Reactive Advocacy

Our ‘reactive advocacy’ work enables responses to emerging issues in global child health taking place over shorter time frames.

ICHG Statement: UK Aid Cuts Risk Millions of Preventable Child Deaths

On the 25th February 2025 the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a cut to government spending on Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) in order to increase defence spending. This comes on top of existing cuts to the UK aid budget since 2020 and a drastic reduction in development spending globally as major European donors cut back their commitments and the United States government signals an effective closure of its massive aid programme, USAID, in early 2025. As child health professionals and paediatricians we are gravely concerned about the irreversible and preventable harm these cuts will cause to newborns, children and young people across the globe. We call on the UK government to defy this prevailing trend and commit to distributive justice through a needs-based and child-focussed aid strategy.

The UK aid budget is already under extreme strain through a combination of pandemic-related economic contraction, a radical cut from the legally-binding 0.7% GNI target down to 0.5% in 2021, and an unprecedented proportion of ODA being spent domestically on asylum-seekers and refugees from 2022, effectively reducing UK aid by a further third.

These sudden and severe cuts have already caused significant harm to children and young people, falling most severely on the lowest income countries, humanitarian crises and those marginalised by disability and gender. UNICEF calculates a disproportionate cut to child-focussed UK aid spending of 56% between 2016 and 2022. UNFPA estimates that reversal of previous aid cuts could have averted 250,000 maternal and child deaths, and the dramatic scaling-back of childhood malnutrition and vaccination programmes in conflict zones will result in thousands of preventable child deaths.

We are alarmed about the potential impact of further reductions in UK aid. Cuts following the existing pattern will most seriously affect the world’s poorest, those living in humanitarian crises and will disproportionately impact children. As child health professionals we believe that aid spent on children and young people offers not only a powerful return on investment but is a humanitarian imperative for well-being and self-actualization with potentially long-term individual, societal and planetary health benefits. This imperative derives not only from what is morally right in the present, but also from acknowledging the long-standing health partnerships with many countries and our duty to invest in reversing the injustice of colonialism in creating enduring global health inequalities.

We call on the UK government to:

Reverse the decision to cut spending to 0.3% of GNI and return to the 0.7% pledge
Reduce the use of ODA for in-donor refugee costs (for example, following the recommendations of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact)
Commit to 25% of ODA being child-focussed, as proposed by UNICEF with specific monitoring of the impact of aid on children
Commit to global distributive justice through objective, needs-based decision-making on aid spending.

As child health professionals we believe that the decision to cut aid spending is short-sighted and the justification misguided. This is a moment for the UK to exercise leadership towards a more hopeful future for humanity. We join the call by more than 100 UK-based charities in strongly urging the government to reverse this latest cut and return to the 0.7% GNI spending commitment.

Joint Statement with ISSOP and Medact: Consequences of US Aid Freeze and WHO Withdrawal: A Global Health Crisis

The International Child Health Group (ICHG), the International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health (ISSOP) and Medact are deeply concerned by the impact of the Trump Administration’s decision to suspend foreign assistance on child health. In 2024 the US government spent $12.4 billion USD on global health and in 2023 $15.6 billion USD on humanitarian assistance[1,2]. This money funded lifesaving services for children around the globe from vaccines to bed nets and nutrition support to HIV treatment. This is alongside the decision to withdraw from the WHO; in turn pulling vital funds from an organisation whose mission is critical to positive global child health.

Humanitarian needs are growing as countries in the Global South struggle with conflict, climate change and rising debt. The number of children facing violence and displacement has grown to record levels. By cutting off funding at this time so abruptly many governments will struggle to respond and fill the gaps. This runs the risk of reversing the gains that have been made in child and neonatal mortality in recent decades.

Too many organisations have already been forced to suspend vital lifesaving work with immediate effect causing harm to children around the globe. Child health professionals globally are reporting devastating consequences with many forced to make heartbreaking decisions. In Sudan in the midst of a famine nutrition centres were told to close but staff chose to continue working and saving lives[3]. In Uganda PMTCT services were disrupted leading to newborns contracting HIV during delivery[4].

Children should not have to pay the price for foreign policy decisions made by others.

We call on the US Government to:

Immediately reinstate frozen assistance programmes that are vital to saving children's lives and ensure that funds and commodities are released in a timely manner,
Reconsider the decision to withdraw from the WHO.

We call on the UK and other donor Governments:

To provide increased financial support for countries for child health and humanitarian assistance to fill the gaps,
To collaborate with governments and local stakeholders in the Global South to support sustainable, locally led health system strengthening,
Prioritise global health and humanitarian assistance in bilateral dialogues with the US Government,
Support international entities essential to child health and wellbeing that are under threat politically and financially including the UNFCCC, WHO, UNRWA and UNFPA.

We stand in solidarity with other child health professionals in the US and globally trying to reverse this decision and mitigate the impacts.

