The year’s five biggest wins for children in Europe and Central Asia

The world faces many challenges, especially for children. But as 2024 comes to a close, we want to reflect on some of the changes we have seen for children across our region this year – including success stories, solutions and spots of hope.

Here are five of Europe and Central Asia’s achievements for children in 2024.

1. One country banned corporal punishment, protecting 4 million children from violence – and another committed to doing the same

In August, Tajikistan became the world’s 67^th country to ban any form of physical discipline of children, whether at home or at school – a law that stands to protect the country’s 4 million from violence, and in doing prevents the immediate and long-term consequences of violence on children. Decades of research show that corporal punishment increases children’s later risks of mental health disorders, chronic physical health issues, impaired cognitive and emotional development, and of diminished academic achievements.

In November, the government of Kyrgyzstan committed to pass a ban on the physical punishment of children in all settings.

While legislation alone will not protect children, legal bans have been shown to be a critical first step in ending corporal punishment. They raise awareness of its negative impact and send a clear message that hurting children, for any reason, is never acceptable. In other countries that have banned physical punishment, such as Romania, Kenya, Japan and Germany, the use of corporal punishment declined after bans were passed.

2. Four more nations made a legal commitment to child-centred climate action

The Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action is the world’s first intergovernmental commitment to accelerate inclusive, child and youth-centered climate policies and action at national and global levels.

In 2024, four more countries from the Europe and Central Asia region –  Montenegro, Tajikistan, Croatia and Azerbaijan – signed the pact, bringing the number of signatories to 21.

The pact, which commits signatories to advocate for children’s rights for a healthy environment, accelerate investment in child-responsive climate adaptation measures, and enhance children’s participation in climate change processes, among other goals, is aimed at protecting both children and their rights in the climate crisis.

Read more about the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action.

3.  Kosovo protected 75 per cent of its 6th-grade girls against cervical cancer

Vaccination rates against some diseases are stagnating or declining in the region. More than 500,000 children in Europe and Central Asia have not been protected against measles, while 120,000 children have not received any routine vaccinations at all. Yet against the ongoing challenge to protect every child against vaccine-preventable disease, there are success stories.

One such story has played out in Kosovo[i], where the prevalence of women having cancer of the reproductive organs, including cervical cancer, has been on the rise. Around 95 per cent of all cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV – a vaccine-preventable virus. After adding the HPV vaccine to its universal vaccination schedule, Kosovo rolled out a large vaccination campaign to adolescent girls early in 2024.

By autumn 2024, three-quarters of all sixth-grade girls in Kosovo had received the vaccine – a rate far outstripping the European Union average of 40 per cent. This means more than 9,000 girls have now been protected against a variety of potentially deadly cancers, including cervical, vaginal and vulvar. As the campaign continues, even more lives will be saved.

Read more about Kosovo’s extraordinary efforts to extinguish HPV.

4. Hundreds of children were placed in family-based settings instead of residential institutions, and thousands of social workers will be trained to help them

Every child has the right to grow up in a nurturing family environment. When they are separated from their families and placed into residential institutions, the impact can be lifelong, leaving lasting scars on their mental health and psychological well-being. This is why UNICEF remains deeply committed to working with governments in our region to keep families together, and, when necessary, find family-based alternatives to residential care.

One success story has been in Moldova, which has been working on closing its residential institutions since 2008. As of this year, no such facilities – including boarding schools  – remain in the country today, aside from two special schools that are also in the process of being closed. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection also has launched a new deinstitutionalization strategy cycle this year, ensuring it takes the best next steps for the children who are in alternative care.

In Uzbekistan, meanwhile, a new Social Worker Centre of Excellence was opened this year, which will train thousands of social workers in ways to keep families together and support children in foster care.

Read more about why we care about keeping families together.

5. Government officials from all five countries in Central Asia committed to making schools safer for children.

Due to the climate crisis, disasters such as floods, heatwaves and mudslides are becoming more common across the region, including in Central Asia. But many buildings – including schools – have not been constructed to be resilient against these impacts, putting children’s lives at risk.

This year, government officials from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan agreed to accelerate progress in delivering on the Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector Comprehensive School Safety Framework – which includes policies that support child rights, sustainability, and resilience in the education sector, more resilient school buildings and infrastructure, and educating communities on local disaster risks and how to prepare and respond.

Meanwhile, a conference in November in Montenegro drew together the governments of 55 member states, along with dozens of child advocates, to set a pathway for change. This included unveiling a call to action with 15 key recommendations for governments, developed through consultations with more than 2,700 young people from 20 countries.

Read more about the Call to Action of the Road to Resilience for Europe and Central Asia’s Children and Youth.

[i] All references to Kosovo are to be understood in the context of the UN Security Council Resolution1999