NEW YORK, Dec 12 (IPS) – Child poverty persists even in some of the world’s richest countries, new findings from a UNICEF report show.
The latest report from UNICEF’s Office of Global Insight and Policy describes the prevalence of child poverty in 39 EU and OECD countries. It reveals the extent of child poverty in these countries and how these cases vary from middle to high-income countries. Titled Child poverty amidst wealthThis report is the latest in the Innocenti Report Card series, which observes the well-being of children in high-income countries. Within these countries, more than 69 million children lived in households that earned less than 60 percent of the average national income. An 8 percent decline in poverty was reported in these countries between 2014 and 2021. During this period of relative prosperity, countries used this as an opportunity to tackle child poverty, with varying degrees of success. Of the countries assessed for this report, Slovenia, Poland, Finland and Denmark reported reductions in child poverty that exceeded 30 percent. In contrast, higher-income countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and France reported high rates of child poverty, and have even seen these rates rise in recent years.
The first was determined by assessing and comparing child poverty rates using two measures. The first was to compare national income levels and child poverty levels across the 39 countries. It found that although richer countries had higher national income levels, they did not have lower child poverty rates. This meant that higher national income did not guarantee these countries’ ability to reduce child poverty. It only makes the contrast more striking when you compare it with countries like Slovenia and Poland, which are not among the richest countries. The second metric used to measure child poverty was what the report called “non-monetary poverty.” This was determined through needs assessments where someone did not have access to certain services, or by asking the opinions of people living in poverty. Poverty was measured by material deprivation, the absence or lack of services and goods, or the security of housing. Credit: UNICEF/Alexandru-SaruThere are several factors that can contribute to the high risks of poverty in these countries. Poverty itself must be assessed from a multi-dimensional perspective. The report notes that global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and disruptions in the global supply chain have upended our way of life since 2020. These global events put already vulnerable communities, including children, at greater risk of living in poverty. Economic relief programs introduced or expanded during the early pandemic era are at risk of not being renewed or exceeding capacity to support the families who need them. The rise in the cost of living, from food to energy and housing, has increased pressure on low- to middle-income families. This is more challenging for single-income families and especially single-parent families if they live in high-income countries and if these families’ incomes are largely spent on these living costs. It was observed that children who experience persistent poverty, in the sense that they have lived in poverty multiple times in their lives, are more likely to exhibit behavioral and learning problems. In the long run, they do not complete their education and earn lower wages as adults. The report also notes that certain inequalities put people at greater risk of poverty. Children living in single-parent or single-adult households are at least three times more likely to end up in poverty. It was also noted that children from minority communities were more likely to live in income poverty. These communities included racial and ethnic minorities, children whose families had migrated to their host country, indigenous and Roma children, and children with disabilities. In the EU, for example, 37.2 percent of children whose parents were migrants lived in income poverty. This contrasts with the 15.6 percent of children whose parents were citizens of the country. Credit: UNICEF/Ashley-Gilbertson
According to Gwyther Rees, social and economic policy manager at UNICEF Innocenti, the higher risk of poverty among some groups is just one indication of the systematic disadvantages they face. Rees, one of the authors of the report, says that groups that need social protection often do not have access to it, which is also called ‘non-take up’. “Not taking up social protection affects all groups, but paradoxically it is most common among the most marginalized, and therefore most in need of social protection,” he said. “There are several reasons for this, including a lack of financial inclusion (such as having a bank account), stigmatization that prevents certain groups from accessing social protection benefits and complex application processes and barriers, to name a few.” Based on this report, it is clear that comprehensive changes need to be made in the way countries tackle poverty reduction. The report recommends broad measures countries should take, including expanding social protection for children, improving access to essential services beyond financial support, expanding labor policies to ensure decent wages and working conditions for parents and reducing inequality in poverty risks. For minority children, this will require continued action to ensure that the barriers that prevent them from accessing these social protections are removed. A remarkable conclusion of the report is that children must be involved in the discussion about poverty reduction. Children with lived experience would possess their own insights and perspectives. Just as children and adolescents have been proactive in environmental activism, the hope is that they will be encouraged to act similarly in the area of poverty reduction. Rees says UNICEF Innocenti has held consultations with children in six countries about their views on poverty, with plans to share their findings in 2024.