Over the past 20 years, thanks to large investments by the international community, the rate of infant mortality in the world decreased by 33%, with many more children having access to primary education than in the past. However, the living conditions of young people aged between 10 and 19 years (1.2 billion worldwide, of which 9 out of 10 live in developing countries) have not marked much progress. These are the main findings of the latest UNICEF report, which this year focuses mainly on adolescents. The successes in improving the lives of the children may in fact vanish precisely when young people face the delicate transition from childhood to adulthood. To date, more than 70 million of them do not attend intermediate school. The consequences of a prematurely drop out may be even more severe for girls. In particular, those who marry too early, for example, risk of falling into a negative cycle of teenage pregnancy, high rates of maternal mortality and child malnutrition. Moreover, females experience more domestic violence than men and are more subject to the risk of HIV infection. Without surprises, the lowest levels of life and wellbeing of children are recorded in sub-Saharan African region, while the highest ones in Europe.
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