened by Article 12 of the from the past, confront the challenges of educational access and quality. There Convention, which articulates their the present and secure a future in which is hope that if we renew our efforts right to express their views freely and the rights of every child are realized.

Deborah Morayo Adegbile, age 12, of Nigeria, and Greta Thunberg, age 16, of Sweden (first and second from left), were among a group of children who filed a complaint to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2019, protesting a lack of government action on the climate crisis.

The Convention and humanitarian action for children

Consider these stark facts Humanitarian crises bring a multitude of dangers for Around the world, more than one in four children live in a country affected by conflict or disaster. Refugee children forced from their children. Many are forced homes are five times more likely to be out of school than other from their homes, separated children. The number of verified grave violations against children in from family, deprived of food, conflict has nearly tripled since 2010. Children younger than age 5 in countries experiencing protracted conflict are 20 times more likely denied education, exposed to die from causes linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from to exploitation and violence, direct violence. And amid the crisis in Yemen, about 400,000 children and threatened with injury suffered from severe acute malnutrition in 2018. and death. Far too often, these dangers deprive children of a multitude of A foundation for protecting children’s rights in crises basic rights – including the As protracted armed conflicts and other humanitarian crises afflict right to education, nutritious increasing numbers of children, the Convention on the Rights of the food, protection and health. Child provides a foundation for the work of UNICEF and partners to safeguard their rights and well-being.

Article 38 of the Convention calls on states to protect and care for children affected by humanitarian crises. It reiterates that states must abide by relevant humanitarian laws that govern armed conflict and protect children younger than 15 from recruitment into armed groups and hostilities. The Convention’s Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict provides additional protections (see page 9).

Core Commitments for Children

In addition to the Convention, humanitarian action for children is governed by the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. This framework promotes predictable, effective and timely collective action in humanitarian crises and outlines programme LEFT: A child stands in a classroom commitments in nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, destroyed in the ongoing war in HIV and AIDS, education and child protection. Yemen. In times of crisis, education can be a lifeline for children and an opportunity for them to build a brighter future.

3 Issues 17

Part 3 Issues

Data and evidence are the basis for understanding our progress towards fulfilling the promise of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This chapter examines the data available for eight case examples, highlighting where progress for children is stalling or reversing – and where we must redouble efforts. These examples cover several thematic issues, but they are not an exhaustive list by any means. Instead, they are presented here to help illustrate, in broad outlines, some of the key challenges ahead.

In this chapter: for every child, every right SURVIVAL | Child survival and the risks posed by poverty 18 The Convention on IMMUNIZATION | Understanding the drivers of vaccine acceptance 20 the Rights of the Child in the push for universal immunization at a crossroads CLIMATE | The impact of a changing climate on children 24

EDUCATION | Reaching out-of-school children and improving learning for all 28

CHILD MARRIAGE | Ending a harmful practice 32

URBANIZATION | Urban advantages and paradoxes for children 38

LEFT: Nana Doumbaya cuddles with five-month-old Malon Koita at a health centre in Guinea where the baby will receive vaccines. Childhood immunization is one of the greatest success stories in international development.

SURVIVAL

Issues Child survival and the risks posed by poverty

Article 6 – Right to life, survival and development.*

Child mortality has fallen at historic rates since the early 1990s, but children from the poorest households still face the highest risk of dying before age 5.

The world has witnessed a stunning Global child deaths have slower rate than mortality for other reduction in child mortality over the more than halved since 1989, children under age 5. Neonatal mortal- past 30 years. The numbers speak with gains made in every ity now accounts for almost half of all for themselves. In 1990, the year under-five deaths. after the Convention was adopted, region and country, although more than 12.5 million children died disparities are widespread Children living in conflict settings before their fifth birthday, largely among and within countries are also more vulnerable; many of due to preventable causes. By 2018, the countries with the highest rates this number had fallen to just above of child mortality are caught up in, 5 million, a reduction of about While progress on child survival has or have recently been affected by, 60 per cent. Put another way, in not been even across regions, or armed conflict. 1990, 1 in 11 children did not reach among and within countries, almost age 5; now, the ratio is 1 in 26. every group has seen at least some These disparities require urgent gains. All regions apart from North attention. Indeed, they are already the America have halved their under-five focus of various global, regional and mortality rate since 1989 (Figure 1). national child-survival programmes. Reducing newborn and child mortality Even so, many children remain vulner- has become a top priority of primary able. In 2018, an average of 15,000 health care systems, and eliminating children under 5 died every day. And preventable child deaths is a key while mortality has declined over the target of the SDGs. past 30 years for children from house- * Relevant articles of the holds at all wealth levels, children born But in the context of rapid change, past Convention are referenced at the beginning of each subsection in the poorest households are twice progress is no guarantee of continued in this chapter. Please note that as likely to die, on average, as those success. Threats to child survival and they are illustrative only; other articles may well apply to many in the richest (Figure 2). Newborns development abound, perhaps none of these complex issues. For are the most vulnerable, as neona- more pernicious than climate change the full text of the Convention’s preamble and its 54 articles, see tal mortality (i.e., death in the first and environmental degradation – as the Annex beginning on page 57. 28 days after birth) has declined at a discussed later in this chapter. for every child, every right 19 3. ISSUES SURVIVAL

FIGURE 1 The underfive mortality rate has declined by more than half since 1989 Under-ﬁve mortality rate by region, 1989 and 2018

200 ) s irt h b e li v 150 00 0 , 1 per

100 te (deat h lity r a mort a

50 Under−ﬁve

0 West and Eastern and South Middle East Latin America East Asia Europe and North Western ORLD Central Africa Southern Africa Asia and North Africa and the Caribbean and the Paciﬁc Central Asia America Europe

1989 2018 90% uncertainty intervals Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2019).

F he verge ri o dyig rei tice high or childre or i the ooret hoehold cored to the richet Under-ﬁve mortality rate by wealth quintile in low- and middle-income countries,1990–2018

150

100 Wealth quintiles: Poorest

Second

50 Middle

Fourth

Richest

0 Under−ﬁve mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018

ote Shaded areas represent 90% uncertainty intervals around the median values. orce UNICEF analysis based on United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, 2019. 20 3

IMMUNIZATION

Issues Understanding the drivers of vaccine acceptance in the push for universal immunization

Article 6 – Right to life, survival and development. Article 24 – Right to health and health care.

Childhood immunization is one of the greatest successes of international development and one of the most cost-effective interventions available. But progress has stalled globally, is uneven within and among countries, and is even declining in some places.

Childhood immunization saves Immunization illustrates enables countries to undertake lives. Prior to the introduction of how children’s rights can be long-term strategic planning. vaccines, many more children died or realized through international Expanded immunization has also suffered long-term disabilities from benefited from efficient coordination diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and national commitment, between national governments and meningitis, pertussis, polio, tetanus cooperation and investment development partners. and tuberculosis. Today, vaccines prevent 2 million to 3 million deaths Since the implementation of As usual, however, global success each year by protecting individual the Expanded Programme on does not necessarily tell the whole children and creating herd immunity. Immunization (EPI) in 1974, an story. Indeed, aggregate data can increasing number of safe and mask stark, pervasive inequities in effective vaccines have become coverage at the regional level and widely available, often at no cost within national and subnational to families. The growth of vaccine territories. The recent plateauing deployment as a public health of progress in global immunization measure is a remarkable story of coverage is a reminder that we strong political commitment and cannot take continued progress for reliable financing. Such support granted. for every child, every right 21 3. ISSUES IMMUNIZATION

Understanding the drivers of vaccine acceptance in the push for universal immunization

In Aden, Yemen, two children display the vaccination marks on their arms. They were part of a 2019 measles and rubella vaccination campaign supported by UNICEF. © UNICEF/UN0284429/Fadhel

Threats to progress In general, progress towards universal vacci The great strides made since the have appeared in recent nation has stagnated, with global DTP-3 implementation of EPI have clouded years, with millions of coverage increasing by only 5 percentage historical memory of the large-scale points in the past decade. Country-level epidemics that previously afflicted infants still missing out advances have been uneven; alarmingly, much of the world. Perhaps success some countries have experienced has instilled, for some, a sense that Globally in 2018, an estimated declining coverage in routine immunization. the fight against vaccine-preventable 19.4 million infants were still missing And yet, the work of EPI programmes is diseases is already won. This false out on routine immunization, a never-ending. Each year there are new sense of security may have contrib- benchmark measure that entails birth cohorts, a growing world population uted to health-care providers in some a child receiving three doses of and an expanding number of life-saving settings shifting their attention from combined diphtheria, tetanus and vaccines, increasing the number of routine immunization to other prior- pertussis vaccine (DTP-3). Most services that countries must deliver to ities. It may have left parents and of these unreached children are every child, adolescent and mother. other caregivers feeling less urgency from poor households and live in to vaccinate their children. This underserved communities that are In some ways, it seems, the drive trend is especially perilous when it either in remote locations, conflict- for universal immunization risks is coupled with widespread mistrust affected areas or urban slums. becoming a victim of its own success. of providers and health systems. for every child, every right 22 3. ISSUES IMMUNIZATION

The resurgence of measles eliminated – including several in many countries is high-income nations – and a rise alarming and demonstrates in cases across all regions. In Europe, for example, Albania, how quickly gains in child Czechia, Greece and the United survival and development Kingdom have all lost their can be reversed measles-elimination status. Meanwhile, the provisional total of 420,000 measles cases reported Nowhere is the impact of stalled by the World Health Organization progress more apparent than in (WHO) from January through the case of measles. We have September 2019 far outpaces the seen a resurgence of the disease 170,000 cases reported during the in countries where it had been same period in 2018.

