SOS Children's Villages takes action to improve policies and practices that undermine the well-being of children who are without parental care, or who run the risk of losing it. Whether working with United Nations agencies or community-based groups, through advocacy we help to improve the situation of all children and families, and not just those we work with directly.
Find out more about SOS Children’s Villages’ advocacy activities.
Quality in Care
SOS Children’s Villages firmly believes that every child has the right to receive the highest standards of quality care. In our dual role as a direct service provider and as an advocate, we have the obligation not only to ensure high standards of care in our programmes, but also to advocate that states reform and improve their care systems.
SOS Children’s Villages firmly believes that every child has the right to receive the highest standards of quality care. In our dual role as a direct service provider and as an advocate, we have the obligation not only to ensure high standards of care in our programmes, but also to advocate that states reform and improve their care systems.
UN Guidelines on the Alternative Care of Children
In 2009, the UN General Assembly in New York welcomed the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. This was a huge step towards ensuring the rights of millions of children worldwide who are either without parental care or at risk of losing it. Recognising the importance of these guidelines, SOS Children's Villages was involved in their development and is now promoting their implementation.
Quality4Children
Who can best determine childcare standards? This is the initial question posed by three international child-focused organisations in 2004 when they set out to develop a set of quality standards for alternative care in Europe.
Children and Young People in Care – Discover Your Rights!
This colourful, informative and entertaining booklet and accompanying leaflet and poster are a joint initiative of SOS Children’s Villages and the Council of Europe. It was specifically produced to help answer questions posed by children and young people in alternative care. Its publication marked the 20thanniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.