Defence for Children International (DCI) is an independent grassroots and human rights-based non-governmental organisation that has been promoting and protecting the human rights of children on a global, regional, national and local level for over 35 years, dedicated to ensuring an ongoing, practical, systematic and concerted international action as articulated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), its Optional Protocols and all other existing international human rights standards and instruments.
DCI national sections and associated members constitute the backbone of the movement and the centre of expertise and action. Each DCI national section and DCI’s associated members work on child rights issues, which are most directly relevant to their respective national contexts, ranging from migrant children, the eradication of child labour, child trafficking and violence against children, to advocacy for the rights of children in conflict areas and the promotion of child participation. Nevertheless, juvenile justice remains the overarching priority of the global DCI movement, with the majority of national sections conducting activities around this topic.
DCI national sections and associated members constitute the backbone of the movement and the centre of expertise and action. Each DCI national section and DCI’s associated members work on child rights issues, which are most directly relevant to their respective national contexts, ranging from migrant children, the eradication of child labour, child trafficking and violence against children, to advocacy for the rights of children in conflict areas and the promotion of child participation. Nevertheless, juvenile justice remains the overarching priority of the global DCI movement, with the majority of national sections conducting activities around this topic.