How to use the Voluntary National Review to Advance Children’s Rights

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015.  The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a fundamental part of the 2030 Agenda and are inextricably linked to the rights of children. Children’s rights and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing: protecting children’s rights is a necessary prerequisite to meeting the SDGs, and the SDGs can be used to drive the realization of children’s rights today and for future generations.  There are less than ten years to go to achieve the SDGs and it has never been more urgent to hold governments to account for the promises they have made as children’s well-being worldwide is under a triple threat from the effects of poverty and inequality, climate change and conflict and this is compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SDG monitoring and review processes at the national, regional and global levels provide civil society with a crucial opportunity to drive accountability for children and to ensure that their voices are included in policy decisions.  This Guidance examines the potential and the practicalities of using SDG accountability mechanisms and processes to advance children’s rights at different levels and for different advocacy purposes.  It is aimed at child-focussed organisations as well as other civil society actors working on SDG accountability.  It may also be relevant for academia, UN agencies and State authorities with an interest in Voluntary National Reviews.  Please note that a list of relevant Acronyms and Definitions can be found here for reference.

This guidance is developed as part of the How to Child Right series.