Parents recognize their role in realizing child rights, but need support – UNICEF survey

New findings reveal that most caregivers acknowledge the family’s role in realizing child rights but lack specific understanding about what those rights are and are prone to violating them to some degree.

KYIV, 03 June 2025 – Nearly all caregivers are aware of their critical role in protecting and helping their children, including adolesents, to realize their rights, but more than one third believe they may violate those rights on occasions, according to a new UNICEF survey. 

The findings, released to mark the start of global parenting month, also revealed that 89 per cent of parents surveyed lack specific understanding of what their children’s rights are, as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which outlines the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of children.

“Parents' responses to this survey show their determination to better protect their children's rights and provide the necessary support and care,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine. “But at the same time, they show a high level of concern about their own actions during such stressful times,” added Mammadzade.

Adolescents surveyed said they had experienced violations of their rights most often through psychological or physical violence, a disregard for their opinions, or a violation of privacy.

“We must do whatever we can to protect and preserve child rights everywhere, including in the home,” said Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor and Commissioner to the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation. “Caregivers are living through extremely difficult days and struggling to cope with the impact of war, which is why we are committed to do whatever we can to help them nurture their children,”