The Children’s Budget Unit (CBU) at the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) examines national and provincial budgets to reveal whether or not the government is meeting its commitments to protecting the rights of children and to provide recommendations.
Assessing Government Support for Child Welfare
South Africa’s constitution states that every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, health care and social services. However, millions of children go hungry, do not have the material means to attend school or receive health care and find it impossible to live healthy and secure lives.
When analyzing budgets, CBU first determines the government’s obligations based on the constitution and international commitments. It then measures the extent of child poverty in the area being studied. This is followed by a comprehensive analysis of budget allocations and expenditures and of the delivery of key services to children, revealing the government’s fiscal priorities. This analysis and compilation of the budgetary facts allows CBU to clearly illustrate where the national, provincial or local government is not meeting its obligations. It also provides solid facts and data from which to make recommendations and strongly pressure for change. In some cases, local governments do not even collect this data and welcome the information that IDASA provides as a way to improve their own work.
This tactic has resulted in new legislation and better relationships with key government institutions, some of which now request information from the CBU. The tactic has spread globally, with similar monitoring units being opened in parts of Asia, South America and across the African continent.
For more information on this tactic, read our in-depth case study.
Budget analysis can highlight inequities in social and economic rights, encouraging governments to improve transparency, accountability, and service delivery. By combining budget analysis with human rights monitoring, the CBU provides data that can pressure governments to fulfill commitments while collaborating constructively rather than adversarially. This approach requires legal access to budgets and can also be applied to monitor national and local commitments, donor funding, and rights-based policies, covering issues like education, health, housing, and disability rights.
New Tactics in Human Rights does not advocate for or endorse specific tactics, policies or issues.
