Young citizens, young voters: Belgium lowers the voting age to 16 for the European elections

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Empowerment, Human Rights

The 2024 European Parliament election will have a new age group voting in Belgium. For the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds will vote for their representatives in the European Parliament, following the model of Austria, Greece, and Malta. After several interpretations, the Belgian Constitutional Court ruled that young Belgians would be subjected to compulsory voting […]

Crisis spillover in the Sahel: bruised childhood lacks support and protection

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

The evocation of conflicts, terrorism, and violation of children’s rights is, unfortunately, nothing new, given the events that have affected the Sahel region in recent years. As a result of the inherent violence in conflicts, major migratory flows, and desperate humanitarian needs, children are deprived of their fundamental rights and protection against the dangers threatening […]

Climate crisis threatens Indigenous children living on reserves in Canada

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

While the climate crisis is experienced by all, marginalized groups are often disproportionately impacted by its negative effects. This is the reality for Indigenous children living on reserves in Canada. The climate crisis not only threatens Indigenous children’s right to health and safety but also results in their loss of land, culture, and livelihood. Canada […]

Social exclusion and poverty in France: an alarming reality made worse by the immigration law

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Explotation, Human Rights, Migration, Poverty, refugees

Although France is considered in Europe to be a rich country that safeguards human rights, it is home to many people, especially children, who live in an alarmingly precarious situation, threatened by social exclusion on a daily basis. European regulations and France’s commitments may purport to guarantee children’s rights and access to essential services, but […]

Rising youth homelessness: England’s troubling trend

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

The rising trend of youth homelessness in England is driven by a complex interplay of factors. The breakdown of family relationships often triggered by conflicts, abuse, or neglect, coupled with mental health challenges and financial hardships, appears as the leading causes. Presently, approximately 271,000 individuals, including 123,000 children, are documented as homeless in England. Homeless […]

Swedish services face criticism for refugee family separation

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Explotation, Human Rights, Migration, refugees

The Syrian civil war‘s prolonged crisis led to widespread displacement globally, significantly impacting Sweden, which received a substantial number of Syrian refugees. However, concerns arise regarding Sweden‘s adherence to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child due to reported prolonged family separations by social services. This situation challenges swift reunification regulations, raising humanitarian […]

Implications of brief maternity leave for American children and mothers

Posted on Posted in Health, Human Rights

More than a century ago, American women advocated for paid maternity leave, yet the American government fell short. Today, the absence of comprehensive maternity leave policies in the U.S. continues to impact the well-being of both mothers and children. Despite recent amendments, the issue of maternal leave remains a work in progress. Many working mothers […]

The ongoing crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh: childhoods shattered by conflict

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

Since the early decades of the 20th century, the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, which turned into a protracted and complex conflict over territory between Armenia and Azerbaijan, has left a lasting impact on generations of children growing up in the region. This enduring conflict, rooted in historical, cultural, and political factors, has exposed young minds to a […]

Rising kidnappings of women and children alarm Haiti

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Explotation, Human Rights, Poverty, violence

Haiti is grappling with a troubling surge in kidnappings, impacting approximately three million children who live in a constant state of anxiety. The deep-seated effects on these young lives are exacerbated by their limited capacity to fully process such traumatic ordeals. This crisis is rooted in the country’s colonial history, compounded by a series of […]

Prevalence and impact of cyber sextortion on teenage boys

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Digital Environment, Explotation, Human Rights

Numerous factors, such as the absence of adequate legislation, have presented an opportunity for sexual predators to deceive and convince young boys to share graphic multimedia content of themselves with online personas (FBI National Press Office, 2012). Once in possession of this material, predators use the photos and videos as leverage to blackmail children for […]