The need for a child-sensitive approach and related data demands are recognized by the international community in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. To better protect migrant and forcibly displaced children no matter where in the world they may be, it is paramount that the global community take action to improve child-specific data as well as data capacities.
The International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) was conceived at an international expert workshop jointly organized by IOM and UNICEF in March 2019 in Rabat, Morocco, convened to discuss the data needs and methodological challenges related to migrant and forcibly displaced children. It was formally launched on 2 March 2020 at UNICEF House in New York at an event jointly organized by the Government of the Netherlands, the Government of Sweden, UNICEF, IOM, UNHCR and OECD.
Eurostat, IOM, OECD, UNHCR and UNICEF (Secretariat Chair) form the IDAC Secretariat and advocate for child-sensitive migration and displacement data in their respective roles. Together, the Secretariat members guide IDAC’s work plan, oversee its activities, organize events and meetings, and prepare and maintain records of discussions and agreements. At the end of 2024, IDAC’s membership had surpassed 50, including 25 Member States.