F etited o childre ere vccited git ele i N

Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) national coverage target (90%)

Vac c llions ) ination s (in m i cover a infan t ge (% ) mber o f u

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UNICEF Region: West and Central Africa Eastern and Southern Africa Middle East and North Africa South Asia

East Asia and the Paciﬁc Latin America and the Caribbean Europe and Central Asia Developed / industrialized countries

orce OUNIE E N I . U N E S A . World Population Prospects 2019.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social A airs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019." for every child, every right 23 3. ISSUES IMMUNIZATION

To be sure, immunization Weak health systems and vaccines – to be among the top 10 programmes have successfully supply chains in many low- and threats to public health. The global increased the number of infants middle-income countries, and health community is united on the need vaccinated against measles in recent to address this issue, but we need to decades as overall vaccination rising vaccine hesitancy, have better understand the underlying drivers coverage has expanded in every contributed to the recent and inhibitors of vaccination uptake. region (Figure 3). But a levelling dip in immunization rates of progress in recent years has With more knowledge and innovation, contributed to the worrisome spike in we can implement global and local measles cases (Figure 4). Beyond weak systems, social solutions to strengthen health systems, vulnerability and poor service delivery, outreach programmes and the supply To prevent measles outbreaks, an emerging threat to immunization chain. The complex challenge is to countries must achieve and sustain coverage comes from the rapid extend vital immunization services to at least 95 per cent coverage amplification of misinformation every child in locally appropriate ways, for the first and second doses of about vaccines and immunization while ensuring that parents trust their measles vaccine. The world is still programmes on digital and social media. providers, are confident about the far from achieving these targets; Misinformation creates confusion and safety of vaccines and have accurate in 2018, global coverage totalled can erode trust among caregivers and information about the importance of 86 per cent for the first dose and communities. In turn, it can undermine vaccination. 69 per cent for the second. In progress in reaching all children response, UNICEF, WHO and with the recommended schedule of Governments, the private sector, other international agencies and childhood vaccines. traditional and social media, organizations have stepped up international agencies and civil society efforts to help governments make Faced with this challenge, WHO has all have a role to play. We must work vaccines more accessible and declared ‘vaccine hesitancy’ – the closely together to prevent reversals of boost parental acceptance and reluctance or refusal to immunize progress and realize every child’s right uptake of immunization services. children despite the availability of to immunization.

F ele ce declied redly ter , t thi tred y e reverig N

Number of Measles reported vaccination cases coverage (thousands) (%)

orce . OUNIE E N I . 24 3

CLIMATE

Issues The impact of a changing climate on children

Article 24 – Health and health services including dangers and risks of environmental pollution. Article 29 – Aims of education including (e) Development of respect for the natural environment.

Climate change poses significant risks to children’s health and well-being by heightening threats of disease, food insecurity and diminished access to safe water and sanitation.

According to scientific reports Changing environments will there could be a surge in deaths in from the United Nations and other increase the burden of disease areas that are newly affected by malaria leading organizations, rising levels on children, particularly the and other diseases due to changing of greenhouse gases are contribut- environments – because immunity ing to higher global temperatures, youngest and most vulnerable will be less common than it is in areas altered weather patterns and more afflicted by such illnesses today. extreme weather events (Figure 5). Rising temperatures and related These changes could cause social, changes in the environment will Vector-borne diseases are most likely to economic and political upheavals, any fundamentally shift existing disease affect rural areas but have the poten- of which might well have an impact environments in ways that we have not tial to spread to urban centres as well. on child mortality. However, climate yet mitigated, and to which we have not Cities are already suffering from rising change will have its most direct yet adapted. The habitat for mosquitoes levels of air pollution, which was linked impact on child survival through three that transmit malaria, dengue fever to one in eight deaths of children under direct channels: changing disease and yellow fever will almost certainly age 5 in a 2012 report. Air pollution is environments, greater food insecurity, expand, for example. So will the habitat also associated with increasing rates of and threats to water and sanitation. for ticks that transmit encephalitis and asthma and other respiratory diseases. Lyme disease. Special attention will be needed in Africa, These diseases already exact a terrible which has the world’s fastest-growing cost. In 2017, the latest year for which child population. But as climate change firm estimates are available, malaria affects the entire world, health systems alone accounted for 266,000 deaths at the global, regional and national levels of children under age 5 despite must all adapt quickly to meet this rising widespread prevention efforts. And threat to children’s health. for every child, every right 25

Article 24 – Health and health services including dangers and risks of environmental pollution. Article 29 – Aims of education including (e) Development of respect for the natural environment.

Rolando Ramos, age 18, helps with the family fishing business in Timor-Leste, but he also is studying for a career in medicine. “In the future, I want to be a doctor so I can help my family and my community,” he said. © UNICEF/UN0186830/Soares

Greater food insecurity severe pressure in the coming years, to a child’s probability of surviving will threaten children’s as warmer temperatures depress crop and thriving in the early years. WHO survival and development, yields. This effect is likely to be worst in estimates that climate change could the warmer regions of the global South lead to an additional 10 million children particularly in countries and that already struggle with food insecu- suffering from stunting in 2050. communities that already rity. In addition, a changing climate can struggle with this risk exacerbate the food insecurities that To avert this possibility, the interna- inevitably accompany conflict. tional system is already working to aid regions that suffer from extreme Many communities around the world Children are particularly vulnerable weather events; anticipate future have long lived with food insecurity. to food insecurity. Even brief periods needs; and invest in creating more Climate change is likely to exacer- of undernutrition can cause lifelong resilient agricultural systems. Such bate the risk to these communities damage to their development and efforts must pay greater attention and threaten others that are not yet make them more vulnerable to to the impact of increasing food affected. Unless action is taken to non-communicable diseases later in insecurity on children and young slow the pace of climate change, the life. Food insecurity also threatens people who, along with the elderly, global food supply could come under maternal health, which is closely related will be among the worst affected. for every child, every right 26 3. ISSUES CLIMATE

F trl diter re ore reet i recet decde th i the Global number of natural disasters, 1989–2018

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 er o diter

Flood Storm Extreme temperature Earthquake Epidemic Drought

Landslide Wildﬁre Volcanic activity Mass movement (dry) Insect infestation

orce Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT), 2019. Brussels: University of Louvain, Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), www.emdat.be for every child, every right 27 3. ISSUES CLIMATE

As climate change worsens, With diarrhoeal diseases accounting Addressing climate increased scarcity of safe for 440,000 deaths of children under change, and preparing drinking water and sanitation age 5 in 2017, the stakes are high. now for its impact, will be WHO estimates that climate change has the potential to undermine could cause more than 316,000 critical to protect hard-won many gains in child survival additional annual deaths related to gains in child survival diarrhoeal diseases by 2050. Access to safe water, sanitation The world is just beginning to feel and hygiene (WASH) is crucial to Ensuring WASH access amid armed the impact of climate change on child preventing the spread of infectious conflicts presents another major mortality and morbidity. Significant disease. Advances in this sector have challenge. There is a growing body of damage has already been done; even been a major reason for historical evidence that water is being deployed under optimistic scenarios, children progress on preventing child deaths. as a weapon of war, with children as will pay a heavy price for a changing the main victims. As climate change climate. Concerted international Despite these gains, though, more increases water scarcity, conflict can efforts have to confront the triple than 800 children still die every day exacerbate the problem by destroying threat of higher disease burdens, from diarrhoeal diseases linked to vital water and sanitation infrastructure food insecurity and water scarcity inadequate water supply and poor and cutting off children and families from wiping out gains we have sanitation and hygiene. Even if these from these essential services. made in child survival over the past diseases do not result in mortality, 30 years. they contribute to other pernicious The number of children affected by physical and cognitive effects, such as water scarcity and lack of access to stunting, by undermining the body’s sanitation and hygiene services is likely ability to absorb nutrients. to increase as climate change proceeds. Thus, countries and international Storms, floods and other extreme organizations must prepare for the weather events, which are already health impacts of climate change today. occurring more frequently, threaten to That means planning for inevitable elevate these threats to child survival and future crises; creating systems to alert health. A 2017 UNICEF report, Thirsting the vulnerable to impending health for a Future: Water and children in a risks; investing in more adaptable changing climate, estimated that by 2040, WASH facilities; and incorporating one in four of the world’s children under climate resilience into existing 18 – some 600 million in all – will be living international, national and subnational in areas of extremely high water stress. environmental health policies. 28 3

EDUCATION

Issues Reaching out-of-school children and improving learning for all

Article 28 – Right to education.

Getting children into primary school, particularly girls, has been among the greatest successes in human development of the past half century. But progress has stalled in the past decade.

The massive growth of primary Population growth has levels in Africa, where the young education is one of the greatest gains offset gains in putting child and adolescent populations for children and young people in the children into school globally are expanding rapidly. Over the past three decades. The global number next 50 years, Africa will be the of out-of-school children of primary- in the past decade continent with the largest cohort school age dropped from 100 million of primary- and lower-secondary- in 2000 to 59 million in 2018, and Despite this remarkable progress, the school-age children in the world proportionately from about 15 per cent out-of-school population for primary (Figure 7). Expanded investment to 8.2 per cent of the world’s primary- education has remained stagnant in education and skills training school age population. Furthermore, since 2007 (Figure 6). In percentage is urgently required to meet this the number of out-of-school girls terms, the reduction in the number growing demand. fell by half between 1997 and 2018 of out-of-school children has just – from 68 million to 32 million – largely about kept pace with the expansion An estimated 1.3 million additional eliminating gender disparity in access in the total population of primary- teachers will be needed by 2030 to primary education in most countries. school-age children, particularly in just to maintain the current pupil- Africa but also in South Asia. teacher ratio in Africa. For all African countries to reach a ratio The slow pace in reducing the global of around 23 students per teacher, out-of-school population is a cause an additional 5.8 million teachers for concern. Without faster progress, will be needed. Given the large the number of children missing deficit of qualified secondary-school out on education could increase at educators in Africa and elsewhere, both the primary and secondary this presents a substantial challenge. for every child, every right 29 3. ISSUES EDUCATION

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Being in school is most And yet, there is preliminary evidence well be value in a renewed focus on valuable if children really that even in the context of low-quality expanding access to primary education, learn – and recent evidence primary education, being in school in conjunction with stronger efforts to matters (Figure 8). Research on this solve the global learning crisis. shows that many in-school question is stymied, however, by the children are failing to difficulty of reaching out-of-school Pre-primary education is one area acquire foundational skills children and understanding their needs. with massive potential to boost both With the introduction of a new literacy educational access and quality learning. and numeracy module in the UNICEF- It improves learning outcomes in the Stagnation in access to education supported Multiple Indicator Cluster longer term and helps children master comes at a time when the interna- Surveys (MICS), we are beginning to foundational reading and mathematics tional community’s focus has largely address the data gap. skills in the early primary grades. shifted from educational access Research shows that children who fall to quality of learning. Alarming In Sierra Leone, for instance, a MICS behind in these areas rarely catch up later. evidence that many primary school literacy and numeracy module showed students graduate without basic that children between the ages of 7 and Higher rates of pre-primary school skills has driven this shift. Globally, 14 still had better foundational skills than attendance are correlated with lower only about half of children have the their out-of-school peers even if they dropout rates, reducing the number of minimum competency in reading were receiving low-quality instruction out-of-school children. In places with and numeracy at the end of primary – and even though many students no pre-primary education, instruction in education. If children do not learn, who are currently out of school had Grades 1 and 2 is often of lower quality – then much of society’s investment some schooling before dropping out. giving children less incentive to learn and in education is simply wasted. This pattern suggests that there may parents less reason to keep them in school. for every child, every right 30 3. ISSUES EDUCATION

