Childwatch International

Childwatch International is a network of institutions and individuals involved in research for children with the aim of initiating and coordinating research and information projects on children's living conditions and the implementation of children's rights.

The organization was created as a response of the research community to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the World Summit for Children. Researchers studying issues related to the lives of children and young people can provide important knowledge to facilitate and support the implementation of the Convention and accomplishment of the goals defined in the Summit Plan of Action. To achieve these goals, Childwatch International:

• Promotes knowledge of, and improvement in, child research throughout the world
• Promotes an interdisciplinary approach to child research and a holistic understanding of children
• Provides channels for the exchange of information and knowledge between researchers addressing issues relating to children's rights and well-being
• Promotes more effective dissemination of the results from child research to the general public
• Facilitates the development and strengthening of the capacity for research for children in countries that are not served by appropriate national or regional research institutions
• Identifies experts or institutions to undertake research or studies on specific child issues, and facilitates and stimulates the development of projects in areas of priority
• Encourages and supports a dialogue between researchers and decision makers on the development of strategies for the implementation of the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international agreements and instruments
• Cooperates with intergovernmental, nongovernmental, and national organizations to support their work for the benefit of children, initiate activities that can meet their needs for research, and stimulate further international cooperation

Childwatch has been sponsored by the Norwegian Ministry for Children and Family Affairs, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the Norwegian Centre for Child Research and the University of Oslo. The organization's secretariat is located in Oslo, Norway.

In 1994, the organization's advisory board voted to support the revival of Growing Up in Cities as a project related to their concerns for the quality of children's lives in an urbanizing world and children's rights to participation in improving their environments. In 1995, the organization received a grant from the Norwegian Ministry for Children and Family Affairs for project start-up. Since that time, Childwatch has maintained an interest in the project's expansion under the sponsorship of the MOST Programme of UNESCO, and has contributed to special projects. As part of this collaboration, in June 2000, Childwatch International and the MOST Programme are co-sponsoring a three-day symposium on the evaluation of children's participation in community settings.

Childwatch International
P.O. Box 1132 Blindern
N-0137 Oslo
Norway
Tel: 47-22-85-4350
Fax: 47-22-85-5028
e-mail: childwatch@uio.no