73 million children

323 million people live in the United States and ca. 73 million of them are under 18. Around 30 million are under five years old.

Legal status

At least 9 million people in the US are part of “mixed status” families, households in which one member or more is in the country legally and the others are not. Ca. 275,000 babies are born to undocumented immigrant parents, that are at risk of deportation.

Survive and grow

You have the right to life. The US is the only major industrialized country that does not guarantee prenatal care to pregnant women and rank higher than many industrialized countries when it comes to infant mortality.

Health and well-being

You have the right to food, clean water, medical care and the right to privacy when consulting an adult about any health problem. 4.5 million children in the US lack health insurance and therefore have less access to quality care than other children.

A home, clothing, food and security

You have the right to a home, food, clothing, education, health care and security. 2,5 million US children are homeless. 1 in 6 children in the United States live in poverty. Children of color have a poverty rate triple that of white children. Poverty in childhood has profound, long-term effects, in terms of health, educational achievement, and earnings. America’s child poverty rate is one of the highest among industrialized nations.

Education

All children in the US attend school, however drop-out rates are higher for children of color and children who are poor. In disadvantaged areas there are significant gaps between how students are performing, and where they need to be. For children of color, children with disabilities, and children who are poor, these gaps are even more dramatic.

Human trafficking

Up to 300,000 children are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation each year in the US. The most frequent age of entry into the commercial sex industry is 12–14 years old. Children of color, children who are poor and in foster care, and LGBTQ youth, are especially vulnerable, as are girls in general.

Protection against violence

You have the right to protection against all forms of violence, including neglect, maltreatment, and abuse. Only 60 countries have forbidden all forms of corporal punishment for children. The US has not. 1,844 children are confirmed abused or neglected here each day. Gun violence saturates American children’s lives and is the second leading cause of death for children and teens ages 1-19. One child or teen in the US dies from a gun every 3 hours and 28 minutes.

Hazardous child labour

You have the right to be protected against both economic exploitation and work that is hazardous to your health or which prevents you from going to school. All work is prohibited for children under 12. Some children are forced into the worst forms of child labour, such as being debt slaves, child soldiers, or used for commercial sexual exploitation. Some children are involved in selling drugs, often pressured by older youngsters and adults, and end up in juvenile facilities

Your voice must be heard

You have the right to say what you think about any issue that affects you. The adults should listen to the child’s opinion before they make decisions, which must always be made in the best interest of the child!