Half of children and adolescents think that their future will be worse than their present

The document analyzes the situation of the rights of these groups in 157 countries of the world based on official indicators and sources. Additionally, it includes the results of a survey carried out on 10,000 children and adolescents from 10 to 18 years old from 41 countries.

In general, children living in European countries and in relatively stable They feel more uncertainty and unhappiness and know little about their rights. On the contrary, in countries like Tanzania or Kenya they are more aware.

Likewise, more than one in ten boys and girls declare they feel unhappy regularly, a figure that rises to more than one in three in West and Central Africa.

«This report clearly shows that in many contexts the rights of children and women continue to be undervalued. It puts before society a reality that we are not always aware of,” explains the general director of Educo, Pilar Orenes, who highlighted that the report indicates that, in general, “current societies are less democratic and safe for women. and childhood.

In the world, one in three boys and girls and one in four women live in countries where human rights are applied very poorly. limited. At the current rate, both groups will fully achieve their rights within 113 years, according to the document.

While progress has been made on issues such as access to information, access to water, hygiene and children’s health, others such as educational rights have stagnated after the pandemic.

«Education is one of the keys to getting out of the cycle of poverty. We must guarantee that all boys and girls can access quality education. We cannot leave anyone behind and we cannot allow this right to remain stagnant,” says the general director of the NGO.

According to the index included in the report, northern European countries lead the protection of the rights of women, children and adolescents. They are most respected in Sweden, Iceland and Norway, while at the bottom of the list are countries such as Afghanistan, where the rights of women and girls are in particular danger, Mali, Niger, the Central African Republic and Chad.

Likewise, due to the current conflicts, a worsening of rights is expected in Lebanon and Palestine. Spain is in position number 21 on this list, just behind Canada and ahead of Germany.

On the other hand, the survey that has been carried out on 10,000 children and adolescents shows that unemployment, poverty and epidemics are among the main causes. concerns.

«When preparing this report it was very important to be able to collect the opinion of children. In their responses we see their concerns, but also their aspirations. They have the right to be heard and have their opinions taken into account because without them it is impossible to build a more just and supportive world. Not only does their future have to be better, so does their present,” says Orenes.

Regarding his education, one in ten children and adolescents has to work. Furthermore, in West and Central Africa one in three children consistently does not go to school.

In the case of food insecurity, it affects 14% of children. «Food and education are two factors that are related to the happiness of boys and girls. Those who go to school regularly and who do not have problems eating tend to have higher levels of happiness,” explains Pilar Orenes.

Almost half of the children and adolescents who participated in the survey, four out of ten feel insecure because of wars and crime. Finally, more than 25% of children believe that adults do not fully defend their rights.