Child in the Spotlight

From Wikiprogress.org

Recent Spotlights

Child's Rights and Business Principles

The Children’s rights and Business Principles set out business actions to respect and support children’s rights. Children’s rights are outlined by the Convention on the rights of the Child, and the International Labour organization’s Convention No. 138 on Minimum age and Convention No. 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour. article 3 of the Convention on the rights of the Child sets out the principle that, “In all actions concerning children ... the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.”

Through the Lens of the UN Habitat's Urban Youth Fund

The State of the Field in Youth-Led Development report is the second report in the Global Youth-Led Development series. Informed by earlier findings from a web-based survey of youth-led development initiatives, it analyzes data derived from UN- Habitat Urban Youth Fund projects.

Getting the balance right: Global Water and Sanitation Initiative

A child dies every 20 seconds from a water and sanitation-related disease, a Red Cross report says.

According to the charity’s ‘Getting the balance right’ report, a further 2.5 billion people around the world do not have access to basic sanitation facilities; and as a result, the lives of billions of people are adversely affected. The report calls for a global collective effort between governments, the private sector and aid agencies in redressing the balance between water supply and sanitation for vulnerable communities.

Improving Child Nutrition: The achievable imperative for global progress

A United Nations nutrition report released today shows that progress has been made in recent years in addressing stunting in children, and calls for increased efforts to accelerate a response to a condition that affects some 165 million children across the world.

The Impact of Discriminatory Social Norms on Adolescent Girls

Wikigender and Wikichild would like to hear your views, lessons learned and best practices or policies on empowering adolescent girls. From 2-11 April 2013, we invite you to participate in an online discussion on "The impact of discriminatory social norms on adolescent girls" and to be heard at a workshop on "Empowering adolescent girls by tackling social norms" that takes place on 26 April in London!

The event will be co-organised by the OECD Development Centre, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the Department for International Development (DFID UK) and The Girl Hub. The inputs from the Wikigender and Wikichild communities in this discussion will be presented via a summary report at the event.

This online discussion is organised in partnership with the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Research Network (HBSC), the Department for International Development (DFID UK), ASCD – The Whole Child, the Girl Hub, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Plan (UK).

2013 Education for All Global Monitoring Report

The 2013 Education for All Global Monitoring Report will show why teaching and learning are pivotal for development in a rapidly changing world. It will explain how investing wisely in teachers, and other reforms aimed at strengthening equitable learning, transform the long- term prospects of people and societies.

Towards a Post-2015 World Fit For Children

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have widely benefited children, both boys and girls, and young people – but there is major unfinished business as well as emerging and neglected issues that must be addressed boldly in the post-2015 development agenda, to ensure a world fit for children.

Bold and ambitious efforts continue to be needed on behalf of children and women, and should be clearly encapsulated in the new post-2015 development agenda. Here is UNICEF's suggestions for the Post 2015 agenda.

Ending Poverty in Our Generation - Save the Children’s vision for a post-2015 framework

The Millennium Development Goals – one of the most resonant and unifying agreements in political history – reach a turning point in 2015, the deadline for their realisation.

Ending Poverty in Our Generation sets out Save the Children’s vision for a new development framework – consisting of ten key goals – that will support the creation of a world where all people everywhere realise their human rights within a generation.

We do not present this as a final position. Rather, it as an indicator of our priorities and – we hope – a contribution to the process of crystallising the eventual solution.

Women and the City II

It is now well recognized that women and girls around the world face violence, sexual harassment and abuse in many of the spaces that they inhabit – their homes, workplaces, educational institutes, on streets and on public transport. Women’s fear of violence restricts their movement, limiting their use of public spaces, their movement from their homes and as a result, their full enjoyment of a range of human rights.

Why Clean Water is Key to Keeping Girls in School

Starting menstruation is tough enough for most girls, but some teenagers have more than just their changing bodies to cope with. For many girls in Bolivia, the start of menstruation can mean the end of their education too.

