Lets make the 17th of September a Global Day on Early Childhood Development

Neglect of early childhood in countries especially developing countries prompted the UN Committee to devote its Day of General Discussion 2004 (17 September) to early childhood – defined as ‘the period below the age of 8 years’. The UN Committee set out its vision for rights in early childhood in General Comment 7 (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2005). General Comment 7 offers a broad interpretation of the right to education in early childhood, as beginning at birth and closely linked to young children’s right to development. General Comment 7 advocates comprehensive, rights-based multisectoral strategies especially for the most vulnerable groups, including community-based services, both for children and for their caregivers.

Globally, it is estimated that over 200 million children under 5 years of age are not reaching their full potential in mental and social development owing to extreme poverty, and poor health and nutrition. For optimal development young children need loving, warm, consistent and responsive caregivers, within a stimulating environment, with play materials, and opportunities for interaction and learning. Underpinning all of this are good nutrition and health. The environment in early childhood affects brain development.

ZEChiDEF is advocating for the setting aside of the 17th of September, each year as a Global Day on Early Childhood development to celebrate the importance of early childhood development in building and developing humanity. The Global Day on ECD will be used to raise widespread awareness on the importance of early childhood development, call for more funding to support early childhood development and to call for leaders to institute sound policies that support ECD.