2023 in review: Elevating the voices and rights of child human rights defenders across the globe to make a change

Download our visual about these results here!

Children acting as human rights defenders remain often ignored, neglected and intimidated

We cannot say it enough: whether we call them child human rights defenders (CHRDs), child activists or changemakers, more and more children lead by example in challenging the world’s most pressing issues: inequalities, climate change, conflicts, violence, and discrimination, among others. They peacefully engage in online and offline awareness-raising campaigns, protests, and other actions from the local to global scale. For instance, our 14-year-old girl child advisor from Zambia is very active in improving living conditions in her community. Together with a children’s group, she mobilised watering cans, tools, and vegetable seedlings and distributed them to women, organised a football tournament to sensitize the public on children’s rights, and met with the local council to improve sanitation in markets and bus stations. Our 12-year-old child advisor from Mexico holds exhibitions on children’s rights in his municipality to increase awareness among the public.

Caption: Most common themes tackled by CHRDs (extract from our “Rights of CHRDs: Implementation Guide”)

In 2023, we celebrated 25 years of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders. While child human rights defenders have the same rights as adult human rights defenders (HRDs), they face additional, specific barriers, risks, and reprisals “due to their status in society, including age-based and gender-based discrimination, paternalistic attitudes towards children […], lack of access to child-friendly information and to complaint mechanisms and effective remedies” (joint State statement, March 2023 Human Rights Council session). As documented in our “Rights of CHRDs: Implementation Guide” (the Guide), despite some recent improvements, lack of recognition that the UN Declaration also applies to children continues globally. Because adults believe they can decide on behalf of children, children are often not heard in public decision-making processes: “[…] everyone here thinks that they are better than children just because children haven’t lived as much time.” (a child participating in our study for the Council of Europe). Many children report being bullied, intimidated, or threatened, including by peers. In some of the worst cases, they face attacks, criminalization, and death. Little known and accessible to children, protection mechanisms remain largely adult-centric. In many instances, children are stopped from acting as defenders as a by-default response to protective concerns, including from civil society organisations (CSOs). Children’s lack of awareness of their rights and of the mechanisms that can protect and empower them in their action also prevents them from acting as HRDs or seeking redress. All of this is compounded by an overall lack of international, regional and national guidance on how to implement the rights of CHRDs. Intersecting factors (e.g., gender, geography, ethnicity, socio-economic development, education, access to technologies, etc.) mean that girl CHRDs, gender diverse children, children with disabilities, children with experience of the care system, children living in poverty, indigenous children and others are even more excluded from spaces of expression and influence, feeding a cycle of marginalisation.

Caption: Barriers facing CHRDs (extract from our “Rights of CHRDs: Implementation Guide”)

Putting CHRDs on the agenda: our journey since 2017

From our first ever global programme on CHRDs launched in 2017, promoting the rights of CHRDs has become a central priority (Strategic Priority 1 focused on child participation and the empowerment of CHRDs) as well as a cross-cutting element of our work, which we drive in close collaboration with our Children’s Advisory Team, a permanent group of empowered CHRDs from across the globe.

The 2018 Day of General Discussion (DGD) of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) – that we conceptualised and led – put the issue of CHRDs on the international agenda for the very first time. To address the lack of guidance on this topic identified through the DGD, we collaboratively developed and published in 2020 The Rights of CHRDs: Implementation Guide. This tool has been used to build awareness and legal understanding of what it means to be a CHRDs and how their rights must be respected, protected, and fulfilled at the national level. We published in 2021 a child-friendly version of the Guide and a dedicated website with resources to empower CHRDs, such as online modules for CHRDs defending the environment and CHRDs acting in the digital space. We first piloted the implementation of the Guide nationally through the launch, in 2021, of a joint project with our member in Moldova, the Centrul de Informare şi Documentare privind Drepturile Copilului (CRIC). This has contributed to empowering CHRDs, their defenders and the Children’s Ombudsperson, prioritizing this issue on the national agenda.

What we did and achieved in 2023

Overall, using our Guide, we sensitized more than 500 children, children’s rights defenders, academics and students, other non-State actors, and UN representatives from across the globe about the distinctive status, role and rights of CHRDs.

We pursued the implementation of our two country projects in Bulgaria and in Moldova.