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We urgently need a These groups face unique challenges. out-of-school children as we tackle renewed commitment For example, while wealthier the global learning crisis. We will need to access, learning and households are usually more likely to targeted interventions to break down send their children to school, wealth each group’s unique and specific investment in education, does not necessarily reduce gaps in barriers to access. This will mean particularly for the poorest access to education for children with not only building schools and hiring and most marginalized disabilities. Humanitarian crises and teachers, but also finding innovative conflict also greatly affect the number ways to reach marginalized populations. of out-of-school children in specific Reaching the remaining 8 per cent contexts – as in the Syrian Arab Republic, We must also work harder to address of primary-school-age children where the gross enrolment rate in lower- the real barriers to quality education that who are out of school globally will secondary schools dropped from 97 many girls still face. This will require require different strategies than the per cent in 2012 to 64 per cent in 2013, more efforts to tackle restrictive gender international community has deployed regressing progress by about 13 years. norms and practices such as child in the past – and a keener focus on marriage, which hamper girls’ access to equity. The children who remain out Worldwide, around 39 per cent of education; make schools safe and free of of school today are typically among primary-school age children who are violence; and provide gender-responsive the most marginalized, impoverished, out of school live in areas affected by school facilities and services in support disadvantaged and hard to reach. They conflicts and natural disasters. of girls’ health and menstrual hygiene. are children with disabilities, children living in the streets and children from Over the next 30 years, as the number For girls and boys alike, it is time for a minority ethnic or religious groups. of school-age children continues to renewed commitment to giving every They are migrants, refugees and those grow – particularly in Africa – the child both access to primary education who live in areas affected by armed international community must step and opportunities to learn and develop conflicts or natural disasters. up efforts to extend access to to her or his potential.

Gifaril, age 12, sits with a younger sibling outside their grandmother’s house in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, where he received psychosocial support after a series of natural disasters that made it extremely stressful for him to return to school.

CHILD MARRIAGE

Issues Ending a harmful practice

Article 19 – Right to protection from violence. Article 24 – Right to health and health care. Article 28 – Right to education. Article 34 – Right to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. .

The decline of child marriage globally demonstrates the value of concerted efforts to end harmful practices against children. But progress is far from universal, and efforts must accelerate.

Child marriage is commonly Although child marriage has accelerated in the past decade defined as a formal marriage or occurs among children of (Figure 9). In countries that have made informal union before age 18. The both sexes, it remains far progress, it correlates with enforceable Convention does not contain an legal reforms and investments in article specifically related to child more common for girls girls’ education and social protection marriage, but many of its articles programmes. In addition, many such are directly related to rights that Girls are six times more likely to be countries have scaled up behaviour- child marriages tend to obstruct. married before age 18 than boys. Girls change interventions to shift gender from impoverished socio-economic back- norms towards girls’ empowerment. grounds are most likely to be affected. In some regions, demographic factors Child marriage is both a symptom related to imbalanced sex ratios have and a result of deep-seated gender resulted in a ‘marriage squeeze’ – in inequalities and restrictive gender which larger numbers of marriageable norms, as well as poverty and a lack of men and smaller numbers of marriage- economic opportunity. By effectively able women result in a delay in the cutting off girls’ education and population’s age at marriage. career prospects, it denies them the development and life skills they need for As the international community reflects full empowerment. It often leads to early on achievements for children in the past pregnancies with associated health risks 30 years, the experiences of the coun- to both the girl and the infant. Since tries that have made strong progress the adoption of the Convention, child – and those that have achieved less – marriage has become less common should inform future efforts to eliminate around the world, and progress child marriage. for every child, every right 33 3. ISSUES CHILD MARRIAGE

An adolescent girl in India participates in a karate class as part of a programme to empower adolescents, including girls at risk of child marriage. © UNICEF/UN061998/Vishwanathan

The harmful practice Evidence shows that progress is But progress on ending child of child marriage is possible in diverse contexts. The marriage remains uneven in decline globally largest relative declines over the within regions and countries past decade have occurred in some upper-middle to high-income Macro-level factors, such as higher countries. These countries, which Despite these gains, millions of girls social expenditures, economic already had low levels of child around the world remain at risk of child growth and women’s empowerment, marriage, have reduced them marriage. At the national level, a number tend to be associated with lower even closer to elimination. of countries have seen little or no progress rates of child marriage as well. and require urgent action. Even within These factors are mirrored at the The countries that have made the countries that have made substantial household level, where girls and greatest absolute reductions are strides against child marriage, progress is young women are far less likely to low- and middle-income countries in not always equal across regions. be married before age 18 if they sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia live in wealthier, more educated that had a high initial prevalence Globally, progress to date has been households in which women have of child marriage. Declines in child stronger among the richer segments more decision-making power and marriage in populous nations such of society, and millions of girls who higher labour-force participation. as India have driven the global are among the world’s poorest remain advance. vulnerable (Figure 10). for every child, every right 34 3. ISSUES CHILD MARRIAGE

Legal reforms, expanded the political will to follow through services, girls’ empowerment with their enactment. The second programmes and behaviour entails behaviour change and pro-girl interventions at the household and change are urgently needed community levels. And the third to accelerate progress on consists of positive household support, reducing child marriage providing essential services in health, education and protection that empower girls to direct their own futures. As noted previously, the countries that have made progress towards These interventions create an eliminating child marriage have enabling environment; they are benefited from several key pathways. particularly important in places where progress towards ending The first pathway involves enforceable child marriage has stalled or is weak. legal reforms against child marriage But the greatest catalyst for change at the federal and state levels, and – besides girls and young women

F hild rrige h ecoe le coo over the t yer Percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who were ﬁrst married or in union before age 18, by region

60 25 years ago

10 years ago 50 Today

Child marriage in South Asia has 20 almost halved over the past 25 years, falling from 59% to 30% today 10

South West and Eastern and Middle East Latin Europe and East Asia Asia Central Africa Southern and North America and Central Asia and Paciﬁc Africa Africa the Caribbean

ote Analysis based on a subset of 97 countries with nationally representative data from 2012 to 2018, representing 62 per cent of the global population of women aged 20 to 24 years. Regional aggregates are based on at least 50 per cent population coverage. Data was insufﬁcient to calculate regional averages for North America and Western Europe. For additional details on regional and global calculations, see Child Marriage: Latest trends and future prospects, UNICEF, New York 2018.

orce UNICEF global databases, 2019, based on MICS, DHS and other nationally representative sources. for every child, every right 35 3. ISSUES CHILD MARRIAGE

themselves – is the explicit and that address both girls and their to enforce new laws on child marriage deliberate commitment of national communities are also important. without some measure of community governments to invest in adolescent Awareness and empowerment ownership. And no community will take girls and pursue laws and policies programmes are often most effective seriously the business of challenging that protect girls’ rights. where local faith-based leaders can deep-set norms without firm evidence be persuaded to ‘lead the charge.’ that the government is willing to Legal reforms are most successful support that effort. when they are accompanied by But it is a combination of various incentives to comply with the law approaches that has been most With a strong commitment to and meaningful consequences powerful. This combination may include equitable progress by both for offenders. India, for example, enforceable legal reforms, investment governments and communities, we provides incentives in the form of in adolescent girls, and scaled-up will be able to leverage the lessons cash or in-kind transfers to families interventions squarely addressing of the past to protect girls from the whose daughters remain unmarried gender norms at the community level. harmful practice of child marriage – until a certain age. Interventions No government has the wherewithal and, ultimately, to eliminate it.

F he g i child rrige revlece etee the richet d ooret h ideed i ot rt o the orld Percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who were ﬁrst married or in union before age 18, by wealth quintile and region

South West and Eastern and Middle East and Latin America Europe and Asia Central Africa Southern Africa North Africa and the Caribbean Central Asia 100

0 rod ody rod ody rod ody rod ody rod ody rod ody rod ody

Richest Poorest

ote Analysis based on a subset of 101 countries with nationally representative data from 2010 to 2018, representing 63 per cent of the global population of women aged 20 to 24 years. Values for "Today" are based on the latest available data per country within the specified year range; values for “Around 1990” correspond to the level of child marriage 25 years prior. Regional aggregates are based on at least 50 per cent population coverage. Data were insufficient to calculate regional averages for East Asia and the Pacific, North America and Western Europe.

orce UNICEF global databases, 2019, based on MICS, DHS and other nationally representative sources. for every child, every right 36 3. ISSUES CHILD MARRIAGE

The Convention and gender equality

Lasting consequences of gender disparities Every child deserves to reach her or As girls and boys grow up, gender disparities and barriers his potential, but gender inequalities widen. At age 10, boys’ worlds often expand while girls’ worlds contract, resulting in negative consequences that can in children’s lives and the lives of last a lifetime. those who care for them often hinder their life chances. Article 2 of the Menstruation remains taboo in many places, and without proper awareness and assistance, the health, welfare and Convention on the Rights of the Child educational prospects of millions of adolescent girls are stipulates that signatory governments therefore at risk. Adolescent girls also have an increased shall protect children from any form of risk of gender-based violence – including sexual harassment – in times of both peace and conflict. Article 34 of the discrimination, including gender-based Convention compels states to protect children “from all bias. forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.”

Children experience gender inequality Integrating gender equality into UNICEF’s work in their homes and communities from In line with the rights articulated in the Convention, gender an early age. Unequal household equality is integrated into all areas of UNICEF’s work through chores condition them into thinking its Gender Action Plan. that these duties are exclusively Among many other efforts, UNICEF programmes seek to women’s roles, for example, thereby increase quality maternal care and the professionalization of curtailing generational change and the mostly female workforce of front-line community health narrowing girls’ ambitions. Boys and workers. UNICEF and partners recognize and empower women in the design and delivery of water, sanitation and girls who witness gender-based hygiene ecosystems. And in schools and communities violence in the home are more likely across the globe, we promote strategies to prevent gender- to replicate violent relationships when based violence and discrimination. they are adults, as either perpetrators Programmatic work for gender equality also focuses or victims. on increasing girls’ access to secondary education and preventing child marriage and female genital mutilation. In support of all this work and more, UNICEF collects, quantifies and shares data on emerging and ongoing challenges to gender equality and girls’ empowerment. for every child, every right 37 3. ISSUES CHILD MARRIAGE

Bodoor, a 17-year-old Syrian refugee, holds up an empowering message in a UNICEF-supported Makani centre at the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan, where she is in the 12th grade. Makani centres provide learning support and other services for vulnerable children. Bodoor and her family have lived at the Azraq camp since it opened in 2014.

