In the end of 2022, we came together to share results and learnings from the first year of PASC 2022-2026, and we identified intergenerational actions and initiatives to continue shifting power to children. For the third consecutive year, we held a child-friendly planning and learning session with children and adolescents from the regional networks, Rednnyas and Molacnnats, in which they expressed their views on progress, learning, challenges and ideas on regional actions for 2023.
These spaces allow us to co-create joint advocacy actions in a challenging context for the social and political activism of civil society, which requires us to be more innovative and strategic in our programming. In 2023, we hope to continue consolidating and strengthening our localisation and shifting power approaches in the region hand in hand with civil society organisations in Latin America.
Finally, we would like to reiterate our commitment to achieve the fulfilment of children's rights in Latin America, a task that only is possible when working together with our partner organisations. Together we can achieve positive changes in the lives of children and adolescents in the region!
Ann Linnarsson, Civil Society Strengthening Programme Director
MOLACNNATS speaks out to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on children and adolescents' right to freedom of expression in Peru
#CivicSpace #ChildParticipation
Children and adolescents of MOLACNATS sent a communication addressed to the president of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, in which they raise their voice on the right of children to freedom of expression and the obstruction of civic space in the face of the socio-political crisis that Peru is going through.
In response, the Committee issued a statement in which it calls to guarantee the right of expression of children and adolescents, as well as to investigate the acts of violence that have led to the death of children during the protests.
Girls and boys from REDNNYAS reflect on their organizational capacities
#OrganisationalStrengthening#ChildParticipation
Children and adolescents members of REDNNYAS, from El Salvador, Brazil, Chile and Bolivia, participated in the Organisational Capacity Self-Assessment (OCA) workshop last December. The child-led secretariat facilitated, together with the PASC team, the analysis of the different elements of the Network, and reflected on opportunities and priorities for the next 4 years using Save the Children’s "Spider Tool" methodology to work with children and adolescents.
"This self-assessment and reflection on how we work, and the commitment to the networks and to our rights are a result of this workshop. We were able to define priorities to strengthen ourselves as a network in all countries", said Diana Cordero, member of the regional secretariat of REDNNYAS.
Among the actions to be prioritized in their 2023 organisational capacity strengthening plan, they prioritized the incorporation of younger members and boys, the promotion of face-to-face meetings, strengthening safeguarding, developing their strategic plan, and strengthening the sustainability of the network. The group also highlighted the importance of revising its statutes, updating its internal regulations and its advocacy plan.
Adolescents actively participate in Municipal Conference on the Rights of Children and Adolescents in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
#ChildRights #ChildParticipation
Rebeca and Israel, adolescent mobilisers from Rede Não Bata Eduque, actively participated in the construction processes of the 12th Municipal Conference on the Rights of Children and Adolescents, an initiative of the Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents of Rio de Janeiro.
This conference addressed the situation of children's human rights during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Children spoke about the impact of the impoverishment of families in Rio de Janeiro, as well as the increase in domestic violence. They also highlighted the need to consolidate the Adolescent Participation Committee (CPA) at the state level, and the creation of a body at the municipal level.
"We talked about the importance of active listening that really takes into account what we say. We believe that one way to do this is to train and raise awareness to the authorities (the judiciary)," explained Israel, who also facilitated the discussions of the group about specialised listening to child and youth victims of violence.
Peru's Ministry of Environment recognises Mother Earth as a teacher in promoting environmental education
#ChildRights #Climate
As a result of the advocacy actions carried out by the Association for Children and their Environment (ANIA), the Peruvian Ministry of Environment, through the publication of Ministerial Resolution No. 331-2022-MINAM, recognised Mother Earth as a teacher in the promotion of environmental education for the formation of values, attitudes, and environmental empathy for life and nature.
The next step will be to put the Ministerial Resolution into practice so that children, adolescents, and young people grow up in contact with Mother Nature and make her their ally to thrive, regenerating life and human relations.
CEDECA Ceará launches creative digital campaign to discuss the public budget
#ChildRights#ChildParticipation
The campaign is based on a post by the renowned Brazilian singer Anitta, in which she questions the budget process undertaken by the Fortaleza City Hall in her Twitter account.
CEDECA Ceará has been using social media memes as a strategy to bring the general public closer to the subject of budget. Through the campaign, the aim is to make the population in Fortaleza aware of the budget cuts in the bill presented by the City Council to the Municipal Council.
One of the materials posted on Instagram details the areas affected by these budget cuts, which are social assistance, racial equality, mental health and adolescent homicide prevention. They also produced a video that explains what the public budget is in a didactic way, showing the impact the distribution of public resources has on people's lives, and how to mobilise to ensure a fairer and more participatory public budget.
Children and adolescents from Latin America and the Caribbean present the importance of the right to defend their rights to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
"Peaceful protest is increasingly limited in the region, and force is used to repress it, not only by security forces but also by civilians. In some countries, rights defenders and journalists have been imprisoned for their activism", said Joselin, a teenager who participated in the event.
The dialogue was promoted for the fourth consecutive year by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Save the Children, with children and adolescents, Commissioners and Rapporteurs of the Commission. The most recent one took place in December, where children discussed their right to defend rights with the Rapporteur on Children's Rights, Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño; the Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Justice Operators, Joel Hernández; and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Pedro Vaca.
The children and adolescents presented their opinions and concerns about the reduction of civic space in the region, emphasising the importance of defending rights, which is not exclusive to adults or experts. They also raised the role of States in fulfilling, respecting, and protecting the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
They presented the document "The right of children and adolescents to DEFEND RIGHTS", which includes the conclusions of a consultation with representatives of the regional networks REDNNyAS and MOLACNATS, as well as organized children and adolescents from REDIME and Yo También Tengo Algo Que Decir. Because of the timing it also became an excellent opportunity to reflect on the complex situation in Peru, where lethal force is being used against citizen mobilisation.
