Girls and boys in their first years of life are not immune to the impact of the trap of low growth and high levels of poverty and inequality, characteristics of Latin America and the Caribbean. If the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are added to the above, multiple aspects of the well-being of the new generations were affected. Unless decisive and transformative action is taken, this will have lasting consequences that will influence their life trajectories.
The first years of life are essential for the cognitive, social, physical and emotional development of girls and boys and the quality of their early experiences is essential to establish solid foundations for their future and that of society. Reaching your full potential, a human right, means receiving health care, protection and learning opportunities, so investing in this period has important long-term impacts, such as improving future health and learning indicators, the effectiveness of educational outcomes, work trajectories and economic development, in addition to helping to reduce inequalities that are generated throughout life (ECLAC, 2022)[1].
This scenario has motivated a collaborative response between ECLAC and UNICEF, culminating in the preparation of the document “Facing inequality in early childhood: the traces of the COVID-19 pandemic on the new generations of girls and boys in Latin America and the Caribbean”. The document is the result of an analysis based on qualitative and quantitative data and addresses the emerging and persistent challenges faced by new generations, with a special focus on maternal and child health and early childhood education.
The event will bring together authorities, experts, representatives of civil society and international organizations to discuss the findings of the report and explore effective agendas and policies that mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and promote comprehensive development during early childhood.
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