Why law matters for children’s survival

States have a binding obligation, enshrined in international law, to respect, protect and realise children’s right to survival. But in practice governments often violate this right. Every year 8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday. This is not inevitable. The life chances of children are heavily influenced by policy choices made by governments.This briefing shows how pushing for laws where they don’t exist, and putting pressure on governments to enforce existing laws, can play an important role in improving children’s: healthcare; nutrition; education; access to water and sanitation; and protection from discrimination; Save the Children calls for the right of all children to survive and develop to be enshrined in legislation, and for relevant laws to be implemented.