Theses of degree that, based on the concepts of objectification and subjectivation, analyzes the purpose of social observatories as a device or mechanism for research and incidence in specific problems, often used in a global context of attention to the fulfillment of international development goals. Five real experiences of observatories of children and adolescents in Colombia are described, pointing out their processes and dynamics that show them as located projects. Finally, we compare their characteristics around research (objectification) and their capacity for subjectivation through the participation of children and adolescents themselves. In addition, two city projects associated with the observatories for children and adolescents are described: the City of Children and Girls” of Tonucci and the City of Children and Girls of World Vision.