As people, children are entitled to human rights just like adults. However, kids are also owed rights because of their young age and vulnerability. The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines a child as any human being younger than 18, includes rights such as the right to life, the right to their own identity, and the right to have a relationship with both parents. Children’s rights matter because in places where human rights are threatened, it’s often children who suffer the most. Many organizations focus on children’s rights or include children’s rights as an essential component of their work. Here are 11 examples of organizations offering children’s rights jobs:
#1. UNICEF
#2. Save the Children
#3. Defence for Children
#4. KidsRights Foundation
#5. Children’s Defense Fund
#6. Plan International
#7. ECPAT International
#8. Child Poverty Action Group
#9. Global Fund for Children
#10. Right to Play
#11. WE Charity
#1. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF is the UN agency focused on children’s rights. It was founded in 1946 after WWII. Today, it’s active in more than 190 countries and territories supporting child health and nutrition, education and skill-building, safe water and sanitation, and much more. UNICEF is the world’s largest provider of vaccines.
Job opportunities appear on the UNICEF website. Many of them include consulting gigs with specific programs, like the Policy Lab, which analyzes political economies and investigates new policies. A more permanent job, like a Planning Specialist, requires an advanced university degree, five years of experience, and fluency in both English and another official UN language.
#2. Save the Children
As one of the leading independent organizations for children (and one of the oldest with a founding date of 1919), Save the Children focuses on healthcare, food, shelter, and learning and child protection services. Save the Children also provides emergency aid following conflicts and natural disasters. It is an international organization employing more than 1,500 people in 120 countries. The Save the Children Alliance, a global network that supports local partners, and Save the Children International are part of the Save the Children family.
Save the Children offers a wide range of careers in every imaginable field. It needs managers, teachers, bus drivers, web developers, program coordinators, psychologists, and more in all of the countries where the organization serves. As an example, a manager position in new business development (based in Dakha) asks for a candidate with qualifications like a master’s degree in social science, political science, or a related field and at least 5 years of experience in project and program development.
#3. Defence for Children
Founded in 1979, the same year as the first International Year of the Child, Defence for Children focuses on children affected by armed conflict, child victims of human trafficking, child labor, and related issues. Its principles are guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and it is a member of the Coalition to Stop the Use of Children Soldiers and the Child Rights Information Network. Its International Secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland, where the organization advocates and lobbies for children’s rights within UN human rights mechanisms.
Defence for Children will offer jobs at the International Secretariat in Geneva, as well as opportunities with national sections and internships. These jobs include work on various issues facing children, such as child labor and violence.
#4. KidsRights Foundation
This organization empowers children while serving their needs and advocating for their rights. On their site, KidsRights describes kids as “changemakers” and believes their voices are essential within their communities. Based in the Netherlands, KidsRights also works in countries like South Africa, the Philippines and India. The organization supports grassroots projects, conducts research, and advocates on the world stage.
To work for KidsRights, you must be committed to improving children’s lives and fighting for justice. The organization has a small team, so there might be fewer opportunities compared to larger organizations on this list. The organization also does not send employees abroad, as it prefers to let local partners work in their respective countries.
#5. Children’s Defense Fund
Founded by Marian Wright Edelman, the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar and former director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Children’s Defense Fund strives to empower and protect children. Supported by a combination of foundation, corporate grants, and individual donations, the Children’s Defense Fund focuses on issues like poverty, education, and healthcare. Programs include Freedom Schools, which are summer and after-school enrichment programs offered to K-12 students and their families.
To find work with this organization, search positions on their site by location (Texas, Minnesota, Washington, D.C., etc) or department (finance, policy, communications, etc). Opportunities will differ in their requirements. As an example, a grants senior associate needs at least a bachelor’s degree, 3 years of nonprofit experience, at least 2 years of experience in grant management or restricted grant accounting, and experience in a field related to CDF’s programs or focus.
