Children’s rights were first recognised 100 years ago in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child. This declaration – which was drawn up by our founder Eglantyne Jebb – stated that children are not merely the property of adults, but instead have their own rights to education, protection, food and safety. Although the declaration was a historical breakthrough, many children still experience violations of their rights to the present day. To mark this anniversary, we have put together a list of the most important advancements made in children’s rights over the past 100 years, together with current challenges.
Infant mortality has fallen dramatically
In 1924, one in three children died before their fifth birthday. Globally, this figure is now less than four in 100 children. This decline is down to improved access to healthcare, clean water and vaccinations, and less hunger.
Our contribution: It is the vision of Save the Children for no more children under five to die of preventable causes by 2030. Last year, we reached more than 33 million children through healthcare and nutrition programmes. We are also committed to laws that improve access to vaccinations, for example.
Challenge: Despite the progress made, millions of children still die of preventable causes. According to forecasts by the UN, 3.8 million children will still die before their fifth birthday in 2030.
9 out of 10 children receive basic education
Today, almost 90 percent of children finish their primary education. In comparison, more than six in ten people didn’t go to school at all 100 years ago. Education is recognised today as a fundamental children’s right, and compulsory school education is in place in many countries.
Our contribution: We are committed to ensuring that all children receive good basic education – including in emergency situations. In the past year, 8.5 million children benefited from our education offerings. In countries such as Zimbabwe, we contributed to the adoption of laws that allow for disadvantaged children to go to school.
Challenge: Conflicts, climate crises and natural disasters all mean that millions of children are unable to go to school. In Sudan, for example, over 18 million children are excluded from school, while all school-age children in Gaza and Lebanon currently have no access to education.
Child labour has been significantly reduced
100 years ago, it was common for children to work in fields, factories or mines. Today, around 90 percent of children no longer work in conditions that have a detrimental effect on their development or prevent them from going to school. With the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the international community pledged to end child labour by 2025.
Our contribution: Protecting children worldwide from child labour is one of our key priorities. To do this, we work closely with authorities, companies and partner organisations such as The Centre for Child Rights and Business. In this way, we can support companies in mitigating risks to children’s rights in their supply chains, for example. This can be seen in our project with the Swiss provider of security solutions dormakaba, where we protect children from dangerous work in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Challenge: 160 million children are still at work worldwide, many of them in dangerous conditions.
Fewer children suffer from stunting
Since 1990, the number of stunted children below the age of five has been almost cut in half – from 40 percent to 22 percent. Stunting in small children are often the result of a lack of food and nutrients. Consequently, the children are not able to develop healthily.
Our contribution: With our mother and child nutritional programmes, we reached over 20 million children and mothers last year. Furthermore, we contribute to the adoption of laws in countries such as the Philippines, which enable mothers and infants to gain access to medical care and food.
Challenge: The progress made has come to a halt. Without additional efforts, more than one in five newborn children could still suffer from malnutrition in 2030 leading to negative impacts on their development.
Children are asserting their rights
Fortunately, the idea that “children should be seen and not heard” is now a thing of the past. Today, children are increasingly asserting their rights in order to bring about changes.
Our contribution: Campaigns with children, such as “Generation Hope” from Save the Children, support young people in making their voices heard on a political level on topics such as the climate crisis and children’s rights. More than 14,200 children in 40 countries have taken part in such activities in the past year.
Challenge: Children, particularly girls, are often still excluded from important decision-making processes. As 16-year-old Rachel from Malawi comments, girls are often ignored during discussions on the climate crisis, despite this affecting them particularly deeply.
For children’s rights – yesterday, today and tomorrow
Even though children’s rights have improved significantly over the last 100 years, many challenges still remain. We will continue in our efforts to ensure that each child receives the rights and support they need in order for children to live like children. Our commitment towards children’s rights is our past, present and future.