FACT: "Poverty in childhood is a root cause of poverty in adulthood. Impoverished children often grow up to be impoverished parents who in turn bring up their own children in poverty. In order to break the generational cycle, poverty reduction must begin with the children." (UNDP, 2004: pg. 15).
FACT: Reducing child poverty contributes towards realizing children's rights to survive, develop, participate, and be protected. It implies fulfilling the obligations inherent in international human rights conventions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which promises "every child a good start in life" (Vandemoortele, 2000: pg. 1). However, this legal commitment is still far from being fulfilled.
FACT: The Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Center (CHIP) defines child poverty. "Childhood poverty means a child:
a.) Growing up without an adequate livelihood- without access to the financial and nutritional resources needed for survival and development (economic, physical and environmental resources).
b.) Growing up without opportunities for human development - opportunities to develop as a healthy person who will fulfill their potential in life. Opportunities include access to quality education and life skills, health and water/sanitation (social, cultural and physical resources).
c.) Growing up without family and community structures that nurture and protect them - without having parents/guardians with time (or ability/desire) to care for them; without an extended family community that cares for and protects its younger generation (social and cultural resources). Children consulted in a Ugandan study, for example, also stressed that this involves their emotional, personal and spiritual development needs not being addressed.
d.) Growing up without opportunities for voice. For both adults and children, powerlessness and lack of voice (political resources) often underpins other aspects of poverty."
UNDP (2004a): "Children and Poverty", In Focus, an online bulletin of the UNDP - International Poverty Centre (IPC), March 2004, New York. Fact 1: Source
Vandemoortele (2000): Absorbing Social Shocks, Protecting Children and Reducing Poverty, UNICEF, New York, NY. Fact 2: Source
CHIP (2004): "Children and poverty - Some questions answered" in CHIP Briefing 1: Children and Poverty, London. Fact 3: Source