Indian NGOs celebrate the formal adoption of the 2019 Resolution on the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly

The Resolution on the Rights of the Child has been formally adopted by the UNGA on 18 December 2019, the resolution focuses on children without parental care – one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Miracle Foundation, Save The Children India, SOS Children’s Villages India, Butterflies,  Udayan Care, Youth Council for Development Alternatives, Children’s Emergency Relief International, Child in Need Institute (CINI), Centre of Excellence in Alternative Care  and many more are part of India Alternative Care Network working on the rights of children, who signed and endorsed the Key Recommendations to be considered in the drafting of the 2019 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on the Rights of the Child.

Across the globe 256 organizations from different continents also signed and agreed to the recommendations. The recommendations address key challenges and opportunities in implementing the rights of children without parental care. They underline commitments made by the UN Member States and suggested measures and actions needed to move their implementation forward.

The recommendations make and reflect a global commitment to strengthen children’s care in their families. Moreover, it lays emphasis on preventing unnecessary separation by addressing its root causes, putting an end to child institutionalization by progressively replacing it with family and community-based care, and address some of the drivers supporting it, seeks to ensure that adolescents and young people leaving alternative care receive appropriate support in preparing for the transition.

Some of the key recommendations made are focussed on actions to achieve family reunification, strengthen gatekeeping procedures, developing and boosting inclusive and responsive family-oriented policies and programs. Additionally, they are centered on undertaking every effort, where the immediate family is unable to care for a child, to provide quality alternative care within the wider family, and failing that, within the community in a family setting. All of these measures will be enforced bearing in mind the best interests of the child and taking into account the child’s views and preferences.

This resolution is an important demonstration of member states’ commitments to supporting children without parental care. This is the first time that the General Assembly discussed the theme of children without parental care and the resolution, text has been agreed by consensus by all Member States and India is an integral part of this.