Yesterday marked World Children’s Day, and the United Nations called for governments, civic organisations and ordinary people globally to “put children back on the agenda”. There are several ways this could be done. For instance, Julia Sloth-Nielsen argues, children’s access across African countries to functional justice systems that are sensitive to their needs could be dramatically improved. And Katharine Hall unpacks how South Africa’s history has left the majority of children living without both parents - and why thoughtful policies are needed to take different forms of “family” into account.

Also, what parent hasn’t felt exasperated and exhausted while trying to get a tired baby to sleep, especially when travelling and visiting other people’s homes? While infant health is always important, the holidays are a critical time to review the rules about safe sleep for babies, and Richard Gunderman does just that. Rule number one, he says: babies should always sleep alone.

Finally, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently reaffirmed historic ties with President Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba. Cuba and North Korea are supposed to share values as socialist republics but their brands of socialism are worlds apart. One profound difference is how they treat their children, write Robert Huish and Peter Steele.