Around the world there are millions of children who live without the support of one or both of their parents. Some of them have lost their parents to illness or war; but most of them are separated from their parents for example due to armed conflicts or natural disasters, or they are removed from their families because of abuse or neglect, alcohol and drug abuse, or teenage pregnancy.

This group of children - children without parental care - are especially vulnerable in society. They can be subject to social and cultural stigmatization and are often denied access to education, social services and proper healthcare. They run a higher risk of HIV/AIDS infection, abuse, and exploitation. In many cases they are not issued birth certificates and are deprived of inheritance rights, making them even more vulnerable to exploitation.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child describes the biological family as "the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members, particularly children" and acknowledges the responsibility of parents for the upbringing of children. However, it also recognises that being with his or her family may not always be in the best interest of the child. For these cases, the Convention states that children without parental care have a right to be placed in suitable, quality alternative care.

SOS Children's Villages strongly believes that every child also has the right to grow up in a supportive and caring family environment. The biological family is ideally the best place, and the organisation works to strengthen families and support parents to uphold their children's rights. In those cases where it is in the best interest of the child to receive long-term alternative care, SOS Children's Villages provides the care, love and respect that every child is entitled to.