Israel National Council for the Child
Professional services
UnclaimedAn independent Israeli nonprofit that advocates for children's rights, protection, and well-being.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Israel National Council for the Child (NCC) is an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization based in Jerusalem that advocates for the rights, protection, and welfare of children in Israel. Established in 1980 by the President of Israel, it is described as the country's oldest and largest children's-rights advocacy organization. Its work covers children from all religions, ethnic communities, and income groups rather than serving a single demographic or religious constituency. The organization combines public advocacy, legal and policy work, research, monitoring, and direct assistance. A central part of its activity is the investigation of alleged violations of children's rights through its ombudsman function. The ombudsman position was formally established in 1999 after a three-year pilot project, and the organization investigates thousands of possible violations each year. These cases have helped the NCC identify systemic weaknesses in child protection, education, welfare, policing, and the juvenile justice system. Research and public information are another longstanding pillar. Since 1992, the NCC has published an annual statistical abstract, The State of the Child in Israel, which compiles data and analysis concerning Israeli children. The publication is intended to support public debate and policymaking by documenting conditions affecting children across the country. Earlier research also addressed institutional shortcomings: in February 1990, the organization reported that abused and neglected children faced a shortage of juvenile-court judges and substantial case backlogs, and it proposed establishing a nationwide child-protection authority. The NCC also provides specialized support. In 1998, it created the Child Victim Assistance Project, managed by an attorney, to give child victims and their families information, support, and advocacy. Its policy agenda has included opposition to corporal punishment, stronger protections against sexual exploitation and online child abuse, improved responses to missing children, compensation for minors subjected to physical or sexual abuse, restrictions on employing people convicted of relevant child-pornography offenses, and regulation of foster care. The organization has maintained continuity across a long period of public advocacy. Dr. Yitzhak Kadman served as executive director from 1986 to 2016. Vered Windman, previously head of the NCC's legal department, succeeded him in 2016. The NCC's role is primarily civic and policy-oriented: it does not operate as a commercial brand, retailer, or product company, but as a national children's-rights institution that combines casework with legislative and public-policy advocacy.
History
The Israel National Council for the Child was established in 1980 by the President of Israel. It developed as an independent, nationwide institution concerned with children's rights and welfare, serving children across religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. Its role has included both individual assistance and broader scrutiny of the systems responsible for children's protection and development. One of the NCC's early policy interventions concerned the juvenile justice and child-protection system. In February 1990, it published a report stating that abused and neglected children were affected by a shortage of juvenile-court judges and a backlog of cases. The report also proposed creating a countrywide child-protection authority. From 1992 onward, the organization published The State of the Child in Israel – A Statistical Abstract every year. This publication became a continuing research and public-information activity, assembling statistical material about the situation of children in Israel. The NCC expanded its direct support work in 1998 with the creation of the Child Victim Assistance Project. Led by an attorney, the project was designed to help children who had been victims of offenses and to assist their families with information, support, and advocacy. The organization later formalized its ombudsman function in 1999, following a three-year trial period. Through this function, NCC personnel investigate thousands of potential violations annually and use individual cases to identify broader administrative and legal problems. The organization's advocacy has covered corporal punishment, child sexual exploitation, online child abuse, missing children, compensation for abused minors, employment safeguards, and foster care. It has consistently argued against corporal punishment, with its leadership describing physical punishment as harmful rather than educational. In 2007, its executive director warned about the psychological risks to children exposed to online pedophiles and emphasized that retaining child pornography is illegal and supports an industry that harms children. The NCC also participated in legislative initiatives. In 2010, it helped draft a Knesset bill concerning state compensation for minors subjected to physical or sexual abuse. In 2011, its executive director referred to a legislative amendment that the organization had initiated and that prohibited employing people in Israel who had been convicted of child-pornography-related offenses. In January 2012, the NCC publicized figures indicating that more than 1,000 Israeli children and teenagers were considered missing. It attributed part of the potential problem to insufficient information exchange among the welfare, education, and police authorities and called for better coordination. In December 2013, the Knesset approved a foster-care bill co-drafted by the NCC. Leadership remained stable for much of the organization's modern history. Dr. Yitzhak Kadman served as executive director from 1986 until 2016. Vered Windman, who had previously led the NCC's legal department, became executive director in 2016. The organization continues to function as a civil-society children's-rights advocate, combining ombudsman investigations, victim assistance, statistical research, public education, and engagement with lawmakers and government institutions.
