Last July 31 to August 2, 2024, child rights advocates and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Manila for the 9th Asia-Pacific Partnership Meeting of Child Rights Coalitions and Networks (APPM). With support from Plan International, Save the Children Asia Regional Office, Sverige Sweden, and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, CRC Asia brought together 57 participants from 42 civil society organizations across 22 countries.

Under the theme, “Building Solidarity for Children’s Rights,” the three-day meeting served as a platform for exchanging knowledge, addressing pressing child rights issues, and influencing global policy, including contributions to General Comment No. 27 (GC27) on children’s access to justice and effective remedies.

Throughout the event, organizations shared impactful child rights advocacy initiatives. From youth-led environmental campaigns to digital literacy programs and protection efforts, these stories reflected the resilience and creativity of child rights defenders across the region.

Key Discussions and Insights

The APPM focused on six critical thematic areas informed by children’s voices and CRC Asia’s strategic priorities:

• Children’s Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment: Atty. Mikiko Otani of the UNCRC Committee discussed the significance of General Comment No. 26 (GC26), noting that “children were at the heart of the process, shaping recommendations that address climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.” Civil society organizations were urged to push for its national and regional implementation.

• Child Rights Monitoring: Participants explored the simplified reporting procedure (SRP), which streamlines state reporting to the UNCRC. The session also marked the beginning of a regional consultation for GC27, gathering critical inputs on making justice systems more accessible to children.
• Access to Quality Education: A milestone discussion centered on a new Optional Protocol to the UNCRC on free pre-primary and secondary education. Jo Becker from Human Rights Watch emphasized, “This protocol has the potential to remove costbarriers and ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to free, quality education.”
• Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment: With rising concerns over online safety, Meta highlighted ongoing efforts to safeguard children’s privacy, while a TikTok Youth Council member shared their experience in shaping platform policies.“As young people, we want to be heard. It’s empowering to know that TikTok is taking our feedback seriously,” they stated.
• Children’s Right to Health: Experts tackled pressing issues such as child hunger, malnutrition, and adolescent health services. Discussions also addressed the sexual exploitation of children (SEC), with calls for stronger preventive measures and survivor-centered support systems.
• Children’s Access to Justice and Effective Remedies: The final session gathered inputs for GC27, reinforcing the need for child-friendly legal mechanisms. Atty. Otani stressed, “Children’s voices must be central in justice systems. We must ensure they can seek remedies when their rights are violated.”

Looking Ahead: Concrete Outcomes and Next Steps

One of the key outputs of the 2024 APPM was CRC Asia’s submission on General Comment No. 27, ensuring that regional perspectives shape global child justice policies. Discussions on the new UNCRC Optional Protocol on education will also drive advocacy efforts at national and international levels.

CRC Asia will continue to facilitate the exchange of ideas and networking opportunities on key topics discussed during the APPM to support child rights advocates in implementing best practices, strengthening collaborations, and advancing policy initiatives across the region. As the movement for children’s rights gains momentum despite the changing geopolitical landscape, the 9th APPM reaffirmed the importance of solidarity, meaningful child participation, and innovative advocacy now more than ever.