Global report exposes shocking gaps in children's rights despite UN protections

A new report by the Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) reveals widespread risks to children's rights across the globe. The survey found children at risk of rights violations in 38 out of 40 countries examined. These findings come despite the near-universal adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The HRMI Expert Survey covered 13 rights under its People at Risk data. Almost all of these rights were flagged as at risk for children in at least some countries. The only exception was freedom from death penalty executions.

In Vietnam, 12% of respondents said children’s right to education was under threat. School completion rates highlighted stark inequalities, with just 18% of the poorest children finishing school compared to 88% of the richest. Street children and homeless youth faced even greater risks, with 44% of respondents identifying them as vulnerable to education violations, far above the 12% for all children.

Food insecurity also emerged as a major concern. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 33% of respondents believed children lacked adequate food. Stunting rates ranged from 16% in Kinshasa to 55% in Kwango. The situation was most severe in Nauru, where every respondent flagged children’s right to food as at risk. In contrast, only 5% of respondents in Hong Kong identified any children’s rights as being under threat.

Articles 24 and 28 of the CRC explicitly guarantee children’s rights to nutritious food and education. Yet malnutrition and barriers to schooling persist in many regions. The report underscores ongoing challenges to children’s rights despite the CRC’s global ratification. Malnutrition and education gaps remain critical issues in numerous countries. These violations affect children unevenly, with the most vulnerable facing the highest risks.