World Children's Day: UNICEF cautions against discrimination against children

As International Children's Day is celebrated today, the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF has cautioned against all forms of discrimination against children as such has negative effects on their education, health and access to government resources.

UNICEF noted that discrimination against children on account of ethnicity, language, religion and other factors is rampant in countries the world over and added that discrimination and exclusion deepen intergenerational deprivation and poverty and result in poorer health, nutrition, and learning outcomes for children.

 

According to a statement from Blessing Ejiofor, UNICEF Nigeria, "Discrimination against children based on ethnicity, language, and religion is rife in countries worldwide, according to a new UNICEF report published ahead of World Children’s Day. The impact of discrimination on children shows the extent to which racism and discrimination impact children’s education, health, access to a registered birth, and a fair and equal justice system, and highlights widespread disparities among minority and ethnic groups."

She quoted UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell as saying, "Systemic racism and discrimination put children at risk of deprivation and exclusion that can last a lifetime. This hurts us all. Protecting the rights of every child – whoever they are, wherever they come from – is the surest way to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world for everyone."

The statement also disclosed that "Among the new findings, the report shows that children from marginalized ethnic, language and religious groups in an analysis of 22 countries lag far behind their peers in reading skills. On average, students aged 7-14 from the most advantaged group are more than twice as likely to have foundational reading skills than those from the least advantaged group.

"Nigeria has 18.3 million children who are not in school, and a high number of children attending schools but not getting a solid education that can translate into good prospects for their future. While this crisis affects children across the country, girls, children with disabilities, children from the poorest households, street children, and children affected by displacement or emergencies are affected more.

"Discrimination and exclusion deepen intergenerational deprivation and poverty and result in poorer health, nutrition, and learning outcomes for children, a higher likelihood of incarceration, higher rates of pregnancy among adolescent girls, and lower employment rates and earnings in adulthood...

"On World Children’s Day and every day, every child has the right to be included, to be protected, and to have an equal chance to reach their full potential. All of us have the power to fight discrimination against children – in our countries, our communities, our schools, our homes, and our hearts. We need to use that power."