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Statement 22 Mar 2022

Joint Statement on Early Childhood Development and the Ukraine Crisis

The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC), Moving Minds Alliance, the International Step by Step Association (ISSA), the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC), the Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN), and the Arab Network for Early Childhood Development (ANECD), are deeply concerned as we watch the violent conflict and humanitarian crisis unfold in Ukraine.

Sadly, the children caught up in this conflict will be the most adversely affected. We must put the protection, health, learning, well-being and developmental needs of Ukraine’s young children, 2 million children under the age of 5, at the heart of our response. The instability and resulting wounds and trauma that are being inflicted on children and families living in Ukraine, and who are now refugees, are tragic, and without any intervention will be long lasting from generation to generation. The global community must act now.