Girls hold banners as they prepare for a group photo during a Menstrual Hygiene Day event in the KBC-1 camp for internally displaced persons in Kutkai, Shan State, Myanmar. © UNICEF/UN0337700/Oo

38 3

URBANIZATION

Issues Urban advantages and paradoxes for children

Article 2 – All children have the rights set forth by the Convention, without discrimination of any kind.

Rapid urbanization has contributed to millions of children gaining access to essential services. But emerging data show that some children in cities are actually worse off than their counterparts in rural areas.

In general, urban dwellers are better On average, it is still true But some children in urban off than their rural peers. They that children in urban areas are also at the same enjoy higher incomes and levels centres are better off than level or worse off than of education, have access to more plentiful job opportunities and children in rural areas on their peers in rural areas markets, and benefit from better most indicators of survival infrastructure and services. These and development A closer look at the evidence reveals benefits have long been understood fissures in the urban advantage as conferring an ‘urban advantage’ narrative, however. In reality, a on people who live in cities and This narrative is borne out in the considerable part of the child popu- metropolitan areas, including children. aggregate, according to a 2018 lation in urban areas has been left As a result, much child survival and UNICEF analysis of 77 mostly low- behind, living in pockets of poverty development programming has and middle-income countries. The and deprivation. UNICEF’s analysis been focused on rural areas, where study examined 10 indicators of reveals enormous inequalities in urban many of the poorest and most child well-being. On average, the areas, with children from house- disadvantaged children reside. child population in urban areas holds in the richest quintile enjoying fared better than the equivalent a large advantage on every indica- rural cohort on every indicator tor over children from households (Figure 11). in the poorest quintile (Figure 12). for every child, every right 39 3. ISSUES URBANIZATION

F verge, r childre re etter th rrl cro ot idictor

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E I I S

orce Advantage or Paradox: The challenge for children and young people growing up urban UNIE . for every child, every right 40 3. ISSUES URBANIZATION

FIGURE 12 In one in five countries, stunting is at least four times as prevalent among the poorest urban children as among the wealthiest Share of countries and areas by relative wealth disparity gap, for urban and rural, 2011–2016 (%)

Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural 100

75 es countr i f o

50 Percentage

0 ater Sanitation Birth Birth Immuniation Education HIV HIV Stunting ortlity Score attendant registration nowledge, nowledge, women men

Relative wealth disparity ratio*

< 0.9 ≥ 0.9 −1.1 ≥ 1.1 − 2.0 ≥ 2 − 3 ≥ 3 − 4 4 or more Poorest Same Poorest score worse than richest score better

* Relative wealth disparity is calculated as the ratio of the scores of the richest quintile to those of the poorest quintile – except for stunting and under-ﬁve mortality (where higher values show worse conditions), for which the ratio of scores of the poorest to the richest quintile is used.

Source: Advantage or Paradox: The challenge for children and young people growing up urban, UNICEF, 2018. for every child, every right 41 3. ISSUES URBANIZATION

The large advantage of wealthier children in the poorest urban quintile In about one quarter of countries, urban households pulls up the is at least twice as high as the rate the children in the poorest urban averages for all children who live among their peers in the richest quintile have higher mortality rates in cities, giving the impression that quintile in 8 of 10 of the countries than children from the poorest rural they are better off than their rural analysed – and at least four times quintile. Globally, around 4.3 million peers. This effect is especially higher in 2 of the 10 countries. children in urban areas face a higher pronounced in cities and towns with risk of dying before their fifth birthday large slums and many children living In some countries, children from than their rural counterparts. in the streets. the poorest urban households fare worse than their peers in rural areas In half of the countries analysed, (Figure 13). For example, in 28 per children in the poorest urban quintile cent of the countries analysed, these are at least twice as likely to die children are less likely to receive before their fifth birthday compared to routine immunization than children their richest urban counterparts. The from the poorest rural households. disparity is even wider for stunting, This result may reflect the greater which results from poor child nutrition. intensity of vaccination outreach in The prevalence of stunting among rural areas in recent decades.

F oe i or cotrie, childre og the ooret r re ore liely to die eore ge th their rrl eer S

S B B I E I I S

orce Advantage or Paradox: The challenge for children and young people growing up urban UNIE . for every child, every right 42 3. ISSUES URBANIZATION

Intensifying urbanization in sanitation and transportation, among people, will live in urban areas. In many parts of the world is other factors – serves to entrench their Africa, the most rapidly urbanizing likely to widen disparities exclusion and disadvantage. region, urbanization is already occurring at a lower level of national for children in urban areas Finally, inadequate safeguards for income than other regions – which workers and daily wage earners may makes it harder to develop efficient Although robust causal analysis result in parents from poor urban fami- and sustainable urban systems. is lacking, practical experience lies working long hours and having to suggests several reasons why the leave children unattended, without In a worrying sign, after a decline urban advantage does not always needed nurturing care. from 2000 to 2014, the percentage of hold. For example, sprawling the global urban population living in unplanned urbanization has reduced To meet the Convention’s vision, we slums and informal settlements has the proximity of many impoverished must reduce inequity within and across grown slightly. According to the latest and marginalized urban households urban and rural areas by focusing more estimates, more than 1 billion people to jobs and essential services. The sharply on urban human development, live in slums worldwide, with four out quality of services on the urban including the survival and development of five of slum dwellers residing in periphery is often poor; in some slum of children and young people in urban Asia and Africa. areas, services may be non-existent. areas. SDG 11 addresses this issue In addition, informal and insecure with ambitious but achievable goals, These trends suggest that the residential status leave many as do the Habitat III goals for housing problems presented by urbanization urban households excluded from and sustainable urban development. will only grow over time. But it government-provided services. But progress has not been as rapid as does not have to be this way. advocates hoped it would be, and it is People move to cities for a variety Environmental and health hazards such being outpaced by intensifying urbani- of benefits: opportunity, diversity, as unprocessed waste and wastewater, zation in many poor nations. integration, economies of scale and pollution and poor air quality also innovation. City governments and heighten the risk of disease for children The global urban population is municipalities can and must leverage from the poorest urban households. expanding by 80 million inhabitants these factors to address the needs Furthermore, the context in which per year. By 2030, based on current and disadvantages of their poorest children on the urban periphery grow trends, approximately 60 per cent of residents, particularly their children up – lacking adequate housing, power, the world’s population, or 5.2 billion and young people. for every child, every right 43 3. ISSUES URBANIZATION

The Convention and children with disabilities

Protecting the rights of Marginalized and excluded UNICEF’s disability children with disabilities rights agenda Children with disabilities are among has been an integral part the most marginalized and excluded of UNICEF’s programming groups in society. Facing daily In recent years, UNICEF has intensified since the adoption of discrimination in the form of negative its focus on equity, working to attitudes and a lack of adequate identify and address the root causes the Convention on the policies and legislation, they are often of inequality so that all children – Rights of the Child – the effectively barred from realizing their particularly those who face the worst first international treaty to rights to health care, education and deprivations – can realize their rights. even survival. Equity is at the heart of UNICEF’s explicitly recognize these disability agenda. That agenda aims rights. Estimates suggest that there are at least to mainstream disability rights across 93 million children with disabilities in the all organizational programmes and world, but the number could be much policies, and to build capacity on higher. They are likely to be among the Article 2 of the Convention disability rights both within UNICEF poorest members of the population. and among its partners. specifies that signatory They are also less likely to attend school, states “shall respect enjoy access to medical services or have This work also gained momentum from their voices heard in society. In addition, and ensure the rights the adoption of the Convention on the their disabilities place them at a higher Rights of Persons with Disabilities, [of] each child within risk of physical abuse and often exclude which entered into force in 2008 and their jurisdiction without them from receiving proper nutrition or requires that governments around the humanitarian assistance in emergencies. discrimination of any kind, world uphold the rights and dignity of all children and adults with disabilities. irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status [emphasis added].”

Maria, age 17, who lives with cerebral palsy, is a successful advocate for children with disabilities in Bulgaria and has paved the way for others to benefit from more equitable educational testing opportunities.

4 Data 45

Part 4 Data

Numbers matter. They form the basis of our understanding of the magnitude of both success and failure in efforts to enhance human development, including realizing the rights of children. In the absence of high-quality, timely data, critical issues do not get the priority or programme funding they warrant. Data on children and young people have proliferated in the past 30 years, but not enough to eliminate some of the most glaring and egregious gaps in knowledge on children’s rights.

Addressing data gaps supported by the United States on children’s rights is Agency for International Development. an urgent priority Collective efforts also spurred the formation of multiple interagency The fundamental role of data in bodies and partnerships focused promoting accountability for children’s on improving the quality and rights has a distinguished history. In availability of data for monitoring the 1990s, UNICEF pioneered time- progress towards international bound and data-driven global targets goals. Among these are the Joint for children in support of the goals Monitoring Programme for Water formulated by the World Summit Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, the for Children. Collective efforts, led United Nations Interagency Group by governments together with key for Child Mortality Estimation, the partners, drove rapid increases in United Nations Maternal Mortality the availability of data on children in Estimation Inter-agency Group, low-income countries. These efforts Roll Back Malaria, UNAIDS, the LEFT: Children biking to school in resulted in the implementation of, for World Health Organization/UNICEF Toumoudi-Sakassou, in the centre example, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Estimates of National Immunization of Côte d’Ivoire. Surveys supported by UNICEF and Coverage and the Joint Child © UNICEF/UNI211396/Dejongh the Demographic and Health Surveys Malnutrition Estimates. for every child, every right 46 4. DATA

