Upholding the rights of children is one of the priorities of YMCAs worldwide and of the World Alliance of YMCAs according to its mission as stated in Challenge 21.

Children under 18 years old make up 33 %  of the worlds population. They are especially vulernable to poverty, poor health and malnutrition, sexual exploitation, physical violence and conflict. Children therefore need special protection and support to be able to enjoy their human rights.

The World Alliance of YMCAs uses a rights based approach to its work with and for children and is guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The World Alliance believes in engaging children themselves in upholding their rights. Children have a right to be be included in decision making processes that affect their lives. The World Alliance therefore promotes meaningful participation of children in its work to uphold the rights of children.  Read more about this in « A Call for action : children and young people participating in decision-making » written by an alliance of international youth organisations and UNICEF.

You can download  below the brochure:

Children & Young People: Participating in Decision-Making : a call to action .-

World Alliance of YMCAs [et al.]: S.l., ca  2006.- 9 p.

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Some facts and figures about children