Children victims of discrimination, UNICEF report

UNICEF reveals in its report the extent of the impact of racism and discrimination on the education and health of children, and also highlights the significant disparities experienced by minority and ethnic groups.The report indicates that a higher proportion of people interviewed from East Asia and the Pacific, as well as the Middle East and North Africa, considered the level of education or income to be the main ground of discrimination.

A new UNICEF report highlights the discrimination children face in health, education and access to public services. The UN agency deplores in this report published in November 2022, that racism and discrimination against children because of their ethnic origin, language and religion are present in all countries of the world. This report also highlights the daily burden that discrimination places on the lives of children and young people.

Through this document, UNICEF reveals the extent of the impact of racism and discrimination on the education and health of children, and also highlights the significant disparities experienced by minority and ethnic groups. According to an analysis conducted in 22 low- and middle-income countries, children from marginalized ethnic, linguistic and religious groups lag far behind their peers in reading skills.

Furthermore, an analysis of data on birth registration rates revealed significant disparities between children from different religious and ethnic groups.

Discrimination reinforces the intergenerational cycle of precariousness and poverty and the children who are victims of it run an increased risk of incarceration and early pregnancy.

The UNICEF report shows the persistence of discrimination and exclusion that continue to prevent millions of children from minority and ethnic groups from accessing vaccinations, water and sanitation services, or a fair justice system. For example, in the United States, under current disciplinary policies, black students are almost four times more likely to be expelled from school than white students.

Black communities in South Africa and the majority Hausa ethnic group in Nigeria have the highest mortality rates among children under 5 in their respective countries, According to this report.

The report indicates that a higher proportion of people interviewed from East Asia and the Pacific, as well as the Middle East and North Africa, considered the level of education or income to be the main ground of discrimination.

For UNICEF in South Africa, the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 2000 was one of the first attempts to enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination legislative framework.