Joint Press Release – The 2nd Interface Meeting between the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and Child Rights Coalition Asia (including children and youth and representatives of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)), 15 May 2025, ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) engaged with the Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia), child and youth delegates, and children’s rights representatives of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) on 15 May 2025 at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
This 2nd Interface Meeting was led by AICHR’s Chair and Representative of Malaysia, Edmund Bon Tai Soon and attended by AICHR Representatives and Alternate Representatives, including Timor-Leste as Observer, a delegation from CRC Asia led by its Regional Executive Director, Amihan Abueva including 24 child and youth delegates from the region and former, current and alternate ACWC representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
The meeting featured an open dialogue and interactive engagement on children’s rights, focusing on issues relating to the development of the 2nd ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Children (ASEAN RPA on EVAC). Children and youths shared their statements, concerns and messages on climate change, migration, poverty, discrimination and violence against children.
The meeting platformed the work of AICHR and ACWC while hearing from the children and youths on how they thought different ASEAN sectors can work together to end violence against children. They emphasised that meaningful child participation is important to stopping and preventing violence, and called for children and youth involvement in designing and implementing programmes, child-friendly feedback mechanisms, safe spaces for dialogue (such as the interface meeting), awareness-raising through social media platforms children use, and opportunities to include children’s inputs in local governance.
The issues raised were from country-level consultations held by CRC Asia that identified key and urgent issues of violence affecting children and youth in their communities. These included physical, sexual, and psychological violence, bullying and discrimination against marginalised children, online safety (particularly Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC)), the interconnectedness of violence against women and children, climate change, and the heightened vulnerability of children in situations of migration.
The meeting further discussed potential collaborations and welcomed continued engagement. AICHR expressed its appreciation to CRC Asia, the children and youths, and ACWC for sharing their views and aspirations at the interface and acknowledged the importance of child and youth participation in AICHR’s work.
The meeting extended their appreciation to Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat for hosting the interface and facilitating its arrangements. The programme highlighted the continued open dialogue and sustained collaboration between AICHR, governments, children and youth, and civil society needed to effectively combat violence against children.
