On December 12, 2023, as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the Palais des Nations in Geneva hosted a hybrid event titled “UDHR75: Revitalizing the Universal Commitment to All Children’s Rights with and for Children.”

Organized by Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages International, Terre des Hommes International Federation, World Vision International, and the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Child Participation, the event featured co-sponsorship from the European Union, the Permanent Missions of Uruguay, Bulgaria, and Malawi.

Since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989, there has been a global push to integrate children’s rights comprehensively across all policy areas. However, challenges remain, including a general resistance against child rights and children’s agency, which threatens to weaken the progress.

This side-event has offered a intergenerational dialogue involving states, the UN, civil society, and children themselves. The discussion focused on sharing good practices for mainstreaming child rights and enhancing children’s participation in policy agendas. Participants explored key opportunities to advance child rights at various levels, including upcoming UN initiatives, the Summit of the Future, and the 35th anniversary of the UNCRC.

This event has highlighted the urgent need for everyone to collaborate on children’s rights. It has inspired to make children’s voices a key part of global efforts to advocate for their rights.