In its report published on Wednesday, Unicef predicts that child mortality will continue to fall by the middle of the century thanks to medical and technical progress and that the infant survival rate will be 98 percent. then. And of those children who survive, 99.5 percent are expected to reach the age of five.
In the 2050s, 96 percent of all children should receive at least a primary school education – at the turn of the century this number was still 80 percent. The calculation is based on the average of the three conditions of the scientists. This assumes that the development will continue almost as it was before.
Threats from climate change
Despite the expected great progress in health and education, many children are likely to grow up in climatic conditions that are much more difficult than before. Eight times as many children as in 2000 could be exposed to extreme heat, and river floods and wildfires are also on the rise. Children without access to climate-resilient infrastructure, clean water or medical care are particularly at risk.
“Children are already the victims of a number of crises, from extreme heat to digital threats. Today’s decisions will shape the future,” warned UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
In addition, according to Unicef, a larger proportion of children and young people (23 percent instead of eleven percent) is likely to grow up in low-income countries by 2050. this is largely due to different birth rates: Demographically, tomorrow’s childhood will occur primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. According to the report, this is where the largest numbers of children are found.
While the proportion of children is falling in Western Europe and East Asia, in Africa it is still high at around 40 percent. The challenge: On the one hand, it is necessary to take care of growing numbers of children, and on the other hand, it is necessary to take care of the needs of aging societies. Overall, according to Unicef, many more children live in cities – around 60 percent compared to 44 percent in the 2000s. The number will be particularly high in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Eastern and Southern Africa, on the other hand, less than every second child lives in urban areas.
Technology as opportunity and risk
Unicef sees revolutionary technologies such as artificial intelligence as an opportunity for the development of children – at least for those who have access to them. The danger here is the digital divide: Currently only 26 percent of people in low-income countries have access to the Internet? the number is 95 percent in rich countries. Digital competence is seen as the key to good career opportunities in an increasingly digital world.
2024-11-20 01:12:00
#YorkCologne #Childhood #transition #adolescents
1. As a child health expert, what are your thoughts on Unicef’s prediction that child mortality and infant survival rates will continue to improve in the coming decades? And how do you think medical and technical progress will contribute to this positive trend?
2. As an education specialist, how do you think advances in health and education might be linked? What challenges might arise when it comes to ensuring that children have access to quality education despite growing up in difficult climatic conditions?
3. Can you discuss the potential consequences of climate change on children’s health and well-being? How can policy-makers and institutions work together to mitigate these risks and ensure that children are better protected against the impacts of environmental stressors?
4. Unicef predicts that sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia will have the highest numbers of children in the coming decades. As a development practitioner, what challenges do you foresee in addressing the needs of both an aging population and a growing youth population in these regions?
5. Technology is often seen as a double-edged sword when it comes to its impact on children. How could innovations such as AI and the internet be leveraged to improve opportunities for children and close the digital divide? And what preventative measures should be taken to ensure that these tools are used responsibly and do not harm vulnerable populations?
