Children and Youth
Child and Adolescent Road Safety in South Asia
Low to lower-middle income nations bear 78 per cent of child road traffic injuries. Conversely high-income countries with robust safety measures account for just 3 per cent. This report outlines South Asia’s status country profiles assessment tools and guidance for effective action under the Safe Systems framework regarding child and adolescent road injuries. In 2019 injuries accounted for at least 9 per cent of the 12.2 million deaths in South Asia with approximately a quarter attributed to road traffic collisions. Among children and adolescents 171468 died from injuries with 29859 due to road traffic collisions the primary cause of injury-related death alongside drowning. The overall road traffic death rate was 6 per 100000 population though Afghanistan reported rates exceeding 16 per 100000. The region lost 2.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to such collisions among those under 20. With over 708 million children and adolescents in South Asia urgent governmental action is imperative given the substantial economic impact estimated to be billions of US dollars or 0.3 to 7.5 per cent of GDP. This report is intended to provide relevant information about the burden risk factors and interventions to address road traffic injuries among children and adolescents in the region. The target audience includes UNICEF staff in country and regional offices country level road safety and public health practitioners policy makers advocates and academics.
Learning for Careers
Knowing about the preferences needs and wishes of young people is an important precondition to successful career guidance policies and services. The European Training Foundation (ETF) and the UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) in collaboration with young people conducted polls and held focus groups to understand the needs of young people aged 14-34 regarding career guidance. The study covered Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Greece Kosovo Kyrgyzstan Montenegro North Macedonia Romania Serbia Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Young people want to learn for life and career education and guidance that integrates life skills and career learning enables them to do this. Fit-for-purpose career guidance should ideally be: a systematic combination of structured career education programs (as part of curricula throughout formal education to be able to reach whole generations) quality online self-learning and self-help opportunities; and person-centered career guidance service offered outside of school both face-to-face and online.
Targeted by Terrorists: Child Recruitment, Exploitation and Reintegration in Indonesia, Iraq and Nigeria
This research study was carried out by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in a collaboration between the End Violence Against Children team of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section; the Research Innovation and Partnership Section of the Research and Trend Analysis Branch; and the Terrorism Prevention Branch. This study was carried out in Indonesia Iraq and Nigeria with the aim of increasing knowledge regarding children associated with groups designated “terrorist” (henceforth terrorist groups). Children’s association with such groups and their abduction recruitment use and exploitation by them has gained greater visibility in recent years with reports indicating that thousands of children are affected worldwide. The groups groom and indoctrinate them use them as servants sexually abuse and exploit them and directly involve them in fighting and various auxiliary activities including serving as spies and informants. The research aims to identify the drivers and manifestations of children’s association with terrorist groups in specific contexts examine whether and how terrorist groups pose unique protection risks for children and analyze existing interventions responding to this phenomenon. It explores the issues across three axes of investigation: child association responses from and coordination among actors and impact of the representation of children on policy.
Violence Against Girls, Boys and Women in Southern Africa: A Statistical Profile
Violence against girls boys and women is a grave violation of their fundamental rights and an issue of concern worldwide. It is an afront to their dignity safety and well-being with long-lasting often intergenerational consequences. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are committed to addressing this urgent issue and working towards a world in which every child and woman can live free from violence. This publication represents a joint effort by SADC and UNICEF to compile and present the latest data from national surveys to document the prevalence of violence against children and women in the SADC region. The findings shed light on the nature and magnitude of the problem as well as the factors that contribute to its continuation. The results reveal that violence against children and women in the region is pervasive and persistent affecting millions of lives. This violence takes many forms including physical sexual and emotional violence along with neglect and exploitation. The report also shows that such violence is often hidden underreported and perpetuated by harmful social norms gender inequality poverty conflict and other structural factors. It makes apparent that beyond the so-called three ‘C’s’ – COVID climate change and conflict – violence against children and women represents a clear threat to national economies mental health and educational outcomes.
Статистика о детях: в центре внимания дети, подвергшиеся насилию, находящиеся под альтернативным уходом и имеющие инвалидность
This guidance aims to improve the availability quality and comparability of statistics on children. It provides information about the data sources definitions standards and methods used in the collection of data and production of statistics on children and youth in countries participating in the Conference of European Statisticians. Focus is on three policy-relevant areas with methodological gaps: violence against children children in alternative care and children with disabilities. The Guidance includes recommendations to national statistical offices and suggests further work that could be undertaken at the international level for improving statistics on children.
