Empowering Child Human Rights Defenders at the UN

On 6 March 2025, Child Rights Connect hosted a side event at the United Nations Human Rights Council titled “Launch of the Strategic Vision on Child Human Rights Defenders.” This high-level discussion brought together four Child Human Rights Defenders (CHRDs), civil society representatives, and government delegates to explore how to make child participation meaningful and safe.

Our child advisors, Nahia and Miranda played a central role in these discussions as CHRDs, sharing their experiences and practical recommendations on overcoming barriers faced by young activists. Their voices added depth and urgency to the conversation, reminding everyone that children are not just beneficiaries of rights but active agents of change.

Interventions from the Permanent Missions of Lithuania and Panama enriched the dialogue by sharing good practices on child participation and child rights mainstreaming at the UN level. Participants also identified key steps for creating a safer ecosystem for CHRDs, including legal protections, capacity-building, and stronger accountability mechanisms.

You can watch the recorded video of the event here.