This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
On November 20, 1989, world leaders came together to adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a landmark treaty that has had a profound impact on the lives of children worldwide.
Thirty years on, the CRC remains a powerful symbol of the global commitment to protecting the rights of children. Its guiding principles, enshrined in numerous constitutions, laws, and policies, have led to significant progress in areas such as child health, education, and the protection of children from harm.
However, as we celebrate this milestone, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges that many children in Eastern and Southern Africa continue to face. The rapid urbanisation of the region has brought both opportunities and challenges, with many children living in poverty and facing significant barriers to accessing basic services such as healthcare, education, and sanitation.
According to UNICEF, the region needs to hire an additional 4.2 million health workers to meet minimum World Health Organisation standards for front-line skilled health personnel. Furthermore, there is a huge teaching deficit, with Africa needing to recruit 4.5 million more primary school teachers by 2030.
As Mohamed Malick Fall, UNICEF's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, notes, the region is also home to some of the longest and most protracted conflicts in the world, with heartbreaking grave violations against children, from recruitment to sexual violence; attacks on schools to the devastation of social services.
Moreover, the climate crisis is having a devastating impact on the region, with more than 11 million people experiencing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity in nine Southern African countries.
As we look to the future, it is clear that the CRC is at a crossroads. To re-galvanise this great legacy on children's rights, Fall proposes four key elements: decisive national leadership, adequate and sustainable resources, public-private partnerships, and meaningful platforms for children to contribute to decisions that affect them.
As we move forward, it is essential that we prioritise the rights and needs of children, ensuring that they are at the centre of our efforts to build a better future for all.
