UNICEF Innocenti’s Report Card

At the start of last month, UNICEF launched its 16th Innocenti Report Card, looking at the well-being of children in 41 rich countries. I attended the launch webinar and read the report and want to share some of what I read and heard.

The well-being of children was examined by looking at influences, and outcomes, from their environment, at different levels: their personal health, activities, and happiness, their family relationships and resources, and those available in the community they live in, and the outer layer of the context and policies in their countries.

A good childhood provides children with good mental health, good physical health, and skills for life. What the report shows stands in the way of a good childhood – even in rich countries – are poor-quality relationships, lack of resources and services, gaps in family policy, and context issues, such as unemployment, lack of clean water, and air pollution.

Although the countries are ranked and some end up at the top overall, no country comes out on top in all areas. It is clear that all countries still have a lot of work to do. Even the richest countries in the world are far removed from reaching the Sustainable Developmental Goals in 2030. And the report finds that “many of the wealthiest countries do not manage to convert good economic and social conditions into consistently high child well-being outcomes.”

At the launch webinar, Dominic Richardson pointed out that the best performing countries are not the richest, but those investing in smart ways. He also mentioned that during the last financial crisis many rich countries embraced austerity and claimed this was necessary to get out of the hole. The budget cuts that came with austerity led to a lot of defunding of social welfare support, particularly for children. Since then the economy has picked up again, yet there have been no signs of moves to reinvest in the necessary support services to protect vulnerable children and families. Having the Covid-19 pandemic hit under these circumstances has exposed how the resulting lack of support services has increased the vulnerability of these children and families.

The attendees of the webinar were reminded that the roof should be fixed while the sun shines. And that children should not be forgotten or left behind when economic and policy decisions are made.

“Many countries have all the requisites – wealth, a clean environment and generous social policies – to support high levels of child well-being. Yet too many children in these countries still do not experience a good childhood.”

In the next blog, I will discuss some of the recommendations from the report.

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