International Day for Street Children
Protect, not Punish
International Day for Street Children (IDSC) has been celebrated globally since 2012, to recognise the humanity, dignity and defiance of street children in the face of unimaginable hardships. We want to rally governments and individuals worldwide to work together to ensure their rights are protected no matter who they are and where they live.
Why Access to Justice?
Children in street situations face discrimination, criminalisation, and violence – yet are often denied justice. Every child has the right to protection and access to justice, especially those most excluded and at risk.
Justice is more than courts. It means being seen, heard, and protected. It means being able to seek support, report abuse, and access help without fear. Justice begins with listening to children – and making sure systems respond to their realities, not punish them for survival.
IDSC 2026 is a critical moment for global solidarity. It is an opportunity to spotlight locally led, participatory, and child-centred promising practices driven by CSC network members, and to ensure that street-connected children are meaningfully heard and not left behind in commitments to strengthen access to justice at local, national, regional, and global levels.
With governments preparing for global discussions on ending violence against children later this year, IDSC 2026 is a critical moment for our network to come together and say clearly: street-connected children should be protected, not punished.
Map and plan your advocacy journey on UN General Comment 21
If you’re marking IDSC and would like to strengthen your advocacy, explore our practical resources on UN General Comment No. 21 (GC21).
Adopted by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, GC21 sets out how governments should uphold the rights of children in street situations. In 2022, CSC reviewed how organisations have used GC21 to create change and close the gap between global commitments and children’s everyday realities.
Using a “journey mapping” approach, we documented the advocacy experience of Bahay Tuluyan in the Philippines, drawing out practical lessons that others can adapt. These resources can help you reflect, plan and take action as part of your IDSC celebrations.
Invite dialogue with decision-makers using our template advocacy letter
If you’re planning to engage government representatives around IDSC, you can adapt our template letter to request a meeting with the relevant Ministry.
The template helps you align your message with international child rights standards, reference key global processes, and set out clear, practical recommendations alongside a suggested agenda for discussion. It is designed to be flexible, so you can tailor it to your national context and advocacy priorities.
Social Media Graphics
Help raise awareness for the International Day for Street Children (IDSC) by sharing our ready-made social media graphics. These tiles are designed to make it easy for organisations, advocates and supporters to join the global conversation and amplify the voices and rights of children in street situations. Feel free to download and share them across your channels.
We’ll be adding more assets soon, so please check back regularly for new materials to support your advocacy.