Natural disasters, wars, and health crises test humanity. When the world suffers most, humanitarian organizations intensify their efforts to ease pain and shield children in particular. Yet the question remains: are children truly protected? This concern is voiced by Jose Maria Vera, born in Madrid in 1965, who leads UNICEF Spain. With a long history of international cooperation, the organization will host a conference tomorrow in the Rector’s Hall at 19:30. The focus will be on whether the social challenges of the Sustainability agenda are being addressed within the In Código Aberto cycle led by the President of Inditex and the UDC of Sustainability.
The urgent social challenges facing the international community and humanitarian organizations are explored through a candid lens. The core issues include reducing child poverty and inequality, placing childhood at the center of policy and action; responding to climate change, which manifests as extreme heat, droughts, and floods that threaten nutrition and child survival; addressing educational disruptions and gaps in immunization and health services intensified by the pandemic; and protecting mental health. This also covers vulnerable countries affected by armed conflict, with Ukraine drawing particular attention, as well as Syria, Turkey after the earthquake, and forgotten conflicts in the Central African Republics, Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
Some observers question whether progress has truly benefited the child population in recent years. The assessment highlights gains in reducing infant mortality, eradicating polio, sustaining immunization, and expanding primary education in the years before the financial crisis of 2008 to 2012. These improvements often mirrored the broader development of societies, supported by resilient communities and families that protect children’s rights and foster their growth.
In recent years, the world has faced a sequence of shocks. The pandemic, ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and renewed war pressures have combined with climate stress to form what many call a polycrisis. This mix has driven a fuel, energy, and inflation squeeze that affects families everywhere. For children, the consequences include gaps in basic vaccination, postponed schooling, and a fragile education system. It is estimated that about 100 million children fell into poverty due to the pandemic, eight million suffer from malnutrition in the Horn of Africa, and 36.5 million children have had to leave their homes due to weather events and conflict.
Is Spain immune to these trends? The indicators show a regression in the country as well. Child poverty has risen, and the data for inflationary effects remains incomplete. The latest living conditions survey referencing 2020 and 2021 reveals a 1.7 percent increase in the number of children at risk of poverty and exclusion, a rise that outpaces the general poverty risk within the population.
The triple crisis also leaves its mark on Spain. While awareness of how climate change and pollution affect children’s health grows, the full weight of warming, pollution, and the pandemic impact on mental health remains prominent. War and inflation influence daily life, and the structural nature of these challenges shows through insufficient social protection. Spain continues to face significant gaps in child well-being relative to other European peers, including weaker social transfer impact on poverty reduction, difficulty securing decent housing, and job insecurity, particularly for single-mother families.
Have large companies stepped up sustainability as crises deepen social challenges? In the past decade, corporate social responsibility has shifted toward strategic, action-oriented projects and volunteer programs. Yet there is a call for a more robust response. The same energy directed at profits is needed in social programs, economic contributions, and transparent communication. More investment in information technology, vaccines, water access, and climate adaptation is essential. It is hoped that greater involvement will strengthen schools’ internet connectivity, expand vaccination coverage, and support communities in adapting to climate change. The message is clear: more action is required now to protect the most vulnerable children and to advance sustainable development across societies.