Defence for Children International - International Secretariat

What Defence for Children International - International Secretariat does

Defence for Children International (DCI) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, operating as a worldwide movement for children's rights with affiliated national sections in more than 35 countries across Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia-Pacific. The organization's programmatic priorities span justice for children, children deprived of liberty, violence against children, children on the move, children affected by armed conflict, child participation, and gender equality, delivered through sub-brands such as the She Leads Programme, the Socio-Legal Defence Centres (SLDCs), and the DCI Children's Rights Award. DCI holds consultative status with the United Nations and conducts advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and other international mechanisms.

The organization does not sell commercial products or technology services; its core offerings are advocacy outputs, policy research, publications (including the "Observateur des droits de l'enfant" newsletter), webinar series, and international conferences such as the December 2024 Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty, co-organized with UNICEF and the NGO Panel. Revenue is generated through donations from individuals, foundations, and institutional donors, membership contributions from national sections, and conference registration fees (150 CHF / 150 EUR / $170 per attendee for the 3-day conference). The organization is led by Executive Director Alex Kamarotos (since November 2016) and President Khaled Quzmar (elected November 2022), supported by a 15-person secretariat in Geneva and a federated network of national sections.

Its go-to-market motion is hybrid: event-driven (UN Human Rights Council sessions, global conferences, webinars) combined with a community-led model that positions children as defenders of their rights and agents of change, while its distribution channels are the national sections network, UN and international organization partnerships, and a hybrid online/in-person conference platform. Distribution and operational risk are heightened by reliance on continued donor funding and the political environment in conflict-affected jurisdictions — for example, Israeli forces' 2022 raid on DCI-Palestine offices and declared-illegal status of six civil society organisations illustrate exposure to operating risk in high-stakes advocacy geographies.

Name

Defence for Children International - International Secretariat

Legal name

Defence for Children International

Website

https://defenceforchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Defence for Children International is a Geneva-based non-governmental organization founded in 1979, operating a worldwide movement for children's rights through 35+ national sections and UN advocacy on justice, deprivation of liberty, violence, and armed conflict affecting children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Rights Advocacy and International NGO Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

Keywords

• Children's rights advocacy
• Human rights policy
• Juvenile justice
• International NGO
• Child protection programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Genève

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: DCI generates revenue through donations from individuals, foundations, and institutional donors, as well as membership fees from national sections. The organization also receives support through its Take Action pages encouraging donations.
2. Conference Registration Fees: The Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty charged registration contributions of 150 CHF/150 EUR/$170 per person for the 3-day event, partially covering catering costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Defence for Children International (DCI) is an international non-governmental organization that advocates for and protects children's rights worldwide. Its core offerings include UN-level policy advocacy and statements, capacity-building support for national sections, international conferences on children deprived of liberty, juvenile justice programmes, Socio-Legal Defence Centres, the She Leads gender equality programme, publications, and the DCI Children's Rights Award.

Product overview

Defence for Children International (DCI) is a global non-governmental organization focused on children's rights advocacy and protection. The organization does not offer technology products or software services. Instead, DCI provides advocacy services, educational resources, publications, webinar series, and organizes international conferences on children's rights issues including justice for children, children deprived of liberty, children affected by armed conflict, violence against children, and children on the move. The organization's core offerings include policy advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council, the Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty, the DCI Children's Rights Award, and various publications including annual reports and the 'Observateur des droits de l'enfant' newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• She Leads Programme: A programme focused on gender equality and enhancing access to justice for girls.
• Socio-Legal Defence Centres (SLDCs)
• DCI Children's Rights Award
• NGO Panel on Children Deprived of Liberty

