UNICEF Stresses Need For Child Rights Protection Irrespective Of Differences

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By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has observed that protecting the rights of every child, whoever they are, wherever they come from, iks the surest way to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world for everyone.

The agency noted that the impact of discrimination showed the extent to which racism and discrimination impact children’s education, health, access to a registered birth, and a fair and equal justice system, and highlights widespread disparities among minority and ethnic groups.

UNICEF in a report ahead of the World Children Day said that systemic racism and discrimination has put children at risk of deprivation and exclusion that can last a lifetime,” says the agency’s Executive Director Catherine Russell.

According to him, the report showed that children from marginalized ethnic, language and religious groups in an analysis of 22 countries lag far behind their peers in reading skills.

“On average, students aged 7-14 from the most advantaged group are more than twice as likely to have foundational reading skills than those from the least advantaged group”, Russell stated.

A statement by the UN agency signed by its communication officer in Nigeria, Blessing Ejiofor said that Nigeria has 18.3 million children who are not in school, and a high number of children attending schools but not getting a solid education that can translate into good prospects for their future.

Ejiofor explained that while the crisis affects children across the country, girls, children with disabilities, children from the poorest households, street children, and children affected by displacement or emergencies are affected more.

“Discrimination and exclusion deepen intergenerational deprivation and poverty and result in poorer health, nutrition, and learning outcomes for children, a higher likelihood of incarceration, higher rates of pregnancy among adolescent girls, and lower employment rates and earnings in adulthood”.

She said the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a digital platform is galvanizing children and young people around the world including the marginalized, to build and transform their lives by actively engaging them in innovation challenges, social impact tasks and learning to earning opportunities.

Ojiofor recalled that COVID-19 exposed deep injustices and discrimination across the world, while the impacts of climate change and conflict continue to reveal inequities in many countries.

This, she argued, make the report to highlight how discrimination and exclusion have long persisted for millions of children from ethnic and minority groups and children living with disabilities, including access to immunization, water and sanitation services, and a fair justice system.

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