Establishment and Early Years

In 1993, a year after Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 11 non-governmental organisations concerned with children's welfare came together to explore how they might work with one another to promote the implementation of the UN Convention in Ireland.

The Alliance was formally established in March 1995, with the election of a Board and the adoption of a constitution.  At its first General Meeting, the Alliance members agreed the core aims of the new organisation.  These were to:

• Promote the implementation in Ireland of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
• Press for the establishment of an Ombudsman for Children; and
• Promote awareness of the UN Convention.

During its first four years, the main focus of the Alliance was the examination by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child of the Irish State's First National Report under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  In 1997, the Alliance published Small Voices, Vital Rights, a comprehensive Shadow Report to the UN Committee; this report was based on consultation with its member organisations and with individuals and groups who had expertise in specific areas, as well as analysis of documentary material.  

The Alliance commissioned the first-ever Irish study to document the key features of offices of ombudspersons for children or of children’s commissioners in a number of countries, and to put forward initial proposals for an Irish office.  The report, Seen and Heard, published in September 1996, proposed that Ireland should establish an Office of Ombudsman for Children, on a statutory basis, with powers both to promote awareness of children’s rights and to investigate individual complaints.  

The Alliance received statutory funding in 1998 to undertake an awareness-raising campaign in relation to the UN Convention.  This funding, which amounted to £100,000, was used to commission a short animated cartoon advertisement for broadcast on television and in cinemas; leaflets and posters; an information pack, and a dedicated telephone information line.  The cartoon is still in use by the Alliance and is available on YouTube.

History of Membership

The membership of the Alliance grew rapidly in the first few years of its existence: its first Shadow Report to the UN Committee was submitted on behalf of 65 member organisations.  Since its formal establishment in March 1995, the Alliance’s membership has grown to almost 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs).  Its membership, from which Board Members are elected at the Alliance’s AGM, consists of a diverse range of groups (see Alliance Members).

With the growth of its membership, the Alliance has proven its ability to facilitate a large and diverse range of organisations to work together to promote the rights of children.  The Board of the Alliance is elected by its membership and since the establishment of the organisation has been characterised by both change and continuity.  New members, representing diverse organisations, have continually joined the Board, while a number of the original members have served for several years.

The Alliance's policies, projects and activities are developed through ongoing collaboration and consultation with its member organisations.

History of Funding

The initial funding of the Alliance was provided by grants from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Howard Foundation and Barnardos, which also provided the Alliance with office accommodation and access to services free of charge.  With its limited resources, it was in a position to employ only one staff member – a co-ordinator.  

In 2000, the Alliance received significant funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies, as well as funding from the Irish Youth Foundation.  Subsequently, it also obtained substantial statutory funding under the grants programme for national anti-poverty networks and under the federations and networks programme established following the publication of the White Paper on the Voluntary Sector.  As a result of its improved financial position, the Alliance was able to rent its own office accommodation and expand its staff, to include a Chief Executive (December 2001), a Policy Officer, and an Education and Communications Officer.  

In 2007, following successful funding applications to The Atlantic Philanthropies, the One Foundation and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to support the 2007–2011 Strategic Plan, further staff members were employed; in 2011, staff members include a Chief Executive, Policy Director (Deputy Chief Executive), Communications Director, Office Manager, Information Officer, Research and Policy Analyst, Research and Policy Officer, and a part-time Administrative Assistant.

Recent Years

The Alliance has traditionally pressed for reform in legislation and services affecting children across a wide range of issues, doing so by means of written submissions, oral presentations to Oireachtas All-Party Committees and consultative meetings, and commentary before and after the Government’s annual Budget.  The Alliance has also undertaken innovative work in relation to the development of models for consultation with children and for facilitation of children’s participation in the development of policies affecting them. 

In 2003, the Alliance became a member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership.  The Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, and included a number of commitments in relation to children, explicitly recognising Ireland’s obligation to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  No other international human rights treaty ratified by Ireland was mentioned in the Agreement. 

In May 2006, the Alliance submitted its Second Shadow Report, From Rhetoric to Rights, to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.  The report was a comprehensive review of developments in regard to the implementation of the UN Convention in Ireland from early 1998, when the first examination of Ireland by the UN Committee took place.  The Shadow Report was accompanied by a Children’s Report, based on a series of consultative meetings with children.  (See Children’s Rights in Ireland for more details)

The Alliance has been calling for constitutional reform in respect of children’s rights since its establishment, and has made this a key objective of its work.  It has been broadly successful in its efforts, with all political parties committing to hold a children’s rights referendum and in the last three ‘Programme(s) for Government’. 

The Alliance has also advanced its policy work in a number of areas by working in collaboration with other organisations, including as member of the End Child Poverty Coalition, the former CADIC coalition, the Irish Youth Justice Alliance and as a co-ordinator for these bodies.  Recent collaborative partnerships have emerged, with the establishment of the Children’s Mental Health Coalition, Saving Childhood Ryan, Action for Separated Children in Ireland (ASCI); in addition, the Alliance was chosen as the Irish partner for The Body Shop’s ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People’ global campaign.

The most recognised piece of stand-alone work in recent years has been the successful Children’s Rights Report Card Series, which examines the Government’s performance in relation to its own commitments to children in the areas of education, health, material wellbeing and safeguarding childhood.  This has become a valued resource for the NGO sector, public officials and the media.

The Alliance has also played a key role as a member of the National Children’s Advisory Council and was the only NGO to be invited by the Government to become a member of the Monitoring Group in relation to the Ryan Report Implementation Plan.