Impacts of Early Emotional Development

The area of the world I chose to investigate was Central and West Africa because I have always been fascinated with Africa. I would like to visit there and dreamed of working and teaching these when I was a teenager. I have been adopting children from African through World Vision for almost 30 years. According to UNICEF:

Human Rights: Children in West and Central Africa have their rights violated on a daily basis to an extent that is worse than anywhere else in the world. Children deprived of liberty in West Africa face severe ill treatment and grave human rights violations. This includes unnecessary confinement in unsafe and inhumane living conditions, a high risk of sexual and physical abuse, acute malnutrition, illness and psychological trauma. Children in the region are commonly detained without charges or for offences that should be handled by protection authorities, such as child prostitution, begging and witchcraft. Poor children and children from marginalized groups are also overrepresented in the system, making up the majority of detained children in many countries. Close to 5 million children in West & Central Africa are orphaned by AIDS and have to build their future and that of their brothers and sisters without the caring and protective environment of one or both of their parents. Among the 15 countries in the world with the worst under 5 mortality statistics, 10 are in West and Central Africa. Here, at any time 1 out of 4 children are underweight, giving the region the unwanted status of having the highest prevalence estimates for underweight in the world.

Poverty: Close to half of the population of the region lives below the poverty line and 2/3 of the countries in the region are classified as “weak” on the Human Development Index.

Malnutrition is widespread in the region. Children that do survive to their 5th birthday often do not end up going to school. Malnutrition contributes to 35% of all the child deaths in the region. Malnourished children fall sick more often. When they survive, they can suffer from irreversible mental and physical impairment. An estimated 11% of children under age 5 suffer from acute malnutrition (wasting). Acute malnutrition is the type of malnutrition which damages children’s health and is life-threatening. About 7.8 million children suffer from wasting in West and Central Africa. Chronic malnutrition is due to long lasting deficiencies of ‘micronutrients’ — substances like vitamin A and iodine that are needed, often in only tiny amounts, to ensure adequate bodily functions. Chronic malnutrition can turn into acute malnutrition when a child gets sick or when the dietary intakes are too poor.

Conflict and instability continue to affect several countries in the region. Others are emerging from years of civil war or are in a situation of chronic political instability that risks turning into open and sustained conflict. Civil wars are leading to forced population movements, the separation of children from their families, recruitment of children into armed groups and a dramatic increase of sexual violence, especially against women and girls.

Violence against children takes many different forms in the region, including domestic violence, early marriage and other forms of violence based on cultural beliefs and gender norms, violence in institutions, particularly in schools, and exploitation through child labor and domestic work. Sexual violence against children is widespread and particularly prevalent at home, in schools or at a child’s place of work. Rates of gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict areas are alarming.

Weak child protection systems: Against a background where social and economic protection has traditionally been the responsibility of families and communities, formal child protection systems remain weak or non-existent for most children in the region. Government and non-governmental structures are characterized by weak capacities and resources, lack of coordination and inadequate monitoring mechanisms.

Child labor: 1/3 of boys and girls in West and Central Africa work, many in harmful and hazardous conditions. According to UNICEF, there has been little reduction in the overall percentage of children who work.

Child trafficking: Over the past decade, UNICEF has played an important role in strengthening prevention and responses to child trafficking in the region. Regional partnerships have been strengthened to develop systems and services for the prevention and response to the exploitation of children through improved sub-regional collaboration and coordination. Anti-trafficking efforts are now being integrated in more comprehensive child protection systems.

Migration and mobility of children: Migration in West and Central Africa has long historic roots and the migration of children has to be understood within a broader context of cultural, religious and ethnic relations, economic strategies and social mobility. Many of these children are often forced into child labor and sexual exploitation.

Education: 40% percent of girls and 30% of boys are not in school. High drop-out rates and low transition rates from the first to the fifth grade are other challenges the region faces. Low education levels are a source of vulnerability for children. They limit their economic opportunities and deprive them from access to information about sources of support and protection. Poverty and traditional beliefs keep 40% of all children out of school.

The implications for an early childhood education are staggering. The lifelong damage resulting from detention and abuse of children is well documented. Children deprived of their liberty are more likely to be illiterate, excluded and remain poor. Research also demonstrates that trauma associated with abusive prison conditions, corporal punishment, rape and persistent ill treatment have significant consequences on a child’s long term cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. Once labeled a “delinquent,” boys and girls are often stigmatized and shunned by their families and communities, leading to a life of rejection, shame and poverty.

Reading these kinds of statistics is always startling and heart-wrenching for me. Growing up and living in America can greatly skew one’s perspective of the global issues that face children today. Studying this region of the world gives me a greater understanding of not only how truly blessed I am, but what a responsibility I have to help alleviate the suffering of the world’s children. I have spent over 30 years adopting children from this region, but it’s just not enough. It is through my master’s degree work that I have discovered a deep desire to become more actively involved in bringing to bear the disparity and needs of the children of the world.

UNICEF. (2012). Retrieved http://www.unicef.org/wcaro/

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