The report Equity among children was based on four criteria: family income, health, education and life satisfaction.
On all these indications, France occupies the 28th position on 35 rich countries members of the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The report thus highlights inequalities among children from rich countries. A problem due, according to Sébastien Lyon, general manager of Unicef France, to an “unequal deployment of services and resources to the detriment of the most vulnerable children, resulting in an accumulation of difficulties for the latter”.
Social assistance must be maintained in France
Parents’ salary side, France is 13th out of 35. An average position which shows that the income gaps are not so important compared to other countries. Only 9% of French children live in poverty. Social assistance for the most vulnerable families would have something to do with it, according to Sébastien Lyon.
If the French social shock absorbers are a good point to keep, the rest of the report underlines the increased inequalities for more than 10 years in the fields ofeducation, health or satisfaction in life.
School and health: children left behind
First, students in difficulty would not be supported enough at school, according to Sébastien Lyon. The report drew on the OECD Pisa surveys carried out in 2003 and 2012 and shows that the academic performance of 15-year-old students has fallen in 9 years.
Then the French health system, yet renowned for its value, would also show some dysfunctions, especially in the management of children’s health problems.
Thus, more than 30% of children aged 11 to 15 complain every day of headaches, back or stomach aches, dizziness, stress, depression, sleep disorders … food and a lack ofphysical activity, according to the general manager of Unicef France.
Health and well-being: inequalities between girls and boys
The situation is more worrying for girls. in whom health problems are more likely to continue into adulthood.
“In 34 countries examined, the probabilities that girls will be left behind in terms of health are significantly higher,” warn the authors of the report.
To the question “are you happy in your life?”, Not all French children answered in the affirmative. 15% of 15-year-old boys say they are not happy with their lives. This percentage rises to 30% for girls of the same age.
Conclusion of the authors of the report: social transfers and public policies must prioritize services and resources for the most underprivileged children in order to curb this situation.
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