https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-of-worlds-children/2024
This year’s State of the World’s Children Report examines the forces and trends shaping our world today and reflects on how they might shape the future.
The report explores three megatrends that will profoundly impact children’s lives between now and the 2050s: demographic shifts, the climate and environmental crises and frontier technologies.
It also presents three future scenarios – possible outcomes, not predictions – for how children could experience the world of 2050.
As we consider what we can do today, our responsibility is clear: now is the time to shape a better future for every child.
What does the future hold for the world’s children?
In many ways, the future is now. Today’s actions and decisions will determine the future children inherit.
Unfortunately, today's children live in a world fraught with crises, poverty and discrimination. Where far too many are deprived of opportunities to meet their full potential.
We can and must do better.
The future of childhood hangs in the balance.
As we envision a better world for every child, our guide must remain the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
For 35 years, the CRC has supported the betterment of countless children’s lives around the world. It is consistently a touchstone for governments, the UN and multilateral system, businesses and civil society as they develop their policies, approaches and practices to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
The principles of the CRC spotlight where we must focus policies and plans so that children inherit a habitable planet, enjoy a minimum standard of living and benefit from a more equal society and peaceful world.
We must take a future-focused approach to realizing child rights.