The MDGs brought data to The Sustainable Development Progress towards the global 2030 goals the forefront of efforts to Goals (SDGs) have further varies by region and country. Similarly, spur human development, emphasized the importance of the availability of comparable data on child-focused SDG targets varies widely but measures of equity data in monitoring international among and within regions (Figure 14). were largely missing development, given their greater ambition and far Sub-Saharan Africa is most off-track A surge of interest in internationally wider range of indicators towards meeting the targets – a dire comparable data occurred throughout reality for its vulnerable children. There the era of the MDGs, which is little consolation in the fact that it is encompassed eight global goals set As the MDG era ended, critical also the region with the most complete largely by international agencies. Most appraisals arose, highlighting their set of data across the SDG indicators. of the goals were related to children, top-down approach to data-driven By contrast, European countries are with 60 associated indicators measured goal setting, their lack of country and on track for a larger share of indicators at the national level. The MDGs were civil society involvement in conceiving than the nations of any other region – meant to be realistic, achievable, data- ambitions and targets, and their but Europe is the second-worst region driven and time-bound. exclusive focus on national aggregates. in terms of the proportion of indicators The advent of the SDGs, covering for which data are missing. Numerous advocacy-related initiatives the period from 2016 through 2030, emerged, using data to measure partially addressed these caveats. The For high-income countries, some SDG progress towards the MDGs and SDGs benefited from an extensive, indicators measure issues that do not hold governments and development highly inclusive global consultation generally occur in these settings. In partners to account. A recognition explicitly intended to ensure country some cases, data may not be collected of data gaps also spurred efforts and civil society ownership. They even though the issues exist, or data to improve measurement and data embody an ambitious, comprehensive may be collected in a form that is not availability – particularly in previously agenda comprising 17 goals and 169 internationally comparable. In lower- neglected areas such as early childhood targets, with equity as a core principle. income countries, the unavailability development, neonatal health, of data is typically attributed to weak adolescent health, child poverty and In adopting the SDG agenda, systems and a lack of technical and gender equality. governments have also committed to financial capacity. But other factors monitoring and reporting on the goals such as coordination failures and poor This period also witnessed the and targets through 232 globally agreed data management may be equally proliferation of profiles, scorecards indicators (complemented by additional relevant. and dashboards. These tools served regionally and nationally defined to translate available data into easily indicators). There are numerous links Whatever the reason, a scarcity of understood formats and visualizations between the SDGs and the Convention, data about the situation of children for use by decision makers, civil not least in connection with child constrains efforts to achieve the SDGs society organizations and advocates. protection, which was overlooked by – and realize the rights of every child. The multiplicity of tools, however, the MDGs. Achieving the goals would sometimes resulted in unnecessary go a long way towards realizing the duplication and confusion about which rights of every child. ones should be used for what purpose and how they related to each other. for every child, every right 47 4. DATA

The SDG era presents an In the long run, countries that The most vulnerable children are often opportunity to enhance collect and monitor their own data the ones we know the least about. governance of international will be better able to achieve gains Many barriers to protecting children’s and maintain accountability for rights – such as conflict, low state development data and form a children’s rights. capacity, insufficient resources or long-term, ethical strategy for migration status – are also bottlenecks data collection, analysis and use Enhanced governance of international to collecting data. Thus, data gaps development data should also address frequently occur when and where we how countries can use non-traditional need good data the most. Building data The increasingly complex data landscape and emerging sources of information capacity in these settings is a crucial of the SDG era has underscored such as geospatial data, digital first step towards accelerated progress. the urgent need for enhanced transaction data and unstructured data governance on international textual data in combination with development indicators, including those traditional surveys and administrative that relate to the status of children. It is records. All these sources are needed imperative that stakeholders coalesce for analyses to guide programming around a long-term global vision and and planning, and for monitoring and strategy for data collection and analysis. evaluation. Those stakeholders are primarily national governments but also the business Meanwhile, as children’s exposure to sector, civil society and international digital technology increases, we must agencies and donors. Their vision must be careful not to undermine their right include strengthening information to privacy in our efforts to guarantee systems and building capacity to use other rights, such as protection from them at the country level. online harm and abuse.

F rogre tord the glol trget

Proportion of country-indicator pairs (39 indicators for each of 202 countries) according to data availability and progress towards global 2030 targets

100 3 4 2 2 Target met 6 12 12 8 11 7 13 14 17 90 23 14 20 15 On track 27 12 6 8 9 8 11 Acceleration 80 8 29 8 needed 13 5 ) 35 13 13 19 18 Insufﬁcient % 70 6 ( 27 12 21 11 14 34 data 10 60 18 No data 17 21 targets 17 20 50 13 23 20 15 24

e o f 23 g 24

a 24 t 40 n 22 rc e

e 30 P 50 48 44 44 45 43 43 20 39 41 38 34 32 31 27 10

East Asia Europe and Eastern and Latin America Middle East South West and and the Paciﬁc Central Asia Southern Africa and the and North Asia Central Africa Caribbean Africa 48

5 Investment 49

Part 5 Investment

While parents and families are directly and immediately responsible for the well-being and protection of children, governments also have overarching duties and responsibilities. In some cases, this means supporting families and caregivers in their guardianship of children; in others, it can include direct assistance and support to children, families and communities. Article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child compels governments to protect children to “the maximum extent of their available resources, and within the framework of international cooperation.”

Public expenditure for Measuring government children must reach all those spending on children is who are in need or at risk complex due to conceptual and technical challenges Even when governments devote ample resources to promoting and protecting Measuring the impact of government children’s rights, they often fall short expenditures across all child rights is a of providing full coverage to all children complex task for both conceptual and under their jurisdiction – such as those technical reasons. who are on the move as migrants, LEFT: Jalaisa, age 12, and her internally displaced persons or refugees. First, we must determine what counts brother Jarrer, age 13, walk through as spending on realizing children’s the tented evacuation site where they now live with their family in the And frequently, that spending is used rights. Should we only include Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in inefficient and ineffective ways, or is expenditures that affect children in Muslim Mindanao, located in the not spent as intended. As a result, it fails directly, or should all expenditures southern Philippines. During five to support the realization of children’s – even on investments in small- and months of intense urban armed rights. Therefore, the question arises: medium-sized enterprises or physical conflict in 2017, the family had to How much government spending on infrastructure – be classified as flee for their lives, and their home children is enough, and what evidence benefiting children based on their share was destroyed. do we have about the impact of this of the population? Frequently, this © UNICEF/UNI217250/Kokic spending on children’s rights? analysis is limited to public investment for every child, every right 50 5. INVESTMENT

in services (e.g., education, primary Gauging the impact Examining the distribution health care, social protection, child of public spending on and equity of spending opens protection and WASH) that have a children is also challenging a rich vein of analysis for major direct impact on the well-being of children and women. because data-quality understanding the potential issues make it difficult to impact of public expenditures Public spending on universities, for isolate causal effects on child outcomes example, is generally not classified as government expenditure related to children per se, as most university Measuring the impact of public Despite these limitations, it is still students are over the age of 18. spending requires data on both useful to examine associations spending and child outcomes, which between public spending and child Second, we must address the reality presents a further challenge. In many outcomes based on existing data. that budget support is easier to identify countries, data availability and quality Adding an equity dimension to the for some rights than for others. For are weak, household surveys are few analysis can provide rich insights instance, securing access to health, and administrative data are incomplete into a government’s performance in education or WASH requires major or difficult to access. protecting children. investment in physical infrastructure, which usually can be measured through Isolating the causal impact of spending As an illustration, consider a real-world budgets. It is often more difficult to on child outcomes is also difficult. analysis of the relationship between capture expenditure on child protection, Statistical analyses often present linear the level of government spending, the which is often not as obvious. While we correlations between certain public distribution of these expenditures and readily assign a cost to expenditures expenditures and child outcomes to their potential correlation with under-five on services and infrastructure, it is make targeted advocacy points. Such child mortality rates in 16 countries. In much harder to cost out budgets for analyses might argue, for example, this case, the distribution of expenditure behaviour change – even though such that more or better spending on health has been estimated using benefit change is essential to ensure many of care and education leads to better child incidence analysis (BIA) of public the rights related to child protection. health and learning. investment in health. BIA measures the share of government spending that A third consideration is the availability But these correlations are often not accrues to each wealth quintile based of budget data and classifications, and robust and do not account for other on the utilization of services. To account the disaggregation of data on spending. contributing factors that affect child for the lagged impact of investment, It may be necessary to distinguish outcomes, such as economic growth under-five mortality is measured (in between capital expenditures such as or cultural dynamics. Nor do they often most of the 16 countries) 5 to 10 years those for construction of facilities – which consider synergies and cumulative after the year in which the expenditure are often one-off outlays – and recurrent effects of investments in social took place. spending such as salaries. There is also sectors other than the ones under a variation in the scope of spending that observation. For instance, safe water The results of the analysis (Figure 15) governments report. Some report only and good nutrition are known to be indicate that under-five mortality rates central government expenditures. Others strong positive contributors to lowering are higher in countries that invest use wider measures of public-sector childhood disease burdens for children relatively few public resources on expenditure encompassing state entities – but spending in these sectors may health as a share of GDP and invest and corporations, and provincial and local not be considered in public expenditure such resources in an inequitable way. government financing. reviews on child health. These countries show a high share of public-expenditure utilization accruing Unless public-spending data are highly to children from households in the disaggregated, it is virtually impossible to higher wealth quintiles. measure how well government budgets are reaching the most marginalized children and communities with social services. It is also very difficult to determine how equitable that spending is. for every child, every right 51 5. INVESTMENT

Countries that spend moderate Over the next 30 years, spending on disadvantaged if they do not obtain a amounts and invest those resources children will remain a litmus test of fair share of public spending to help in moderately equitable ways have governments’ commitment to realizing realize their rights. To the extent that medium levels of under-five mortality. their rights and maximizing available public expenditures have an impact on Countries that invest the most resources for this purpose. Metrics of child outcomes, governments must be resources in the most equitable ways spending levels, trends and distribution sure to allocate resources where they have the lowest under-five mortality should be included in government will do the most good for vulnerable rates. These results are consistent finance statistics. This information will children and young people. for expenditures on either outpatient enable advocates of children’s rights or in-patient services, and for to assess the quantity and quality of expenditures measured as a proportion child-related public expenditures. Such of either the total government budget assessments, in turn, will support or GDP. accountability and incentivize stronger performance – particularly for the The above analysis suggests the critical children whose rights are most at risk. importance of not only the amount that governments spend on child-related These children tend to come from sectors, but also the quality and equity the poorest households. They are of that spending. already vulnerable, and they are doubly

FIGURE 15 Underfive mortality rate is affected by both the level and equity of health ependiture Government health expenditure and under-ﬁve mortality rates (per 1,000 live births)

99 Low (or relatively lower) U5MR Intermediate levels of U5MR High (or relatively higher) U5MR

59 73 70 79 78 54

Not Equitable 33 50

49 41 25 Somewhat Equitable

24 19

Underfive mortality rate deaths per 1,000 live births Very Equitable

Low Medium High

Level of Ependiture

Source: UNICEF analysis and estimates based on national studies. 52

6 Action 53

Part 6 Action

The 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a moment in which to celebrate the many historic gains that the world has made for children since 1989. But not all children have benefited equally, with the poorest and most disadvantaged falling behind their more fortunate peers. It is time to recommit to the Convention and step up efforts to ensure that the rights of every child are realized in the next 30 years.

