This report argues that despite all the problems of the post cold war world, the means are now at hand to end mass malnutrition, preventable disease, and widespread illiteracy among the world's children. UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund) estimates the cost of about $25 billion per year in additional aid to developing nations. To give this cause priority, a worldwide movement is required to bring to bear the same kind of pressure as is today being exerted by the environmental and women's movements. Protecting children from the worst aspects of poverty would strengthen efforts to promote environmental protection, sustainable economic growth, equality for women, population slow-down, and political stability. Many hundreds of organizations, especially in the developing world, are already beginning to respond to this challenge. Those in the developed world who support this movement to meet basic human needs must realize that action on debt, trade, aid, and loans, and on trading relationships, is a necessary part of that struggle. Detailed statistical tables on basic indicators, nutrition, health, education, demographic indicators, economic indicators, women, less populous countries, newly independent countries, and rates of progress are provided. (MDM)