Enfants déplacés par les changements climatiques se préparer à un avenir déjà en marche
Les déplacements qu’ils soient brefs ou prolongés peuvent multiplier les dangers climatiques auxquels sont confrontés les enfants et leurs familles. Quand une catastrophe frappe les enfants sont susceptibles d’être séparés de leurs parents ou des personnes qui s’occupent d’eux ce qui les expose à des risques accrus d’exploitation de traite des êtres humains et d’abus. Les déplacements peuvent aussi perturber l’accès à l’éducation et aux soins de santé ce qui favorise la malnutrition les maladies et la sous-vaccination. Afin de mettre en lumière l’augmentation du nombre d’enfants déplacés par des phénomènes météorologiques lesquels gagnent à la fois en intensité et en fréquence et de déterminer où se situent les enfants les plus vulnérables le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF) et l’Observatoire des situations de déplacement interne (IDMC) ont en partenariat avec la Patrick J. McGovern Foundation analysé les déplacements d’enfants liés à des catastrophes météorologiques entre 2016 et 2021 et estimé les futurs risques de déplacements pour ces derniers en s’appuyant sur un modèle de risque développé par l’IDMC. Ainsi le présent rapport analyse les aléas météorologiques les plus courants à l’origine de la majeure partie des déplacements à savoir les inondations les tempêtes les sécheresses et les feux incontrôlés. Pris ensemble ces aléas sont responsables de plus de 99 % des déplacements climatiques enregistrés par l’IDMC depuis 2016 tandis que les fortes chaleurs l’érosion et les glissements de terrain sont à l’origine du 1 % restant3. En raison d’un manque de disponibilité des données l’analyse n’évalue pas l’éventail complet de phénomènes météorologiques susceptibles de contribuer aux déplacements en particulier lorsqu’il s’agit d’événements climatiques à évolution plus lente. Ces conclusions constituent donc des estimations prudentes et il est fort probable que le nombre réel de déplacements d’enfants imputables à des raisons climatiques soit bien plus élevé.
Niños y niñas desplazados por el cambio climático prepararse para un futuro que ya está aquí
Los desplazamientos ya sean de corta duración o prolongados pueden multiplicar los riesgos relacionados con el clima que corren los niños las niñas y sus familias. Tras una catástrofe los niños y niñas pueden quedar separados de sus padres o cuidadores lo que aumenta el peligro de que sean víctimas de la explotación la trata y el abuso. Los desplazamientos pueden interrumpir el acceso a la educación y la atención sanitaria exponiendo a los niños y niñas a la desnutrición las enfermedades y la falta de una vacunación adecuada. Para obtener más información sobre el creciente número de niños y niñas desplazados por fenómenos meteorológicos cada vez más intensos y frecuentes e identificar a quienes corren mayor riesgo el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (UNICEF) y el Observatorio de Desplazamiento Interno (IDMC) en colaboración con la Fundación Patrick J. McGovern analizaron los desplazamientos infantiles vinculados a desastres meteorológicos ocurridos entre 2016 y 2021 y –basándose en el modelo de riesgo del IDMC–estimaron el riesgo de desplazamiento infantil en el futuro. El informe analiza los peligros meteorológicos más comunes que provocan el mayor número de desplazamientos: inundaciones tormentas sequías e incendios forestales. En conjunto estos peligros representan más del 99% de todos los desplazamientos relacionados con el clima registrados por el IDMC desde 2016 mientras que peligros como el calor extremo la erosión y los deslizamientos de tierra constituyen el resto3. Debido a la falta de datos disponibles el análisis no evalúa toda la gama de fenómenos meteorológicos que pueden contribuir a los desplazamientos especialmente en lo que atañe a los procesos climáticos de evolución más lenta. Por lo tanto estos resultados representan estimaciones conservadoras y es probable que el número real de desplazamientos infantiles relacionados con el clima sea mucho mayor.
