Shakira urges global leaders to aid to aid in early childhoo
L-R: Dr. Jack Shonkoff, of Harvard University; UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake; Madame Yoo Soon-taek; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Shakira; and Matthew Bishop, of The Economist, at the ‘Meeting of the Minds' event
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NEW YORK, 22 September 2015 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira today urged global leaders to invest heavily in early childhood development in the wake of new science that is creating a revolutionary shift in our understanding of the lasting effects of deprivation and stress on the developing brains of young children.
"More than 100 million children are out of school and 159 million boys and girls under five are physically and cognitively stunted due to a lack of care and proper nutrition," said Shakira. “Every year that passes without us making significant investment in early childhood development and initiatives that address these issues, millions of kids will be born into the same cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity.”
“UNICEF and I have joined forces and are here today because investing early in children is an urgent matter and there isn't another moment to lose,” she added.