We give children and young people a voice
Children have rights, such as the right to a safe home, education and a voice.
SOS Children's Villages works in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and campaigns for children's rights worldwide. We are involved with the UN and with local campaigns to persuade governments to comply with child protection obligations and to sensitize the population to the protection of children in traumatic situations.
November 20 is International Children's Rights Day. On this day in 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Numerous campaigns are held around the world on Children's Rights Day to raise awareness of the fact that every child has rights, regardless of where they live.
The rights of the child:
Children's rights include protection, promotion and participation rights. The 54 articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child can be summarized as follows. Children have the right to:
Equality
health
education
Play and leisure
Freedom of expression and participation
Protection from violence
Access to media
Protection of privacy and dignity
Protection during war and flight
Special care and support for people with disabilities
Standing up for children's rights
We stand up for children's rights so that they can live in dignity and develop their full potential:
We are committed to the consistent implementation of children's rights.
We raise awareness of children's rights and the challenges that children face.
We cooperate with organizations and relevant stakeholders to strengthen children's rights and achieve the greatest possible positive impact for children.
We share our knowledge and shape discussions to improve and innovate alternative forms of care.
Children's rights are violated worldwide
Despite ratification, children's rights continue to be disregarded in many countries. This leads to serious violations of children's rights such as high child mortality and exploitative child labour that is hazardous to health.
Millions of girls and boys around the world are trapped in poverty and cannot go to school.
Children suffer particularly from the effects of wars, flight and displacement: they struggle to survive, lose their parents or hundreds of thousands of them are abused as child soldiers.
Children's rights are also violated in industrialised countries. Child poverty is widespread in Europe. Children from socially disadvantaged families have fewer educational opportunities and suffer from marginalisation. According to the government's
poverty report, one in six children in Liechtenstein is affected by poverty or at risk of poverty.
