UNICEF: Protect Children's rights

The UNICEF report also praises China for its achievements in protecting children's rights. But the organization says more needs to be done for children left behind in rural areas.

Happy and healthy they may look. But these children in China's vast rural areas lack one very important - proper care and attention by their parents.

Some 58 million children are left behind in rural China, while their parents head to cities to make a living.

UNICEF says the situation of this group of children is an increasing concern.

Hana Brixi, Department Chief of Social Policy & Economic Snalysis, UNICEF, said, "In China, 58 million left behind without parents, though not the poorest, do suffer multiple deprivation...lower access to essential services, eg. health services. still agenda to be done."

The rising disparity caused by uneven economic advances is another challenge.

Infant mortality rates, for example, are almost five times higher in the most impoverished districts than in the wealthiest provinces.

UNICEF has proposed a solution.

Hana Brixi, Department Chief of Social Policy & Economic Snalysis, UNICEF, said,"One possibility for the Chinese government to reconsider is the anti-poverty strategy to not only emphasize income in household but also access for basic services for children. Another area is a whole set of policy is to address the trend of rising disparity, making sure that even in the rural remote villages, there are proper services for children."

In its report, UNICEF credits China's achievements in protecting children's rights over the past decades.

One highlight is the under-five mortality rate in the country. It was cut by half between 1990 and 2007. Another achievement is increased access to education, supported by the successful implementation of 9-year compulsory education policy.

"Despite major progress, UNICEF believes China still faces challenges in meeting the material and protection needs of children in poor areas and those affected by the massive migration of farmers. In the long run, the goal is a comprehensive social welfare system for all children in the country. "