Defence for Children International is a global, non-governmental Organization, founded on 1979, that has a very active presence in 47 countries. DCI’s mandate is to ensure ongoing, practical, systematic and concerted action directed towards effective implementation of the human rights codified in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. DCI was one of the drafters of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and DCI has special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), UNICEF, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe. 

​

DCI is also part of the Global Initiative on Child Rights, which works on the inclusions of child rights principles in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the Global Compact for Refugees. We also participate in the Inter-Agency Working Group on Ending Child Immigration Detention, and regularly engage with other UN human rights mechanisms and agencies regarding children on the move.

​

Defence for Children International (DCI), monitors international human rights mechanisms based in Geneva and assists national sections in drafting and submitting alternative reports and statements to these entities. Human Rights mechanisms comprehend United Nations treaty bodies (Committee on the Rights of the Child, Committee against Torture, etc.), which monitor the implementation of international treaties, and other intergovernmental bodies such as the Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review (UPR). A report for the review of each country where DCI is present, is made available and used as reference in other efforts to promote child rights at both the international and local level.