A new report by the KidsRights Index for 2024 reports a distressing 21% increase in serious violations of children's rights in conflict zones, highlighting a deepening global crisis. Areas such as Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan are severely affected, with nearly 8,000 children killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict alone since October 2023.
Global results
The report also underscores the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing a significant drop in child immunisation rates in almost a third of Western European countries. The mental health crisis among children is worsening, exacerbated by armed conflicts and the aftermath of pandemic-related restrictions.
Furthermore, progress towards achieving the United Nation's child-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is lagging, with only one-third on track to be met by 2030. Climate change-induced disasters and rising right-wing political sentiments are further complicating the situation. Countries like Denmark and the United Kingdom are noted for their positive climate policies, yet the overall global scenario remains grim.
The Netherlands
Despite global efforts, the position of The Netherlands is significantly worse than other Western countries. In 2023, the Netherlands fell drastically from 4th to 20th place, and this year its ranking has stagnated at 19th place. Compared to neighbouring countries Germany (4th) and Belgium (18th), this is a worrying result. The report highlights significant concerns about the country’s healthcare system for children, pointing to inadequate access and systemic issues that need urgent attention to protect and promote children's health and well-being.
More about the KidsRights Index
The KidsRights Index is published annually by the KidsRights Foundation since 2013, in close collaboration with Erasmus School of Economics and the International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam. It is the first and only fully comparative worldwide annual index that systematically compares the child rights performance of (as of recent nearly all) countries that are bound by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Visit the KidsRights Index Report 2024 page to read more about this year’s results. In 2023, the KidsRights Index reflected on ten years of children’s rights assessments and their collaboration with Erasmus School of Economics and the International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam. For detailed insights, refer to pages 52 and 53 of Backbone Magazine 2023.
- More information
For more information, please contact Ronald de Groot, Media & Public Relations Officer at Erasmus School of Economics: rdegroot@ese.eur.nl, +31 6 53 641 846.