Professor Cate Carroll, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Vice President for Europe of the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education (OMEP), recently represented the organisation at the United Nations in Geneva.
Professor Carroll addressed the Intergovernmental Working Group of the Human Rights Committee on the future development of children's rights under international law.
Speaking on behalf of OMEP, the world's leading international organisation dedicated to early childhood education and care (ECEC), Professor Carroll advocated for the explicit recognition of babies, infants and young children within a proposed Fourth Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Her intervention focused on ensuring that the rights, needs and experiences of the youngest children are fully acknowledged and protected within international human rights frameworks.
Professor Carroll argued that children from birth should be recognised as rights holders, with clear entitlements to education, care, protection, participation, wellbeing and development. While the UNCRC has been instrumental in advancing children's rights globally, she highlighted that the specific experiences of the youngest children are often overlooked in legal and policy discussions, despite overwhelming evidence that the earliest years of life have a profound influence on lifelong outcomes.
Professor Carroll said: "The youngest children are too often invisible in international policy and legal frameworks. Yet the evidence is clear that experiences during the earliest years of life shape children's futures, influencing their health, learning, wellbeing and opportunities throughout adulthood. Children's rights begin at birth, and our international commitments must reflect that reality."
Central to her contribution was the case for early childhood education and care as both a fundamental human right and a powerful instrument for advancing social justice. Professor Carroll emphasised that access to high-quality ECEC is one of the most effective ways to reduce inequality, improve life chances and support more equitable societies. By providing rich learning opportunities, nurturing relationships and supportive environments during the most critical period of development, ECEC helps children build the cognitive, social, emotional and communication skills that underpin future success.
She highlighted a substantial body of international evidence demonstrating that investment in the early years produces lasting benefits for individuals and society. Children who experience high-quality ECEC are more likely to achieve positive educational outcomes, enjoy better health and wellbeing, secure employment and participate meaningfully in their communities throughout adulthood. These benefits are particularly significant for children experiencing poverty, disadvantage or social exclusion, helping to narrow attainment gaps before they become entrenched.
Professor Carroll added: "Early childhood education and care is one of the most powerful tools available to governments seeking to reduce inequality. High-quality early years provision can transform life chances, particularly for children facing disadvantage, by providing the strong foundations that enable them to thrive throughout their lives."
She further emphasised that effective early childhood provision contributes to wider societal outcomes, supporting social mobility, economic productivity, community wellbeing and social cohesion.
"Investment in young children is an investment in the future of society. When we ensure that every child has access to quality education and care from the earliest years, we create stronger communities, fairer societies and more sustainable futures. ECEC is not simply preparation for school; it is a matter of rights, equity and social justice."
Addressing representatives from across the international community, Professor Carroll called for the proposed Fourth Optional Protocol to strengthen accountability for young children's rights and encourage governments to prioritise policies that support children from birth.
"A Fourth Optional Protocol offers an important opportunity to make the youngest children visible within international law. It would reinforce the principle that babies and young children are rights holders in their own right and help ensure that governments are accountable for protecting and promoting those rights from the very beginning of life."
Professor Carroll's participation in these high-level UN deliberations highlights the global influence of the University's academic leadership and its commitment to advancing social justice, educational equity and children's rights. Through international engagement, research-informed advocacy and leadership within global organisations such as OMEP, the University continues to contribute to significant policy discussions shaping the future of education and human development worldwide.
Professor Carroll has made an important contribution and her continued leadership in championing the rights of young children on the international stage. Her advocacy in Geneva reinforces the critical importance of early childhood education and care in building fairer societies and ensuring that every child can thrive from the very beginning of life.