Child Poverty Map of the UK 2012

The End Child Poverty campaign is a coalition of over 100 charities committed to ending child poverty in the UK. This report provides a localised map of child poverty on the closest possible measure to that used nationally by the government. The figures presented are for mid 2012. They show the scale of the challenge to achieve this goal, especially in some local areas. In 69 wards throughout the UK, the majority of children (50% and above) remain in poverty.

Girl child soldiers face new battles in civilian life

JOHANNESBURG, 12 February 2013 (IRIN) - Girl child soldiers are often thought of only as “sex slaves”, a term that glosses over the complex roles many play within armed groups and in some national armies. This thinking contributes to their subsequent invisibility in the demobilization processes - in fact, girls are frequently the most challenging child soldiers to rehabilitate.

UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2013

US$1.4 billion needed now for children in humanitarian crisis says UNICEF

GENEVA, 25 January 2013 – UNICEF appealed today for almost US$1.4 billion to meet the immediate, life-saving needs of children in 45 countries and regions gripped by conflict, natural disasters and other complex emergencies this year. Funds raised by the annual appeal will also go towards improving disaster preparedness, and to strengthening the resilience of communities to withstand and minimize the impact of new shocks.

“We are still in the first month of 2013, which has already proved harsh for millions of children suffering in Syria and for refugees who had to flee to neighbouring countries. Mali and the Central African Republic are also experiencing worsening conflict, threatening the lives of children and women,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF’s Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes. “Children are extremely vulnerable in emergencies, often living in unhealthy and unsafe conditions, at high risk of disease, violence, exploitation and neglect.”

Accelerating Progress in saving the Lives of Women and Children

(Oslo, 22nd January 2013): The Global Campaign for the Health Millennium Development Goals was initiated by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway in 2007. The Campaign brings together a number of actions and initiatives, all aimed at fulfilling the promises given by world leaders in the Millennium Declaration in 2000. Since the launch regularly reports have been published focusing on progress on women’s and children’s health.

The report of 2013, Accelerating Progress in saving the Lives of Women and Children, provides an update on the significant developments and new commitments since 2010, when the United Nations Secretary-General launched his Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health.

Interactive version of the report PDF-version of the report "Such national initiatives as Saving One Million Lives in Nigeria, the National Rural Health Mission of India and Safe Motherhood in Malawi are characterized by strong national political backing at the highest level and clear national priority setting”, writes Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway in their joint overview, A tipping point for change: saving millions more lives in 2013 and beyond.

It sets out how initiatives will be further developed in a coordinated and effective manner, with a view to accelerating the significant progress that is now being made in reducing maternal and child deaths.

The report has contributions from the UN Secretary-General, Heads of States and Governments and other Global Leaders from UN agencies, Funds and Foundations, Regional and Parliamentary organizations, Private sector and Civil Society organizations, and a thematic article on the Progress on MDG 4 and 5; Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010.

The 2013 report is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Norad has contributed with technical, policy and editorial support for the report, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mapping Family Change and Child Well-being Outcomes

Traditionally, the family has been defined as a group of people linked through blood, marriage, or adoption, typically centered on a married couple and their dependents and relatives. However, nontraditional families made up of people linked neither by blood nor by marriage have often existed, and are now found in growing numbers in many regions around the world.

Given the centrality of the family to child and adult well-being and the changing dynamics and structure of families today, an urgent need exists to map trends in family life across the globe, with a special focus on the consequences of these trends for children. Enter The World Family Map Project, a new, nonpartisan, nonsectarian initiative from Child Trends, acting in partnership with a number of foundations, nongovernmental organizations, and universities, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Focus Global, and the Social Trends Institute.

The World Family Map Project seeks both to monitor the health of family life around the globe and to learn more about how family trends affect the well-being of children. This effort is particularly timely because of dramatic demographic, cultural, and economic changes affecting family life. Fertility and marriage rates are falling in much of the world, especially in higher income regions. The percentage of children living in two-parent families is also falling, particularly in Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Likewise, individualism is on the ascendancy, as is equality between the sexes, while family-centered values and adherence to traditional gender roles are losing ground in many regions. The global economic slowdown is also putting major pressures on family life, yet it is precisely in these times that strong families are needed to support optimal child and youth development. The World Family Map Project aims to broaden understanding about how these developments among families affect children and youth in different regions of the world.

