Is the World a Better Place for Children? A statistical analysis of progress since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Is the world a better place for children? In this study marking 25 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), UNICEF employs statistical analysis techniques to examine how the world’s changes over the past 25 years of the CRC have impacted children. Do children have better prospects now than they did before 1989?

UNICEF answers ‘yes’ but not for all children. This report reviews some of the major global changes that set the context for change: the Berlin Wall, economic crashes, and humanitarian disasters. Each ratifying nation of the CRC, of which there are 194, answers to the Committee on the Rights of the Child by submitting reports subjected then to review. This study explores the milestones and shortcomings of these nations in incorporating and following through with the precepts of the CRC.

The study ends by concluding that the past 25 years have proved that change is possible. However, the world must continue to work for universal implementation of the CRC.