Introduction
According to the latest analysis by Educación con Rumbo, an NGO in Mexico, more than 7 million children under six years old face systematic neglect without full access to healthcare, nutrition, identity, security, and education. This revelation is based on data from national and international organizations.
The Current State of Child Welfare in Mexico
Paulina Amozurrutia, the organization’s director, warns that “we are facing a generation of forgotten childhoods. A system failing to guarantee the bare minimum necessary for their full and integral development is in crisis.”
Out of the 12.4 million children under six in Mexico, nearly 6 million live in poverty, and over 7.3 million lack access to social security, according to UNICEF Mexico 2024 data. These conditions expose them from an early age to severe violations of five fundamental rights.
- Approximately 1.3 million children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
- More than 700,000 children have anemia.
- Six out of ten children under one year old do not have a complete vaccination schedule.
Dr. Patricia Ganem, coordinator of Educación con Rumbo’s Research Observatory, laments that “these data reveal a fragmented and insufficient health system.”
Educación con Rumbo’s Proposed Agenda
To address these pressing issues, Educación con Rumbo proposes the following agenda:
- Comprehensive Care: Attend to children from a biological, emotional, and social perspective with sufficient resources and coordination between secretariats and institutions.
- Shared Educational Responsibility: Involve families, teachers, communities, and governments in secure learning and development environments.
- Sustainable Public Policies: Prioritize effective strategies with a long-term vision to ensure the best interests of children.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? More than 7 million children under six in Mexico lack access to essential services, including healthcare, nutrition, identity, security, and education.
- Who is raising the alarm? Educación con Rumbo, an NGO dedicated to children’s rights and education.
- What are the proposed solutions? Comprehensive care for children, shared educational responsibility involving families and communities, and sustainable public policies prioritizing children’s well-being.
