Spain and 2030 Agenda in terms of compliance with Children’s Rights

The report published by UNICEF in September 2020, with the title Worlds of influence: what determines well being in rich countries?, analyses the situation of children in terms of guaranteeing their rights in 41 countries belonging to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) the EU and finds that it is very heterogeneous. The development of many children is threatened by problems such as poverty and exclusion. Even rich countries are a long way from achieving the commitments of Agenda 2030. As far as Spain is concerned, the data in this report reveals that our country is in sixth place for children’s wellbeing, which includes variables of mental and physical wellbeing and academic and social abilities. However, when these variables are analysed separately, the results for some of them are worrying. Spain’s worst result is in physical wellbeing (23^rd out of 38) because one in three children between 5 and 19 years old is overweight or obese. This problem is linked to a poor academic achievement and self-esteem disorders. On the other hand, the results are more encouraging for mental health and academic and social abilities. Spain comes third in the ranking for mental health with a percentage well over the OCDE countries’ average for adolescents who are satisfied with their lives and with a suicide rate well below the average. Our country is also in the top third of the ranking for academic and social abilities, and two out of three adolescents say they make friends easily.