Empowering CHRDs in Bulgaria to make a change

In Bulgaria, with the financial support from Tanya’s Dream Fund, and in partnership with the National Network for Children and the New Bulgarian University – Know How Centre for Alternative Care for Children, we empowered children with experience of the care system, Roma girls, children in foster care, and children living in poverty to shape and take forward human rights actions both at national and international level. We also started to foster a more conducive environment for them, by empowering CSOs and schools to implement their supporting role and stir a dialogue on child participation and activism with relevant stakeholders. With our partners, we developed, published and disseminated widely the Bulgarian version of our Implementation Guide , and its child friendly version. We delivered two in-country capacity-building workshops on safe, empowering and sustainable action as CHRDs, for around 25 children in each session, in March and in October 2023, including a peer-to-peer learning session with CHRDs from Moldova and joint sessions with CSO and school representatives. Through the Know How Centre for Alternative Care for Children, we equipped six local CSOs and schools with knowledge and resources to support the trained CHRDs in rolling out their human rights work in their communities. We also facilitated an exchange between CHRDs and State authorities on the development of the new National Strategy for the child, providing children with a concrete opportunity to participate in national policymaking. To help them influence international standards, we briefed, encouraged, and assisted trained CHRDs to effectively engage in the reporting cycle of the CRC Committee and influence the Committee’s recommendations to the State of Bulgaria. We provided a platform for Roma girl CHRDs and CSO representatives to voice their views about the situation of CHRDs in Bulgaria at our 40^th anniversary conference.

Photo credit @ KHC | Caption: A girl reading the child friendly version of the UN Convention on the rights of the child at a workshop in Sofia in March 2023

As pointed by an internal project evaluation, this work has produced significant inroads:

• While many of the children separated from or at risk of family separation, particularly from Roma background, had little to no knowledge about children’s rights, over the course of the project, they developed an understanding that children are rights-holders and that they can act as HRDs. Close to 87% of children (40 out of 46) who took part in our post-workshop surveys reported an improved understanding of who CHRDs are. Around 83% of them (38 out of 46) reported being more aware of ways they can engage as a CHRD. The evaluation found that “The “new” CHRDs from vulnerable groups have increased their confidence and gradually discovered the meaning of their new role as CHRDs not only in the project but in the everyday life and relations.” We have seen many CHRDs supported through the project implementing their new-found or improved confidence, knowledge, and skills by shaping and undertaking human rights action. They raised awareness about children’s rights in forums, briefed their peers and younger children about their rights, talked to parents to convince them not to retain girls at home and brought Roma girls back to school, and protected classmates from violence and discrimination. And this has had a multiplier effect: around 60-70 children were reached through the awareness-raising activities led by the CHRDs, with guidance from their supporting adults.
• The children supported by the project also learned how to use international avenues and human rights mechanisms, particularly the CRC Committee, to advance their rights and the rights of others. They can now make use of these “new” advocacy avenues and alliances at the international level to voice their concerns about the situation of children’s rights. This contributes to added international pressure on the State of Bulgaria for authorities to advance the realization of children’s rights.
• Despite initial reservations due to the novelty of the topic and challenges in the Bulgarian context, representatives from CSOs and schools who engaged in the project have also gained an understanding of CHRDs’ rights, improved their awareness of ways they can support CHRDs’ actions, as well as boosted their interest in further engaging with and supporting CHRDs. This is key for a more conducive environment for CHRDs.
• The project connected individual aspiring/actual CHRDs together, and with supporting adults (individuals/organisations), including at regional and international level, leading to the emergence of a network of children and adults for child activism in Bulgaria. The evaluation found that the “project enabled the children (and the supporting adults) to connect with HRDs of different ages, with different levels of expertise, at local, national and international levels” and that it provided “space for everyone in an individual way to implement advocacy at the level they want”.
• There is growing momentum in the mobilisation of various key actors and more inclination from State representatives to advance child participation and activism in Bulgaria. The evaluation found that project has started to challenge a mainstream mindset, even within civil society, according to which children “without serious life experience [cannot] drive […] a process [of change]”.

Influencing law reform and resourcing CHRDs to act in Moldova

In Moldova, with the financial support of the Ville de Genève, and in partnership with our member CRIC, we supported CHRDs gain the necessary space and means to advance their rights as HRDs and influence relevant law-making processes, particularly the law on children’s rights and the forthcoming law on the protection of HRDs. And we were successful in doing so!

With our guidance, CRIC has established and operates a new team of CHRDs, composed of ten children (of whom six girls, including from Ukraine and two gender diverse children), aged 13-17. Mentored by young HRDs who had previously collaborated with us as CHRDs, these CHRDs were trained on safe, empowering and sustained action as CHRDs, through workshops in June, August, and October 2023. They were also able to voice their views and rights as CHRDs before international audiences: a girl CHRD and a young HRDs spoke at our 40^th anniversary conference in May, and a 17-year-old boy engaged in the Vienna conference on child and young HRDs co-convened by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June. All this work gave rise to a strengthened network of CHRDs and young HRDs in Moldova, with individual CHRDs empowered to act, a safe space to discuss with peers and supporting adults, and an inspiring support network. A 16-year-old boy reported to the CRIC team: “I learned to ask questions, to understand the situation better, to be more analytical. I feel comfortable here.”

