This report summarizes the latest available statistics on international achievements in child survival, health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, and the plight of women. Each section contains a commentary, related statistics, and a discussion on progress and disparity in the section's particular area. Following a foreword by United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and an introduction by Carol Bellamy, executive director of UNICEF, the sections of the report are: (1) Water and Sanitation, "The Sanitation Gap: Development's Deadly Menace" (Akhtar Hameed Khan); (2) Nutrition, "Putting Babies before Business" (Simon Barrington-Ward); (3) Health, "Fighting AIDS Together" (Peter Piot); (4) Education, "Quality Education: One Answer for Many Questions" (Harry Sawyerr); (5) Women, "The Intolerable Status Quo: Violence Against Women and Girls" (Charlotte Bunch); (6) Special Protections, "No Age of Innocence: Justice for Children" (Lisbet Palme); and (7) Industrialized Countries, "Healthy Cities, Healthy Children" (Leonard Duhl and Trevor Hancock). Also included in the report is a section describing social indicators of less populous countries, regional progress toward Year 2000 goals, and statistical profiles detailing national information on child survival and health, education, per capita gross national product, and fertility rates. (KB)