On November 20th last year, the 25th anniversary of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child was celebrated. Twenty-five years ago, the world made a promise to children: to do everything in our power to uphold, protect, and promote their rights – the right to survive and grow, to learn and thrive, to have their voices heard, and to reach their full potential.
These advancements have been significantly supported by UNICEF, which was founded 50 years ago.
Yesterday, the city of Nice sought to commemorate these anniversaries and its commitment to children with the symbolic planting of a sycamore mulberry tree in the gardens of the Promenade du Paillon.
Twenty-five years ago, the world made a promise to children:
What has happened since?
The under-five mortality rate has been reduced by almost 50%.
Twice as many children under the age of 11 are now enrolled in school.
2.3 billion more people have access to a safe water source.
The number of polio cases has decreased by more than 99%.
The proportion of people living on less than 1€/day fell from 47% to 20%.
Since 2000, the number of children forced to work has dropped by one-third.
Unfortunately, even today…
Nearly 3 million newborns die each year from preventable causes;
168 million children are forced to work;
230 million children under the age of five have not been registered at birth: deprived of access to health care, education, and basic social services, they can also fall victim to trafficking or abuse.
There is still work to be done and a need for unwavering commitment.