Photo credit @ CRIC | Caption: Some members of the team of CHRDs in Moldova

In October, the team of CHRDs gained knowledge of the stages of the lawmaking process in Moldova and how children can participate in it. At the end of the workshop, around 71% of them said they are more aware of the different ways of acting as a CHRD in their country and, in particular, how to participate in the development of laws (the others are neutral in relation to these questions). They then engaged in a roundtable discussion with State officials (including parliamentarians and representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection), CSO representatives and representatives of international organisations on child participation in legislative processes. The discussions allowed to jointly identify entry points for the participation of children in the two legislative processes. This has improved awareness and recognition of the importance of CHRDs (nearly 85% of adults who participated in the post-working survey reported having a better understanding of who CHRDs are) and generated an appetite for collaboration.

In parallel, CRIC has advocated before national authorities for the inclusion of children and their rights in the two lawmaking processes, further building alliances with the Office of the Ombudsperson and the Children’s Ombudsperson. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection coordinated a working group for revising the law on children’s rights. CRIC contributed to the work of the working group, pushing for the inclusion of specific language on CHRDs. As a result, the new law on children’s rights which entered into force in December 2023[1] includes a specific provision on CHRDs. Article 15(8) provides that “The State recognizes, supports and promotes the concept of children as human rights defenders, effectively protecting them in the exercise of their rights and in human rights work, creating all appropriate and necessary conditions to empower children who act or aspire to act as human rights defenders, to express their views, to be heard, to participate in decision-making and to exercise their freedoms, civil and political rights.” This a major development which will improve the situation of CHRDs of Moldova and could inspire other countries in the world! More details in our web story here.

Caption: CRIC’s  facebook post on the new law on children’s rights integrating the rights of CHRDs

Influencing regional discussions about CHRDs

At the regional level, we conducted the first ever baseline study across Member States of the Council of Europe[2], titled “Children as defenders of human rights: a study on Council of Europe member states”, about national challenges and responses regarding the recognition, protection and empowerment of CHRDs. This assessment was developed in consultation with children, youth, and Council of Europe Member States. Unsurprisingly, the research reveals that most Member States lack adequate legal framework and structures, struggle with the practical implementation of children’s right to participation and focus their efforts on the safety of CHRDs rather than adopting a holistic approach to safety, empowerment, and participation. The report provides concrete recommendations to support Member States in better responding to the rights of CHRDs, in the areas of access to quality human rights education, awareness raising and capacity building of children and adults, and access to resources, among others.

Driving international attention to CHRDs

Bringing the voice of CHRDs to the fore of the fight against the pushback

At the international level too, we elevated the voices and agenda of CHRDs. Around our 40^th anniversary, in May 2023, we brought together in a conference more than 200 stakeholders – CHRDs, including from our Children’s Advisory Team, child rights experts and practitioners, and UN representatives – to reflect on how we, as a movement, can better push back against the roll back on children’s rights. Whether they acted as speakers, moderators, or participants, the CHRDs involved voiced their aspirations, shared their experience, and contributed to identifying solutions with key actors of the UN system – including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Executive Director of UNICEF, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs) – to strengthen the role of CHRDs and child rights movement in the face of attacks at global scale.

Bringing a new environmental actor on board

An immediate impact of our 40^th anniversary conference, and previous collaboration with M. Forst (former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs, now Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention) was that we were called on to facilitate the participation of children defenders acting on the environment in the activities of the Aarhus Convention (on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters). We seized this opportunity to use the potential of this Convention to mainstream children’ views and rights within the UN. In June 2023, along with our Working Group on children’s rights and the environment, we encouraged, facilitated, and supported the participation of child and young HRDs (from Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan), including by speaking at the Aarhus Convention Working Group Meeting of the Parties. They called on States and the UN to include them in international decision-making, listen and act upon their views, and better respond to the threats that they face as environmental defenders. “[…] as a youth and activist, I can assure all that we are tired of broken promises, we don’t want to hear what all want to do, we want to see what all are doing”, reminded Catarina, a 16-year-old CHRD from Brazil (member of our CAT). Their calls were echoed by a statement from our Working Group. As a result, the outcomes of the WG27 meeting took note of the threats that child and youth environmental defenders face. In November 2023, our support allowed a young environmental HRD aged 19 to bring again the demands of children and young people to the Aarhus Convention, during the 8th meeting of the Task Force on Access to Information. Recalling the “critical role [played by children] in driving forward justice-oriented climate protection measures during the past few years”, she insisted on the need to disseminate child-friendly materials to empower children to further stand up against the climate crisis. “Children’s access to child-friendly information is pivotal for the global climate movement”. Her calls got traction. This influenced the outcome report of the Task Force meeting which encourages, among other things, State parties to develop a child-friendly version of the Aarhus Convention; establish child and youth advisory councils tied to national ministries or Aarhus Centres to promote environmental education within national school curricula; and take further measures to fulfill children’s rights to access to environmental information.

