When we review the situation of children in Africa, we must have the courage to say that the efforts made, and certainly the results achieved, fell far short of our obligations, let alone our hopes. Although we have seen some advances in some countries, there has been an overall failure in many sectors. The record for achieving the World Summit goals is poorer than any other region in the world. And yet, when all is said and done, we need to ask ourselves some difficult questions, if we are to make a departure from the past towards a future worthy of our children. Ladies and Gentlemen, Child rights are not compatible with poverty.
Poverty underpins almost all challenges to child welfare.
Poverty interacts with, and is compounded by many of the main obstacles to the welfare of children, whether exclusion from education, malnutrition, environment degradation or child labour. But we know that it is possible with attention to early children for children living in poverty to develop well and become well and become good learners. In fact, we know that investing in these earlier years, yields very large returns. We have much to do if this is to happen. Early childcare services, based in the community, in Malawi for example, have shown good promise.