International non-governmental organisations
Child Helpline International (CHI) https://www.childhelplineinternational.org
CHI is a global network of child helplines that supports the creation and strengthening of national toll-free child helplines worldwide. It advocates for the rights of children and highlights gaps in child protection systems.
Defence for Children International (DCI) https://www.defenceforchildren.org/
DCI is an NGO that promotes and protects children’s rights on a global, regional, national and local level.
ECPAT https://www.ecpat.org
ECPAT International is a global network of organisations working for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes.
Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment for Children http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/
In September of 2020, the Global Initiative’s work was taken forward by the End Violence Partnership. End Violence is maintaining key elements of the Global Initiative’s work, allowing for the continuation of essential advocacy to ensure all children are protected from violent discipline.
Eurochild http://www.eurochild.org/
Eurochild works to promote the welfare and rights of children and young people in Europe through building a network of active organisations and individuals in the area.
Global Child Forum http://globalchildforum.org/
The Global Child Forum is an independent, global multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and leadership to advance children’s rights. The Global Child Forum aims at gathering leaders from business, governments, academia and civil society in a joint effort to implement children’s rights.
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) http://www.icmec.org
ICMEC aims to lead a global movement to protect children from sexual exploitation and abduction.
International Social Services (ISS) http://www.iss-ssi.org/
The ISS is an international not-for-profit organization that helps individuals, children and families confronted with social problems involving two, or more, countries as a consequence of international migration or displacement.
Missing Children Europe (MCE) http://www.missingchildreneurope.eu
Aims to ensure that the EU member states meet the basic conditions for helping missing and sexually exploited children and take measures to prevent children from going missing. It encourages transnational cooperation to cope with the cross-border nature of the problems.
Plan International http://plan-international.org/
Plan aims to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children and promotes child rights to lift children out of poverty.
Save the Children http://www.savethechildren.net/
Save the Children works internationally for the welfare and safeguarding of children as well as protecting their rights.
SOS Children’s Villages International http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/
SOS aims to help families care for their children and provide alternative care for children who cannot live with their biological families.
Terre des Hommes (TDH) www.terredeshommes.org
Terre des Hommes works for the rights of the child and for equitable development, without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.
Intergovernmental organisations
Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) Steering Committee on Children and Youth at Risk (CYAR) https://www.barentscooperation.org/CYAR/
The Barents Euro-Arctic Council is a forum for inter-governmental cooperation in the Barents region. One of the main cooperation areas is Children and Youth at Risk.
Council of Europe http://www.coe.int/
The Council of Europe promotes co-operation between countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation.
Council of Europe Children’s Rights Unit https://www.coe.int/en/web/children
The Council of Europe protects and promotes the human rights of everyone, including children. Based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights and other legal standards, the Council of Europe promotes and protects the rights of 150 million children in Europe.
Directorate-General for Justice (European Commission) https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/justice-and-consumers_en
The role of the “DG Justice” within the European Commission is to ensure that the whole European Union is an area of freedom, security and justice.
European Commission Rights of the Child policy area https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/rights-child_en
The EU and EU countries must respect, protect and promote children’s rights. All EU policies that have an impact on children must be designed in line with the best interests of the child.
European Commission (EC) http://ec.europa.eu/
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union that proposes legislation, implements decisions, upholds the EU’s treaties and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the EU.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) http://fra.europa.eu/en/
The FRA is an EU body that collects and analyses data on fundamental rights with reference to rights listed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Nordic Council of Ministers http://www.norden.org
The Nordic Council of Ministers is the forum for Nordic governmental co-operation and a platform for inter-governmental cooperation. Cooperation areas include trafficking against human beings and health and social affairs.
Nordic Council of Ministers policy area Children and Young people https://www.norden.org/en/children-and-young-people
The Nordic Council of Ministers’ strategy states that “the Nordic Region must be the best place in the world for children and young people”.
Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS) http://www.ndphs.org/
The NDPHS is a cooperative effort of governments, the European Commission international organisations. It provides a forum for concerted action to tackle challenges to health and social well-being in the Northern Dimension area.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) http://www.oecd.org
The OECD promotes policies that aim to improve the economic and social well-being of people.
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) http://www.osce.org/
The OSCE’s works for politico-military, economic, environmental and human security. The OSCE hosts the Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings that supports the development and implementation of policies against trafficking.
United Nations entities
Committee on the Rights of the Child – United Nation Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx
The Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its State parties. It also monitors implementation of two Optional Protocols to the Convention, on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
International Labour Organization (ILO) http://www.ilo.org/
The ILO promotes rights at work, encourages decent employment opportunities, enhances social protection and strengthens dialogue on work-related issues. It also works to eliminate child labour.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) https://www.iom.int
IOM aims to ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) http://www.unhcr.org
UNHCR leads and coordinates international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) http://www.unicef.org/
UNICEF works with children’s rights and emergency relief providing humanitarian and development assistance to children and mothers.
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women www.unwomen.org
UN Women works for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the world.
United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) http://www.unodc.org/
UNODC for a coordinated, comprehensive response to the issues of illicit trafficking in and abuse of drugs, crime prevention and criminal justice, international terrorism and political corruption.
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) http://www.ohchr.org/
The UNOHCHR aims to provide a forum for identifying, highlighting and developing responses to today’s human rights challenges, and act as the principal focal point of human rights research, education, public information, and advocacy activities in the United Nations system.
United Nations Office for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict http://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/
The mission of the Office for the Special Representative is to promote and protect the rights of all children affected by armed conflict.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) http://www.unfpa.org/
The UNFPA’s goals are achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health (including family planning), promoting reproductive rights, reducing maternal mortality and accelerating progress.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornographyhttp://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Children/Pages/ChildrenIndex.aspx
The Special Rapporteur investigates the exploitation of children around the world and submits reports to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, making recommendations for the protection of the rights of the children concerned.
United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG)http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/
The SRSG promotes the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. The SRSG reports annually to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. In addition to regular reports, the SRSG can issue thematic reports on key areas of concern.
World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.euro.who.int/en/home
WHO is the authority responsible for public health within the United Nations system.
International agreements and documents
The German Youth Institute maintains this extensive list of international agreements and documents from the United Nations, Council of Europe, European Union, World Congresses, and others.