The Children's Institute

The Children’s Institute (CI) was established in 2001 as a multidisciplinary policy research unit in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT).

We envision a society in which children are valued, nurtured and protected; their rights are realised; and where they are able to participate, develop and reach their full potential.

Our aim is to contribute to policies, laws and interventions that promote equality and realise the rights and improve the conditions of all children in South Africa through research, advocacy, education and technical support.

Poverty, inequality, high levels of violence and abuse as well as compromised early childhood development continue to limit children’s life choices. We remain committed to tackling those challenges by focusing on the following areas:

• Monitoring Child Rights
• Early Childhood Development
• Protecting Children from Violence
• Reducing Poverty and Inequality