A/70/213 executive branch of Government. 14 This research supports the case for human rights to be fully integrated into efforts to improve child health, survival and development. 23. Nevertheless, there are still very few concrete examples of the actual practical application of a human rights-based approach to child survival and development. In order to make a difference, States should be intentional and explicit about the application of a human rights-based approach in their laws, policies, programmes, budgets and other measures. III. Early childhood development and the right to the highest attainable standard of health A. Health and promotion of early childhood development 24. The Constitution of WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Development in childhood consists of interconnected domains: physical, cognitive linguistic and social-emotional. WHO states that the three critical elements of healthy child development are stable, responsive and nurturing caregiving; safe, supportive environments; and appropriate nutrition. 15 25. These elements can be safeguarded through best practices such as planned, safe pregnancy and childbirth; exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months followed by appropriate complementary feeding and responsive parenting; preventive interventions such as vaccines for the treatment of diseases; protection from violence, neglect and abuse; and the reduction of environmental risks. 26. Young children’s rights to health and development are intrinsically linked in two main ways. First, poor physical or mental health in early childhood is among several interconnected factors that can limit the right to optimal development. About 200 million children fail to reach their developmental potential because of poverty, inequality and discrimination; poor health; poor nutrition, including malnutrition and iodine and iron deficiency; intrauterine growth restriction; a lack of stable, nurturing and responsive environments with learning opportunities; and a lack of safe, supportive physical environments. 16 HIV/AIDS, malaria, violence and maternal depression also cause severe setbacks. 27. Second, the three main domains of early childhood development — physical, social-emotional and cognitive-linguistic — affect health throughout life. 17 All three domains must be given equal attention to promote development in a holistic manner, or healthy development. Research from neuroscience shows how the quality of emotional relationships in early childhood impacts on physical and mental health as well as on morbidity in adulthood. It also shows the detrimental impact of toxic stress and early childhood adversities on the quality of brain architecture and the health status during the life span as developmental stages build on one another. __________________ 14 15 16 17 15-12535 F. Bustreo and P. Hunt and others, Women’s and Children’s Health: Evidence of Impact of Human Rights (Geneva, WHO, 2013). See www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/child/development/10facts/en/ . R. Jolly, “Early child development: the global challenge”, Lancet, vol. 369, No. 9555 (6 January 2007), pp. 8-9. S. Maggi and others. 7/25