UN Resolution Will Focus on Children Without Parental Care

In a historic move, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly selected ‘Children without parental care’ as the theme for the ‘Rights of the Child’ resolution for 2019. SOS Children’s Villages has applauded UN Member States for their decision.

The resolution will give guidance for all organizations and stakeholders involved in child care and protection to unite and work around these priorities, helping to ensure that every child can grow up in a caring family – because no child should grow up alone.

When the UN ‘Rights of the Child’ resolution is adopted in 2019, the non-binding resolution could become the most internationally recognized guidance for states and concerned stakeholders on protecting the rights of children without parental care or at risk of losing it.

SOS Children’s Villages International has offered to share its expertise and learnings, gained through 70 years protecting vulnerable children worldwide, to support Member States’ efforts to ensure the rights of unsupported children are upheld and fulfilled.

“We are privileged to work with many committed colleagues from across the child rights community to bring global attention to the situation of children without parental care.  As practitioners in over 130 countries, we know that such focus is needed to enshrine the rights of children to quality care that meets their individual best interest,” said SOS Children’s Villages President Siddhartha Kaul.

Applauding this historic milestone, Norbert Meder, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages International, added, “If the global community is truly committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in the world’s progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, it is the most vulnerable among us – children and youth without parental care – who we must focus our efforts in helping. Once adopted, this resolution will reflect the commitments of governments around the world to fulfill the rights of children and youth to quality care in their families and in alternative care.”

During 2019, which also marks the 10th anniversary of the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, SOS Children’s Villages International will also be working in partnership with other organizations in the care community, UNICEF and other stakeholders, to raise awareness about best practices in the implementation of the Guidelines and to identify outstanding challenges.

SOS Children’s Villages International’s goal is to support and advise Member States on policy development to prevent unnecessary family separation and ensure that comprehensive child care systems are in place with suitable and individually adapted solutions for children placed in alternative care.