Children Displaced in a Changing Climate Preparing for a Future Already Underway
Displacement – whether short-lived or protracted – can multiply climate related risks for children and their families. In the aftermath of a disaster children may become separated from their parents or caregivers amplifying the risks of exploitation child trafficking and abuse. Displacement can disrupt access to education and healthcare exposing children to malnutrition disease and inadequate immunization. Furthermore overcrowded and under-resourced evacuation sites may be located in climate-vulnerable areas. Yet to date children displaced by weather-related events have been statistically invisible. Existing displacement data are rarely disaggregated by age and in contexts where extreme weather events collide with rapid urbanization fragility and conflict children on the move are even more likely to slip through the cracks unnoticed. The lack of data hampers efforts to identify children most at risk to help them recover thrive and build resilience against future climate-related challenges. To shine a light on the growing number of children displaced by weather related events which are growing in intensity and frequency and identify those most at risk the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) in partnership with the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation analysed past child displacements linked to weather-related disasters from 2016–2021 and – based on IDMC’s risk model – estimated the risk of child displacement in future. The report analyses the most common weather-related hazards that lead to the largest number of displacements: floods storms droughts and wildfires. Together these hazards account for over 99 per cent of all weather-related displacements recorded by IDMC since 2016 while hazards such as extreme heat erosion and landslides make up the rest. Due to lack of available data the analysis does not assess the full range of weather-related events that can contribute to displacement–particularly in relation to slower-onset climate processes. Therefore these findings represent conservative estimates and the actual numbers of climate-related displacements of children are likely to be much higher.
Early Childhood Development: UNICEF Vision for Every Child
The UNICEF Vision for Early Childhood Development is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It outlines UNICEF’s intent to support an organization-wide approach to child development in the early years of life drawing on its mandate for child rights multisectoral expertise wide on-the-ground presence and long-standing role as a trusted adviser to governments and partners at national regional and global levels.
Generation Equality Accountability Report 2023
Halfway through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the world is failing to achieve gender equality making it an increasingly distant goal. The latest available data shows that despite the strong rhetoric none of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) indicators are met and multiple crises regressive laws violence and discrimination continue to exacerbate gender inequality. Launched in 2021 in Mexico City and Paris Generation Equality is the world’s leading effort to unlock political will and accelerate investment and implementation on gender equality. It brings together organizations from every part of society – through intergenerational multistakeholder alliances – to catalyze progress advocate for change and take bold actions together to deliver concrete game-changing results for girls and women. At the Generation Equality midpoint this second Accountability Report demonstrates through compelling analysis of new data case studies and inspiring examples that Generation Equality is gaining momentum and providing a common platform to address the key gender equality issues of our time.
Progress on Children’s Well-being: Centring Child Rights in the 2030 Agenda
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts the principles of equality and non-discrimination at its heart with a commitment to leave no one behind and reach those furthest behind first. This foundational tenet of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development embodies a collective pledge by nations worldwide to ensure that all individuals flourish in a sustainable environment where their rights and welfare are secured. Centring children in our efforts to drive sustainable development is a human rights imperative with the power to break harmful cycles of poverty and continued rights violations. Because the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are interconnected and interdependent achieving them creates a pathway to systemic structural and long-term change for every child. Today at the midpoint of this vision for a more equitable world for all how successful have we been in bettering the lives of our most cherished asset – our children? What achievements can we celebrate and which obstacles remain? What lies on the path ahead to ensure a brighter future for every child? How do we make this a turning point in our commitment to upholding children’s rights? To answer these questions UNICEF examined the available data on the 48 child-related SDG indicators which the agency regularly monitors. Organized around five domains of child well-being – Survive and Thrive Learning Protection from Harm Safe and Clean Environment and Life Free of Poverty – these indicators capture the breadth of children’s lived experiences. When viewed together rather than as individual sectors they provide a rich nuanced picture of children’s lives that tell us which children are thriving and which children are being left behind.
UNHCR Education Report 2023
The 2023 UNHCR Refugee Education Report draws on data from more than 70 countries worldwide to provide the most detailed picture yet of the state of refugee education and enrolment. Its findings reveal that despite areas of progress more than half of the world’s 14.8 million school-aged refugee children remain out of formal education risking their future prosperity and denying them the chance to fulfil their potential.
Women and Girls Left Behind: Glaring Gaps in Pandemic Responses
As the pandemic forced governments to improvise responses UN Women moved quickly to collect data on how COVID-19 was impacting women and men to inform decision-making. Since March 2020 rapid gender assessments on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 were conducted in at least 58 countries. They focused on five areas of concern: 1) economic activities and resources; 2) unpaid domestic and care work; 3) access to goods and services 4) emotional and physical wellbeing; and 5) relief measures. The surveys confirmed that women and men are experiencing the pandemic differently. The findings have since been used to inform critical gender-responsive policies and recovery plans to build back better. This report summarizes survey findings across the 5 areas of concern highlighting where the gaps are and where the data has already had an impact.
