November 22, 2024
Cited article by UN News
HRRC is committed to human rights for all and ensuring a better future for younger generations. It is critical the challenges children face are addressed and that their rights are protected.
News Brief
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) flagship report “The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World” explores three megatrends young people face that will dramatically reshape childhood by the year 2050. The report reveals children will face eight times more exposure to extreme heatwaves and triple the risk of extreme river floods compared to the 2000s. The report projects significant population changes, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia hosting the largest child populations by the 2050s. The report also notes that youth in developing countries particularly struggle to learn digital skills.
Despite these concerns, some positive trends have emerged. Life expectancy at birth continues to rise, and nearly 96 per cent of children globally are expected to receive primary education by the 2050s. UNICEF recommends urgent investment in education, services, and sustainable and resilient cities for children. The agency aims to boost climate resilience in infrastructure, technology, essential services, and social support systems as well as delivering safe technology design for all children. According to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, the decisions that leaders make today – or fail to make – define the world children will inherit.