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In support of Unicef UK's report on child poverty, Baroness Massey of Darwen says it is 'imperative' that governments continue to break cycles of deprivation.
As long ago as 1979, Peter Townsend defined poverty as:
"Individuals, families and groups in the population can be said to be in poverty when they lack the resources to obtain the types of diet, participate in the activities, and have the living conditions and amenities which are customary, or are at least widely encouraged and approved in the societies in which they belong."
The UNICEF Report Card 10, published on May 29th presents league tables on child deprivation and relative child poverty. These two measures are taken together to examine the state of child poverty across the world's wealthiest nations.
Data on child deprivation rates have been drawn from all 27 countries of the European Union plus Norwayand Icelandaccording to the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions.
We live in difficult economic circumstances, but it is imperative that governments continue to support children and to break cycles of deprivation. Between the 1990s and up to 2008, the UKmade more progress than other nations. The fear is that we may slip behind if efforts to reduce poverty are not continued, even if targets are not met.
Such efforts would include support for parents and families.
As the UNICEF report states:
"The economic argument, in anything but the shortest term, is heavily on the side of protecting children from poverty."