In January 2025, the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office initiated a global campaign to mobilize political will and coordinated action toward transforming care for children around the world. Through this new campaign, governments, civil society, faith groups, and individuals with lived experience of care systems are calling on world leaders to join forces to ensure all children are growing up in a safe, nurturing, and loving family environment.
They aim to:
- strengthen families and prevent unnecessary separation
- ensure safe, family-based alternative care
- end the use of institutions for children around the world
A key component of the Global Campaign is the Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform. The Charter builds on existing international commitments and calls for urgent, multi-sectorial action to transform care for children worldwide. The Charter is available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
What the Charter Calls For
The Charter is open for signature by ALL national governments. By signing the Charter, governments commit to:
- Upholding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Investing in families, children, care leavers, and inclusive services.
- Ending violence against children and harmful practices like orphanage tourism.
Charter signatories are encouraged to:
- Demonstrate leadership by implementing the Charter’s objectives and commitments in ways that reflect national priorities and local realities.
- Join a global movement of governments working together to drive transformative change, amplifying your country’s voice and influence on the world stage.
- Inspire and be inspired across countries by sharing experiences, progress, and lessons learned, helping shape more effective interventions and investments around the world.
- Define the country’s own priorities and commitments to advance family care for all children within its national context.
- Participate in periodic learning events and exchanges to showcase their progress and to learn from peers. While there is no mandatory financial contribution, countries are encouraged to mobilise the necessary resources to deliver on their commitments.
Who Can Sign and Endorse
- All national governments are invited to stand alongside other global leaders by signing the charter—and by following through on their commitments with meaningful investment and implementation. Ministries can confirm support by sending a note verbale (or Ministerial-level letter) to the U.K. Mission in their country.
- Civil society organisations and inter-governmental bodies are encouraged to formally endorse the Charter as a visible demonstration of their support for transforming care for children worldwide. To endorse the Charter, send a brief email or letter from the head of your organisation to: ChildrensCareReformCampaign@fcdo.gov.uk
The Charter is available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
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Countries that sign the Global Charter on Children's Care Reform are encouraged to make their own commitments describing specific actions they will take to realise the aims of the Charter. This guidance provides instructions on how governments can request technical support from a team of care reform advisors to develop or begin implementing those commitments.
Countries that sign the Global Charter on Children's Care Reform are encouraged to make their own commitments describing specific actions they will take to realise the aims of the Charter. This guidance document aims to support governments to design ambitious, measurable, and context-specific commitments that align with the Charter’s principles.
كجزء من الحملة العالميّة لإصلاح رعاية الأطفال، تُحثّ الدول على تقوية الأسر، وتوسيع نطاق الرعاية البديلة الآمنة والحانية ضمن بيئة أسريّة، والإنهاء التدريجيّ والمستمرّ لاستخدام المؤسّسات لرعاية الأطفال.
Como parte de la Campaña global para la reforma del cuidado de la niñez y adolescencia, se exhorta a los países a fortalecer a las familias, ampliar los cuidados alternativos seguros y protectores basados en la familia y poner fin progresivamente
Dans le cadre de la Campagne mondiale pour la réforme de la prise en charge des enfants, les pays sont encouragés à renforcer les familles, développer des modes de prise en charge alternatifs sûrs et favorables au développement de l’enfant, et met
La Charte mondiale pour la réforme de la prise en charge des enfants appelle les dirigeants mondiaux à agir ensemble pour: respecter la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits de l’enfant et la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits des personnes handicapées;
investir dans les familles, les enfants, les jeunes sortant de l’aide sociale et dans des services inclusifs; mettre fin à la violence à l’égard des enfants et aux pratiques néfastes telles que le tourisme dans les orphelinats
يُمثّل الميثاق العالميّ لإصلاح رعاية الأطفال دعوة لقادة العالم للعمل معاً من أجل: الالتزام باتفاقيّة الأمم المتحدة لحقوق الطفل واتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لحقوق الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة; الاستثمار في الأسر والأطفال ومغادري الرعاية وفي الخدمات الدامجة;القضاء على العنف ضدّ الأطفال وعلى الممارسات الضارّة، مثل سياحة دور الأيتام.
La Carta Global para la Reforma del Cuidado de la Niñez y Adolescencia es un llamado a los líderes mundiales para que actúen juntos para: respetar la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos del Niño y sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad; invertir en las familias, en las niñas, niños o adolescentes egresados del sistema de protección y servicios inclusivos; poner fin a la violencia contra la niñez y adolescencia y a las prácticas perjudiciales como el turismo en las instituciones
In January 2025, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy launched an initiative to transform the lives of all children globally, so that they are cared for in families and free of violence, exploitation and other harmful practices.
The Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform is a call for world leaders to act together to: uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; invest in families, children, care leavers, and inclusive services; and end violence against children and harmful practices like orphanage tourism.