International Classification of Violence against Children (ICVAC)
With the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 the global community made a commitment to end all forms of violence against children by 2030. Although this drew much needed attention to the importance of preventing and responding to violence against children the availability of comparable data remains limited. The scarcity of comprehensive data concerning the issue is undoubtedly amplifying the problem at hand as it reinforces the misconception that violence is a peripheral phenomenon. In response UNICEF has developed the International Classification of Violence against Children (ICVAC) with inputs from over 200 experts from national statistical offices academia and international organizations. ICVAC includes operational definitions of all forms of violence against children and covers interpersonal and collective violence both in times of peace and during internal or international armed conflict. The classification will provide countries with a tool to capture and categorize incidents of violence and consequently assess the extent to which their national definitions and data collection efforts comply with internationally-agreed standards. It will also facilitate the production of comparable data across different countries and contribute to obtaining a clearer understanding of the actual extent of violence enabling more effective strategies and interventions to combat it. Countries will be able to collaborate more efficiently exchange best practices and collectively address the multifaceted challenges associated with violence on a global scale.
The State of the World's Children 2023
The world is facing a red alert for children’s health: Vaccination coverage dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic leaving millions more children unprotected against some of childhood’s most serious diseases. In addition many millions of children from some of the world’s most marginalized communities have long missed out on life-saving vaccination. Catch-up and recovery are needed urgently to vaccinate the children missed and to avoid further backsliding. And greater effort is needed to reach the children historically left behind. The State of the World’s Children 2023 examines what needs to happen to ensure that every child everywhere is protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Global Education Monitoring Report 2023
As recognised in the Incheon Declaration the achievement of SDG 4 is dependent on opportunities and challenges posed by technology a relationship that was strengthened by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology appears in six out of the ten targets in the fourth Sustainable Development goal on education. These references recognize that technology affects education through five distinct channels as input means of delivery skill tool for planning and providing a social and cultural context. There are often bitter divisions in how the role of technology is viewed however. These divisions are widening as the technology is evolving at breakneck speed. The 2023 GEM Report on technology and education explores these debates examining education challenges to which appropriate use of technology can offer solutions (access equity and inclusion; quality; technology advancement; system management) while recognizing that many solutions proposed may also be detrimental. The report also explores three system-wide conditions (access to technology governance regulation and teacher preparation) that need to be met for any technology in education to reach its full potential.
2020 Orange Book of Results - Volume 3
The Orange Book of Results features a selection of country programme key results including those that feed directly into the Strategic Plan 2018–2021 indicators and those that pertain specifically to a country programme and hitherto are reported only at the country level. With this publication UNFPA has moved beyond “business as usual” by publishing annual results achieved in 2020 reported by country offices in the more than 150 countries where UNFPA supports reproductive health care for women youth and adolescents.
Pandemic Pivot: Achieving Transformative Results in the COVID-19 Pandemic - 2020 Report
This publication is a supporting annex to the 2020 Annual Report on the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) focusing specifically on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic and the agency's response. It highlights results achieved despite pandemic-related disruptions and shares the challenges faced and lessons learned throughout the past year narrating how UNFPA adapted to contextual changes to continue to deliver quality results on the ground.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Violations Against Children in Situations of Armed Conflict: Follow-up Study
This follow-up research builds on the findings of a 2021 study to try to determine the broader and more permanent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children affected by armed conflict and on those monitoring and responding to violations against them. It relies on the knowledge and experience of child protection actors in seven selected situations as well as those of international policy and advocacy actors. The ultimate purpose is to draw lessons learnt on ways to sustain prevention and response through this crisis and future ones.
Undernourished and Overlooked: A Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women
Undernutrition micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia amplify gender inequalities by lowering learning potential wages and life opportunities for adolescent girls and women weakening their immunity to infections and increasing their risk of life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth. In ‘Undernourished and Overlooked: A Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women’ UNICEF examines the current status trends and inequities in the nutritional status of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and the barriers they face in accessing nutritious diets utilizing essential nutrition services and benefiting from positive nutrition and care practices. The analysis focuses on undernutrition micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia because these forms of malnutrition affect the most vulnerable adolescent girls and women in low- and middle-income countries especially in the context of the ongoing global food and nutrition crisis.