Founded in 1991, the Committee on the Rights of the Child oversees the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention’s Preamble advocates for raising children in a spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity. Every two years in Geneva, the Committee conducts a Day of General Discussion (DGD) focusing on children’s issues related to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child Human Rights Defenders play a significant role in these discussions. The Defenders bring attention to the practical applications of the Convention in their lives and communities.

2018 Day of General Discussion Focus

In 2018, the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Day of General Discussion (DGD) centered on protecting and empowering children as human rights defenders. This first global discussion in 2018 significantly raised awareness and understanding of the roles and activities of child human rights defenders. It established a clear definition of a child human rights defender and laid the groundwork for state obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding these defenders. In addition, this 2018 initiative marked a phenomenal achievement: 60 children attended the DGD in person. It also featured the online participation of more than 800 individuals worldwide. The efforts of the DGD brought to light the experiences of children serving as human rights defenders.

Child Human Rights Defenders in Brazil

According to Child Human Rights Defenders (CHRDs), a child human rights defender is a child who takes action to promote, protect and fulfill human rights, including children’s rights.

• Camila Moradia. A recipient of the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk in the Americas region in 2021, has been a child human rights defender in Brazil since she was 5 years old. Camila joined her mother in advocating for women’s rights and participated in social projects developed by the State Government of Rio de Janeiro. She also championed housing rights in the Alemão complex, advocating for 1,300 families. In 2015, she founded Women in Action in Alemão (MEAA). MEAA’s mission focuses on ending violence against women, empowering women and their families, strengthening their autonomy and ensuring basic rights. Additionally, the organization has successfully supported more than 400 women in Complexo do Alemão, a slum in Rio de Janeiro.
• Gabriel. A 16-year-old child human rights defender emphasizes the absence of effective addressal of violence within schools. The pressure on children to sit, listen and remain silent diminishes the participation of children. This leads to the systematic absence of incorporating human rights education in the school curricula. 
• Melissa. A 17-year-old child human rights defender highlights the importance of digital media for communicating useful information. Young individuals gather together to discuss matters concerning public policy-making. These discussions allowed these child human rights defenders in Brazil to highlight the need for new hospitals and to increase the employment of new teachers. This good practice provides feedback to the Government in Brazil from child human rights defenders in Brazil.
• Mary Lawlor. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, during her official country visit to Brazil, recognizes the gross violations against human rights defenders in Brazil. Human rights defenders in Brazil seeking dignity and pursuing justice are subject to denial and destruction. Mary Lawlor commends them on the level of resilience and solidarity that these human rights defenders show despite facing extreme violence and inequality.

Support for Child Human Rights Defenders in Brazil

Set up in 1983, Child Rights Connect has played an instrumental role in influencing child rights developments across the world. Some of its notable achievements include the participation of more than 200 children, child rights experts and practitioners, 74% being girls and women, to assess the obstacles faced by child rights movements and how to tackle these ongoing challenges. 

Child Rights Connect has empowered children worldwide to actively report to the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child. Additionally, 93% of civil society actors have reported that the technical assistance provided by Child Rights Connect has been extremely useful in connecting them with human rights mechanisms.

Contribution of the Alana Institute

The Alana Institute aims to create an equal, inclusive and plural world for children and established the Alana Center in 1994. Over the past 27 years, the center has actively engaged with local government and community stakeholders to focus on the development of children and families. This involvement, along with investments in socio-economic and geographic studies and collaborations with social actors such as residents and public agencies, has significantly improved the quality of life in the community.

Child Rights Connect and the Alana Institute have joined hands to improve the situation of child human rights defenders in Brazil. Empowering child human rights defenders in Brazil, engaging in a safe and sustainable promotion of human rights, engaging with the concerned authorities for effective recognition and providing support for the work of the child human rights defenders in Brazil is of principal focus.

Looking Ahead

The 2018 Day of General Discussion by the Committee on the Rights of the Child significantly raised awareness about child human rights defenders. Additionally, discussions defined their roles and the state’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Efforts by organizations like Child Rights Connect and the Alana Institute in Brazil highlight the ongoing commitment to empower these young defenders. Through initiatives that support education, digital communication and policy feedback, these organizations are helping children advocate for their rights and improve their communities.

– Caren Thomas

Caren is based in Dubai, UAE and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

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