Discusses the role and definition of children's rights since the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Suggests ways to build upon the Convention by concentrating on: neglected groups of children, including disabled, gay, minority, and girl children; reforming the rights of children; and strengthening the implementation…

The "African common position" during the Special Session of United Nations (UN) General Assembly on children was that "Today's investment in children is tomorrow's peace, stability, security, democracy and sustainable development." However, the African child remains the most neglected species in the continent as millions of…

This paper examines ways to educate the 160 million children denied access to primary schools and the 960 million adults throughout the world still illiterate in 1990. It focuses on three especially marginalized groups: (1) girls and women, who make up the majority of unschooled and illiterate children and adults; (2) the children of ethnic…

Although the experiences from birth to age three influence how the rest of childhood unfolds, this critical time is usually neglected in the policies, programs, and budgets of countries around the world. This report details the daily lives of parents and other caregivers who are striving to protect the rights and meet the needs of young children.…