International Society for Child IndicatorsInternational Society for Child IndicatorsInaugural Conference, June 26-28, 2007Inaugural Conference, June 26-28, 2007Chicago, USAChicago, USA

Children and the Policy Agenda:Children and the Policy Agenda: Government Responses Government Responses to the Innocenti Report Card to the Innocenti Report Card

David Parker, David Parker, MPA, MPH, PhDMPA, MPH, PhD

Deputy DirectorDeputy DirectorUNICEF Innocenti Research CentreUNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

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UNICEF and child indicatorsUNICEF and child indicators

The Innocenti Research CentreThe Innocenti Research Centre

UNICEF and rich countriesUNICEF and rich countries

Academic partnerships in researchAcademic partnerships in research

Innocenti Report CardsInnocenti Report Cards

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

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Focus on rich countriesFocus on rich countries

Rankings using league tablesRankings using league tables

Academic/technical underpinningAcademic/technical underpinning

Written for lay audience, readable formatWritten for lay audience, readable format

Background papers for in-depth analysisBackground papers for in-depth analysis

Communication strategyCommunication strategy

THE INNOCENTI THE INNOCENTI REPORT CARDSREPORT CARDS

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Partnership with UNICEF Offices, National Committees, Partnership with UNICEF Offices, National Committees, academics, othersacademics, others

Joint planning of launch and disseminationJoint planning of launch and dissemination

Information kits – focus on strategic audiences, developed with Information kits – focus on strategic audiences, developed with close involvement of the research areaclose involvement of the research area

Advance distribution of PDFs and hard copiesAdvance distribution of PDFs and hard copies

Translation into French, Spanish & Italian; subsequently to Translation into French, Spanish & Italian; subsequently to Korean, Portuguese and RussianKorean, Portuguese and Russian

Interviews - newspaper, TV, radioInterviews - newspaper, TV, radio

Link with IRC website – research area and media centreLink with IRC website – research area and media centre

Coordination in followupCoordination in followup

REPORT CARDREPORT CARDCOMMUNICATION STRATEGYCOMMUNICATION STRATEGY

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Embargo until 14 February 10am Embargo until 14 February 10am

Launched on 14 February in OECD Countries, mainLaunched on 14 February in OECD Countries, mainlaunch in Berlin. launch in Berlin.

UNICEF German National Committee organized international UNICEF German National Committee organized international media launch with the IRC Director and Prof. Hans Betram, media launch with the IRC Director and Prof. Hans Betram, author of the German country case study.author of the German country case study.

Launch the following day at the European Commission, with Launch the following day at the European Commission, with Isabelle Engsted-Maquet, Secretary of the Indicators Sub-Group Isabelle Engsted-Maquet, Secretary of the Indicators Sub-Group of the EU Social Protection Committee, and Anne-Marie Brooks, of the EU Social Protection Committee, and Anne-Marie Brooks, Office of the Minister for Children, Ireland. Office of the Minister for Children, Ireland.

Simultaneous launches in other countries in Europe and beyond, Simultaneous launches in other countries in Europe and beyond, incl. Australia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, incl. Australia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and the UK.Spain and the UK.

LAUNCH OF THELAUNCH OF THEREPORT CARDREPORT CARD

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Extensive coverage, in print and web servicesExtensive coverage, in print and web services

Virtually global coverage – all continents, all major Virtually global coverage – all continents, all major media servicesmedia services

Second print run of hard copiesSecond print run of hard copies

Approx 40,000 downloads from IRC website in first Approx 40,000 downloads from IRC website in first monthmonth

Strong coverage in editorial columns, blogsStrong coverage in editorial columns, blogs

MEDIA COVERAGE – OVERALLMEDIA COVERAGE – OVERALL

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News Headlines from the Report CardNews Headlines from the Report Card

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Public attention to “happiness”Public attention to “happiness”(vs economic growth and material attainment)(vs economic growth and material attainment)

Inquiry into the state of childhood (R. Layard)Inquiry into the state of childhood (R. Layard)

Concern about the state of youth – gang violenceConcern about the state of youth – gang violence

Time of national self-reflection – leadership (PM) Time of national self-reflection – leadership (PM) transitiontransition

Child poverty as a policy target, recent assessmentsChild poverty as a policy target, recent assessments

THE UNITED KINGDOM - THE UNITED KINGDOM - CONTEXTCONTEXT

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Last in overall ranking of CWBLast in overall ranking of CWB BBC broke media embargo, gave intensive coverageBBC broke media embargo, gave intensive coverage

with interviews, debates, commentary and repeatedwith interviews, debates, commentary and repeatedattention - “Are we failing our children”?attention - “Are we failing our children”?

