Child Rights Connect webpage dedicated to COVID-19 responses
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is having a major impact on the lives of children and families. Given the large amount of resources developed by different organizations, at Child Rights Connect we want to help you in your search for information. For this purpose, we have pulled together resources from our members and partners, as well as some relevant press releases and statements on the topic and divided them into different sections. We seek to provide clarity by offering an overview of the responses to the disease by various organizations. We hope this will help civil society and the general public to quickly review information that is of interest. We will be updating the webpage regularly as the crisis unfolds.
Child Rights Connect staff in Geneva is working from home following the Swiss government guidelines. You can reach us via email.
(…)
2022 in review: Influencing a landmark UN resolution reaffirming girls’ right to participate in political and public life
A pushback against girls’ rights and activism grounded in discrimination based on age and patriarchy In many corners of the globe, girls are confronted to heightened discrimination due to both their age and patriarchy. This compounds challenges in accessing services, [...]
2022 in review: Advanced space for children’s voices to shape global discussions and decisions on the environmental crisis
Children most suffer from the environmental crisis and yet, their calls for action are ignored The environmental crisis is a child rights crisis. It is reported that by 2041, one in four children are likely to live in areas of [...]
2022 in review: Unlocking the potential of the first national child rights coalition in Morocco to speak with one powerful voice with children at the UN
Lack of coordination as a key barrier to realizing the human rights of all children in Morocco Despite significant progress made by Morocco in realizing children's rights, including education and health, as assessed by UNICEF in its Situation Analysis from [...]
2022 in review: Catalyzing the influence of civil society and children on UN wide policies and decision-making where children’s rights are forgotten
Why child rights mainstreaming is critical to realizing child rights In today's world, where child rights face widespread backlash, increasing violations, and multiple crises such as environmental disasters, migration, armed conflicts, and inequality, there is an urgent need to advocate [...]
2022 in review: Further building momentum for realising the rights, protection and empowerment of child human rights defenders at all levels
Children experience specific and additional challenges and violations when acting as human rights defenders because of their status in society "Children are already human rights defenders, with the same rights as adults. We must recognize their vital role and the [...]
“Changing the narrative means changing the narrator, putting children’s voices at the centre”, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at our 40th anniversary conference on 26 May
In a context of growing anti-child rights rhetoric globally, on 26 May 2023, more than 200 children, including many of our child advisors, as well as child rights experts and practitioners (among whom around 74% of girls and women) gathered [...]
Kick-starting celebrations of our 40 years of existence at our General Assembly meeting, with the Network reaching 108 organisations!
On 25 May 2023, members and observers of our Network convened for the annual statutory meeting of our General Assembly, which constituted this year a special moment as our organisation celebrates its 40 years of existence! Close to 50 representatives [...]
Children’s rights making way into the Summit of the Future preparations
Following the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations in June 2020, the Secretary-General was requested to address both current and future challenges. He responded with a wake-up call, enshrined in his report Our Common Agenda, with the aim of accelerating [...]
2022 in review: New spaces opened for children to voice their views, engage adults, and act for what they believe in
Historic exclusion of children in decision-making and persistent pushback on child participation Children have historically been excluded from discussions and decision-making at all levels, including from international policy debates on matters that directly affect them. Yet, the escalating environmental crisis, [...]
Advocating for children’s rights at the core of the Global Digital Compact!
In 18 months, leaders from around the world will gather to sign a “Pact for the Future” and commit to a new vision to address emerging challenges, including those posed by new technologies. As part of this process, a Global [...]

This page responds to the child advisors’ call for a platform to monitor the follow-up to the Day of General Discussion (DGD) on Protecting and Empowering Children as Human Rights defenders. It showcases direct follow-up activities to the 2018 DGD as well as examples of the different ways in which the global movement for children human rights defenders is growing at different levels and in many different forms.