Children attend class during the opening of a new semester at the Elementary School of Simon Rodriguez in Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 5, 2016. About 2 million Cuban students returned to schools and universities on Monday. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)
HAVANA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Children are more likely to grow up healthy and educated in Cuba than in any other country in Latin America, according to an international study released here on Thursday.
The annual report published by the British nongovernmental organization Save the Children Fund evaluates 176 countries based on their child mortality rates, access to education, nutrition, and protection against harmful practices such as child labor, child marriage, homicides and forced displacement, Cuban news website Cubadebate said.
Cuba ranked first in Latin America, followed by Chile and Barbados, said the report.
Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez (R) interacts with children during her visit to a school in Havana, Cuba, on Jan. 28, 2014. Fernandez is in Cuba to attend the second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). (Xinhua/Presidency/TELAM)
The country that ranked lowest in the region, for the third consecutive year, is Guatemala, the only Latin American country among the last 30 in the listing.
Caring for children's welfare is a cornerstone of Cuba's socialist system, which provides free and universal education and healthcare to all its citizens.
Cuba's Constitution recognizes the elemental rights of every child, regardless of sex, race or social class, and does not leave their protections to institutional goodwill or individual charity.
