Image: Pexels
We are proud to welcome the International Bureau for Children’s Rights (IBCR), a distinguished child rights organisation founded in 1994, as the newest member of the KCS Network. With three decades of experience, the organisation has worked to strengthen justice and protection systems for children and to transform the way children are valued and recognised in society – especially supporting those who face the greatest obstacles.
They work with children at risk or survivors/victims of violence, those in contact with the justice system, children on the move and children associated with armed groups, among others. At the heart of their mission is the belief that every child must be recognised as a rights-holder and an active citizen from the earliest stages of life.
By joining the KCS Network, the IBCR seeks to be part of a global community that will challenge and support their growth. ‘We wanted to be part of a network that challenges us and gives us the opportunity to learn and share good practices with other organisations,’ said the IBCR Head of Children Protection, Sandrine Lerenard.
Their commitment to safeguarding is driven by the clear goal of ensuring that no child is ever harmed by their programmes or partners. Equally important, they are focused on creating environments where children feel safe to raise their concerns. ‘Safeguarding is a duty and we want to commit to it with the right tools, while being able to adapt to changing scenarios’, Lerenard affirms.
Looking ahead, they hope to strengthen local monitoring through their field offices and to develop child-friendly reporting mechanisms designed in collaboration with children. They also plan to collaborate with government entities to help integrate child safeguarding into national frameworks.
We are delighted to have the IBCR as a member and hope that joining the KCS will be a step that will help them build safer, more just environments for all children.