The country is facing serious challenges as various fundamental rights are out of reach for too many children.

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, sees significant deficiencies in the realisation of children’s rights in Germany. Although significant progress has been made since the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child came into effect 30 years ago, the organisation has established that „certain fundamental rights remain out of reach for too many children”.

„Child poverty, unequal educational opportunities and the experience of violence have a particularly serious impact on the life situation and well-being of children,”

reads UNICEF’s report. The organization also criticised the fact that children’s rights are still not enshrined in the constitution. Additional demands include the extension of full-time childcare and the expansion of campaigns rejecting violence against children. Politics „must finally put the well-being of children at the centre,” said Georg Graf Waldersee, president of UNICEF in Germany, who added Germany still lacks the structures regulating children’s rights and instatimg the perspective of children and young people in politics and administration.

Anlässlich des 30. Jahrestags der #Kinderrechte in Deutschland appellieren wir an die Politik, sich in den nächsten Jahren klar und noch stärker als bislang am Wohl von Kindern und an der Verwirklichung ihrer Rechte zu orientieren. https://t.co/vW1D37DTsR pic.twitter.com/DLA4uOHI2u

— UNICEF Deutschland (@UNICEFgermany) April 4, 2022

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child entered into force in Germany on 5 April 1992. It sets out, among other things, that children have the right to health, schooling, play and non-violent up-bringing.