The Convention, at 30, child-marriage rates, the global increase requires a new road to action in primary and secondary school enrolment, and a narrowing of equity gaps in many child indicators – along Ten years ago, when the Convention with other successes. turned 20, UNICEF turned its flagship publication, The State of the World’s The challenge issued in The State of the Children, into a celebration of children’s World’s Children a decade ago, and one rights and a call to action for greater that rings as true now as it did then, commitment to the rights of all was to unite government accountability LEFT: An adolescent boy takes children. At that time, the world was for children’s rights with social, the stage at a World Children’s experiencing its worst economic institutional and individual participation. Day 2018 event in Ouagadougou, crisis in 80 years. Governments were As the SDGs make clear, global and Burkina Faso, which featured tightening their belts, and confidence national problems require integrated, 10 adolescent girls and boys from six countries in West and Central was at a historic low. The crisis lingered multidimensional solutions with support Africa. They delivered inspirational in subsequent years and, arguably, still from a broad array of stakeholders talks about the future they envision has not completely receded. pooling their diverse strengths and for Africa, tackling issues such working together. While States Parties as education, climate change, And yet, during that crisis, opportunities that have signed and ratified the migration, living with disabilities, to advance children’s rights abounded. Convention will always hold primary menstrual hygiene, child Many of these opportunities were responsibility for its implementation, participation, and HIV and AIDS. taken; hence the continued fall other institutions and individuals must © UNICEF/UN0257235/Kionon in under-five child mortality and also play their parts. for every child, every right 54 6. ACTION

Although the world has What will it take to realize Join UNICEF’s global changed, a child is still a child the rights of every child? dialogue on fulfilling the promise of the Convention Children have long been a rallying Reports like this one on the rights point for the world, allowing nations to of children and young people often We don’t have all the answers to set aside their differences and self- end with a stirring call to action. these questions now. But we want interest to support the youngest and The call usually entails some to find them. And so, over the next most vulnerable. A child is a child, common appeals to, for example: 12 months, UNICEF plans to conduct wherever she or he lives, irrespective strengthen the evidence base; apply a global dialogue on what it will take to of nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, the principles of equity and gender make the promise of the Convention disability or socioeconomic status. equality in programming; invest in a reality for every child. The discourse Realizing the rights of every child must what works in existing programmes will be inclusive, involving children and again become as much of a global and interventions; expand resources; young people, parents and caregivers, priority as it was when the Convention involve young people in co-creating educators and social workers, was adopted. solutions and breakthroughs; communities and governments, civil and generate sustained political society, the private sector and the It will take decisive action to turn this commitment and support. media. And it will influence the way we rhetoric into reality. The world has do business in the future. changed considerably even in the All these elements are necessary to decade since UNICEF’s last major bring about change. But perhaps the We want to know from you what it will flagship report on the Convention. In stagnation and backsliding in some take for us all to care just a bit more the preceding pages, this report has areas of child well-being cited in this about what happens to children, others’ highlighted some of those changes. report – and the immensity of current as well as our own, and not just when and future challenges – require new a tragedy befalls them. Just as we The climate crisis, for example, has modalities to complement what we smile when we see a small child, we worsened and threatens to undermine have called for in the past. Perhaps need to feel empathy and compassion many of the gains made for children in these are needed to truly revitalize the for the children we don’t see – those the past 30 years unless we take bold rights of children as a global cause. who are poor and destitute, orphaned, action. Unplanned urbanization has marginalized, suffering from mental swelled the number of children living in What will it take? Will it require a illness, unprotected, uneducated, slums. Demographic transition has led child to show adults what is needed unable to reach their potential in life. to sharp increases in child and youth by example, making us wake up The excluded and the invisible. populations in some countries and steep and take collective responsibility for drops in others, each of which presents children, as it has for climate change? The Convention is proof that the world challenges to realizing children’s rights. Will it require a government to take can take bold and decisive action At the same time, politics has become bold steps, making the rights and in support of a better future for all. more polarized, characterized by a sharp well-being of children a number-one When it was first proposed, many divergence of views about the future national priority in both words and people didn’t believe it would ever course of countries around the world. deeds? Will it require a corporation happen, or that the world needed a Technology and mobility have brought to treat its contribution to children’s bill of rights for children. Thirty years unprecedented opportunities for many, futures as a business priority, later, it is abundantly clear that such but they are not without risks or costs, accounting for that contribution on as bill is more necessary than ever. and they are still failing to fully benefit an annual basis along with revenue We must reclaim the pioneering millions – particularly the poorest and growth and profits? Or will it require spirit of 1989. Never resting on our most marginalized. bold new institutional arrangements to laurels, we must, instead, work catalyse change, such as a global bill together to ensure that the Convention Our challenge today is to advance the of rights – not just for those under age remains a living document and vision of the Convention in the context 18 but also extending to young people becomes a guiding light for every of these changed circumstances. up to the age of 24? country, community and family. for every child, every right 55 6. ACTION

A note on sources

Climate Action and Support Trends, Key Drivers of the Changing Prevalence UN Climate Change Secretariat, 2019 of Child Marriage in Three Countries in This report has been South Asia: Working Paper, UNICEF, 2018 developed by the Climate and Health Country Profiles, WHO, 2015 UNICEF Division of Data, Quantitative Risk Assessment of the Effects of Climate Change on Selected Analytics, Planning and Climate Change and Land, Causes of Death, 2030s and 2050s, Monitoring; Office of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate WHO, 2014 Change, 2019 Research; and Division of SDG Progress Report, UN Secretary- Communication. Besides Core Commitments for Children in General, 2019 Humanitarian Action, UNICEF, 2010 UNICEF data and other The State of Food Security and Nutrition sources cited separately Education Uprooted, UNICEF, 2017 in the World, FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, 2017 in Figures 1 through 15, Estimates of National Immunization the report draws from Coverage, WHO/UNICEF, 2018 Stop the War on Children, Save the Children, 2019 a range of additional Generation 2030 Africa 2.0, UNICEF, 2017 Thirsting for a Future, UNICEF, 2017 sources, including Global Annual Results Report: Goal those listed at right. Area 1, UNICEF, 2019 Towards Inclusive Education, UNICEF Innocenti, 2016 Global Education Monitoring Report, UNESCO, 2018 Levels & Trends in Child Mortality, Report 2019: Estimates developed by the United Global Health Observatory Data Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Repository, WHO, accessed June 2019 Mortality Estimation, UNICEF, 2019 Global Measles and Rubella Update, Water under Fire, UNICEF, 2019 WHO, 2019 A World Ready to Learn, UNICEF, 2019 The Heat Is On: Taking Stock of Global Climate Ambition, UNDP, 2019 56 for every child, every right 57

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 entry into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49

Preamble Considering that the child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in the spirit of the The States Parties to the present Convention, ideals proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, and in particular in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed equality and solidarity, in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members Bearing in mind that the need to extend particular care to the of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and child has been stated in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of peace in the world, the Child of 1924 and in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly on 20 November 1959 and Bearing in mind that the peoples of the United Nations have, in recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the the Charter, reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (in particular and in the dignity and worth of the human person, and have in articles 23 and 24), in the International Covenant on Economic, determined to promote social progress and better standards of Social and Cultural Rights (in particular in article 10) and in the life in larger freedom, statutes and relevant instruments of specialized agencies and international organizations concerned with the welfare of children, Recognizing that the United Nations has, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the on Human Rights, proclaimed and agreed that everyone is Rights of the Child, “the child, by reason of his physical and entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth”, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Recalling the provisions of the Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Recalling that, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally the United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to and Internationally; the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules special care and assistance, for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules); and the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Convinced that the family, as the fundamental group of society Emergency and Armed Conflict, Recognizing that, in all countries and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all in the world, there are children living in exceptionally difficult its members and particularly children, should be afforded the conditions, and that such children need special consideration, necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community, Taking due account of the importance of the traditions and cultural values of each people for the protection and harmonious Recognizing that the child, for the full and harmonious development development of the child, Recognizing the importance of of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, international co-operation for improving the living conditions of in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding, children in every country, in particular in the developing countries,

Have agreed as follows: for every child, every right 58 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

PART I child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance Article 1 in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the For the purposes of the present Convention, a child means present Convention. every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. Article 6 1. States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent Article 2 right to life. 1. States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction 2. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or the survival and development of the child. his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, Article 7 property, disability, birth or other status. 1. The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire 2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure a nationality and. as far as possible, the right to know and be that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or cared for by his or her parents. punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child’s parents, legal guardians, or 2. States Parties shall ensure the implementation of these rights family members. in accordance with their national law and their obligations under the relevant international instruments in this field, in particular Article 3 where the child would otherwise be stateless. 1. In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative Article 8 authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child 1. States Parties undertake to respect the right of the child shall be a primary consideration. to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law without unlawful 2. States Parties undertake to ensure the child such protection interference. and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of his or her parents, legal guardians, 2. Where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements or other individuals legally responsible for him or her, and, to of his or her identity, States Parties shall provide appropriate this end, shall take all appropriate legislative and administrative assistance and protection, with a view to re-establishing measures. speedily his or her identity.

3. States Parties shall ensure that the institutions, services and Article 9 facilities responsible for the care or protection of children shall 1. States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated conform with the standards established by competent authorities, from his or her parents against their will, except when competent particularly in the areas of safety, health, in the number and authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance suitability of their staff, as well as competent supervision. with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child. Such determination Article 4 may be necessary in a particular case such as one involving States Parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, abuse or neglect of the child by the parents, or one where the administrative, and other measures for the implementation of parents are living separately and a decision must be made as the rights recognized in the present Convention. With regard to the child’s place of residence. to economic, social and cultural rights, States Parties shall undertake such measures to the maximum extent of their 2. In any proceedings pursuant to paragraph 1 of the present available resources and, where needed, within the framework article, all interested parties shall be given an opportunity to of international co-operation. participate in the proceedings and make their views known.

