At least one in ten children or 220 million children worldwide, are growing without adequate care of their parent, SOS Ghana can report.

This puts the child’s emotional, physical, and mental development at risk.

As part of efforts to solve this problem, the SOS Children’s Villages is launching the worldwide children’s rights campaign under the theme: "No child should grow up alone."

The worldwide campaign coincides with the Universal Children’s Day celebration which falls on 20 November, 2016.

A statement issued by SOS Ghana says the loving care for a child means: "Loving and stable care from at least one adult; a home that guarantees the child’s physical and emotional safety and well-being; adequate nutrition, health care, education, and other basic needs as children."

The National Director SOS Ghana Alexander Mar Kekula says “If even one of these three things is missing it can have serious consequences for a child’s physical, emotional, and mental development. This burden is like a backpack they have to carry for the rest of their lives, and the more serious the situation, the heavier the backpack.”  

In more than 125 countries and territories SOS Children’s Villages supports families in crisis and provides caring families for children who have lost parental care or who are at risk of losing it.

“Every mom and dad knows that raising a child is a major challenge. When parents struggle with poverty, depression, illness or domestic violence, it can become very difficult to give a child what they need to grow. The very real threat of downward spiral in a vulnerable family’s situation too often results in children missing out on the care they need, or even growing up alone and extremely vulnerable. This situation is what SOS Children's Villages absolutely wants to eradicate.”

SOS Children’s Villages is therefore calling on everyone to leave no child behind.

"Every child has the right to a family that cares for them. And because investing in these children, so that they can develop into strong adults who contribute to society, is important for a sustainable future," the statement said.

The SOS is urging government to  put children who have lost parental care, or who risk losing parental care, high on their political agenda and commit the resources required to support them with quality care, which is their right as children;

Among other things the SOS is also calling on "businesses, as powerful entities to invest in building a society where no child is left behind; parents must listen to children, learn about children’s rights, and be aware of how many children do not get the loving care they deserve and need"

Finally, "every person who is in a position to help – please help. Don’t look away from children who are alone and vulnerable. Join us in taking action to ensure that no child grows up alone," the statement said.