Youth in Development: Realising the Demographic Opportunity

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced the release of USAID’s Policy on Youth in Development, the first Agency-wide guidance to recognize young people as a driving force in global development and promote youth participation as partners and leaders. The policy’s guiding principles support USAID’s efforts to mainstream youth in development, carry out effective programs, and elevate youth participation throughout the world.

With more than half of the global population under the age of 30 and a majority residing in developing countries, USAID’s release of the policy reinforces that young people must be a central focus when developing country strategies and recognizes the need to support, prepare, engage and protect youth today as well as harness the energy and creativity of young people for positive change.

“These efforts will not only advance youth development and empowerment but can also help nations accelerate economic growth and capture a demographic dividend. Harnessing this demographic opportunity is not inevitable. It will require strategic, results‐oriented investments in youth today,” Administrator Rajiv Shah said about the new policy.

Through the Youth in Development Policy, the Agency will improve the capacities of youth and enable their aspirations so they can contribute to and benefit from more stable and prosperous communities.

The Policy on Youth in Development identifies, supports and promotes research and innovation by, with and for youth. Agency policies, country strategies and partnerships will be inclusive of youth and will actively leverage the skills, priorities and ideas of young people.

The policy joins a series of recent USAID policies that guide Agency focus in the strategic planning process on important issues such as gender equality, climate change and violent extremism.

Out in the Cold - Syria's Children Left Unprotected

As Syria’s civil war continues unabated, thousands of children have fled across the border, terrified and desperate for safe refuge from the spiralling violence. These children have not found the protection and assistance they need – because winter is coming and thousands remain without appropriate shelter, out in the cold. This report aims to make the voices of these children and their desperate parents heard, and listened to before it’s too late.

Positive Learning

More children born with HIV are surviving, reaching adolescence and adulthood. Young people are also becoming newly infected with HIV in all regions of the world. However, the needs of adolescents and young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) are largely not understood or met – this is equally true in the education sector. Young people living with HIV are experiencing stigma, discrimination and challenges in balancing their health and treatment needs with their education attendance. In 2011, GNP+ and UNESCO collaborated to identify and document the needs of learners living with HIV and develop a set of recommendations for action. The recommendations are simple, practical and feasible, and are intended to give guidance to educators, policy- and decision-makes as well as activists and professionals working with young people to enable YPLHIV to realise their personal, social and educational potential.

Generation 2025 and beyond

On Universal Children’s Day, UNICEF issued a new research paper highlighting global demographic shifts forecast for the coming generation of children that present major challenges to policy makers and planners. The paper for instance says that by 2050 one in every three births will be African – as will also be almost one in every three children under the age of 18. One hundred years earlier, sub-Saharan Africa’s share of births was just one in 10.

The paper, Generation 2025 and beyond: The critical importance of understanding demographic trends for children of the 21st century, says that in turn under-5 deaths will continue increasingly to be concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, in pockets of poverty and marginalization in populous lower-income countries and in least developed nations.

Born Equal: How reducing inequality could give our children a better future

In Born Equal Save the Children powerfully demonstrates the cost of inequality to children.The report reveals the growing gaps between the richest and the poorest children, and the costs that this has on children’s health and development.

EFA Global Monitoring Report

This 10th edition of the EFA Global Monitoring Report could not be better timed. The third goal of Education for All is to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to acquire skills. The urgency of reaching this goal has sharpened acutely since 2000. The global economic downturn is impacting on unemployment. One young person in eight across the world is looking for work. Youth populations are large and growing. The wellbeing and prosperity of young people depend more than ever on the skills that education and training can provide. Failing to meet this need is a waste of human potential and economic power. Youth skills have never been so vital.

Protecting children from harmful practices in plural legal systems

The UN Study on Violence against Children urged states to prohibit by law all forms of violence against children, including harmful practices. This recommendation is a key priority for the mandate of the Special representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children as well as for Plan International. To advance progress in the implementation of this recommendation, they co-organized an expert consultation, in June 2012. This thematic report was informed by those important discussions.

External links

UNICEF Television