The Issues

There's a huge gap between the rights that children have been promised and the harsh reality faced every day by the world's children.

They have the right to survive, but a child dies every three seconds because of extreme poverty. Right now, more than 1 billion children are suffering without proper food, safe drinking water, proper sanitation, health care, shelter, education and information.

Around the world, hundreds of millions of children are suffering from severe exploitation and discrimination. But the world doesn't see their plight; they've become almost invisible. Without help and attention, millions of children will remain trapped and forgotten in childhoods of neglect and abuse.

Every year, UNICEF publishes a report called The State of the World's Children. It contains up-to-date statistics that show what's happening to children around the world, and how they're being affected by problems such as poverty, war, and exploitation. 

Children don't start wars. They don't make trade agreements. They don't borrow money from the World Bank. They don't decide how much aid is given, or who gets it. They don't have the power to decide who gets life-saving medical treatment, and who doesn't. Adults make these decisions, but - too often - it is children who suffer the consequences. Governments have agreed that all children have rights, but they're failing to deliver their promises. It's time for a reality check: a wake-up call to the world.

This section looks at some of the major issues affecting today's children. Young people tell their stories about the problems they've faced, and the steps they're taking to overcome them.

Children are caught up in all of the world's problems, but they can also be part of the solution. Slowly, the world is starting to listen to young people. If what you read makes you want to change reality for the world's children, do something. Add your voice to theirs.