Initial Government reaction – defensive, incl. data out of dateInitial Government reaction – defensive, incl. data out of date Support of findings by experts, incl. the Children’s Support of findings by experts, incl. the Children’s

Commissioner of England (A. Aynsley)Commissioner of England (A. Aynsley) Criticism of the RC among some media – relative poverty issue Criticism of the RC among some media – relative poverty issue Support by NGOs (looking to society, not only government)Support by NGOs (looking to society, not only government) Criticism by opposition particies, 2 statements by PM BlairCriticism by opposition particies, 2 statements by PM Blair Debates in all legislative branches of British governmentDebates in all legislative branches of British government Role in additional budget allocation against child poverty?Role in additional budget allocation against child poverty? Ditchley Park conferenceDitchley Park conference

UK – LAUNCHING AND UK – LAUNCHING AND NATIONAL RESPONSENATIONAL RESPONSE

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UNICEF National Committee supported the preparationUNICEF National Committee supported the preparationof the studyof the study

National case study prepared, as done also for RC6National case study prepared, as done also for RC6 Held EU Presidency at time of launchHeld EU Presidency at time of launch Middle ranking in CWB (headlined as “merely mediocre”) Middle ranking in CWB (headlined as “merely mediocre”) 70 journalists at launch/press conference70 journalists at launch/press conference Est. 1000 media articles, reaching 120m readers & viewersEst. 1000 media articles, reaching 120m readers & viewers Politicians supported the report; strong national debatePoliticians supported the report; strong national debate National case study author is an adviser to the Ministry of National case study author is an adviser to the Ministry of

FamilyFamily NGOs and parliamentarians used launch occasion to discuss NGOs and parliamentarians used launch occasion to discuss

children’s rights and movement to advance protection of children’s rights and movement to advance protection of children’s rights nationallychildren’s rights nationally

GERMANYGERMANY

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Not an active launch process – UNICEF focusNot an active launch process – UNICEF focuson work in developing countrieson work in developing countries

Story picked up in US media, national coverage for Story picked up in US media, national coverage for 2+ weeks2+ weeks

Most critical media reception – questioning low US Most critical media reception – questioning low US ranking, relevance of inequality measureranking, relevance of inequality measure

Did not become a political issue at national levelDid not become a political issue at national level

But strong local coverage, focus of debate and issue But strong local coverage, focus of debate and issue coveragecoverage

Continues to arise - Op-Ed columnsContinues to arise - Op-Ed columns

U.S.A.U.S.A.

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Netherlands, Nordic countries – high rankingsNetherlands, Nordic countries – high rankingsspurred media coveragespurred media coverage

Poland – higher ranking than US/UKPoland – higher ranking than US/UK

Greece – explanations, commentaryGreece – explanations, commentary

Hungary – relatively low rankingHungary – relatively low ranking

Italy - + family relations, - educational rankingsItaly - + family relations, - educational rankings

Others – focus on rankings, methodology, individual Others – focus on rankings, methodology, individual component scorescomponent scores

COVERAGE ELSEWHERE –COVERAGE ELSEWHERE –Shaping National DebatesShaping National Debates

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France and US – questioned some indicatorsFrance and US – questioned some indicators

Canada – used to promote idea of a Children’s Canada – used to promote idea of a Children’s CharterCharter

European Parliament – launch followup; statements European Parliament – launch followup; statements by issued by Socialist and Conservative groupsby issued by Socialist and Conservative groups

EU/EC – support to existing movement toward multi-EU/EC – support to existing movement toward multi-dimensional approach; attention to child poverty and dimensional approach; attention to child poverty and social exclusion (Bradshaw index)social exclusion (Bradshaw index)

Various: more complete and up to date data availableVarious: more complete and up to date data available

SOME OTHER GOVERNMENT SOME OTHER GOVERNMENT RESPONSES AND FOLLOW-UPRESPONSES AND FOLLOW-UP

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Excluded dimensions in the analysisExcluded dimensions in the analysis

More nuance in poverty measuresMore nuance in poverty measures

How to differentiate within countries (particularly large How to differentiate within countries (particularly large countries, minority groups)countries, minority groups)

To weight or not to weight?To weight or not to weight?

