Children are in especially difficult circumstances when their basic needs for food, shelter, education, medical care, protection, discrimination and security are not met. A majority of these marginalized, excluded and vulnerable children, are girls. Gender inequality compounds all forms of exclusion .

Around the world, access to clean drinking water is a daily struggle; with one in eight people lacking safe water. As a result of these contaminated water sources, a child is more likely to contract diarrhoeal and other pathogen based diseases or infections.