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services, infrastructure and overall resources specifically allocated to early childhood, for the
many reasons set out in this general comment. In this connection, States parties are encouraged
to develop strong and equitable partnerships between the Government, public services,
non-governmental organizations, the private sector and families to finance comprehensive
services in support of young children’s rights. Finally, the Committee emphasizes that where
services are decentralized, this should not be to the disadvantage of young children.
39.
Data collection and management. The Committee reiterates the importance of
comprehensive and up-to-date quantitative and qualitative data on all aspects of early childhood
for the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of progress achieved, and for assessment of the
impact of policies. The Committee is aware that many States parties lack adequate national data
collection systems on early childhood for many areas covered by the Convention, and in
particular that specific and disaggregated information on children in the early years is not readily
available. The Committee urges all States parties to develop a system of data collection and
indicators consistent with the Convention and disaggregated by gender, age, family structure,
urban and rural residence, and other relevant categories. This system should cover all children
up to the age of 18 years, with specific emphasis on early childhood, particularly children
belonging to vulnerable groups.
40.
Capacity-building for research in early childhood. The Committee noted earlier in
this general comment that extensive research has been carried out on aspects of children’s health,
growth, and cognitive, social and cultural development, on the influence of both positive and
negative factors on their well-being, and on the potential impact of early childhood care and
education programmes. Increasingly, research is also being carried out on early childhood from
a human rights perspective, notably on ways that children’s participatory rights can be respected,
including through their participation in the research process. Theory and evidence from early
childhood research has a great deal to offer in the development of policies and practices, as well
as in the monitoring and evaluation of initiatives and the education and training of all responsible
for the well-being of young children. But the Committee also draws attention to the limitations
of current research, through its focus mainly on early childhood in a limited range of contexts
and regions of the world. As part of planning for early childhood, the Committee encourages
States parties to develop national and local capacities for early childhood research, especially
from a rights-based perspective.
41.
Training for rights in early childhood. Knowledge and expertise about early childhood
are not static but change over time. This is due variously to social trends impacting on the lives
of young children, their parents and other caregivers, changing policies and priorities for their
care and education, innovations in childcare, curricula and pedagogy, as well as the emergence
of new research. Implementing child rights in early childhood sets challenges for all those
responsible for children, as well as for children themselves as they gain an understanding of their
role in their families, schools and communities. States parties are encouraged to undertake
systematic child rights training for children and their parents, as well as for all professionals
working for and with children, in particular parliamentarians, judges, magistrates, lawyers, law
enforcement officials, civil servants, personnel in institutions and places of detention for
children, teachers, health personnel, social workers and local leaders. Furthermore, the
Committee urges States parties to conduct awareness-raising campaigns for the public at large.