| Country | Year of creation | Legislation or Code of Childhood | Identified objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 2006 | Law 26.061 of Integral Protection of the Rights of Girls, Boys and Adolescents and Decree 415/2006 | The purpose of this law is the comprehensive protection of the rights of children and adolescents who are in the territory of the Argentine Republic, to guarantee full, effective and permanent exercise and enjoyment. |
| Bahamas | 2004 | Early Childhood Care Act, 2004. | Elimination of child labour, protection of children and young persons; Workers with family responsibilities, Provides for regulation and management of day-care centres and pre-schools. |
| Belize | n.d. | n.d. | |
| Bolivia (Plur. State de) | 1999 | Child and Adolescent Code. Law 2026 (October 1999) | Prevention, protection and comprehensive attention to every child or adolescent in order to ensure physical, mental, moral, spiritual, emotional and social development in conditions of freedom, respect, dignity, equity and justice. |
| Brazil | 1990 | Statute of the Child and Adolescent Law 8069. (1990) Law 8.242 (1991) and Decree 5089 (2004) Creation of the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (CONANDA) | It establishes the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents, ensuring through national plans and policies the protection and promotion of children, adolescents and pregnant women |
| Chile | 1979 | Decree Law 2,465 Ministry of Justice. Creates the National Service for Minors (SENAME) Law 20,032 Establishes System of Attention to Children and Adolescents | the National Service for Minors is created as an agency under the Ministry of Justice, responsible for helping to protect and promote the rights of children and adolescents |
| Colombia | 2016 | Law no. 1804 - Establishes a State Policy for the Integral Development of Early Childhood from Zero to Forever (2016) | Establishes the State Policy for the Integral Development of Early Childhood from Zero to Always, which establishes the conceptual, technical and management bases to guarantee integral development during childhood and adolescence |
| Costa Rica | 1998 | Law 7739 Code of Children and Adolescents (1998) Decree 33028 (2006) by which the Regulation is issued to the National Council for Children and Adolescents Decree No. 35876-S (2009) Guidelines for the social sector and fight against poverty: | It constitutes the minimum legal framework for the integral protection of the rights of minors. It establishes the fundamental principles of social or community participation as well as administrative and judicial processes |
| Cuba | 1975 | Family Code of 1975 Code of Children and Youth of 1978 | Regulate the participation of children and young people under 30 in the constitution of the new society and establish the obligations of the people, organizations and institutions involved in their education in accordance with the objective of promoting the formation of the communist personality in the young generation . |
| Ecuador | 2003 | Code of Children and Adolescents, Law 100 (2003) | Constitute the integral protection that the State, society and family must guarantee to all children and adolescents living in Ecuador, in order to achieve their integral development and the full enjoyment of their rights, within a framework of freedom , dignity and equity. |
| El Salvador | 2009 | Law for the Integral Protection of Children and Adolescents (March 2009) CONNA | The Law for the Integral Protection of Children and Adolescents recognizes children and adolescents as individuals with legal status. Create and order public policies and national and local institutions for the comprehensive protection of their rights. |
| Guatemala | 2003 | Decree Number 27-2003 Law for the Integral Protection of Children and Adolescents (PINA - 2003) | Legal instrument of family integration and social promotion, which seeks to achieve the integral and sustainable development of Guatemalan children and adolescents, within a democratic framework and unrestricted respect for human rights. |
| Honduras | 1996 | Code of Childhood and Adolescence (1996) | The general objective of this Code is the integral protection of children in the terms established by the Constitution of the Republic and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the modernization and integration of the legal system of the Republic in this matter. |
| Jamaica | 2005 | Child Care and Protection Act (2005) | Promote the best interests, safety and well-being of children; |
| Mexico | 2014 | General Law on the Rights of Girls, Boys and Adolescents. (2014) | Guarantee the full exercise, respect, protection and promotion of the human rights of children and adolescents in accordance with the provisions of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States and international treaties of which the Mexican State is a party |
| Nicaragua | 1998 | Law 287 Code on Children and Adolescents (1998) (CONAPINA) Law 351 on the Organization of the National Council for Comprehensive Care and Protection of Children and Adolescents and the Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents and Decree General of the Law 63-2000 | It regulates the integral protection that the family, society, the State and private institutions must provide to children and adolescents. |
| Panama | 1994 | Family Code | The family unit, the equality of rights and duties of the spouses, the equality of the children and the protection of minors are fundamental principles for the application and interpretation of this body of laws. |
| Paraguay | 2001 | Law 1680/01 Code of Childhood and Adolescence (2001) | Establishes and regulates the rights, guarantees and duties of children and adolescents, in accordance with the provisions of the National Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international instruments on the protection of human rights approved and ratified by Paraguay, and laws. |
| Peru | 2000 | Code of Childhood and Adolescence (2000) | Children and adolescents are subject to rights, freedoms and specific protection, for which they enjoy all the rights inherent to the human person and the specific rights related to their development process. |
| Dominican Republic | 2003 | Law 136-03 Code for the System of Protection and Fundamental Rights of Children and Adolescents | El presente Código tiene por objeto garantizar a todos los niños, niñas y adolescentes que se encuentren en el territorio nacional el ejercicio y el disfrute pleno y efectivo de sus derechos fundamentales |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 2012 | Children Act (2012). | n.d. |
| Uruguay | 2004 | Law N 17823 Code of Childhood and Adolescence (2004) Regulatory Decree 475/2006 | Every child and adolescent enjoys the inherent rights of the human person. Such rights shall be exercised according to the evolution of their faculties, and in the manner established by the Constitution of the Republic, international instruments |
| Venezuela (Bol. Rep. of) | 2000 | Organic Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents (LOPNA) (2000) | Esta Ley tiene por objeto garantizar a todos los niños y adolescentes, que se encuentren en el territorio nacional, el ejercicio y el disfrute pleno y efectivo de sus derechos y garantías, a través de la protección integral que el Estado, la sociedad y la familia |
Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), based on official information reported by governments of the region.
