AICHR Philippines Hosts 5th ASEAN Dialogue on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

MANILA, 3 October 2024 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Philippines, in partnership with the Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia), conducted the 5th Dialogue on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) on 2-3 October 2024 in Makati, Philippines, and via video conference. The Dialogue was made possible through the help of the United Nations Children’s Fund East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (UNICEF-EAPRO), Save the Children Asia Regional Office, World Wide Fund (WWF), and support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Plan International.

This year’s iteration of the dialogue tackled the latest General Comment No. 26 (GC 26) on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change. It was attended by over 80 participants onsite and online, including Representatives from AICHR, ASEAN Committee on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), stakeholders and child rights advocates from various government agencies, international organizations, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Juan Carlo Marquez delivered the keynote address. Meanwhile, the opening remarks were given by AICHR Philippines Representative Angelito A. Nayan, and CRC Asia Regional Executive Director Amihan Abueva. The speakers welcomed the localization and strengthened integration of the General Comment into the policy-making process throughout the regional and national levels while also acknowledging the realities of young people in ASEAN, being a climate-vulnerable region.

Former UN CRC Committee Chair and current Member Atty. Mikiko Otani discussed various instruments and tools in relation to the framework of children’s rights through the lens of environmental issues that threaten the future generation. UN CRC Committee Member Prof. Thuwayba Al Barwani also shared salient features of the GC 26 which examined the consultative process of the committee, highlighting children’s call for bold and urgent action to address the climate crisis.

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change Elisa Morgera discussed the differentiated impact of human rights and intersectionality, therefore impacting action. Subsequently, the discussions focused on the children’s significant role in environmental protection and activism, which were given unique emphasis by the participation of three children speakers, Fah, Sofia, and Nina, who shared their respective advocacies and experiences in addressing the climate crisis.

Participants also explored the ethical obligations of the private sector in upholding human and children’s rights, urging an immediate shift from “business as usual” to escalate a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come. Similar to the remarkable efforts of the ASEAN, the sessions concluded with the suggestion of establishing a working group willing to stand with children and civil society, integrating into a regional plan of action.

This Dialogue began in 2018 and continues to reaffirm AICHR’s ongoing efforts to promote children’s rights in ASEAN by working together with child rights organizations such as CRC Asia, by integrating children’s rights in the policy-making process, and coordination of various sectoral bodies. It focuses on sharing best practices and addressing emerging challenges faced by the region in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by all ASEAN Member States. END