CHILDREN’S RIGHTS PROGRAM Child Survival Project
Global Child Survival: a Human Rights Priority
United States of America
African-American infants die at more than twice the rate of infants of European descent.
The mortality rate among U.S. infants from poor families is 60 percent higher than for infants above the poverty line.
With an infant mortality rate of 8 death per 1000 live births, over 20 countries have lower rates of infant mortality than the United States.
From 36 percent to 52 percent of infant deaths in the United States could be classified as potentially preventable to preventable.
Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and having the capacity to protect children in all segments of society, the United States’ compliance with international obligations to uphold health and survival rights of children have been limited.
Mexico
Malnutrition levels in the southern poverty belt are four times greater than those in wealthier urbanized states.
Infants and child death rates due to nutritional deficiencies have increased by 23 percent since 1980.
The incidence of poverty among indigenous people is 81 percent, compared with 18 percent among non-indigenous people.
Persistent socioeconomic inequities, which contribute to excessive, preventable child mortality rates, are exacerbated by economic and structural adjustment policies.
Mexico has not effectively complied with its international obligations for right to life, health, and non-discrimination.
Uganda
Uganda’s under-five child mortality rate of 147 deaths per 1000 births is one of the world’s worst.
The low social status and high illiteracy of women in Uganda undermine the health of children as well as women.
Child survival in Uganda remains under-funded, while the debt burden, defense spending and an unwritten commitment to low-impact, tertiary health care supersede basic child survival strategies.
Uganda has failed to carry out its plans to improve child survival by moving resources away from curative, hospital-based programs and toward primary and preventative health care.
Uganda has not effectively realized child health and survival rights nor has it utilized the maximum available resources for health protection.