Report on Child Fatalities in Stafford and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Incident Summary

A report has been initiated following the deaths of two children in Stafford on Sunday, 12 October. The incident is being examined in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, justice, and child welfare.

• Victims: Meraj Ul Zahra, aged two, and Abdul Momin Alfaateh, aged three.
• Circumstances: The children were discovered with injuries at a residence and subsequently died.
• Legal Proceedings: A 43-year-old female relative was arrested on suspicion of murder. Following assessment by medical professionals, she has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

2.0 Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This case highlights critical challenges in the implementation of several SDGs aimed at protecting vulnerable populations.

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The deaths are a direct contravention of the goal to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The detention of the suspect under the Mental Health Act underscores the critical need for accessible and effective mental health services (Target 3.4) as a fundamental component of a safe and healthy society.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The incident relates directly to Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, violence, and torture of children. The subsequent institutional response is a crucial measure of progress toward building effective and accountable systems for justice and child protection.

3.0 Institutional Response and Accountability

In line with SDG 16, which advocates for strong and accountable institutions, several bodies have initiated investigations and reviews.

3.1 Official Actions

• Police Investigation: Staffordshire Police are conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into the circumstances of the deaths.
• Independent Oversight: The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), ensuring transparency and independent scrutiny of the initial response.
• Local Authority Review: The Staffordshire County Council’s safeguarding and education overview and scrutiny committee convened to address the incident.

3.2 Council Scrutiny and Future Prevention

During a committee meeting, it was determined that it is too early to ascertain if the local authority could have taken preventative action. However, the council has committed to a thorough review following the conclusion of current investigations. This process aligns with SDG 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions) and aims to:

• Identify any potential gaps in safeguarding protocols.
• Implement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
• Strengthen the institutional frameworks designed to protect children and support community well-being.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article addresses this goal through its focus on the deaths of two young children, which directly relates to child mortality. Furthermore, the mention of a suspect being detained under the Mental Health Act highlights the critical aspect of mental health services and their role in community well-being and safety.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• This goal is central to the article, which revolves around a violent crime (suspected murder of children), the subsequent police investigation, and the role of local government institutions. The council’s safeguarding committee is scrutinizing the event to determine if institutional actions could have prevented the tragedy, directly addressing the need for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions to protect citizens, especially vulnerable children.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Targets under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.
   • The article details the deaths of a two-year-old and a three-year-old. The local council’s inquiry, specifically Councillor Ann Edgeller’s question about whether “the authority could have taken to help avoid their deaths,” directly addresses the concept of “preventable deaths” central to this target.
2. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • The fact that the 43-year-old woman arrested in connection with the deaths was “detained under the Mental Health Act” after being “assessed by medical professionals” links the incident directly to mental health. This highlights the importance of promoting mental health and providing effective treatment to prevent such tragic outcomes.

Targets under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The article’s subject is the violent deaths of two children, who were “found injured” and for which a suspect was arrested on “suspicion of murder.” This event is a direct example of the violence and related deaths that this target aims to reduce.
2. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • This target is explicitly relevant as the victims were young children. The entire case is an investigation into an extreme form of violence against children, making it a clear focus of this target.
3. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The article describes the response of several institutions. The “safeguarding and education overview and scrutiny committee” at Staffordshire County Council is holding a meeting to “better understand what happened and if there was anything it could put in place to prevent similar incidents.” This process, along with the police investigation and the referral to the “Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC),” demonstrates the function of institutions designed to be accountable and transparent.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Implied Indicator for Target 3.2: Under-5 mortality rate (Indicator 3.2.1).
   • While the article does not provide statistics, the deaths of these two children are data points that would contribute to the under-5 mortality rate for the region and country. The council’s investigation into preventability is a qualitative measure related to this indicator.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: Existence and functioning of mental health services.
   • The article implies the existence of an indicator by mentioning that the suspect was “assessed by medical professionals” and “detained under the Mental Health Act.” This points to the presence of institutional mechanisms for mental health assessment and intervention, the effectiveness of which is a key measure of progress toward promoting mental health.

Indicators for SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Implied Indicator for Target 16.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (Indicator 16.1.1).
   • The two children are victims of a suspected homicide. Their deaths are a direct measure contributing to this indicator.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 16.2: Proportion of children experiencing violence (related to Indicator 16.2.1).
   • This specific case is a severe instance of violence against children. The investigation by the police and the council’s safeguarding committee serves as a response mechanism, and the findings could be used as a qualitative indicator of how such violence is addressed.
3. Implied Indicator for Target 16.6: Existence of independent national human rights institutions (related to Indicator 16.a.1).
   • The article mentions the “Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)” and the council’s “safeguarding and education overview and scrutiny committee.” The actions and existence of these oversight and accountability bodies serve as a practical indicator of institutional effectiveness and transparency.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aol.com