References

Joint Statement with ISSOP on the ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza, 28th November 2024

The International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health (ISSOP) and the International Child Health Group (ICHG) express profound concern regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, particularly the devastating impact on children and adult non-combatants. Recent UN estimates indicate alarming figures:

Over 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza since 7th October 2023.
Over the past six months, a staggering 70% of casualties in Gaza have been women and children.

In a single year, more women and children have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military than in any other recent conflict, according to Oxfam. The scale of the impact is increasing as famine thresholds spread through northern Gaza and nine in 10 children under the age of five are thought to be affected by one or more infectious diseases.

This conflict represents a clear violation of children's rights, as defined by the UN, including:

Killing and maiming.
Attacks on schools and hospitals.
Denial of humanitarian access.
Abduction of children.

It is deeply troubling that a UN committee has recently stated that Israeli policies and practices in Gaza align with the characteristics of genocide. The ISSOP and ICHG unequivocally condemn the continued violations of international law by all parties involved, as highlighted by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

We urge the global community to take immediate and decisive action to protect children and all non-combatants. This includes:

Intensified global pressure on all parties Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran to cease hostilities immediately.
Enforcement of an embargo on offensive weapon sales or donations to these entities until a comprehensive ceasefire is achieved.
Securing the release of all hostages.
Implementing an immediate ceasefire.
Facilitating unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza, ensuring the delivery of food, water, medical supplies, and trauma-informed mental health services.

The protection of children and adult non-combatants, the safeguarding of medical facilities, and the upholding of their rights to safety, health, and life are paramount. The ISSOP and ICHG remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for the well-being of children, their families, and all those affected by this crisis. We implore the international community to act decisively to end the violence and ensure the safety and protection of all civilians, particularly the most vulnerable.

Statement from the ICHG on COP29, 19th November 2024

The International Child Health Group expresses deep concern about the profound and escalating impacts of climate change on human health. The World Health Organisation has identified climate change as the greatest threat to global health, and its effects are already being felt.

In the UK, heatwaves, extreme weather, and air pollution are contributing to thousands of excess deaths annually, alongside rising rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, adverse birth outcomes, and mental health challenges. Meanwhile, healthcare delivery faces mounting risks from overheating, flooding, and failing infrastructure, jeopardising patient care and safety.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made it clear that every additional degree of warming brings more severe health hazards. Urgent, ambitious action at COP29 is critical to mitigate these threats and protect the health of populations worldwide, particularly the most vulnerable, including children.

We call on global leaders to prioritise health in climate action, ensuring a just and sustainable future for all.

We call on the UK government to focus on the following:

Strengthen emissions reduction commitments to align with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, with clear timelines and accountability mechanisms.
Invest in sustainable healthcare systems, ensuring that hospitals, clinics, and healthcare infrastructure are resilient to climate impacts such as flooding and overheating.
Prioritise air quality improvements by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and expanding green spaces in urban areas to reduce pollution and its associated impacts on children's health.
Support global adaptation and mitigation efforts, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to protect children worldwide from the most severe climate-related health impacts.
Integrate climate education into health and education policies, empowering children and young people to be part of the solution while protecting their right to a safe and healthy future.

Urgent, ambitious action at COP29 is critical to mitigate these threats and ensure that children can thrive in a just and sustainable world. We call on global leaders to place child health at the heart of climate negotiations and to act decisively for their futures.

Statement regarding the Strike on Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine 11th July 2024

The International Child Health Group (ICHG) condemns in the strongest terms the recent strike on Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. As the largest children's hospital in the country, Okhmatdyt plays a crucial role in providing essential medical care to Ukraine's youngest and most vulnerable population. Such attacks on healthcare facilities, especially those serving children, are severe violations of international humanitarian law and are utterly unacceptable.

We echo the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) in expressing our profound concern and sadness over this tragic event. Hospitals must be safe havens, not targets. We call on all parties involved to respect and protect medical facilities and personnel, ensuring that children receive the care they need without fear of violence.

The ICHG stands in solidarity with the healthcare workers in Ukraine and urges the international community to take decisive action to prevent such atrocities and to hold accountable those responsible. We advocate for immediate and unfettered access to humanitarian aid to support the affected children and their families.

Joint ICHG and ISSOP Statement on Israel - Gaza, UNRWA funding, and the orders of the International Court of Justice 17th February 2024

ICHG and ISSOP issued another statement calling for the immediate reinstatement of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by the UK and other donor governments. The suspension of funding, including by the UK, USA, France, Germany, and others, is deemed potentially disastrous for the health and well-being of children in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The ICHG emphasizes the critical role of UNRWA in providing essential services for child health and highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The statement calls for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages, and unhindered humanitarian aid access, emphasizing that UNRWA is the only organization capable of large-scale healthcare and education provision in the region. The ICHG urges donor countries to prioritize evidence-based humanitarian assistance free from political motivations, stressing the importance of protecting the life and rights of children in the conflict.

