An inclusive society where all children grow up in an environment that rests on the principles of non-discrimination and equality and where the human rights of all children are recognised, protected and realisedHAQ: Centre for Child Rights was founded in 1998. It was registered under the Societies Registration Act, in June 1999. The recognition, protection and promotion of three rights form the cornerstone of HAQ’s work.They are: Right to Survival, Right to Childhood and Right to Equal Opportunity.
HAQ’s strength lies in its capacity to straddle micro and macro issues impacting children, undertake research and documentation to generate new knowledge and evidence, bring hands on experience into policy advocacy nationally as well as internationally, and trengthen governance for children by holding the duty bearers accountable.
For HAQ, ensuring accountability is not only about monitoring performance but also about strengthening the existing systems through building capacity of key stakeholders to generate a timely and effective response and empowering the rights holders (children) to understand and seek their citizenship rights. In reaching out to children in distress, HAQ strongly believes that civil society organisations should not replace the government and allow abdication of state responsibility. Instead, to HAQ the role of NGOs should be to provide technical assistance and/or set up model interventions for the government to replicate.
Following this approach, HAQ works may be divided into two parts - Children and Governance and Child Protection.
HAQ is a human rights organisation that focusses on all rights for all children, recognising them as citizens of today and adults of tomorrow.
An inclusive society where all children grow up in an environment that rests on the principles of non-discrimination and equality and where the human rights of all children are recognised, protected and realised
To mainstream child rights and children’s concerns in all development planning and action through knowledge creation, evidence based advocacy and communication, direct support for children in distress, collaboration and partnership.