Article 5 3. States Parties shall respect the right of the child who is States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and separated from one or both parents to maintain personal duties of parents or, where applicable, the members of the relations and direct contact with both parents on a regular extended family or community as provided for by local custom, basis, except if it is contrary to the child’s best interests. legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the for every child, every right 59 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

4. Where such separation results from any action initiated by a Article 13 State Party, such as the detention, imprisonment, exile, deportation 1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right or death (including death arising from any cause while the person shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information is in the custody of the State) of one or both parents or of the and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in child, that State Party shall, upon request, provide the parents, writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media the child or, if appropriate, another member of the family with the of the child’s choice. essential information concerning the whereabouts of the absent member(s) of the family unless the provision of the information 2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, would be detrimental to the well-being of the child. States Parties but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are shall further ensure that the submission of such a request shall of necessary: itself entail no adverse consequences for the person(s) concerned. (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or Article 10 1. In accordance with the obligation of States Parties under article (b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre 9, paragraph 1, applications by a child or his or her parents to public), or of public health or morals. enter or leave a State Party for the purpose of family reunification shall be dealt with by States Parties in a positive, humane and Article 14 expeditious manner. States Parties shall further ensure that the 1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom submission of such a request shall entail no adverse consequences of thought, conscience and religion. for the applicants and for the members of their family. 2. States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents 2. A child whose parents reside in different States shall have and, when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the the right to maintain on a regular basis, save in exceptional child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent circumstances personal relations and direct contacts with both with the evolving capacities of the child. parents. Towards that end and in accordance with the obligation of States Parties under article 9, paragraph 1, States Parties shall 3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject respect the right of the child and his or her parents to leave any only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary country, including their own, and to enter their own country. The to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental right to leave any country shall be subject only to such restrictions rights and freedoms of others. as are prescribed by law and which are necessary to protect the national security, public order (ordre public), public health or Article 15 morals or the rights and freedoms of others and are consistent 1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of with the other rights recognized in the present Convention. association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.

Article 11 2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these 1. States Parties shall take measures to combat the illicit transfer rights other than those imposed in conformity with the law and and non-return of children abroad. which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), 2. To this end, States Parties shall promote the conclusion of the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the bilateral or multilateral agreements or accession to existing rights and freedoms of others. agreements. Article 16 Article 12 1. No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference 1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to his or her own views the right to express those views freely in unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation. all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. 2. The child has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. 2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law. for every child, every right 60 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Article 17 sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or States Parties recognize the important function performed any other person who has the care of the child. by the mass media and shall ensure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and 2. Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include international sources, especially those aimed at the promotion effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes of his or her social, spiritual and moral well-being and physical to provide necessary support for the child and for those who and mental health. have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment To this end, States Parties shall: and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement. (a) Encourage the mass media to disseminate information and material of social and cultural benefit to the child and in Article 20 accordance with the spirit of article 29; 1. A child temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment, or in whose own best interests cannot be (b) Encourage international co-operation in the production, allowed to remain in that environment, shall be entitled to special exchange and dissemination of such information and material protection and assistance provided by the State. from a diversity of cultural, national and international sources; 2. States Parties shall in accordance with their national laws (c) Encourage the production and dissemination of children’s ensure alternative care for such a child. books; 3. Such care could include, inter alia, foster placement, kafalah (d) Encourage the mass media to have particular regard to the of Islamic law, adoption or if necessary placement in suitable linguistic needs of the child who belongs to a minority group institutions for the care of children. When considering solutions, or who is indigenous; due regard shall be paid to the desirability of continuity in a child’s upbringing and to the child’s ethnic, religious, cultural (e) Encourage the development of appropriate guidelines for the and linguistic background. protection of the child from information and material injurious to his or her well-being, bearing in mind the provisions of articles Article 21 13 and 18. States Parties that recognize and/or permit the system of adoption shall ensure that the best interests of the child shall be the Article 18 paramount consideration and they shall: 1. States Parties shall use their best efforts to ensure recognition of the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for (a) Ensure that the adoption of a child is authorized only by the upbringing and development of the child. Parents or, as the competent authorities who determine, in accordance with case may be, legal guardians, have the primary responsibility for applicable law and procedures and on the basis of all pertinent the upbringing and development of the child. The best interests and reliable information, that the adoption is permissible in of the child will be their basic concern. view of the child’s status concerning parents, relatives and legal guardians and that, if required, the persons concerned 2. For the purpose of guaranteeing and promoting the rights have given their informed consent to the adoption on the basis set forth in the present Convention, States Parties shall render of such counselling as may be necessary; appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities and shall (b) Recognize that inter-country adoption may be considered ensure the development of institutions, facilities and services as an alternative means of child’s care, if the child cannot be for the care of children. placed in a foster or an adoptive family or cannot in any suitable manner be cared for in the child’s country of origin; 3. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that children of working parents have the right to benefit from (c) Ensure that the child concerned by inter-country adoption child-care services and facilities for which they are eligible. enjoys safeguards and standards equivalent to those existing in the case of national adoption; Article 19 1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, (d) Take all appropriate measures to ensure that, in inter-country social and educational measures to protect the child from all adoption, the placement does not result in improper financial forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect gain for those involved in it; or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including for every child, every right 61 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

(e) Promote, where appropriate, the objectives of the present 4. States Parties shall promote, in the spirit of international article by concluding bilateral or multilateral arrangements or cooperation, the exchange of appropriate information in the agreements, and endeavour, within this framework, to ensure field of preventive health care and of medical, psychological and that the placement of the child in another country is carried out functional treatment of disabled children, including dissemination by competent authorities or organs. of and access to information concerning methods of rehabilitation, education and vocational services, with the aim of enabling Article 22 States Parties to improve their capabilities and skills and to 1. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that a widen their experience in these areas. In this regard, particular child who is seeking refugee status or who is considered a refugee account shall be taken of the needs of developing countries. in accordance with applicable international or domestic law and procedures shall, whether unaccompanied or accompanied by Article 24 his or her parents or by any other person, receive appropriate 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment protection and humanitarian assistance in the enjoyment of of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for applicable rights set forth in the present Convention and in the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties other international human rights or humanitarian instruments shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right to which the said States are Parties. of access to such health care services.

2. For this purpose, States Parties shall provide, as they consider 2. States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right appropriate, co-operation in any efforts by the United Nations and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures: and other competent intergovernmental organizations or non-governmental organizations co-operating with the United (a) To diminish infant and child mortality; Nations to protect and assist such a child and to trace the parents or other members of the family of any refugee child in (b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and order to obtain information necessary for reunification with his health care to all children with emphasis on the development or her family. In cases where no parents or other members of of primary health care; the family can be found, the child shall be accorded the same protection as any other child permanently or temporarily deprived (c) To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the of his or her family environment for any reason , as set forth in framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, the the present Convention. application of readily available technology and through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking-water, Article 23 taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental 1. States Parties recognize that a mentally or physically disabled pollution; child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s (d) To ensure appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care active participation in the community. for mothers;

2. States Parties recognize the right of the disabled child to (e) To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents special care and shall encourage and ensure the extension, and children, are informed, have access to education and subject to available resources, to the eligible child and those are supported in the use of basic knowledge of child health responsible for his or her care, of assistance for which application and nutrition, the advantages of breastfeeding, hygiene and is made and which is appropriate to the child’s condition and to environmental sanitation and the prevention of accidents; the circumstances of the parents or others caring for the child. (f) To develop preventive health care, guidance for parents and 3. Recognizing the special needs of a disabled child, assistance family planning education and services. extended in accordance with paragraph 2 of the present article shall be provided free of charge, whenever possible, taking into 3. States Parties shall take all effective and appropriate measures account the financial resources of the parents or others caring with a view to abolishing traditional practices prejudicial to the for the child, and shall be designed to ensure that the disabled health of children. child has effective access to and receives education, training, health care services, rehabilitation services, preparation for 4. States Parties undertake to promote and encourage international employment and recreation opportunities in a manner conducive co-operation with a view to achieving progressively the full to the child’s achieving the fullest possible social integration realization of the right recognized in the present article. In and individual development, including his or her cultural and this regard, particular account shall be taken of the needs of spiritual development developing countries. for every child, every right 62 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Article 25 (b) Encourage the development of different forms of secondary States Parties recognize the right of a child who has been education, including general and vocational education, make placed by the competent authorities for the purposes of care, them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate protection or treatment of his or her physical or mental health, measures such as the introduction of free education and offering to a periodic review of the treatment provided to the child and financial assistance in case of need; all other circumstances relevant to his or her placement. (c) Make higher education accessible to all on the basis of Article 26 capacity by every appropriate means; 1. States Parties shall recognize for every child the right to benefit from social security, including social insurance, and shall take (d) Make educational and vocational information and guidance the necessary measures to achieve the full realization of this available and accessible to all children; right in accordance with their national law. (e) Take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools 2. The benefits should, where appropriate, be granted, taking and the reduction of drop-out rates. into account the resources and the circumstances of the child and persons having responsibility for the maintenance of the 2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure child, as well as any other consideration relevant to an application that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with for benefits made by or on behalf of the child. the child’s human dignity and in conformity with the present Convention. Article 27 1. States Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard 3. States Parties shall promote and encourage international of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral cooperation in matters relating to education, in particular with a and social development. view to contributing to the elimination of ignorance and illiteracy throughout the world and facilitating access to scientific and 2. The parent(s) or others responsible for the child have the technical knowledge and modern teaching methods. In this regard, primary responsibility to secure, within their abilities and financial particular account shall be taken of the needs of developing capacities, the conditions of living necessary for the child’s countries. development. Article 29 3. States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and 1. States Parties agree that the education of the child shall be within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist directed to: parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance (a) The development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, and physical abilities to their fullest potential; clothing and housing. (b) The development of respect for human rights and fundamental 4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to secure freedoms, and for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the the recovery of maintenance for the child from the parents or United Nations; other persons having financial responsibility for the child, both within the State Party and from abroad. In particular, where the (c) The development of respect for the child’s parents, his or person having financial responsibility for the child lives in a State her own cultural identity, language and values, for the national different from that of the child, States Parties shall promote values of the country in which the child is living, the country the accession to international agreements or the conclusion of from which he or she may originate, and for civilizations different such agreements, as well as the making of other appropriate from his or her own; arrangements. (d) The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free Article 28 society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the religious groups and persons of indigenous origin; basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular: (e) The development of respect for the natural environment. (a) Make primary education compulsory and available free to all; for every child, every right 63 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

2. No part of the present article or article 28 shall be construed Article 34 so as to interfere with the liberty of individuals and bodies to States Parties undertake to protect the child from all forms of establish and direct educational institutions, subject always to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. For these purposes, States the observance of the principle set forth in paragraph 1 of the Parties shall in particular take all appropriate national, bilateral present article and to the requirements that the education given and multilateral measures to prevent: in such institutions shall conform to such minimum standards as may be laid down by the State. (a) The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity; Article 30 In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities (b) The exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful or persons of indigenous origin exist, a child belonging to such sexual practices; a minority or who is indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy (c) The exploitative use of children in pornographic performances his or her own culture, to profess and practise his or her own and materials. religion, or to use his or her own language. Article 35 Article 31 States Parties shall take all appropriate national, bilateral and 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, multilateral measures to prevent the abduction of, the sale of to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age or traffic in children for any purpose or in any form. of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts. Article 36 2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child States Parties shall protect the child against all other forms of to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage exploitation prejudicial to any aspects of the child’s welfare. the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity. Article 37 States Parties shall ensure that: Article 32 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected (a) No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or from economic exploitation and from performing any work that degrading treatment or punishment. Neither capital punishment is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, imposed for offences committed by persons below eighteen moral or social development. years of age;

