Early childhood development must include commitment to gender equality — Lakshmi Puri

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I thank UNICEF and the governments of Chile and Rwanda for organizing this discussion on the importance of early childhood development to the reduction of poverty and inequality. From the perspective of UN Women, this dialogue is most relevant.

UN Women recognizes that there are inextricable links between gender equality and women’s empowerment, and childhood development. Not only does persisting gender-based discrimination continue to negatively affect the early childhood development, but the lack of childcare services also negatively impacts women who bear the majority of the care work in households and communities, which severely restrict their access to education and work opportunities.

Gender stereotyping and bias are reinforced during early childhood, impacting negatively the psychological and social development of children around the world. These social norms are at the bases of the traditional beliefs that favour sons over daughters and can even determine whether girls and boys get equal access to early childhood education. Often, they are also used as justification to all forms of violence against girls, including sexual harassment and discrimination, early marriage and harmful traditional practices that continue to affect girls worldwide.

Social and economic inequality and the inequitable access to opportunities for development often start affecting people early in their childhood. Statistics show that malnutrition, poverty, neglect and a lack of early learning opportunities continue to challenge the full developmental potential of one third of the world’s children under age five. This implies that by the time children start their formal education inequality has already been transmitted to the next generation in the form of brain development, can lead to lower educational achievements and lower earnings in adult life. Also, malnutrition in early childhood often leads to health problems later in life. Social norms, like the preference for the son over the daughter, results in girls being the majority of those discriminated against.

Therefore, focused responses to inequality and a systematic approach to overcome the underlying mechanisms that perpetuate discrimination against the girl child are required to eradicate inequality in an effective and enduring manner. Commitments to gender equality and women's empowerment can greatly contribute to a better future for children — girls and boys — ensuring that they not only survive their early years, but also thrive during this period.

Gender-responsive investment in young children’s development is increasingly recognized as one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the health, nutrition and educational levels of the next generation. The returns of such investments benefit directly to women, for whom empowering opportunities are open, and they become less vulnerable to violence against them. In the long run, the investment in early childhood development can even lead to the breakdown of the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

As pointed out by the latest Human Development Report, the timing of intervention is critical. The example of Sweden, where children below seven are the priority group from the point of view of public expenditure, has shown to be key in ensuring that girls and boys have the same opportunities, eliminating gender-based stereotyping and developing their full potential during the early stages of education.

Early childhood development programmes contribute to building the development and values of two generations, enhancing gender equality and empowerment. For parents bearing the burden of childcare — typically women — inclusive early childhood programmes are the key to expand their education, training and work opportunities. For the new generations, early childhood curricula that is grounded in the values of human rights, sustainability, gender equality, inclusiveness, and democracy has the potential to ensure that tomorrow’s citizens will reach their potential and embrace these values onwards throughout their lives.

The current nexus of intergovernmental discussions, including negotiations to define the post-2015 development agenda and the review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that gender equality and the empowerment of women are placed at the center of development. This is also a great opportunity to ensure a human rights and lifecycle approach to ensure equal development opportunities are granted to girls and boys.

It is our joint responsibility as leaders of today to ensure that the new generations receive a sustainable and inclusive world, where all women and men, girls and boys, have access — on equal bases — to the fruits of development; are better prepared to succeed when they get to school and in the work place; and can take full control over the decisions that shape their lives.

I thank you.