Today, on the Annual Day on the Rights of the Child, we’re standing up for a simple but vital truth: Children need families, not orphanages.
From birth, children form connections that shape their future, giving them security, trust, and the foundations to grow. But for at least 5.4 million children around the world, this essential right has been taken away. Instead of growing up with the love and stability of family life, they are living in orphanages, where no amount of care can replace the bonds of family.
This isn’t how it should be.
Every child has the right to be safe, loved, and supported. This means making sure families get the support they need to stay together, so that no child is separated because of poverty, disability, or lack of services. And when children can’t remain with their parents, they should grow up in family-based care, not institutions.
We firmly believe that:
-Policies should strengthen families, not separate them
-Support should go to communities, not orphanages
-Children’s rights and best interests should guide every decision we make
A future where every child grows up in a safe and loving family isn’t just possible, it’s necessary.
#RightToFamily #ChildRights #ADRC2025 #FamiliesNotOrphanages #WeAreMJF