See Guide. In September 2018, the Committee on the Rights of the Child held its Day of General Discussion on ‘Protecting and empowering children as human rights defenders’, which took place at the Palais de Nations in Geneva. That year coincided with the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Until that date, practically no records had been found that included children in that category.
For the preparation of the Day of General Discussion, we worked in an articulated way with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders, Mr. Michel Forst, Child Rights Connect, and children from different regions of the world prepared to participate in this event. It was the first time that we heard of child human rights defenders. Since then, children who fight for their rights have been – for the Committee – child human rights defenders. Thus, this repaired a historical oversight in which people under 18 years of age who defended and promoted human rights were not considered human rights defenders and, therefore, did not receive the protection that this designation demands.
The Day of General Discussion and the actions undertaken afterwards were characterized by collaborations between different actors, such as United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, academics, children and even the Rapporteurship on the Rights of the Child of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights. This unusual fact – even in times when there is much talk of coordination – is an indicator of the attention that the subject attracts.
This guide that collects the reflections and is the result of a collective process of a plurality of actors is a fundamental contribution for the times ahead. In it, you will find tips and guidelines to advance the protection and promotion of child human rights defenders.
In different regions of the world, children mobilize actively and with dedication to the problems of our time, from mobilizations against authoritarian governments that curtail rights and freedoms, to drawing attention to the
climate emergency that adults are causing and that already impact children’s lives. Therefore, we must be attentive and prepared so that the answers that we give to their demands meet their expectations.
The energy, creativity, joy and commitment that child human rights defenders show in their struggle urgently require actions that recognize them as such and that create conditions so that when they undertake activities as human rights defenders they are empowered and protected in carrying out that role. They are protagonists in the fight for their rights and we – adults and institutions – must respect them, accompany them and empower them.
Luis Perdenera, Chairperson of the UNCRC Committee