The Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international treaty that defines a child as anyone younger than 18 years old, outlines every child’s human rights. Like adults, children deserve rights such as the right to life, freedom of thought, and access to necessities like clean water, safe housing, and healthcare. Kids are more vulnerable than adults, however, and need special protection. Governments, institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations should establish initiatives that protect, promote, and support children’s rights like education, safety from violence, and much more. Here are 10 examples:
# | Initiative |
1 | The Zero Hunger Initiative |
2 | Action Against Hunger’s Asia Initiative |
3 | Save the Children’s Literacy Boost Initiative |
4 | The Global Fund for Children’s Spark Fund Initiative |
5 | The 100 Million Campaign |
6 | United States Department of Health & Human Services’ Children’s Bureau |
7 | DHS Blue Lightning Initiative |
8 | KidsRights Foundation’s Action Program |
9 | UNICEF’s Child Friendly City Initiative |
10 | Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative |
In 2012, the UN launched the Zero Hunger Challenge. In 2015, when the 17 Sustainable Development Goals were released, Zero Hunger was Goal #2. The initiative’s aims include 100% access to adequate food, 100% sustainable food systems, and zero food waste or loss. Zero Hunger also wants no kids under 2 to suffer from “stunting,” a developmental condition caused by malnutrition. The Zero Hunger Initiative has many partners including UNICEF, The UN World Food Programme, and The Hunger Project.
While hunger hurts adults and kids, kids suffer some of starvation’s worst effects. According to a 2024 report by the Global Network Against Food Crises, there were 36 million “acutely malnourished children.” Many live in the Horn of Africa, Central Sahel, Afghanistan, Yemen, the DRC, Haiti, and Madagascar. In Gaza alone, more than 50,000 children needed treatment for acute malnutrition in June of 2024, according to the UN agency for Palestine refugees. Zero Hunger Initiative partners like UNICEF execute programs that screen kids for malnutrition, treat malnutrition, provide safe water and food, and support farmers.
Action Against Hunger is a global aid organization focused on ending world hunger. It works in dozens of areas, including Asia, where millions of children suffer dangerous rates of malnutrition. AAH’s Asia initiative programs vary depending on the specific country. For example, in Nepal, where AAH’s team consists of 8 employees, initiatives include strengthening health services and building resilient water systems. In India, where the team has 251 employees, AAH deals with challenges like persistent poverty, skyrocketing population growth, and social factors related to ethnicity, caste, and religion.
How does a hunger initiative in Asia help children’s rights? According to Action Against Hunger’s data, more than half of the people going hungry live in this region. In 2017, 64% of all malnourished kids and over half of all stunted children lived in Asia. AAH’s work in Asia helped the organization reach over 21 million people in 2023.
Save the Children is an international children’s rights organization. It works in over 100 countries addressing famine, poverty, health, climate change, education, and more. Literacy Boost is an education initiative that reaches more than 4 million kids in more than 30 countries. With trusted partners, Literacy Boost measures reading skills, trains teachers, provides books and supplies to communities, and sponsors reading camps and other activities.
Literacy is one of the most essential goals for the children’s rights movement. According to UNICEF, knowing how to read and write paves the way for countless academic and professional opportunities. Without this ability, kids are much more likely to remain in poverty. Youth literacy has improved significantly in the past decades, but it’s still low in the least developed countries. Globally, men are more literate than women, which makes literacy a gender equality issue as well as a children’s rights concern.
The Global Fund for Children is a nonprofit working with children, youth, and community-led organizations. Focus areas include child trafficking, girls’ education, and freedom from violence. The Global Fund launched Spark Fund, a youth-led initiative, in 2021. Youth panelists design the application process, and with flexible, pooled funds, they pick which youth-focused organizations receive grants. During the fund’s first year, youth panels awarded over $1 million to organizations in 13 countries.
Youth empowerment and participation are vital to children’s rights. Too often, children’s voices are dismissed, censored, and disrespected. Despite making up almost ⅓ of the world’s population, children are viewed as less worthy than adults and restricted from speaking up for themselves. Initiatives like the Spark Fund empower children and young people to make decisions, pursue their best interests, and support youth-led projects.
The 100 Million Campaign is an initiative led by youth and students. Launched in India in 2016, the campaign began with 6,000 young people supported by the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation. The campaign now works in over 40 countries. Through youth-led actions and partnerships, the 100 Million Campaign supports young people who want to end child labor, violence against children, discrimination, and poverty.
The 100 Million Campaign has several action methods, including mobilizations, research and policy, and youth, student, and survivor representations with entities like the Global Student Forum. With students at the campaign’s heart, the 100 Million Campaign works to center the most marginalized youth people, build support for intersectional action, and advance human rights.
The United States Department of Health & Human Services is a branch of the United States federal government. It focuses on the health of Americans with services like the Administration for Children & Families. Within this department is the Children’s Bureau, an agency responsible for improving the lives of kids. First launched in 1912, the agency’s mandate encompasses child abuse, neglect, child labor, and adoption and foster care.
Having a dedicated agency for children is an important part of a government’s responsibility to kids. When agencies like the Children’s Bureau work well, kids are protected from abuse and neglect, provided with the resources they need to thrive, and raised in healthy families. Government initiatives also help with the coordination and efficiency of national, state, and local programs.
Under the umbrella of The Department of Homeland Security, an agency of the United States, the US government runs the Blue Lightning Initiative. Blue Lightning trains aviation personnel to recognize and report potential human traffickers and victims. Blue Lightning is part of the Blue Campaign, a national public awareness campaign that educates the public, law enforcement, and industry partners on human trafficking.
Human trafficking is a global issue affecting millions of people. While trafficking statistics are notoriously difficult to track, the United Nations estimates that around 20% of global trafficking are children. In some places (like parts of Africa and the Mekong region), children make up most trafficking victims. Aviation personnel, who have close contact with millions of travelers daily, can play a key role in addressing child trafficking.
The KidsRights Foundation is an international NGO supporting children’s rights. Through advocacy, research, and action, the organization empowers children to take action and make the world a better place. The Action Program is an initiative that gives power to supporters and kids by letting them establish their own State of Youth Chapter. Toolkits and training resources are available, so members can join as individuals or groups.
Participation is crucial for children’s rights. With the proper respect and guidance, kids can become some of the world’s most effective and powerful activists. Initiatives like the Action Program provide the education, funding, and networks needed to support and harness the intelligence, creativity, and dedication of kids.
UNICEF is the UN agency dedicated to children’s rights. In 1996, UNICEF and UN-Habitat launched the Child Friendly Initiatives (CFI). This initiative supports municipal governments that want to protect children’s rights. CFI is also a network of governments, civil society actors, academic institutions, and youth-led organizations that want cities and communities to be safer for kids.
Why do child-friendly cities matter? Children matter just as much as adults, so cities should protect, support, and improve the lives of kids. That means creating child-friendly environments, fighting discrimination in public services, improving living conditions, reducing environmental pollution, and much more.
The Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) is a network of activists, policymakers, technical experts, and youth fighting for the right to a safe and healthy environment. CERI is associated with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environments and has partners like Save the Children, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and others. CERI works on empowering children, raising awareness, building government capacity, and identifying best human rights practices.
Children are uniquely vulnerable to environmental issues like pollution and climate change. In 2012, environmental issues killed 1.7 million children under five, according to the WHO. In 2021, a UNICEF report found that 1 in 3 children worldwide live in areas at a high risk of climate change impacts like flooding, wildfires, water scarcity, and more. Initiates focused on a child’s right to a healthy environment are now more important than ever.