De Cero a Siempre: Reflections on the Colombian Early Childhood Policy from a Human Rights Perspective

Abstract

This article critically examines De Cero a Siempre (DCAS), a cross-sectoral policy established in Colombia in 2016 to provide coordinated and comprehensive early childhood development services. The policy aims to promote optimal conditions for children from pregnancy to six years of age by addressing their nutritional, health, educational, and social needs while fostering participation and citizenship. Designed with a differential approach, the DCAS integrates and adapts services considering gender, culture, income, ethnicity, displacement, and disability. This study evaluates the DCAS policy through the human rights approach. First, we examine the conceptual definitions Second, we identify specific programs and services Third, we assess the implementation and effectiveness of these services using the official System for Monitoring the Comprehensive Development of Early Childhood. The findings reveal a strong policy framework that values human dignity and equity but highlights critical gaps in coverage, particularly in rural areas, due to geographical and social challenges. The current landscape of disability services reveals significant systemic limitations in addressing individualized developmental needs. Our comprehensive analysis exposes critical challenges in designing comprehensive intervention strategies for CWDDs. The article concludes with recommendations to enhance policy implementation and improve service delivery, ensuring equitable access for all children.

Keywords

• early childhood policy
• comprehensive development
• children with disabilities
• inclusion