46th session of the Human Rights Council
Statement of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet
Geneva, 1 March 2021

Madame President,
Distinguished panellists,

When the world came together to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we pledged to build a more just and equal future for all, on a healthy planet.

It is clear that realizing the rights of children is a requisite to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

There is no possible separation between the future of the world and that of its youngest generation.

However, discrimination, inequality, lack of political will, inadequate investment and other barriers mean children’s rights often remain a wish rather than a reality

COVID-19 has made matters worse.

The health, socio-economic and human rights crises brought by the pandemic risk reversing progress made so far, placing children’s rights under threat in all countries.

Children are increasingly being exposed to physical and psychological violence, pushed into labour, child marriage, exploitation and trafficking. For many girls and young women, the threat looms largest where they should be safest: in their own homes.

Within the last year, the number of children living in poverty has increased by 142 million. Untold numbers are going hungry, at risk or facing homelessness.

At their height, lockdowns affected 90 percent of students – in a world where more than a third of all schoolchildren do not have access to remote education. Some risk never returning to school. Others are engaging in more screen time than ever before, facing heightened exposure to inappropriate content and online predators.

Disruptions in health coverage are leading to higher rates of child and infant mortality, and nearly 100 million children under the age of one are missing out on routine, life-saving vaccines due to COVID-19 measures.

Overall, those who were already marginalized and discriminated against have been affected the worst – children with disabilities, from the poorest households, girls, migrants, displaced and those living in conflict-affected settings, among others.

Indeed, COVID-19 has exposed the existing pandemics of inequality and discrimination.

This global situation, made even more challenging by climate change and environment degradation, poses an immediate risk to all of children’s rights, including to their survival and development.

Protecting children, upholding their rights and empowering them to contribute to transformative change has never been a greater global urgency, for the sake of both present and future generations.

Indeed, closing the gap between child rights obligations and their implementation on the ground will be the foundation for recovering better into more just, equal and resilient societies.

Ensuring that every child has the best possible start in life and the means to develop their potential is an effective strategy to ensure the overall development of everyone. It helps to expand economic opportunities, paving the way for advancing peace, stability and sustainable development. And by ensuring that the most vulnerable children are protected and included, we can break intergenerational cycles of suffering.

Colleagues,

This is our Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs.

The task ahead requires urgently assessing which children are at greatest risk and identifying the most pressing implementation gaps and barriers.

It is imperative: no one must be left behind.

To recover better, we either unite or we fail. 

To move forward towards a better future, it is also crucial to protect the planet and children’s rights through a healthy environment.  For that, we need to overcome long-standing barriers and interests holding back a truly transformative development track.

Around the world, children and young people are demanding this real change.

They are demanding societies where people and planet come first.

Demanding action where previous generations have failed.

It is time to heed their call. To give them their seat at the table.

It is time we look to them not only for inspiration, but for leadership.

Their passion and action in defending their rights – and the rights of us all – makes me as humble as it makes me proud – but most of all, it brings me a sense of responsibility.

The children of today are growing up as we walk towards fulfilling our promise of a future of justice, sustainability and equality. A future of human rights.

The speed in which we, ourselves, walk this path will have the greatest effect on them. On the quality of their lives, their ability to pursue their dreams, the opportunities of their own children.

With only ten years left to reach the goal of transforming our world, we need to move much faster. And we must act with children’s rights and needs at heart.

Thank you.