Advocacy in action

Over the past years SOS Children's Villages has been involved in various processes, both national and international, aimed at taking action for those children who are without parental care or who run the risk of losing it.

Whether working with United Nations agencies or NGO groups, in Brussels or in local communities, SOS Children's Villages has been a part of various national and international processes intended to spark change that will ultimately benefit children. Through advocacy and partnerships, the organisation seeks to ensure that the most child-friendly policies, practises, resources, and attitudes are in place.

Children and young people in care - Discover your rights!

20/11/2009 - On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), SOS Children's Villages and the Council of Europe have published a youth friendly version of the rights of children in alternative care together. The publication is based on the UNCRC, the Q4C Standards and the Recommendations of the Council of Europe on the rights of children living in residential institutions (2005). More...

United Nations adopted a resolution welcoming the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children

23/11/2009- SOS Children's Villages International is very pleased to announce that on 20 November 2009 the United Nations General Assembly in New York adopted a resolution welcoming the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. Over the last five years, SOS Children's Villages International has been a leading organisation in supporting the development of these Guidelines and promoting them towards adoption. More...

SOS-Kinderdorf International selected for EU Forum on the Rights of the Child

10/12/2008 - In the framework of the EU strategy on the Rights of the Child, the European Commission created a European Forum on the Rights of the Child. In order to ensure effective representation of civil society in the Forum, a call has been launched in October 2008, and SOS-Kinderdorf International was selected as one of the permanent civil society representatives. More...

Seminar "Children and Young People in Care: What do YOUth think?"

The Council of Europe is organising a joint seminar with SOS-Kinderdorf International called "Children and Young People in Care: What do YOUth think?" The objective is to promote and ensure the rights of children and young people in alternative care in Europe by setting the basis for cooperation between youth representatives and the Council of Europe. More...

SOS-Kinderdorf International presents "Listening to Children" at European Conference

16/09/2008 - "Listening to Children" was one of the biggest and most important projects involving child and youth participation that SOS-Kinderdorf International has ever seen. Six hundred children and youth from 26 countries were asked to help the organisation develop its strategy by sharing their dreams, hopes and fears about themselves, their families and their community. The project was presented at an European Conference in Stockholm. More...

Towards Arab guidelines for children without parental care

For the millions of children around the world who have lost their parents or who cannot live with them, internationally-agreed guidelines on alternative care can mean a real chance to grow up in a nurturing environment. More...

SOS Children's Villages advocates for quality in out-of-home care

SOS Children's Villages teams up with other NGOs to advocate for high quality out-of-home care in two major international projects. More...

Combating violence against children

Violence against children knows no boundaries of race, religion or ethnicity. Everyday boys and girls all over the world are victims of violence and its results are devastating. SOS Children's Villages joined the international movement to stop this brutality. More...

The EU irons out its long-term strategy on child rights

As the EU develops its long-term strategy on child rights, SOS Children's Villages has been active in the process since its inception and, together with a group of committed NGOs, continues to work on its follow-up and implementation. More...