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Child Rights Governance
Save the Children has a strong, long-standing commitment to the advancement of all children’s rights, for every child, everywhere – in both emergency and longer-term development contexts. This commitment goes right back to the early years of the organisation’s foundation and is now part of the organisation’s DNA, uniting the efforts of Save the Children’s international and domestic programmes across the world. Child Rights Governance, which is one of Save the Children’s global themes (Read more about the Child Rights Governance Global Theme >>), aims to support and if necessary put pressure on states to establish the systems necessary to make child rights a reality, and addresses the systemic, underlying and/or structural aspects that enable or hinder children’s rights.
There is little doubt that (in general) it is better to be a child now than in the past but many children still do not have an equal chance to fulfil their potential. There are many reasons for this. Governments do not always have children's best interests in mind when they make decisions that affect them and their families. Children are often last in line in a list of competing priorities. Many do not see children as citizens in their own right and do not listen to them when they explain what they need and want. They also do not spend enough money on children’s health, education or protection. Save the Children and Child Rights Governance works to change this.
It is essential that governments put the necessary measures in place to deliver on children’s rights and that they must invest much more, and more effectively, in children.
States have the main responsibility but cannot alone guarantee children’s rights. In a global community, we all need to take responsibility for how the world treats children; donors, business, politicians, civil servants, civil society groups and citizens alike.
Save the Children believes that civic action is needed to make children’s rights a reality. A strong civil society where children and their communities hold states and the international community to account is crucial. Children‘s own ability, agency and contributions are essential for making the world a better place for children. A society that allows its children to exercise their civil rights and freedoms will gain from their creativity and innovations.
Photo: Dorothy Sang/Save the Children
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När Barnkonventionen Blir Lag
This fold-out pamphlet provides a series of questions for decision-makers and duty-bearers who take decisions that impact the lives of children. The objective is to inspire these individuals to think critically about the rights and concerns of children.
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Training for Health Workers: Child rights and health work in times of conflict [Under Development]
Please note that the health training, which will include a guide for facilitators and related materials such as case studies, is currently under development. Please use the red subscription button on the collection page to sign up to alerts so you will b
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Evaluation of the Impact of the Cooperation between Save the Children and the Central American University (UCA) of Nicaragua 2000-2018
Save the Children has been continuously present in Nicaragua since 1986, during this time it has developed different activities in favor of children’s rights. One aspect that has stood out is related to a number of experiences linked to education and trai
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A Practice Handbook: For family tracing and reunification in emergencies
Since the onset of the current phase of the South Sudan conflict in December 2013, nearly 3 million people have been displaced. Two million people have fled to neighbouring countries, and another 1.9 million others remain internally displaced. The ongoing
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Investing in Girls: Realizing gender equality through fair finance for girls
The inclusion of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”, is a testament to the importance of gender equity in realising the SDGs’ ambitious vision. Not only does it recognise that “the achievemen
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Young Voices- Mongolia 2017
Save the Children in Mongolia carried out this Young Voices survey in Mongolia so that children could have a say about all matters that affect them, such as knowledge about their rights, bullying, school costs, safety in the streets and on the internet, h
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Final Project Evaluation Report towards Systematic Change to Realize Children’s Rights in Zambia (2013 to 2017)
Save the Children (SC) Zambia implemented a Child Rights Program (2013-2017) titled; “Towards a systematic change to realize Children’s Rights in Zambia.” The programme had three thematic areas namely; Child Rights Governance (CRG), Child Protection, and
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The Role of Civil Society Organizations Related to Child Rights in the Municipalities of Central America
In June 2017, the Central American Learning Circle on Children’s Rights and Local Development convened a seminar in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, about “The role of civil society organizations in the municipalities of Central America.” Representatives from organ
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National Launches of the Committee on the Rights of the Child's General Comment 19, in Latin America and the Caribbean
General Comment (GC) 19 is the first UN document that provides States with a detailed guide about their legal obligation to invest in children. It presents recommendations about how States must insure that sufficient, equitable and effective resources are
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From Child Activist to Child Rights Advocate
From child rights activist to child rights advocate, Jennifer Grant has been fighting for children's rights all her adult career. Read this interview with Jennifer Grant, Deputy Director for Child Rights Governance at Save the Children.
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Making the Differences
The National Children’s Task Force (NCTF) is a children’s organization that has been working since 2006 to monitor child rights issues, raise concerns to hold duty bearers accountable and create space for child participation in decision making processes.
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Save the Children's Global Strategy: Ambition for Children 2030 and 2016-2018 Strategic Plan
Save the Children has a new global strategy – ‘Ambition for Children 2030’. Our mission is as urgent and relevant as ever: more children are surviving and thriving than ever before, but millions of children are denied their most basic rights and unable to