The State of the World's Children 2002
Description:... Based on the view that ensuring the rights and well-being of children is the key to sustained development in a country and to peace and security in the world, this report calls for leadership from governments and all sectors of society, illustrates varied ways that people have shown their commitment to children's welfare, and emphasizes the need to give children the best possible start in life and to involve them in decisions affecting their future. Section 1 of the report highlights the goals of the 1990 World Summit for Children and presents information on progress toward those goals. Section 2 describes the work of UNICEF during the 1980s, focusing on child health and the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Also discussed is children's participation, discrimination against children, and the global movement for children. Section 3 asserts that investing in children is the best investment a government can make and discusses the importance of strategic leadership in the areas of early childhood development, basic education, and adolescence as well as responsibilities that go beyond national borders. The work of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children in September 2001 is discussed. Throughout the report are panels describing programs in various countries. Completing the report are maps depicting findings from an assessment of the implementation of the 1990 World Summit for Children goals; balance sheets summarizing the goals, gains, and unfinished business of the 1990-2000 decade; and excerpts from regional meetings held in preparation for the Special Session on Children. (Contains 64 references.) (KB)
Show description