General appreciation of data availability constraintsGeneral appreciation of data availability constraints

Overall support – with calls to refine the Overall support – with calls to refine the multidimensional approachmultidimensional approach

ACADEMIC REACTIONSACADEMIC REACTIONS

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ELEMENTS IN NATIONAL ELEMENTS IN NATIONAL RESPONSERESPONSE

MESSAGE

AGENTS (media, other actors)

CONTEXT

“Resonance”

“Connectivity”

“Packaging”

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Stresses the multidimensional nature of CWB Stresses the multidimensional nature of CWB

Appeal: indicators deal with feelings and relationshipsAppeal: indicators deal with feelings and relationships

The RC shows “what it is like being a child” (J. Unwin)The RC shows “what it is like being a child” (J. Unwin)

Parents, children and the public can relate to individual Parents, children and the public can relate to individual dimensions; quotable, discussabledimensions; quotable, discussable

Highlight weak link between GDP/capita and CWB rankingHighlight weak link between GDP/capita and CWB ranking

Decomposable – presentation stresses individual dimensions of Decomposable – presentation stresses individual dimensions of CWBCWB

““All countries can do better” (UNICEF) vs focus on rankings – All countries can do better” (UNICEF) vs focus on rankings – winners and loserswinners and losers

Relative income poverty – an issue in RC6, carried over to RC7Relative income poverty – an issue in RC6, carried over to RC7- Ideological to some – the importance of inequality- Ideological to some – the importance of inequality- Is poverty meaningful when minimum needs are met?- Is poverty meaningful when minimum needs are met?

ISSUES ARISING: MESSAGEISSUES ARISING: MESSAGE

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Diverse interests and approachesDiverse interests and approaches

Not possible to have anticipated the demandNot possible to have anticipated the demand

Media ‘tipping point’ reached early: BBC (though brokeMedia ‘tipping point’ reached early: BBC (though brokeembargo) set momentum and tone of coverage around the worldembargo) set momentum and tone of coverage around the world

Unusual for a report to have such coverage, esp. if not ‘exclusive’Unusual for a report to have such coverage, esp. if not ‘exclusive’

Active debate in media – but little questioning of validity or Active debate in media – but little questioning of validity or methodsmethods

Confusion noted in interpretation of RC statistics:Confusion noted in interpretation of RC statistics:- relative vs absolute nature of country scores- relative vs absolute nature of country scores- ranges and scaling of graphics- ranges and scaling of graphics- interpreting relative income poverty- interpreting relative income poverty

ISSUES ARISING: MEDIAISSUES ARISING: MEDIA

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UNICEF – credible, impartial, known locallyUNICEF – credible, impartial, known locally

Academic base – consultations; Bradshaw et al; BertramAcademic base – consultations; Bradshaw et al; Bertram

UNICEF National Committees – press conferences, UNICEF National Committees – press conferences, press releases, forums – 13+ were actively involvedpress releases, forums – 13+ were actively involved

Role of NGOs – resonated with their concerns, thoughtful Role of NGOs – resonated with their concerns, thoughtful commentarycommentary

A higher technical bar working in with governments than working A higher technical bar working in with governments than working with media – and a different bar than in working with academiawith media – and a different bar than in working with academia

Consult in advance with governments?Consult in advance with governments?

ISSUES ARISING: OTHER ISSUES ARISING: OTHER ACTORS, including GovernmentsACTORS, including Governments

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In many countries, effectiveness arose from links toIn many countries, effectiveness arose from links topre-existing national debates on CWB, family, etcpre-existing national debates on CWB, family, etc

Data issues important: completeness, up-to-datenessData issues important: completeness, up-to-dateness(recognition of govt engagement)(recognition of govt engagement)

Complementarity – international comparison vis a vis national Complementarity – international comparison vis a vis national (multi-year, subnational, etc) studies(multi-year, subnational, etc) studies

At what point does context determine the relevance of particular At what point does context determine the relevance of particular CWB indicators? (implications for global comparability)CWB indicators? (implications for global comparability)

Multiple layers of debate: Children in current politics >> children Multiple layers of debate: Children in current politics >> children and the “state of the nation”and the “state of the nation”

Using indicators to stimulate new national debates on child and Using indicators to stimulate new national debates on child and social well-beingsocial well-being

Future IRC work on child well-being?Future IRC work on child well-being?

ISSUES ARISING: CONTEXTISSUES ARISING: CONTEXT

Innocenti Report Card No. 7Innocenti Report Card No. 7Child Poverty in Perspective: Child Poverty in Perspective:

An Overview of Child Well-being in Rich CountriesAn Overview of Child Well-being in Rich Countries

Thank YouThank You

www.unicef-irc.orgwww.unicef-irc.org