The World’s Tiniest Campaign ‘Minifesto’ Launches at the United Nations Calling For BIG Early Childhood Action

• Campaigners demand urgent investment to end global early years crisis
• Leaders urged not to overlook the world’s youngest children
• Early childhood advocates call for $1bn in new funding to support children’s early years

New York, NY— 09 September 2024— In a bold and imaginative initiative, leading early childhood organizations have unveiled the world’s tiniest campaign ‘Minifesto’  at the United Nations.

This small but powerful document aims to capture the attention of global leaders gathering at the United Nations General Assembly and ignite action on early childhood development – a sector that has long been underfunded and neglected.

The ‘Minifesto’ is intentionally small in size but vast in ambition. It stands in stark contrast to the lengthy policy papers often dominating international forums.

It is part of the Act for Early Years campaign, which is calling for world leaders to prioritise investment in children’s early years.  The campaign, backed by leading early childhood organisations such as UNICEF, UNESCO and Theirworld, is calling for at least $1 billion in new funding as a start, and calling for the first international Financing Summit on Early Years, a groundbreaking event aimed at securing the investments needed to transform outcomes for all children.

World leaders set a target in 2015 that every child should have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education by 2030. But nine years on the target is off track and there is no recognised funded plan in place to achieve it.

More than half of the world’s children – 350 million – do not have access to the childcare they need, according to the World Bank. About half of pre-primary aged children are not enrolled in any form of early education.

A recent global survey of teachers by Theirworld revealed that children around the world are falling behind even before they enter a classroom.

Teachers in several countries said their students were less ready to start school than a few years ago. Many highlighted low preschool attendance as a key factor.

Early childhood advocates argue that the evidence is clear: investing in the early years is vital to addressing global challenges such as poverty and inequality, and crucial to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Justin van Fleet, President of Theirworld, urged world leaders to act now to prevent millions of children falling behind.

“What is needed now is not more debate, but decisive action from world governments to support our youngest children,” he said. “World leaders meeting at the UN must not overlook the youngest children simply because they aren’t present in the room when major decisions are made.”

He said the ‘Minifesto’ was a reminder that “even the tiniest idea can drive big change”.

This ‘Minifesto’ is a serious call for a global revolution in how we invest in the early years. Our message to world leaders is simple but profound: ‘It’s time to end the global early years crisis and invest in the world’s youngest children – they are the foundation for our future.

Crafted in the style of children’s drawings, the ‘Minifesto’ makes an urgent case for investment in early childhood. It underscores that addressing issues like poverty and inequality starts with supporting young children.

It outlines three major Catalytic Actions to resolving the global early years crisis:

• Catalytic Action 1: Universal access to quality primary healthcare: Every child, from pregnancy through early childhood, must have access to health and child development services.
• Catalytic Action 2: Universal access to quality preschool education: Free and compulsory preschool education should be a right for every child, laying the foundation for future success.
• Catalytic Action 3: Universal support for families: Affordable, quality childcare, child benefits and support for parents and caregivers are critical to raising healthy, happy, and well-developed children.

The campaign is also calling for the first international Financing Summit on Early Years, a groundbreaking event aimed at securing the investments needed to transform outcomes for all children.

Maya Ziswiler, CEO of the Roger Federer Foundation – a champion of the Act For Early Years campaign – said: “We’re grateful to be a part of this powerful movement that allows us to amplify our message on the vital importance of school readiness. We’re confident that the Act for Early Years’ ‘Minifesto’ will compel global leaders to invest more into the wellbeing and education of our youngest children.”

The public is invited to support the campaign by signing the ‘Minifesto’. These names and messages will be presented to world leaders at the United Nations.