Diversity of bodies – intersex children’s rights to self-determine their own bodies

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Empowerment, Health, Human Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights

“Medicine and society need to see intersex individuals as natural. I occur in nature and I demand to make my own decisions, the same as any other person. And I demand it for any individual who is born intersex.” – Karen A. Walsh (Davis, 2016) The term “intersex” is an umbrella term that describes bodily […]

Children in armed conflict – the Ukraine crisis

Posted on Posted in Children's Rights, Freedom, Human Rights, Peace, refugees, violence

In light of the recent events in Ukraine, it is important to emphasise maintaining peace and protection for all children in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine poses an immediate and growing threat to the lives and well-being of the country’s 7.5 million children (UNICEF, 2022). Children have been killed, wounded, uprooted and severely distressed […]

Children’s right to identity – sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (SOGIE)

Posted on Posted in Empowerment, Human Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights, Uncategorized

When individuals are asked about their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (SOGIE), they often begin their stories saying: “I knew I was different (…)” (Marques, 2020). That suggests that society tells us that there is a ‘normal’ sexuality and gender identity. Children mostly grow up within an environment that conveys categories that are standards […]

A shameful chapter of Irish history: mother and baby homes

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

A recent flagship report from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), a department of the Government of Ireland, has revealed that many religious institutions in Ireland have been enabling widespread abuse of unwed mothers and their children – often leading to death (Specia, 2021). Over the past twenty years, the country’s […]

Children’s rights: challenges and achievements in 2021

Posted on Posted in Association's life, Child Marriage, Children's Rights, Education, Empowerment, Environment, Explotation, Health, Human Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights, Life at Humanium, refugees, violence

The year we are slowly leaving behind has been another challenging year for children’s rights worldwide. Children around the world have been faced with many barriers hindering their opportunities to a fulfilled life, such as migration, exploitation, poverty, violence, discrimination, etc. The COVID-19 pandemic which struck a year before has continued to take its toll […]

Child brides in Zimbabwe: a call for education

Posted on Posted in Child Marriage, Children's Rights, Education, Empowerment, Human Rights

Despite the development of international and national children’s rights and the intensive work of civil society, Zimbabwe is still home to numerous child marriages, threatening the development and well-being of young girls. When a State is unable or unwilling to combat harmful cultural practices, education is the only option. A public case to shed light […]

The impact of COVID-19 on child marriage in the Middle East and North Africa

Posted on Posted in Child Marriage, Children's Rights, Explotation, Human Rights, refugees

COVID-19 has exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities and amplified human rights challenges across the globe. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, young children from at-risk populations – girls in particular – have been forced to face an array of new hardships including an increased risk of child marriage. A recent public statement from UNICEF […]

The right to a healthy environment is a fundamental human right: the UN HRC Resolution

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

The right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment has been officially recognized as one of the fundamental human rights. This is a very important step forward, which took place on October 8, 2021, when the United Nations Human Rights Council approved Resolution 48/13, calling on UN Member states to cooperate to implement this […]

The Mediterranean route: A dream for a better life destroyed by human trafficking

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

Children represent 27% of global human trafficking victims. This issue particularly affects girls, who account for two-thirds of the victims of this serious crime, which has a drastic impact on the lives of thousands of children (Save the Children, 2021). Trafficking rings have easily spotted the opportunities for bringing in new victims that migration routes […]

The Canadian colonial state and the disappearance of Indigenous children – the continuing repercussions

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

The recent discovery of unmarked graves containing the remains of Indigenous children has shaken Canada over the past few months, highlighting the veil that has been thrown over both the atrocities of the past and the current vulnerable situation – stemming primarily from the colonial context – in which Indigenous children and adults find themselves. […]