On World Children's Day UNICEF calls for prioritizing investments in children

Caracas, November 20, 2025.- The representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Venezuela, Manuel Rodríguez Pumarol, called for the prioritization of child well-being, which should be considered as a strategic investment for the future of the country. 

Rodríguez Pumarol made this consideration in the framework of World Children's Day, which is celebrated every November 20 to commemorate the approval, in 1989, by the United Nations Assembly, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. He stressed that Venezuela was one of the first countries to ratify this international treaty, in 1990, "taking a crucial step towards the construction of a legal framework that protects and promotes children as full subjects of rights. This act was, and continues to be, a testament to the country's commitment to its childhood." 

For the UNICEF representative in Venezuela, it cannot be overlooked that this World Children's Day comes at a challenging time. "Around the world, children's rights are facing setbacks: poverty, conflict, climate change and reduced social investment threaten achievements that took decades." 

However, it proposes to see this landscape as a unique opportunity to trigger transformative change through greater and more efficient strategic investments focused on children. "Our estimates indicate that the rate of return on investment in early childhood programs can reach 13.7%. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on preschool education, 9 dollars of benefits are obtained for society, and the figure rises to 17 dollars in the case of children in situations of greater vulnerability." 

All of these benefits, he added, are reflected in improved health and education outcomes, lower crime rates, and increased individual incomes. "Investing in children's early development can increase individual incomes during adult life by up to 25%," he said.

Shared commitment 

Rodríguez Pumarol emphasized that a renewed commitment from all sectors – the State, the private sector, civil society organizations, international cooperation, and families – is necessary to place children and adolescents at the center of the agenda. 

"That implies increasing social investment for children; recognizing families and communities as the first protective environment, and continuing to work with hope and commitment, even in the most challenging times, so that every child and adolescent in Venezuela has the opportunity to live, learn, play, express themselves and thrive," he said.