Our Impact

Every human being is entitled to human rights. Children represent around a third of the global population. Yet their rights are being neglected or violated across the globe. For four decades, we have been advancing the rights, empowerment and protection of children from the local to the global level, with children, our Network members and observers, and partners.

Here are examples of some of the recent impact we have made in advancing child rights around the world.

Impact Stories

Treaty Bodies Chairpersons discussed the predictable calendar at their annual meeting!

28 June, 2023
From 29 May to 2 June 2023, the Chairs of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies held their 35th annual meeting in New York. The Chairs discussed the Office of the [...]

For the first time, we support children and youth to speak at the Aarhus Convention Working Group Meeting of the Parties!

28 June, 2023
During the 40th anniversary Conference of Child Rights Connect, Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, called on the network to bring the voices of children [...]

Children’s views will inform the UN Human Rights Office report on inclusive social protection and its child-friendly version!

15 June, 2023
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) is producing a report on the rights of the child and inclusive social protection to be presented at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in [...]

2022 in review: Unlocking the potential of the first national child rights coalition in Morocco to speak with one powerful voice with children at the UN

8 June, 2023
Lack of coordination as a key barrier to realizing the human rights of all children in Morocco Despite significant progress made by Morocco in realizing children’s rights, including education and [...]

2022 in review: Catalyzing the influence of civil society and children on UN wide policies and decision-making where children’s rights are forgotten

5 June, 2023
Why child rights mainstreaming is critical to realizing child rights In today’s world, where child rights face widespread backlash, increasing violations, and multiple crises such as environmental disasters, migration, armed [...]

2022 in review: Further building momentum for realising the rights, protection and empowerment of child human rights defenders at all levels

31 May, 2023
Children experience specific and additional challenges and violations when acting as human rights defenders because of their status in society “Children are already human rights defenders, with the same rights [...]

2024 by the numbers

2023 by the numbers

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Children’s rights defenders, including children, empowered to report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child
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New / updated multilingual resources published to help children / adults engage with the United Nations
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Child advisors, aged between 13 and 17-years-old, from all regions of the world, including 8 girls
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Online workshops organised with How To Child Rights on how to engage children to FU to HR mechanisms in Africa
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Attendees at our joint side-event of the Human Rights Council to celebrate the first-ever UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders report on child and youth human rights defenders
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Individual or joint statements, letters or submissions delivered at the UN level

What others say about our impact ...

“Being a Child Advisor has been a source of empowerment for me in various ways. It’s the first time I’ve felt actively involved in making a positive impact on the world.”

Anghelina, 2023-2024 child advisor, Moldova

Without Child Rights Connect’s presence, the global civil society’s advocacy and influence on children’s rights and child rights mainstreaming would be hampered.”

External evaluation 2022

“[Child Rights Connect] have made it possible for me to carry the voice of the children and young people of my country and always respect my position from the point of view of disability.”

Jorge, 2021 child advisor, Bolivia

How we make our change happen

We know from experience that change takes time, can be incremental, and requires collaboration. The below graph shows how we make change happen.

A results-based approach

We work with a results-based approach. This means results are at the centre of what we do, and how we do it. We operate with a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan which outlines what information we track to assess our results, how this information is collected, how frequently and by whom. Every year, we undertake a comprehensive review of our results against our set objectives and identify lessons learned. We document this information in our public annual reports and reports to our donors. Periodically, we engage consultants to conduct an external evaluation of our impact. We use key findings to adapt what we do and how we do it to better and more sustainably advance child rights.

The change we seek to achieve is about shifting perceptions, attitudes, and practices, particularly towards empowering children and civil society, influencing decisions of States, and promoting legal and policy reform. Our methods for assessing impact therefore heavily rely on qualitative data. But we also collect quantitative data to track our reach. We strive to disaggregate the data we collect by age, gender, geography, and other criteria to assess how different categories of children and children’s rights defenders are impacted upon by our work and improve the inclusiveness of our actions.

Interested in helping us advance child rights?

Help us to create a world in which children enjoy their human rights.