Paediatricians call on UK Government to reverse international aid cuts this World Children's Day 19th November 2023

ICHG and RCPCH issued a joint statement ahead of the UK Global Nutrition Summit on World Children's Day, November 20, 2023, urging the UK to reclaim its position as a frontrunner in global nutrition efforts. The statement emphasised the importance of reinstating the commitment to allocate at least 0.7% of Gross National Income on overseas development assistance (ODA), reiterating its critical role in addressing global and regional nutrition challenges. Additionally, the statement called for collaborative endeavors with bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic partners to amplify the much-needed funding for nutrition programs. This collective call to action underscored the urgency of addressing global nutrition needs and urged the UK to play a pivotal role in spearheading these efforts.

ICHG and ISSOP joint statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict

The ICHG issued a statement in collaboration with the International Society for Social Paediatrics and Child Health (ISSOP) regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The statement underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis, emphasizing the devastating impact of the conflict on children and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. It stresses the importance of upholding international humanitarian law and ensuring the protection of child rights in the region.

Template Letter to MPs - Housing Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children in Hotels 15th February 2023

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, retweet and share the ICHG and RCPCH Joint Statement on Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children in unfit Home Office run hotel accommodation, published at the end of last week, highlighting the dangerous practice of housing UASC in Home Office run hotels.

Despite multiple calls for the government to halt this dangerous practice, from child health professionals, charities and advocacy groups, no end date has been announced. With 400 UASC having been reported missing since 2021 and 200 still unaccounted for, these children remain vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and trafficking every day that this policy continues.

Housing Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children in Hotels - Joint Statement of the International Child Health Group (ICHG) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 10th February 2023

Despite the undeniable legal duty of care, the Home Office has systematically failed unaccompanied asylum-seeking children housed in hotels in the south of England. Thousands of unaccompanied children have been placed in hotel accommodation since July 2021, despite repeated calls to end this practice due to the associated safeguarding risks and health harms. This joint statement written with RCPCH calls on the UK Government to end the practice of accommodating asylum seeking children in hotels, protect local authority resourcing to meet the needs of vulnerable children, adhere to national legal safeguarding frameworks, ensure the National Transfer Scheme is child-centred and trauma-informed and launch an independent inquiry into cases of missing children under Home Office funded hotels.

ICHG Advocacy position Statement - Afghanistan Humanitarian Crisis 18th August 2021

ICHG Position Statement in response to the evolving humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in August. Now is not a time to turn our backs on the children of Afghanistan. Both an increase in aid funding and mechanisms for safe refugee passage are urgently needed.

Joint Statement of the International Child Health Group (ICHG), Faculty of Public Health Global Health Committee and the Faculty of Public Health Yemen Special Interest Group 20th March 2021

The government's decision to halve total aid spending to Yemen during the world’s ‘worst humanitarian crisis in decades’ is, in the words of the UN secretary general, a ‘death sentence’. Preventing children from starving to death is the absolute minimum that could be expected from the most powerful governments in the world at this time of crisis. We believe the UK should be demonstrating leadership at this time.

ICHG Advocacy position statement: The Nationality and Borders bill

The UK was one of the founding signatories of the 1951 Refugee convention, an instrument which has protected the rights of refugees around the world ever since. This now risks being undermined by the legislation in the Nationality and Borders Bill which creates a 2 tier system and effectively criminalises refugees based on their mode of arrival.

ICHG Advocacy position statement on the transfer of asylum-seekers under the UK-Rwanda arrangement

We are profoundly disappointed and concerned by the decision of the UK government to proceed with plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda and externalise its fundamental obligations to people seeking asylum in the UK. The plans actively undermine the UN Refugee Convention which the UK contributed to creating after the second World War and is signatory to, and sets a negative precedent for the respect of the rights of refugees worldwide. As paediatricians, we wish to draw attention to the significant harm posed to children by this policy, either through being deported themselves, since children are not explicitly excluded and maybe be mistaken as adults during inaccurate age assessments, or due to separation from deported family members.

COVID-19

What do children across the world make of the COVID-19 pandemic? A Children’s Priority Focus project

The health and well-being of children is being given insufficient priority during this pandemic. ICHG has produced this video to bring together children’s voices around the globe, letting us know what they think. A big thank you to all the children that starred in this video!

ICHG Statement on Sharing COVID-19 Vaccines and Patent Waiver 7th May 2021

We call on the UK government to immediately share the UK’s Covid-19 vaccines where they are needed most, and support India’s request to remove Intellectual Property barriers to COVID-19 tool production. It is not right that while other countries face vaccine shortages amidst rapidly increasing deaths rates, we in the UK are planning to vaccinate low risk people during a waning epidemic, before sharing them.

ICHG + RCPCH Global COVID-19 Advocacy Statement 5th October 2020

Mothers, newborns and children, especially in the poorest countries, are suffering significant indirect impacts on health and care as a result of COVID-19, with potentially long-term adverse effects. Despite direct effects on children from the COVID-19 virus being rare so far, the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide could be catastrophic for children, with considerable excess death and suffering.