Declaration on early childhood development
dubai — Dubai Cares and Unicef on Sunday launched a declaration that focuses on nurturing children at the early stages of their development.
The ‘Dubai Declaration on Early Childhood Development’, launched at the World Government Summit in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has been issued in response to the growing consensus that kids’ early development shapes the mental and emotional blueprint that they would carry throughout their life. This would in turn have major implications on the economy and stability of their communities.
“Giving every child, no matter where they live, the best start in life is the best way to ensure healthy and prosperous individuals, communities and nations. It is vital that we seize this window when relatively low investments can have tremendous, determinative impacts,” said Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairperson of Dubai Cares.
According to studies, an estimated 249 million children under five living in low and middle-income countries — 43 per cent — are at risk of poor development due to extreme poverty and stunting. The studies underscored that negative, long-term implications for these children and their societies can be significantly prevented through early childhood development investments.
The ‘Dubai Declaration on Early Childhood Development’ thus maps out a holistic package of services for young children and their caregivers, ranging from stimulation and play to nutrition and parental livelihoods.
It also calls for these approaches to be supported by national policy, with regulations and incentives that can guide private sector investment alongside state prioritisation of early childhood development.
Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive officer of Dubai Cares, said: “We hope that this declaration strengthens the global movement towards investment in services in homes, schools, clinics, and communities that give young children the best start in life.”