The theme of the PDI 2026 “Making Rights Real: Reclaiming General Comment 7 through Intergenerational Dialogue” includes the consideration of the aforementioned ideas which will find expression through the workshops, discussions, and plenary sessions which are being organised to:

• Promote awareness and practical understanding of General Comment 7 among early childhood stakeholders.
• Strengthen the capacity of children, educators, parents, and policymakers to apply rights-based approaches in early learning and caregiving.
• Facilitate integrational dialogue among children, parents, and professionals to co-create rights-centred practices.
• Highlight local and international innovations that operationalise children’s rights within early childhood care, education, and family life.
• Position Jamaica as a regional model for integrating child rights into early childhood governance, professional development, and community engagement.

Expected Outcomes:

• Increased awareness and shared understanding of children’s rights in early childhood.
• Strengthened capacity of EC practitioners and parents to implement child-centred, rights-based practices.
• Documented insights and case studies on rights-realization in ECIs and home environments.
• Action plan or framework for integrating GC7 principles into Jamaica’s ECD policy and professional standards.
• Strengthened regional and international partnerships to advance GC7 implementation.