Child Rights Governance

Save the Children has a long history of working with children, CSO partners and duty bearers at all levels, advocating for the fulfilment of the fundamental Child Rights (CR) for all children. Children play a key role in this process, not as passive beneficiaries of these rights but as empowered agents to influence the government and society to deliver on child rights commitments. Together with children, the Child Parliaments (from national to sub-district levels), and child focused organisations and networks, we facilitate children’s efforts to mobilise and speak out clearly and with power, so that the government and other influential actors understand their obligation to address the children’s concerns in legislation, strategies, policies and budgets, and fulfil their roles as duty bearers.

Together with child led organisations and CR networks (such as the 3R Platform) our three main focus areas are as follows:

1. Monitoring and demanding children’s rights: Based on our research and experience, we have gained a strong understanding on where, how and why CR are violated, and the key barriers that prevent children from enjoying their rights. Through individual and joint coordinated CR advocacy, we press for the delivery on CR commitments, including the CR-related Human Rights Accountability Mechanism recommendations from UNCRC, ACRWC, CRPD, and UPR, as well as the tracking and monitoring of CR-related budget allocations and expenditures.

2. Public investment in children: At national, provincial and district level, we support CR organisations and children themselves to advocate for the prioritization of children’s concerns in the allocation of public resources, especially when it comes to health, learning, and protection. Greater transparency in governments’ budget allocation and spending remains a key issue.

3. Good governance: We help build inclusive and accountable government systems that are capable of delivering on CR priorities. We support data collection and analysis, and promote policy changes and legal reform, whereby strengthening the supply side of child rights’ accountability and ensuring that laws, policies and resources are focused on children. Good governance also includes the establishment of relevant coordination bodies and a children’s ombudsman who convene on a regular basis with children, CBO, CR CSO and duty bearers and can also to speak out on behalf of children.