Which non-profit organizations are working in the children’s rights protection?

Children, in the same way than adults and old people, have some rights that laws and public bodies need to guarantee. Nowadays, there are many non-profit organizations all around the globe that work with children. Therefore, they’re committed in safeguarding and looking after children’s rights. On behalf of these rights, there is an educational programme by UNICEF in Catalonia called ‘Enreda’t!’ (Get involved!) addressed to teachers and educators willing to promote worldwide knowledge on children’s rights and build a more globally responsible society.

In this sense, in order to protect children’s rights the United Nations drove an international agreement known as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was approved on November the 20^th 1989 and ratified by 195 countries. The CRC protects the rights of children in all areas of their life, including their rights to: express their views freely and be heard in legal proceedings, privacy, freedom from violence, abuse and neglect, health, an adequate standard of living, education, etc.

A huge number of international non-profits work in their countries in order to guarantee the application of these rights. On the lines below there is a list with some of them:

1. Feed the Children: exists to end childhood hunger. Its mission is to provide hope and resources for those without life’s essentials.

2. Clowns without Borders: they aim to offer joy and laughter to relieve the suffering of all persons, especially children, who live in areas of crisis including refuee camps, conflict zones and territories in situations of emergency.

3. KidsRights: they work with children to create a world in which their rights are guaranteed and they are enabled to realize their great potential.

4. Educate a child: it’s a global initiative aiming to give access to quality primary education to the most marginalised sector of society

5. Save the Children: born in 1919, it’s an international non-governmental organization that promotes children’s rights. It was established to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war and other conflicts.

6. Child Fund: the organization helps deprived, excluded and vulnerable children have the capacity to improve their lives and the opportunity to become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change in their communities.

7. Plan International: it’s an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. They strive for a just world, working together with children, your people and their supporters.

8. Bhai Nepal: small NGO from Catalonia working with different orphans from Nepal in order to cover their basic needs and rebuild buildings have been destroyed after the earthquake in 2015.

9. Smile Foundation: it’s an NGO in India directly benefitting over 400,000 children and their families every year, through more than 200 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 950 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India.

10. Bernard Van Leer foundation: they believe that giving all children a good start in life is both the right thing to do and the best way to build healthy, prosperous and creative societies.

11. Defence for Children: it’s an international movement promoting and protecting children’s rights. Thematic areas where they work are: justice for children, child labour, children on the move, violence against children, children in conflicts and child trafficking.