A new study has found that most parents and caregivers believe that families should protect children’s rights, but they lack a clear understanding of those rights and may sometimes violate them.
KYIV, 3 June 2025. Almost all parents and caregivers recognize their key role in protecting their children’s rights and helping them realize their rights, but more than a third admit that they sometimes violate these rights, according to a new UNICEF survey.
The findings, released to mark the start of International Month of Fatherhood, also show that 89% of parents surveyed do not have a clear understanding of what children’s rights are under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which outlines children’s civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
“The responses of parents in our survey show that they are determined to better protect their children’s rights and provide them with all the necessary support and care,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine. “At the same time, they are genuinely concerned about how their actions affect their children in such stressful times.”
The teenagers who participated in the survey indicated that their rights were most often violated through psychological or physical abuse, disregard for their opinions, or violations of their privacy.
“We must do everything possible to protect and ensure the rights of children everywhere, including at home,” said Daria Gerasymchuk, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation. “Parents and caregivers are going through extremely difficult times and are trying to cope with the consequences of the war, so we are committed to doing everything we can to help them raise their children.”
Parents may sometimes violate their children’s rights, but 67% of adolescents aged 14 to 18 said they would turn to their parents for protection if their rights were violated, and another 24% consider teachers to be their second most important source of support.
“Parents are the main source of support for a child’s development and well-being, but it is difficult for them to cope on their own, especially in times of war,” said Mr Mammadzade. “A strong foundation for children’s rights is laid at home, but it must be reinforced by policies and services that help parents and caregivers to care for the next generation.”
Other key findings from the survey show that:
UNICEF is launching a campaign to strengthen knowledge about children’s rights and calls for children to be respected and empowered to defend their rights.
Notes for editors:
The digital survey, “Perceptions of children’s rights: knowledge, attitudes, and implementation experiences in Ukrainian families,” includes responses from 600 men and women aged 19 to 55 who have children, as well as 400 adolescents aged 14 to 18. The survey was conducted throughout Ukraine by Gradus Research.
The full report is available here.
Media contacts:
Tobi Fricker
Communications and Advocacy Officer
UNICEF Ukraine
Tel: +38-050-245-67-31
Email: tfricker@unicef.org
