Germany faces a significant shortfall in the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to a newly released “Children’s Rights Index 2025” by the German Children’s Aid Association (Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk). The index, compiled using 101 indicators developed in collaboration with a scientific advisory board, highlights stark regional disparities, raising serious questions about the equitable provision of fundamental rights for children across the nation.
The index focuses on six core children’s rights: participation, protection, health, an adequate standard of living, education and opportunities for rest and leisure. While states like Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia demonstrate above-average performance, Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Saxony-Anhalt are flagged for significantly lagging behind.
According to Anne Lütkes, Vice President of the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, a child’s prospects in Germany are now largely dictated by their geographical location. The pronounced discrepancies directly challenge the ideal of equal living conditions, particularly concerning the realization of children’s rights. Lütkes argues that the current system fails to guarantee a baseline level of opportunity and well-being for all.
The findings suggest a systemic failure within German governance. The index’s focus on participation and protection underscores a critical weakness in how states are addressing children’s voices and vulnerabilities. The uneven implementation points towards a lack of coordinated effort and potentially inadequate resource allocation across different ministries and regions.
Lütkes’ call for stronger, cross-sectoral children’s and youth policy is particularly pertinent. Currently, policies are seemingly fragmented and lack the necessary integration to effectively champion children’s rights. Furthermore, the demand for nationwide children’s rights monitoring signifies a need for greater accountability and transparency. Without a robust, ongoing assessment of implementation, progress will likely remain stagnant and the promise of the UN Convention will remain largely unfulfilled, leaving a generation of German children at a disadvantage based solely on their place of residence. The current situation underlines a need for urgent political action and a renewed commitment to ensuring equitable opportunities for all children in Germany.