Global survey exposes shocking failures in children's rights protections

A new survey by the Human Rights Measurement Initiative has revealed widespread risks to children’s rights across the globe. The findings show that violations affect children in nearly all countries studied, despite international agreements to protect them. The HRMI Expert Survey covered 40 countries and found children at risk of rights violations in 38 of them. Only one of the 13 rights measured was not identified as a concern for children in at least some nations. Street children and homeless youth faced the highest risk of education violations compared to all other groups.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified human rights treaty. Yet systematic violations persist. Articles 24 and 28 of the CRC guarantee children’s rights to nutritious food and education.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 40% of children suffer from stunting, with worse rates among the poorest and rural populations. In Vietnam, just over half of children finish upper secondary school. Urban and wealthy children complete education at far higher rates than their rural and poorer peers.

The survey also highlights a lack of comparable global data on children’s civil and political rights. Gaps exist in tracking domestic laws and programmes for their economic and social rights. Malnutrition and barriers to schooling remain major global issues. The CRC’s commitments have not prevented ongoing violations of children’s rights. The HRMI data underscores the need for better tracking and stronger protections for vulnerable groups.