A story of neglect: children in Peru’s public budgets

This chapter discusses empirical evidence from Peru on the need for an independent monitoring and evaluating system for all kinds of spending on children. In the health sector, the 1990s saw some significant achievements in terms of access and quality of health services for children. Respect for children’s rights must be made tangible by social spending, that is, allocations for children in public budgets for health, education, nutrition, justice and any other intervention that leads to improvement in child welfare. In the case of Peru, two Participative Balanced Budget manuals were published; one in APAFAs, focused on aiding parents in preparing a budget that represents the interests of stakeholders, not excluding weaker groups. The chapter discusses the state of affairs in Peru, using efficacy, efficiency, equity and transparency as the four pillars of public administration. Thus, it is essential that children enter the labour market with the highest possible levels of education.