2. States Parties shall take legislative, administrative, social and (b) No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully educational measures to ensure the implementation of the present or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child article. To this end, and having regard to the relevant provisions of shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a other international instruments, States Parties shall in particular: measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time; (a) Provide for a minimum age or minimum ages for admission to employment; (c) Every child deprived of liberty shall be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, and (b) Provide for appropriate regulation of the hours and conditions in a manner which takes into account the needs of persons of of employment; his or her age. In particular, every child deprived of liberty shall be separated from adults unless it is considered in the child’s (c) Provide for appropriate penalties or other sanctions to ensure best interest not to do so and shall have the right to maintain the effective enforcement of the present article. contact with his or her family through correspondence and visits, save in exceptional circumstances; Article 33 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including (d) Every child deprived of his or her liberty shall have the right legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to prompt access to legal and other appropriate assistance, as to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and well as the right to challenge the legality of the deprivation of his psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international or her liberty before a court or other competent, independent treaties, and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and impartial authority, and to a prompt decision on any and trafficking of such substances. such action. for every child, every right 64 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Article 38 (ii) To be informed promptly and directly of the charges against 1. States Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect him or her, and, if appropriate, through his or her parents or legal for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them guardians, and to have legal or other appropriate assistance in in armed conflicts which are relevant to the child. the preparation and presentation of his or her defence;

2. States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure that (iii) To have the matter determined without delay by a compe- persons who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not tent, independent and impartial authority or judicial body in a take a direct part in hostilities. fair hearing according to law, in the presence of legal or other appropriate assistance and, unless it is considered not to be in 3. States Parties shall refrain from recruiting any person who the best interest of the child, in particular, taking into account has not attained the age of fifteen years into their armed forces. his or her age or situation, his or her parents or legal guardians; In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen (iv) Not to be compelled to give testimony or to confess guilt; to years, States Parties shall endeavour to give priority to those examine or have examined adverse witnesses and to obtain the who are oldest. participation and examination of witnesses on his or her behalf under conditions of equality; 4. In accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed (v) If considered to have infringed the penal law, to have this conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to decision and any measures imposed in consequence thereof ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an reviewed by a higher competent, independent and impartial armed conflict. authority or judicial body according to law;

Article 39 (vi) To have the free assistance of an interpreter if the child cannot States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote understand or speak the language used; physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of: any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse; torture (vii) To have his or her privacy fully respected at all stages of the or any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or proceedings. punishment; or armed conflicts. Such recovery and reintegration shall take place in an environment which fosters the health, 3. States Parties shall seek to promote the establishment of laws, self-respect and dignity of the child. procedures, authorities and institutions specifically applicable to children alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed Article 40 the penal law, and, in particular: 1. States Parties recognize the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to be (a) The establishment of a minimum age below which children shall treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child’s be presumed not to have the capacity to infringe the penal law; sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the child’s respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others and (b) Whenever appropriate and desirable, measures for dealing with which takes into account the child’s age and the desirability of such children without resorting to judicial proceedings, providing promoting the child’s reintegration and the child’s assuming a that human rights and legal safeguards are fully respected. constructive role in society. 4. A variety of dispositions, such as care, guidance and supervision 2. To this end, and having regard to the relevant provisions orders; counselling; probation; foster care; education and vocational training of international instruments, States Parties shall, in particular, programmes and other alternatives to institutional care shall be available ensure that: to ensure that children are dealt with in a manner appropriate to their well-being and proportionate both to their circumstances and the offence. (a) No child shall be alleged as, be accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law by reason of acts or omissions Article 41 that were not prohibited by national or international law at the Nothing in the present Convention shall affect any provisions which are time they were committed; more conducive to the realization of the rights of the child and which may be contained in: (b) Every child alleged as or accused of having infringed the penal law has at least the following guarantees: (a) The law of a State party; or

(i) To be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law; (b) International law in force for that State. for every child, every right 65 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

PART II 7. If a member of the Committee dies or resigns or declares that for any other cause he or she can no longer perform the Article 42 duties of the Committee, the State Party which nominated the States Parties undertake to make the principles and provisions member shall appoint another expert from among its nationals of the Convention widely known, by appropriate and active to serve for the remainder of the term, subject to the approval means, to adults and children alike. of the Committee.

Article 43 8. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure. 1. For the purpose of examining the progress made by States Parties in achieving the realization of the obligations undertaken in 9. The Committee shall elect its officers for a period of two years. the present Convention, there shall be established a Committee on the Rights of the Child, which shall carry out the functions 10. The meetings of the Committee shall normally be held at hereinafter provided. United Nations Headquarters or at any other convenient place as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall normally 2. The Committee shall consist of eighteen experts of high meet annually. The duration of the meetings of the Committee moral standing and recognized competence in the field covered shall be determined, and reviewed, if necessary, by a meeting by this Convention.1 of the States Parties to the present Convention, subject to the approval of the General Assembly. 3. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by States Parties. Each State 11. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the Party may nominate one person from among its own nationals. necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee under the present Convention. 4. The initial election to the Committee shall be held no later than six months after the date of the entry into force of the 12. With the approval of the General Assembly, the members present Convention and thereafter every second year. At least of the Committee established under the present Convention four months before the date of each election, the Secretary- shall receive emoluments from United Nations resources on General of the United Nations shall address a letter to States such terms and conditions as the Assembly may decide. Parties inviting them to submit their nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall subsequently prepare a list Article 44 in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating 1. States Parties undertake to submit to the Committee, through States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it the Secretary-General of the United Nations, reports on the to the States Parties to the present Convention. measures they have adopted which give effect to the rights recognized herein and on the progress made on the enjoyment 5. The elections shall be held at meetings of States Parties of those rights convened by the Secretary-General at United Nations Headquarters. At those meetings, for which two thirds of States (a) Within two years of the entry into force of the Convention Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the for the State Party concerned; Committee shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of (b) Thereafter every five years. States Parties present and voting. 2. Reports made under the present article shall indicate factors 6. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of and difficulties, if any, affecting the degree of fulfilment of the four years. They shall be eligible for re-election if renominated. obligations under the present Convention. Reports shall also The term of five of the members elected at the first election contain sufficient information to provide the Committee with shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first a comprehensive understanding of the implementation of the election, the names of these five members shall be chosen by Convention in the country concerned. lot by the Chairman of the meeting. 3. A State Party which has submitted a comprehensive initial report to the Committee need not, in its subsequent reports submitted in accordance with paragraph 1 (b) of the present article, repeat basic information previously provided. 1. The members of the Committee shall be elected by States Parties from among their nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution, as well as to the principal legal systems. for every child, every right 66 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

4. The Committee may request from States Parties further PART III information relevant to the implementation of the Convention. Article 46 5. The Committee shall submit to the General Assembly, through The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States. the Economic and Social Council, every two years, reports on its activities. Article 47 The present Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments 6. States Parties shall make their reports widely available to the of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of public in their own countries. the United Nations.

Article 45 Article 48 In order to foster the effective implementation of the Convention The present Convention shall remain open for accession by any and to encourage international co-operation in the field covered State. The instruments of accession shall be deposited with the by the Convention: Secretary-General of the United Nations.

(a) The specialized agencies, the United Nations Children’s Article 49 Fund, and other United Nations organs shall be entitled to be 1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth represented at the consideration of the implementation of such day following the date of deposit with the Secretary-General of provisions of the present Convention as fall within the scope the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification of their mandate. The Committee may invite the specialized or accession. agencies, the United Nations Children’s Fund and other competent bodies as it may consider appropriate to provide expert advice 2. For each State ratifying or acceding to the Convention after the on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession, the scope of their respective mandates. The Committee may the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the invite the specialized agencies, the United Nations Children’s deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification or accession. Fund, and other United Nations organs to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within Article 50 the scope of their activities; 1. Any State Party may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary- (b) The Committee shall transmit, as it may consider appropriate, General shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the specialized agencies, the United Nations Children’s Fund to States Parties, with a request that they indicate whether and other competent bodies, any reports from States Parties they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of that contain a request, or indicate a need, for technical advice considering and voting upon the proposals. In the event that, or assistance, along with the Committee’s observations and within four months from the date of such communication, at suggestions, if any, on these requests or indications; least one third of the States Parties favour such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the (c) The Committee may recommend to the General Assembly to auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a request the Secretary-General to undertake on its behalf studies majority of States Parties present and voting at the conference on specific issues relating to the rights of the child; shall be submitted to the General Assembly for approval.

(d) The Committee may make suggestions and general 2. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of the recommendations based on information received pursuant to present article shall enter into force when it has been approved articles 44 and 45 of the present Convention. Such suggestions by the General Assembly of the United Nations and accepted and general recommendations shall be transmitted to any State by a two-thirds majority of States Parties. Party concerned and reported to the General Assembly, together with comments, if any, from States Parties. 3. When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted it, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of the present Convention and any earlier amendments which they have accepted. for every child, every right 67 ANNEX THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Article 51 Article 52 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall receive and A State Party may denounce the present Convention by written circulate to all States the text of reservations made by States at notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. the time of ratification or accession. Denunciation becomes effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. 2. A reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of the present Convention shall not be permitted. Article 53 The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated as 3. Reservations may be withdrawn at any time by notification the depositary of the present Convention. to that effect addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall then inform all States. Such notification Article 54 shall take effect on the date on which it is received by the The original of the present Convention, of which the Arabic, Secretary-General Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In witness thereof the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present Convention.

OPTIONAL PROTOCOLS

In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, addressing the involvement of children in armed conflict and the use of children for sale, prostitution and pornography; they entered into force in 2002. A third Optional Protocol was adopted in 2011 and entered into force in 2014, allowing children to bring complaints about violations directly to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. For more on the Optional Protocols, see page 9. For every child Whoever she is. Wherever he lives. Every child deserves a childhood. A future. A fair chance. That’s why UNICEF is there. For each and every child. Working day in and day out. In 190 countries and territories. Reaching the hardest to reach. The furthest from help. The most left behind. The most excluded. It’s why we stay to the end. And never give up.

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