“ISIS brides” and their children: Ongoing violations of children’s rights in Syria and Iraq

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Digital Environment, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

Between 2013 and 2019, an estimated 664 to 746 Western women travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State (ISIS). Women and girls supported ISIS not only by marrying fighters, but also by engaging in propaganda, recruitment, and in some cases, armed roles. After the fall of the Caliphate in 2019, many of […]

The rise of livestreamed child sexual exploitation in the Philippines

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Digital Environment, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

The Philippines has become one of the most prominent global hubs for livestreamed child sexual abuse. Fueled by extreme poverty, family complicity, and unchecked internet expansion, children are exploited in real-time for foreign predators. Weak enforcement and corruption leave a large number of children at risk, with survivors facing lifelong trauma. Without stronger laws and […]

Discrimination and exclusion define life for migrant children in Italy

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Migration, refugees

Migrant children in Italy are facing systemic discrimination and exclusion driven by the country’s entrenched migration policies. Instead of providing protection and opportunity, Italian laws and practices increasingly isolate young migrants from society, further stripping them of their rights to education, health care, and safety—rights which are guaranteed under international law. The worsening political climate […]

The current teenage pregnancy crisis in the Philippines

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Poverty

Teenage pregnancy remains a pressing issue in the Philippines, with profound consequences for young mothers, their children, and society as a whole. The crisis disproportionately impacts out-of-school youth and girls from impoverished families, as poverty, a lack of education, and limited access to health services increase their vulnerability. Despite ongoing efforts, the country continues to […]

Denmark’s experiment on Inuit children: a painful legacy of forced assimilation

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Indigenous people

In Denmark and Greenland, the legacy of colonialism continues to fracture Inuit communities—most visibly through the treatment of Indigenous children. Despite formal apologies and recent policy shifts, deep-rooted biases still drive unequal treatment and lasting psychological harm. The struggle for justice and cultural survival remains far from over. Historical background and motivation Denmark’s relationship with […]

The current state of child labour in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, Labour, Poverty

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is home to over 50% of the world’s cobalt reserves. Cobalt is an essential mineral for rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy technologies. However, this critical resource comes at a staggering human cost: the exploitation of child labour in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). […]

The ongoing removal of Aboriginal children from their families of origin in Australia 

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Human Rights, Indigenous people

Despite a national apology nearly two decades ago, Australia’s First Nations children are still being removed from their families of origin at alarming rates. In Western Australia, Aboriginal children make up only 7 percent of the child population but nearly 60 percent of those placed in out-of-home care. The government must urgently strengthen support for […]

Guatemala’s efforts fall short in protecting girls from sexual violence

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Human Rights, violence

Sexual violence against girls is a widespread and deeply rooted issue in Guatemala, often used as a tool to control and harm their bodies and futures. The alarming numbers of reported cases of sexual violence by girls have pushed the government to adopt a social protection programme called “Vida Programme” which is aimed at providing […]

Lebanon’s children in the aftermath of 2024 hostilities

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Education, Exploitation, Health, Human Rights, violence

Lebanon’s children have suffered devastating consequences of the 2024 hostilities. The escalation of violence has led to loss of life, injuries, and massive displacement among the youngest and most vulnerable members of society. Beyond the immediate physical dangers, these children face long-term challenges, including psychological trauma, disruption of education, and threats to their overall well-being. […]

Abuse and mistreatment of migrant children in Libya’s detention centres

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Exploitation, Human Rights, Migration, violence

On their way to Europe, countless refugees and migrant children follow migration routes across Africa. Libya is a key transit point during this journey. Yet inside Libya’s borders, the hardships remain. Reports of abuse, torture and inhuman treatment have emerged from the various detention centres where migrant children are forcibly detained. Alarming as these accounts […]