The Special Rapporteur dedicates a report to CHRDs

Undoubtedly, our three-year advocacy has led the Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs to give more priority to the issue of CHRDs in her work. Presented to the Human Rights Council in March 2023, her report “Success through perseverance and solidarity: 25 years of achievements by human rights defenders” (which we had contributed to informing through facilitating children’s submission in November 2022), contains emblematic examples of the positive impact of CHRDs and explicit recommendations to foster their work. The Special Rapporteur called on States to “address negative attitudes towards children who are human rights defenders and build the capacity of State actors to engage meaningfully with children”. At our 40^th anniversary conference in May, Ms. Lawlor further reflected on positive societal changed achieved by CHRDs, and called on governments to explicitly recognise children working peacefully as HRDs. In June 2023, she co-convened with the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs a conference dedicated to child and young HRDs in Vienna. Among the forty young HRDs who participated, nine were CHRDs, including our 16-year-old girl child advisor from Cameroon. With her fellow CHRDs, she shared the challenges she faces in her activities and the forms of support she needs when acting as CHRDs. We empowered CHRDs to intervene in, and make the most of, this event.

Photo credit @ UN | Caption: Child and young HRDs meeting with the Special Rapporteur in Vienna on 5 June 2023.

Following this, and for the first time since the establishment of her mandate, the Special Rapporteur created on her website[3] a dedicated section and decided to dedicate an upcoming thematic report to the role and work of child and young HRDs and the risks they face. She will present her report to the Human Rights Council in March 2024. This will pave the way for targeted recommendations to States on how to better recognise, protect, and empower children acting as human rights defenders around the world. To influence her recommendations to States, in November we publicized the opportunity to engage among civil society; together with Save the Children, we facilitated an online information-sharing session with close to 70 actors (including children, children’s rights defenders, and UN representatives); we provided support to CSOs and children from around the world when preparing their input; and we made a combined submission of inputs from three CHRDs part of our Children’s Advisory Team. We also encouraged the Special Rapporteur to elevate the CHRDs’ agenda at the national level. In October, we connected some of our Network members/partners and the Special Rapporteur during her country visit in Georgia.

Throughout the year, we also continued to urge and assist the CRC Committee to expand space for and advance standards on CHRDs, including through session opening statements, meetings and briefings. We helped civil society integrate specific recommendations about CHRDs in their reports to the CRC Committee, such as in Togo, together with Plan International. This resulted in the Committee adopting strong recommendations on the recognition, rights, protection, and empowerment of CHRDs to various States, including Albania,[4]  Jordan,[5] Kyrgyzstan,[6] and Togo.[7] This practice had started in 2022 and the Committee’s recommendations on CHRDs had only applied to two States then. This will drive political focus as the Committee’s recommendations are implemented at the national level and the States report on the implementation of these recommendations. And we expect many more similar recommendations in the future.

Making States  more vocal about CHRDs on the international scene

A significant inroad showing increased political recognition, following our advocacy and technical assistance, is the fact that 60 States have co-sponsored the first-ever State statement focused on CHRDs led by Luxemburg[8] during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs at the 52^nd session of the Human Rights Council in March 2023. Also, the CRC Committee has joined UNICEF’s statement[9] at the same session, marking the first time that UNICEF delivers a statement focused on CHRDs and first time ever that a Treaty Body formally addresses the Human Rights Council.

What have we learned?

Despite these successes, this journey continues to be challenging and to teach us lessons.

The gains in 2023 show a breakthrough in raising awareness about the increasing challenges that CHRDs face, and in galvanizing support for CHRDs. However, it will be key for the Special Rapporteur to continue to play a leading role, in collaboration with the CRC Committee, UNICEF and others, to monitor and reinforce guidance and recommendations for States to convince them to act.

Developing and maintaining a network of civil society organisations and supporting adults around the aspiring/actual CHRDs at the national level and cross-border alliances are critical to advancing the CHRDs agenda.

The continuous empowerment of CHRDs throughout all processes is essential not only because this is their right, but because it enriches the interpretation of the key challenges and priorities to address and ensure that our efforts to support them in their activities are tailored to their needs.

Building allies at the international level brings attention and support for advocacy on CHRDs at the national level, and strategically linking national and international level advocacy proves to be an effective approach.

Notes

[1] https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=140710&lang=ro

[2] https://rm.coe.int/children-as-defenders-of-human-rights-a-study-on-coe-member-states/1680aec9fe