Worldwide, an estimated 230 million children lack birth registration, 135 million of whom are living in the Asia Pacific region. If these unidentified, unregistered children, all under age five, formed their own country, their population would fall between that of the size of Japan and Russia.  The country might even have a flag, or symbols of statehood, but there would be no legal rights, few basic services and little security.

When children were asked what they wanted World Vision to do for them to improve their well-being, one of them said: ‘“Can you please tell our parents to put us back in their hearts?”

I don’t think that normal parents would willingly neglect their children. But how easy it is for families and communities to have children feel being left out, estranged or excluded.

In our communities, the stresses of poverty...

It was gratifying to follow the Chilean media’s coverage of an important announcement made recently by the President of Republic, Michelle Bachelet. What was the announcement? She had sent to the National Parliament for ratification the Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This action...

So the Convention on the Rights of the Child - the CRC - turns 25 this month. It has reached its mid-twenties. It's not often I choose light the candles to celebrate a Convention but this one's different - it's an unconventional convention...

Why? Because it sets out that all children are created equal - a child born in...