From schools to clinics to the phones in their hands, children are generating more data than ever before. This data holds enormous potential, both informing smarter policies and helping every child to thrive. But with this opportunity comes serious risks, too. Misuse, breaches, and privacy violations are all too common. Without strong governance, the very systems meant to support children can expose them to harm, bias, or exclusion.

Since 2019, the Responsible Data for Children (RD4C) initiative—a partnership between UNICEF and The GovLab at New York University—has worked to strengthen and promote responsible data practices for and about children, from collection to processing to use—across every stage throughout the entire data lifecycle.

In this time, RD4C.org has reached more than 10,000 users across 165 countries, with its tools and resources viewed over 74,000 times—a reflection of growing global momentum to make data governance work better for children.

We are now pleased to announce the launch of an upgraded RD4C.org: a more accessible, dynamic, and action-driven platform to support responsible data use for and about children in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

 

What's New

RD4C.org has been upgraded with a fresh design and new features to scale impact, deepen accessibility, and better equip those working to uphold children's rights in the rapidly evolving digital age.

• Multilingual Access: The upgraded RD4C.org is now available in five languages — English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Chinese. By making the site and its resources accessible in multiple languages, RD4C empowers practitioners, policymakers, and advocates including children and young people to adapt and apply child-centered data governance principles across diverse political, cultural, and operational contexts.

• Comprehensive Resource Hub: The redesigned resource section brings together videos, case studies, and RD4C tools in one cohesive space. This enhanced collection page offers practical, actionable insights for anyone working to advance child-centered data governance, whether shaping national policies, improving service delivery, or designing ethical data systems.

• A New Editorial Space for Global Commitment: As part of our deepening commitment to cross-sector collaboration, RD4C.org now hosts a dedicated space spotlighting the Commitment to Data Governance Fit for Children—a global initiative launched at the 2024 UN World Data Forum to co-develop responsible data systems with and for children, grounded in their rights and realities. This new editorial focus featured in the blog section highlights practical insights from both young people and key committed partners — including UNICEF, the Govlab, GPSDD, the Datasphere Initiative, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, Highway Child, Develop Metrics, and others — showcasing real-world efforts to make data governance truly fit for children.

Why It Matters

Children today generate more data than any previous generation. How we collect, use, and share this data—whether that be school and medical records to their digital footprint—profoundly affects their lives, safety, and futures.

The upgraded RD4C.org offers decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates the tools, resources, and frameworks needed to act responsibly, embedding child-centered principles into every layer of data governance.

Meanwhile, it equips young people with the knowledge to understand how their data is handled, empowers them to advocate for their rights, and provides them with a platform to share their voices and shape the future of data governance.

“This upgrade reflects UNICEF’s continued leadership in advancing responsible data use for and about children. In a world where data is shaping everything from policy to personal opportunity, we have a responsibility to contribute to the building of platforms and systems with children’s rights embedded in the design and implementation. We remain at the forefront in promoting the necessary data fluency to achieve data governance fit for children. The upgraded RD4C.org helps make that possible.”

—— Carina Kabajunga Wangwe, Chief Data Officer at UNICEF

“The revamp of RD4C.org is the result of a long-standing collaboration between UNICEF and New York University’s GovLab, grounded in years of hands-on experience，working with children, young people, and other stakeholders in and across countries. The enhanced platform brings together our core resources in a more accessible and now multilingual format. It’s designed to support global practitioners regardless of their age navigating complex data governance decisions, and to help embed children’s rights into systems at every level, from high-level policy to day-to-day practice.”

—— Friederike Schüür, Data Governance and Strategy Unit Chief at UNICEF

“In a world where data touches every aspect of childhood, acting responsibly and in alignment with core principles is no longer optional—it is essential. The RD4C initiative shows that it is possible to unlock the potential of data for and about children—without compromising their rights, agency or dignity. But principles and good intent alone are not enough. Now is the time to scale this work, ensuring that every dataset, every AI application, and every digital interaction reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding the futures of the next generation. That’s the goal of the RD4C upgrade.”

—— Stefaan Verhulst, Co-Founder of The GovLab, Research Professor, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University.

 

Explore the New Site

We invite you to explore the upgraded platform, RD4C.org, share it with your networks, and join us in building a world where children’s rights are protected — online, offline, and everywhere data flows.