CT Ranks In Global Study Exploring Why Childhood Is Ending Too Soon

FAIRFIELD, CT – One quarter of the world's children are being denied the opportunity to have the childhoods they deserve and grow to their full potential, a new report from Save the Children has revealed. That said, the report also indicates that Connecticut children may not be in such bad shape.

Launched to coincide with International Children's Day on June 1, “Stolen Childhoods” has found that at least 700 million children worldwide have had their childhood brought to an early end, according to a release. Reasons include extreme violence, early marriage, pregnancy, child labor, poor health and not having the chance to go to school among other factors.

The inaugural End of Childhood Report includes an index of 172 countries, ranking the best and worst places in the world for children to have a safe, secure and healthy childhood. On this ranking, Save the Children ranked the United States at 36th. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities click here.)

This places the United States between Bosnia and Russia, and well behind other developed nations such as Norway, France and the United Kingdom. According to the data, the Unites States is also lagging behind Portugal, Spain, Japan, Lithuania and Greece.

“All around the world, childhoods are at risk. Even here in the U.S., the most vulnerable children are being robbed of their chance to learn, grow, play and be safe,” Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles said in a release. “Save the Children is committed to ensuring that every last child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Save the Children also conducted a state-by-state analysis in its U.S. Complement to the End of Childhood Report to better understand its low country ranking.

How Does CT Rank?

The complement found childhood is most intact in New Hampshire, followed by Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont respectively. The report also indicates that childhood is most threatened in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma respectively.

The report also shows Connecticut ranked 6th on the list of top states where childhood is least threatened.

The U.S. Complement ranked all 50 states on five key factors that can end childhood in America, including infant mortality rates, child homicide and suicide rates, adolescent birth rates, child food insecurity rates, and rates of children not graduating high school on time.

“Hundreds of millions of kids don’t go to school – 1 out of every 6 school-aged children – because they are forced to work, don’t have the resources they need, or simply because they are girls,” Save the Children Board of Trustees Chair Jill Biden said in a release. “Without education, children will face a lifetime of obstacles, but with it, the possibilities are endless. This report has shown us just how many children are being left behind – now we must act to protect them.”

The End of Childhood Report and its U.S. Complement also found that:

• Every day, more than 16,000 children die before reaching their fifth birthday
• About one quarter of all children under five suffer from malnutrition, which stunts growth physically and mentally
• One in six school-aged children worldwide is currently out of school
• Conflict has forced nearly one child in 80 from their homes
• One girl under 15 is forced to marry every seven seconds
• Every two seconds, a girl around the world gives birth
• Every day, more than 200 boys and girls around the world are murdered
• An estimated 750,000 U.S. children drop out before graduating high school each year
• Nearly 230,000 babies were born to girls aged 15 to 19 in the U.S. in 2015
• More than 541,000 U.S. children live in households with severe food insecurity and experience hunger regularly
• 168 million children in the world are involved in child labor, 85 million in hazardous work, which is more than all children living in Europe

According to the national data, childhood is least threatened in Europe. It further indicates Norway, Slovenia, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden ranked at the top respectively.

Childhood is most threatened in West and Central Africa: Niger is ranked the lowest, followed by Angola, Mali, Central African Republic, and Somalia.

In line with its Every Last Child Campaign, Save the Children is calling on governments to properly count, include and invest in all children so they have access to essential services.

"In 2015, the world made a promise that by 2030, all children would be in school, protected, healthy and alive, regardless of their income, geography, gender or identity," Miles said. "This is not an impossible target – in fact, increasing childhood expectancy around the world is definitely within reach if we deliver on our commitments."

To download and read the full report, visit www.EndofChildhood.org.

Image courtesy Save the Children