The Social Development Division aims to contributing to the diagnosis of the social situation of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on specific groups, including children and adolescents. A comprehensive approach to the development of children and adolescents is essential for ensuring the full exercise of their rights and for addressing structural vulnerabilities and inequalities from the earliest stages of the life cycle.

Driven by the Convention on the Rights of the Child approved in 1989 by the United Nations and to date ratified by all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, child development policies in the region have advanced through reforms in laws and policies based on comprehensive and multisectoral approaches. However, substantial gaps remain, particularly in the effectiveness of childcare and development policies, inadequate parental leave, and limited access to social protection for households with children and adolescents. Additionally, limited resources and other barriers hinder access to essential social services that are crucial for the full enjoyment of their rights, such as health care, proper nutrition, and quality education. This context, coupled with the fact that children and adolescents continue to be disproportionately affected by poverty, has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has negatively impacted the well-being of children and adolescents and their families.

The Social Development Division analyzes public policies aimed at improving the living conditions of this segment of the population and formulates proposals to address the existing deficits faced by children and adolescents from a rights-based perspective.