Leading children's rights charities agree to merge

Two leading children’s rights charities – Just for Kids Law and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) – are to merge.

Just for Kids Law provides direct advocacy support and legal representation to children and undertakes strategic litigation.

CRAE meanwhile is one of the largest children’s rights coalitions, with more than 150 organisations and individual members.

The two charities said they would keep their distinct identities and brands but believed that joining together would strengthen both their work and provide a much stronger voice.

“CRAE's public affairs and policy functions, and expertise on international human rights, will complement Just for Kids Law's litigation capacity and direct service provision,” they said.

“Together, the combined charity will increase the impact of their work for children’s rights. It will create an organisation which combines strategic litigation, political affairs, policy and research alongside providing direct services to disadvantaged children and young people. The combined charity will raise awareness of children’s rights and support children to campaign on issues important to them.”

The charities added that it was “particularly important at this time, with the Human Rights Act under threat, and many of the provisions in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child failing to be met in England, that there is the strongest possible voice to advocate for children's human rights”.