ISLAMABAD: Children and young people are nearly 50pc more likely than older people to believe that the world is becoming a better place with each generation.

This was highlighted in a new report launched by Unicef on the eve of World Children’s Day.

To celebrate the day, iconic landmarks and monuments in Pakistan turned blue in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Ziarat and Peshawar. The day also marks the 75th anniversary of United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef). This initiative is led by the Ministry of Human Rights, Unicef and its partners, to mark Pakistan’s collective commitment towards protecting child rights.

Since 2018, buildings, monuments and landmarks across the world turn blue to mark the day. World Children’s Day is celebrated every year on Nov 20 with the objective to raise awareness for millions of children that are denied their right to adequate health care, nutrition, education and protection, and to elevate young people’s voices as critical to any discussions about their future.

The report states that young people are also more likely to believe childhood itself has improved, with overwhelming majorities believing that healthcare, education, and physical safety are better for today’s children than for their parents’ generation.

Yet, despite their optimism, young people are far from naive, expressing restlessness for action on climate change, skepticism about information they consume on social media, and struggling with feelings of depression and anxiety. They are far more likely than older people to see themselves as global citizens, and more likely to embrace international cooperation to tackle threats like the Covid-19 pandemic.

The poll conducted in the survey titled ‘The Changing Childhood Project’ is the first of its kind to ask multiple generations for their views on the world and what it is like to be a child today.

More than 21,000 people across two age cohorts (15-24 years and 40 years) in 21 countries were asked questions. National surveys were undertaken in countries across all regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America .

The survey finds some areas of strong alignment between young and older generations – notably around climate, the importance of education, global collaboration and children’s agency. By contrast, optimism, global mindedness and recognition of historical progress reflect some of the deepest divides.

Overall, the data paints a picture of the young generation as products of globalisation. Young people (39pc) are on average almost twice as likely as older people (22pc) to identify most with being part of the world, versus their own nation or locale. With each additional year of age, people are on average about 1pc less likely to identify as a global citizen.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2021