equity for every child information and data help us identify the children and communities being left behind and monitor the effectiveness of our efforts to reach them. integration across sectors addresses the overlapping deprivations and challenges children face. innovation spurs new solutions to old problems, helping children and communities meet the challenges of a changing world. investment, approached equitably, fuels more sustainable progress for the most disadvantaged. involvement by communities, including by children and young people, is changing the way we set priorities and take action. all are pathways to building a more equitable world where every child has a fair chance for a better future. fulfilling the promise of equity is possible. inequalities in opportunity for children can be drastically reduced within a generation. as the world embarks on an ambitious new course of international development, the pledge to leave no one behind must become more than a slogan. Providing a fair chance for every child must be an operating principle for us all. achieving equity for children is a question of priorities, recognizing both the moral and strategic importance of investing in those in greatest need. it is a practical challenge, overcoming barriers and bottlenecks that keep children from the support they need and block their access to critical opportunities. it is a matter of political will, translating commitment into action through equity- focused policies, programmes and public spending to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged. it is an investment, shifting how governments and donors finance development to better serve the most excluded. it is a broader commitment, putting an end to conflict and violence that target children and following through on pledges to address the effects of climate change. finally, it is a call to action for all people to engage in building a more equitable world, knowing that a sustainable future – and our shared destiny – depend on it. The STaTe of The World’S Children 2016 101