Advances and Pending Challenges of Uruguay in Guaranteeing the Rights of Early Childhood

Abstract

Today, 30 years after the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereafter UNCRC) was proclaimed, the process of transforming attitudes and actions towards children that respect and guarantee their rights, is still slow. In the field of early childhood care and education in Uruguay, some research shows that these difficulties are reflected by the low recognition of the teachers’ role as a guarantor. However, many educational actions, especially those related to promotion of progressive autonomy, are in line with the principles of the UNCRC. On the other hand, at a normative level, it was not until 2004 that a new Childhood and Adolescence Code was approved after a slow process of changing norms and decrees. However, in 2008 a path of priority to early childhood began to be drawn. With regard to education, this is seen by the implementation of a new law (2008) and a curricular framework for early childhood care and education (2014) with a clear perspective on rights. It also highlights the beginning of a new early childhood teacher training plan (2016). In summary, this chapter will discuss research, programs and policies that mark the advances and pending challenges in order to guarantee the rights of children in Uruguay.