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Children and transitional justice

Children and Transitional Justice Conference, 2009

Early childhood

Migration and children

Thematic experts consultations in the lead up to the World Congress III against sexual exploitation of children and adolescents

Expert discussion on children and transitional justice, 2008

Global Research on Ombuds for Children

What we do

The UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, Italy, was established in 1988 to strengthen the research capability of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and to support its advocacy for children worldwide.

The Centre, formally known as the International Child Development Centre, has as its prime objectives to improve international understanding of the issues relating to children's rights, to promote economic policies that advance the cause of children, and to help facilitate the full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in industrialized and developing countries.

As a core component of the UNICEF's research function, the Innocenti Research Centre works as the organization's dedicated research centre, maintaining academic freedom and contributing to UNICEF's strategic agenda. The Centre's activities promote knowledge generation and brokering to fill research gaps and address emerging and sensitive issues in the areas of social and economic policies and the implementation of international standards for children in all countries. With UNICEF support, and through other resources contributions of governments and civil society, the Centre continues to pursue its work in cooperation with other parts of UNICEF and academic and policy institutions around the world.

Building on twenty years of experience, expertise and lessons from the implementation of its programme, the Centre pursues research in two thematic areas: (a) Social and economic policies and children, and (b) Child protection and implementation of international standards for children.

IRC's agenda reflects three interrelated strategies:
  • evidence-based analysis, drawing on quantitative and qualitative information, the application of appropriate methodologies and the development of recommendations concerning child well-being and the realization of children's rights.
  • partnerships with a wide range of research and policy institutions and development actors, within and outside of the UN system.
  • communication and leveraging of research findings and recommendations to support policy dialogue and development and advocacy initiatives.
The Centre's activities form a distinct contribution to the research agenda of UNICEF, which also reflects work carried out through the Headquarters divisions and offices of Programmes, Policy and Practice, Emergency Operations and Supply as well as through Regional and Country Offices. IRC coordinates with these units, providing support and inputs where relevant and participating in joint research efforts in selected instances. IRC’s research continues to be carried out also in collaboration with academic, policy and development institutions, and with other agencies, organizations and centres of expertise concerned with children.

The Centre produces a wide range of publications which contribute to the global debate on children's issues and include a wide range of opinions. As a centre for excellence, Innocenti also collaborates with external partners and often seeks contributions and inputs from children's rights specialists from a range of disciplines.

The Centre collaborates with its host institution in Florence, the Istituto degli Innocenti, in selected areas of work. Core funding for the Centre is provided by the Government of Italy, while financial support for specific projects is also provided by other governments, international institutions and private sources, including UNICEF National Committees.

More on IRC research projects

Updated on 25 January 2010