Products and services

• Socio-Legal Defence Centres (SLDCs) Centres providing legal support and advocacy for children's rights in the justice system, supporting children involved in legal proceedings.
• She Leads Programme A programme focused on gender equality and enhancing access to justice for girls, addressing rights of girls in justice systems.
• DCI Children's Rights Award An award celebrating child and youth advocates for their contributions to children's rights, with the 2024 edition themed 'I want justice NOW!'
• Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty A 3-day international conference held in Geneva co-organized with UNICEF and the NGO Panel on Children Deprived of Liberty, gathering justice practitioners, child rights advocates, and youth activists to advance justice for children deprived of liberty.
• Roadmap for Action 2025-2030 on Children Deprived of Liberty A strategic roadmap for 2025-2030 guiding DCI's action on children deprived of liberty, aligned with SDG 16, presented at the World Congress on Justice with Children in Madrid.
• Children's Rights Webinar Series A webinar series addressing children's rights issues, including the Children's Rights in Palestine series launched April 2024 featuring expert Palestinian and international speakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty (December 2024) brought together 150+ participants from 50+ countries with 25 children and youth activists
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2024UNICEF co-organized the Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty with DCI and the NGO Panel. UNICEF provides expertise in child protection and justice programming, with senior advisors participating in conference sessions.
• NGO Panel on Children Deprived of LibertycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2024Co-organizer of the Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty. The NGO Panel consists of multiple child rights organizations working together on the UN Global Study implementation.
• Amnesty InternationalminorOthersListed as a partner/supporter of the Global Conference on Justice for Children Deprived of Liberty.
• Human Rights WatchminorOthersListed as a partner/supporter of the Global Conference. HRW speakers participated in plenary sessions discussing children deprived of liberty.
• International Detention Coalition (IDC)minorOthersListed as a partner with IDC speakers participating in conference sessions on children on the move deprived of liberty.
• Terre des hommesminorOthersListed as a conference partner with Programme Manager for Access to Justice participating in plenary sessions.
• Penal Reform InternationalminorOthersListed as a partner organization with Regional Director moderating conference sessions.
• Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)minorOthersListed as a partner organization co-hosting side events on protecting children detained from torture and ill-treatment.
• Child Rights ConnectminorOthersListed as a partner organization with expertise in child rights and UN mechanisms.
• Guido Fluri FoundationminorOthersProvided opening remarks at the Global Conference plenary session on children deprived of liberty in institutions.
• Canton of GenevaminorOthersOfficial partner of the Global Conference with President of State Council participating in award ceremony.
• City of GenevaminorOthersHost city with Mayor Christina Kitsos providing opening remarks at the Global Conference.
• CAGI (Geneva Accommodation for Global Issues)minorOthersProvides accommodation support for participants from low and middle-income countries attending the Global Conference.
• World SERVICE FoundationminorOthersListed as a DCI partner under the coordination section, based in Brussels.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Amnesty International: Global human rights NGO with longstanding work on children's rights, deprivation of liberty, and conflict-related child protection; listed as a conference partner for DCI's flagship event.
• UNICEF: UN agency dedicated to children's rights and child protection globally; DCI is a direct partner of UNICEF on the Global Study and convening, making it a strategic counterparty/peer in the child rights space.
• Plan International: Large international NGO focused on children's rights and gender equality, with global advocacy and programme delivery; overlaps with DCI on child participation, child protection, and girls' rights.
• Human Rights Watch: International human rights organization that conducts research and advocacy on children's rights and justice systems; participated as a partner/speaker at DCI's Global Conference.

Direct peers

• Penal Reform International: International NGO focused on criminal justice reform and the rights of detainees, including children deprived of liberty; moderated sessions at DCI's Global Conference and is a thematic co-peer in juvenile justice.
• War Child: International NGO focused on children affected by armed conflict — a core thematic area for DCI — providing protection, education, and advocacy in conflict-affected countries.
• Child Rights Connect: Geneva-based NGO coalition focused on child rights and UN mechanisms; listed as a conference partner for DCI and shares a near-identical advocacy model at the HRC and Committee on the Rights of the Child.
• International Detention Coalition: Global coalition advocating for alternatives to immigration detention, including for children on the move; co-partner at DCI's Global Conference and overlaps on children deprived of liberty in migration contexts.
• Save the Children: Global child rights NGO focused on advocacy, child protection, and children's rights in conflict and justice systems — directly comparable mission, with larger scale and broader programmatic reach.
• Terre des hommes: Swiss-based child rights NGO with strong focus on access to justice for children; co-partner at DCI's Global Conference and operates similar programmes in legal aid and child protection.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DCIsecretariat
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCA3F6_NCeSzH5lkbcvmngjA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Defence4Children
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/defence-for-children-international---international-secretariat
• Instagraminstagram.com/defenceforchildrenis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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