Children drawing tanks in the sand in front of a school in Patcho, near Kaga-Bandoro, Central African Republic. Attacks by armed groups, banditry and inter-communal tensions in the country have had a devastating impact on the civilian population, especially children.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says 1.4 billion children aged 0 to 15 lack any form of social protection.
The ILO, in a statement released alongside Save the Children and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), said the situation leaves the children vulnerable to disease, poor nutrition, and poverty.
The organisations said their data showed that less than one in 10 children aged 0 to 15 have access to child benefits in low-income countries, which shows a significant disparity compared to the coverage enjoyed by children in high-income countries.
“Child benefits are a critical form of social protection, intended to promote the long-term wellbeing of children,” the statement reads.
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“Paid in cash or tax credits, child benefits are essential for reducing poverty, as well as accessing healthcare, nutrition, quality education and water and sanitation. Additionally, these benefits support socio-economic development, particularly in times of crisis.
“In such contexts, many children are deprived of the basic resources and services they need to escape poverty and are therefore exposed to the long-lasting impacts of hunger, malnutrition, and unrealised potential.
“The three organisations are calling on governments to ensure all children are shielded by social protection mechanisms, including through universal child benefits.
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“The data shows there has been a modest global increase in access to child benefits over a period of 14 years, from 20% in 2009 to 28.1% in 2023. However, the progress has been unequal. In low-income countries, rates of coverage remain staggeringly low, at around 9%. At the same time, 84.6% of children in high-income countries are covered.
“In East Asia and the Pacific, child benefits coverage has increased from 9.2% in 2009 to 16.0% in 2023; In Eastern and Southern Africa, coverage has increased from 9.6% to 12.3%; In West and Central Africa, coverage has increased from 3.1 to 11.8%.
“In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, coverage has increased from 59.0% to 61.4%; In North America, coverage has increased from 78.1% to 84.0%; and In Western Europe, coverage has increased from 91.0% to 93.2%.”
Natalia Winder Rossi, director of social policy and social protection at UNICEF, said globally, 333 million children are living in extreme poverty while nearly 1 billion children are living in multidimensional poverty.
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“At the current rate of progress, achieving the sustainable development goals’ poverty targets are out of reach. This is unacceptable,” Rossi said.
“However, ending child poverty is a policy choice. Expanding social protection coverage of children in the fight against poverty is critical, including the progressive realisation of universal child benefits.”
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