#6. Plan International
Plan International was founded in 1937 by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge. Their goal was to offer education, food, and accommodation to kids affected by the Spanish Civil War. Since then, the organization’s goals have expanded to over 75 countries. Plan International’s goals are to empower children, drive policy changes, and support children from birth to adulthood. Areas of focus include quality education, protection from violence, early childhood development, and emergencies.
Plan International has career opportunities at more than 50 Country Offices, 4 Regional Offices, and the Global Hub in the UK. You can search for jobs by keyword. Requirements vary based on the job. As an example, a project manager on a pregnancy prevention project will need a degree in a field like social work, social administration, or social sciences, as well as at least 5 years of post-graduation experience and three years of experience managing partnerships and donor projects.
#7. ECPAT International
ECPAT was launched in 1990 by a group in Northern Thailand. Organizations from around the world joined, creating a network of over 100 member organizations in 104 countries. Based in Bangkok, ECPAT focuses on ending child sexual exploitation by researching the issue in all settings, such as prostitution, trafficking, early and forced marriage of children, tourism, and online exploitation.
The ECPAT website posts job vacancies. Job descriptions will include all the information you need to know, such as where the job is based, who you’ll report to, the job’s purpose and responsibilities, and requirements. At the time of writing, there was a Grants Reporting Manager vacancy that required a degree in accounting or a similar field, at least 5 years of experience in financial management at an international nonprofit, and English fluency.
#8. Child Poverty Action Group
Established in 1965, the UK-based Child Poverty Action Group works to end child poverty, which affects more than 1 in 4 kids in the UK. The organization conducts research, advocates for long-term solutions, and supports families through an advice service and legal challenges. The group has two offices in London and Glasgow. Since its inception, CPAG has been part of successful campaigns for free school meals, the national living wage, and universal child benefits.
CPAG posts job vacancies on its website. At the time of writing, there was a project editor job and a fixed-term lawyer job available. The project editor job required significant content editorial work experience, excellent communication skills, flexibility, and “educated to degree level or requisite experience.”
#9. Global Fund For Children
The Global Fund for Children finds innovative organizations around the world, funds their programs for children and youth, provides advice and support, and connects partners. Areas of focus include gender equity, education, youth empowerment, and freedom from violence and exploitation. Partners are found in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe and Eurasia. Global offices are in the US and the UK.
You can find job vacancies on the website. At the time of writing, there were jobs available for youth leadership council recruitment, a program specialist in Bangladesh, and a development associate. The development associate job, which was in Donor Relations, required a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of experience and education, as well as at least two years of relevant professional work experience.
#10. Right to Play
Since the 1990s, Right to Play has used the “power of play” to educate, protect, and empower kids. The organization has reached 1.52 million kids in 15 countries by creating safe environments where kids can learn using games, sports, creative play, and free play. Through these programs, the organization impacts education, gender equality, health, and safety. Right to Play’s global partners include the European Union, the Lego Foundation, and the Olympic Refugee Foundation.
Job vacancies are posted on the organization’s website. At the time of writing, open jobs included an instructional designer in Rwanda, a consultant for lesson plan development, and a senior manager in global partnerships.
#11. WE Charity
In 1995, 12-year-old Craig Kielburger learned about Iqbal Masih, a child laborer who escaped slavery and was killed for advocating for children’s rights. Craig, with his classmates and older brother Marc, founded an organization that’s now known as WE Charity. The global movement partners with communities around the world with WE Villages, which work in education, water, health, food, and financial opportunity. In the US, Canada, and the UK, WE Charity has WE Schools, which is a year-long service-learning program that encourages students to participate in social change.
WE Charity has a “Careers” tab on its website, but at the time of writing, it wasn’t clickable. Performing a search for WE Charity jobs brought up a WE Schools director job based in Vancouver, WA. Candidates need a bachelor’s degree and/or a diploma or certificate in education, project management, or equivalent. The organization also asked for experience working with schools, youth, and team management.
