SUMMARY of the Article “Child Rights Crisis,” by Jamil Ahmad, Dawn, August 24th, 2024
The article “Child Rights Crisis” by Jamil Ahmad emphasizes the profound impact of the climate crisis on children, particularly in the world’s poorest regions, where the effects are most severe. As the planet endures its hottest summer, the escalating climate crisis is infringing on children’s basic human rights and diminishing their chances for a decent future. Children are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events, which jeopardize their health and overall well-being. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that children born in 2020 will face a significant increase in extreme weather events as the planet warms, a burden not shared equally with older generations. In response, children globally are mobilizing to demand climate justice, seeking to influence policies that will secure a sustainable future. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has recognized the climate crisis as a form of structural violence against children, urging states to collaborate on mitigating its effects. The situation is particularly dire in middle- and low-income countries, where children face compounded risks from food and water scarcity, health threats, and educational disruptions due to climate-related events like heatwaves, floods, and wildfires. In regions like South Asia, children are already suffering from severe water scarcity and air pollution, leading to physical and mental » Read More…