Helen Clark|Awa Marie Coll?Seck|Anshu Banerjee|Stefan Peterson|Sarah L Dalglish|Shanthi Ameratunga|Dina Balabanova|Maharaj Kishan Bhan|Zulfiqar A. Bhutta|John Borrazzo|Mariam Claeson|Tanya Doherty|Fadi El?Jardali|Asha George|Angela Gichaga|Lu Gram|David Hipgrave|Aku Kwamie|Qingyue Meng|Raúl Mercer|Sunita Narain|Jesca Nsungwa?Sabiiti|Adesola Olumide|David Osrin|Timothy Powell?Jackson|Kumanan Rasanathan|Imran Rasul|Papaarangi Reid|Jennifer Requejo|Sarah Rohde|Nigel Rollins|Magali Romedenne|Harshpal Singh Sachdev|Rana Saleh|Yusra Ribhi Shawar|Jeremy Shiffman|Jonathon Simon|Peter D. Sly|Karin Stenberg|Mark Tomlinson|Rajani Ved|Anthony Costello
A future for the world's children? A WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission
United Nations Children's Fund|Johns Hopkins University|University of Auckland|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|Tata Trusts|Centre for Global Health Research|Hospital for Sick Children|SickKids Foundation|Aga Khan University|Global Environment Facility|World Bank|Global Environment Facility|World Bank|South African Medical Research Council|American University of Beirut|University of the Western Cape|Partners for Health and Development in Africa|United Nations Children's Fund|Ghana Health Service|Peking University|Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales|Centre for Science and Environment|Ministry of Health|University of Ibadan|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|Ministry of Health|London School of Economics and Political Science|University of Auckland|Aga Khan University|Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research|American University of Beirut|Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University|University of Queensland|Stellenbosch University|National Health Systems Resource Centre|University College London
despite dramatic improvements survival nutrition education recent decades todays children face uncertain future climate change ecological degradation migrating populations conflict pervasive inequalities predatory commercial practices threaten health future children every country 2015 worlds countries agreed sustainable development goals sdgs yet nearly 5 years later countries recorded much progress towards achieving commission presents case placing children aged 018 years centre sdgs heart concept sustainability shared human endeavour governments must harness coalitions across sectors overcome ecological commercial pressures ensure children receive rights entitlements liveable planet years come evidence clear early investments childrens health education development benefits compound throughout childs lifetime future children society whole successful societies invest children protect rights evident countries done well health economic measures past decades yet many politicians still prioritise investing children see foundation broader societal improvements even rich countries many children go hungry live conditions absolute poverty especially belonging marginalised social groupsincluding indigenous populations ethnic minorities often potential children developmental disabilities neglected restricting contributions society additionally many millions children grow scarred war insecurity excluded receiving basic health educational developmental services decision makers need longterm vision good health nutrition prenatal period early years lay foundation healthy life course learning social skills acquire young age provide basis later development support strong national polity economy highquality services universal healthcare coverage must top priority benefits investing children would enormous costs prohibitive analysis sdgs suggests financing gap us195 per person ensure stronger economic human development government must assess mobilise funding using instruments help poorest proportion population meet gap children frame powerful investments society make investments monetary citizen participation community action including voices children powerful forces change must mobilised reach sdgs social movements must play transformational role demanding rights communities need care children provide families countries support future generations put high priority ensuring childrens needs met delivering entitlements paid parental leave free primary health care point delivery access healthyand sufficient amounts offood statefunded subsidised education social protection measures countries make sure children grow safe healthy environments clean water air safe spaces play respect equal rights girls boys nonconforming gender identities policy makers countries concerned effect policies children especially poorer families marginalised populations starting ensuring birth registration government provide children across life course help become engaged productive adult citizens rights entitlements children enshrined within un convention rights child crc ratified countries except usa countries might provide entitlements different ways realisation pathway countries achieve sdgs childrens health wellbeing requires decisive strong public action since threats child health wellbeing originate sectors deliberately multisectoral approach needed ensure children adolescents survive thrive ages 018 years today future investment sectors beyond health educationsuch housing agriculture energy transportare needed address greatest threats child health wellbeing political commitment executive level needed coordinate across sectors leverage synergies across life course ensuring universal health coverage good nutrition food security thoughtful urban planning safe affordable housing transport clean energy equitable social welfare policies multisectoral governance might take different forms country require strategic partnerships cabinetlevel coordination across ministries management diverse partners clear roles including nonstate actors private sector heads state prime ministers must designate crosscutting government ministry equivalent ensure joinedup action budgeting prochild policies demand harmonised assistance global stakeholders whose support currently fragmented inefficient wealthy countries generally better child health development outcomes historic current greenhouse gas emissions threaten lives children ecological damage unleashed today endangers future childrens lives planet home result understanding progress child health wellbeing must give priority measures ecological sustainability equity ensure protect children including vulnerable assessed feasibility monitoring countries progress new child flourishing futures profile developed basis survive thrive sdg indicators reported 180 countries territories areas hereafter referred countries future threats childrens wellbeing using proxy greenhouse gas emissions country also complemented profile existing measures economic equity poorest countries long way go towards supporting childrens ability live healthy lives wealthier countries threaten future children carbon pollution course cause runaway climate change environmental disaster single country performed well three measures child flourishing sustainability equity sdg indicators already provide strong foundation monitoring progress however found small amount country data indicators used track child health wellbeing countries agreed collect sdg monitoring needs strong boost investment bridge large data gaps key indicators 50 countries reporting data many indicators allow subnational disaggregation governments monitor review act ensure children grow flourish require timely accurate population data health nutrition educational access performance housing environmental security among entitlements harnessing power citizen accountability mechanisms essential fill data gaps also propose development userfriendly country dashboards assess effects childrens wellbeing sustainable development given urgency action regular reports sdgs un general assembly must anchor strong advocacy action children everywhere although recognise role business plays wealth job creation commercial sectors profit motive poses many threats child health wellbeing least environmental damage unleashed unregulated industry immediately children around world enormously exposed advertising business whose marketing techniques exploit developmental vulnerability whose products harm health wellbeing companies make huge profits marketing products directly children promoting addictive unhealthy commodities including fast foods sugarsweetened beverages alcohol tobacco major causes noncommunicable diseases childrens large growing online exposure bringing benefits terms information access social support also exposes exploitation well bullying gambling grooming criminals sexual abusers industry selfregulation work existing global frameworks sufficient far stronger comprehensive approach regulation required call development optional protocol crc ie additional component treaty must independently ratified protect children marketing tobacco alcohol formula milk sugarsweetened beverages gambling potentially damaging social media inappropriate use personal data countries led way protecting children harms commercial marketing supported civil society support protocol adoption un general assembly providing impetus legal constitutional protections children national level children young people full energy ideas hope future also angry state world worldwide schoolchildren young people protesting environmental threats fossil fuel economies must find better ways amplify voices skills planets sustainable healthy future sdgs require governments place children centre plans address crisis commission makes positive optimistic recommendationsbut time lose excuses fail new global movement child adolescent health today urgent necessity