For children's rights to graduate beyond a piece of paper they must be backed up by investment, including in effective mechanisms to protect them. This investment must be grounded in state obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A rights-based approach tackles the structural causes of rights violations, instead of blaming individuals for being poor or giving help out of charity.

CRIN's submission to the OHCHR's report on a better investment in children asserts the importance of a rights-based approach. It reviews the impact of decisions about government spending on particular children's rights, and mechanisms to guarantee these - especially in the context of austerity measures. This includes summaries of legal Challenges to budget cuts Which Affect the enjoyment of children's rights. Download the paper .