International Society for Child Indicators International Society for Child Indicators Inaugural Conference, June 26-28, 2007 Inaugural Conference, June 26-28, 2007 Chicago, USA Chicago, USA Children and the Policy Children and the Policy Agenda: Agenda: Government Responses Government Responses to the Innocenti Report Card to the Innocenti Report Card David Parker, David Parker, MPA, MPH, PhD MPA, MPH, PhD Deputy Director Deputy Director UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre
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David Parker, MPA, MPH, PhD Deputy Director UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre
International Society for Child Indicators Inaugural Conference, June 26-28, 2007 Chicago, USA Children and the Policy Agenda: Government Responses to the Innocenti Report Card. David Parker, MPA, MPH, PhD Deputy Director UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre. BACKGROUND. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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
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
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
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