In France, a child is killed by one of its parents every five days, warns UNICEF

More than one in five children live below the poverty line and more than 42,000 are homeless. France still needs to make progress in guaranteeing the rights of children, particularly the most vulnerable, UNICEF said in an unpublished report released this Sunday.

Social and territorial inequalities prevent “too many children to access school, health or protection servicesUNICEF France expressed regret in a press release attached to the report in connection with the International Day of Children’s Rights.

Schooling and children’s mental health

in an interview with Sunday newspaperAdeline Hazan, president of Unicef ​​in France, stated that the childrenwith a disability“and”5700 [mineurs] living in slums» face difficulties in getting an education. “The most vulnerable children, be they in the situation of extreme poverty, disability, victims of violence (…), struggle to see their most basic rights guaranteed.added the organization, which prepares a report for the experts of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Children’s mental health is also at the heart of the French committee’s report. Meanwhile, one third of the miners say:suffers from psychological disorders“Adeline Hazan condemns waiting too long to get an appointment”.in the medical and psychological center“:”you have to wait six months to a year” On average.

Increase in domestic violence

The health crisis has also worsened the miners’ living conditions. During the first blockade, violence against children increased. “The number of 119 calls to report a minor in danger had exploded“recalls the president of the French branch. A clear statement supported by UNICEF affirming that “every five days a child is killed by a parent“.

In addition, France resorts to practices contrary to the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, such as the administrative detention of children when families in an irregular situation are about to be deported, UNICEF condemns. At least 33,786 children have been detained since 2012, the vast majority in Mayotte and 1,460 in mainland France.

Creating a ministry for children.

“The situation is worrying, even if progress has been made. Adeline Hazani hosted AFP. Minors are not sufficiently protected in France, they cannot adequately live their lives as children“.

The association recognizes improvements since 2016, when France was last assessed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. For example, it emphasizes the development of child-oriented public policies. In 2019, the government launched a program to combat violence against children. It has also taken measures to strengthen support during a baby’s first 1,000 days.

However, UNICEF regrets that this policyvery scattered“which harms”their readability” and to “their effectiveness“. Thus, the organization proposes several solutions, including the creation of a ministry for children and an investment of 1.5 billion euros over five years.