UN Millennium Declaration:
“By the year 2015, we will have reduced under-five child mortality by two-thirds”.
Facts:
– Child mortality is decreasing
– Still, more than 20.000 children under the age of five die every day
– Common causes for death: pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria
– Child mortality is high in 67 countries, of which only 10 can, with the current pace of change, achieve the goal set for 2015.
– Child mortality is at its highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
What affects child mortality:
– Sufficient and healthy nutrition
– Access to clean water
– Hygiene
– Vaccinations and access to healthcare
– Lack of education for girls and women
(UNA of Finland. Printed material. 2014).
In Finland, child mortality today is one of the lowest in the world, thanks to national vaccination (campaigns). In the beginning of the 20th century, every second child born in Helsinki died before the age of five. In the late 1930´s almost every 10th born child in Finland died under the age of one. 40 % of these children died of birth-related injuries, development misplacements or innate weakness. Today, in Finland, only a few per mille children under the age of one die, most commonly due to inborn deformities. (UNA of Finland. 2014; Statistics Finland. Quoted 8.5.2014).
UNICEF, United Nations Children´s Fund, is the world´s most influential organization supporting children (under the age of 18) in need. Founded in 1946, after the 2nd world war, UNICEF focuses on helping children. A year after its foundation, the organization launched its first vaccination campaign. At that time, Finland was among the countries receiving aid from the UNICEF. In the year of the Helsinki Olympics, 1952, UNICEF began its battle against malaria, and in 1965 UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Price. In 1988, UNICEF is working on launching a worldwide society working on abolishing polio. Once again, in 1998, UNICEF rises up to continue the battle against malaria. In 2006, UNICEF is one of the most important emergency aid givers, despite of the fact that still 80 % of the fund´s budget can be used to long-term development work.
(UNICEF Finland. Quoted 8.5.2014).
To fully understand the universal rights of children (everyone under the age of 18), please visit:
UNITED NATIONS Human Rights => Convention on the Rights of the Child
Since we cannot assume that children under the age of 18 are (fully) aware of their rights as children, especially if living in conditions where they may not even have access to education, it is necessary for adults to protect the rights of children.
The world has long ago made a promise to do everything to protect and to promote the rights of children, their survival, learning and growth, and listening to children. Despite of much progress made, there are still problems all over the world concerning the rights of children, and in some regions the situation may even have gotten worse. 2014 has been declared as a year of innovation at UNICEF, whereby the fund activates change-makers everywhere to rethink and drive improved results. (UNICEF. Quoted 8.5.2014).
In addition to the many local offices of UNICEF around the world, there are other independent organizations working to improve the life of children worldwide. These include Plan, World Vision, Save the Children and many others.
Anne-Maria Yritys 