ABSTRACT
The vulnerability of children to the spectrum of failures in economic, political, social and environmental systems is well known and well documented. UNICEF has estimated that children accounted for at least one third of the deaths caused by the natural disaster of the earthquake and the resulting tsunamis in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004. Poverty is reckoned to be the root cause of high rates of child mortality rates. The resolution of the General Assembly resulting from the Special Session on Children does contain an optimistic note, in particular the ‘Plan of Action’ concludes that the promotion of healthy lives for children, providing quality education, protecting children from abuse, exploitation, violence and armed conflict and combating HIV/AIDS ‘are achievable goals and are clearly affordable for the global community. Over 1 billion children do not have access to one of the basic goods or services that would allow them to survive and develop.