- 2016
Leadership transition
[1]Vered Windman became executive director, succeeding Yitzhak Kadman.
- 2013
Foster-care legislation approved
[1]The Knesset approved a foster-care bill that had been co-drafted with participation from the NCC.
- 1999
Ombudsman function established
[1]Following a three-year pilot, the NCC established an ombudsman role to investigate potential violations of children's rights.
- 1998
Child Victim Assistance Project created
[1]The NCC launched a project offering information, support, and advocacy to child victims and their families.
- 1992
Annual State of the Child publication begins
[1]The NCC began its annual statistical abstract on the condition of children in Israel.
- 1990
Report on juvenile justice and child protection
[1]The NCC reported shortages of juvenile-court judges and case backlogs affecting abused and neglected children, and proposed a nationwide child-protection authority.
- 1986
Yitzhak Kadman becomes executive director
[1]Yitzhak Kadman began a tenure as executive director that continued until 2016.
- 1980
Organization established
[1]The Israel National Council for the Child was created by the President of Israel as an independent organization focused on children's rights and welfare.
Products and positioning
An independent, nationwide children's-rights organization combining direct case assistance, monitoring, research, public education, and legislative advocacy.
Child advocacy and case investigation · 1999
Child-rights ombudsman service
The NCC's ombudsman function receives and investigates potential violations affecting children. Established on a permanent basis in 1999 after a pilot period, it handles thousands of possible violations annually and can bring individual cases to public attention or inform wider policy advocacy.
Research and public information · 1992
The State of the Child in Israel – A Statistical Abstract
An annual statistical publication documenting conditions and trends affecting children in Israel. The series, begun in 1992, provides data intended to support public understanding, institutional monitoring, and policy discussion about children's welfare and rights.
Victim support · 1998
Child Victim Assistance Project
A project created in 1998 to assist children who have been victims of offenses and their families. Managed by an attorney, it provides information, support, and advocacy intended to help families navigate relevant institutions and procedures.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Missing children information-coordination advocacy
Israel
After reporting that more than 1,000 children and teenagers were considered missing, the NCC called for better information sharing among welfare, education, and police authorities.
- 2010Compensation for abused minors
Israel
The organization helped draft a Knesset bill concerning state compensation for minors who suffer physical or sexual abuse.
- 1992State of the Child in Israel
Israel
The NCC began an annual data and public-awareness initiative reporting on the situation of children in Israel.
Outcome. The statistical abstract has been published annually since 1992, according to the reference material.
- 1990Child-protection authority advocacy
Israel
The NCC used research on juvenile-court shortages and case backlogs to advocate for a nationwide child-protection authority.
- Anti-corporal-punishment advocacy
Israel
The NCC has for many years advocated ending corporal punishment of children in Israel, arguing that physical punishment is neither ethical nor educational and can produce harmful effects.
Brand decisions
2013
Participation in foster-care legislationOtherBackground
Israel required a legislative framework governing foster care.
Action taken
The NCC co-drafted a foster-care bill with other participants in the legislative process.
Aftermath
The Knesset approved the bill in December 2013.
1999
Establishment of the ombudsman functionStrategyBackground
A three-year pilot demonstrated the value of a dedicated mechanism for handling possible violations of children's rights.
Action taken
The NCC established the ombudsman position as a continuing organizational function.
Aftermath
The ombudsman function became a major channel for investigating thousands of potential violations each year.
1998
Launch of the Child Victim Assistance ProjectStrategyBackground
Child victims and their families needed accessible information, support, and advocacy when dealing with legal and public institutions.
Action taken
The NCC created an attorney-managed project dedicated to assisting child victims and supporting families.
Sources2 sources
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