Children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean are leading change on human rights issues. The Regional Dialogues on Child Human Rights Defenders—first of their kind globally—bring together young leaders and organizations to strengthen their protection, participation, and influence in building more just and inclusive societies.
Latin America and the Caribbean is a region shaped by diversity, resilience, and the collective pursuit of more just societies. In this context, children and adolescents are not only participating in change, they are leading it.
Across the region, girls, boys, and adolescents are opening spaces to be heard, exercising their right to participation, and raising their voices on issues that directly affect their lives and communities. From climate justice to gender equality and Indigenous rights, child and adolescent human rights defenders are driving meaningful change.
At this critical moment, the Regional Dialogues on the Strategic Vision for Child Human Rights Defenders emerge as a groundbreaking initiative. Notably, Latin America and the Caribbean is the first region in the world to promote a process of this kind, aimed at recognizing, protecting, and strengthening child and adolescent human rights defenders through a shared regional vision.
The Dialogues create a collaborative space promoted by Child Human Rights Defenders, the Plataforma Colombiana por el Protagonismo de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes, Learning for Well-being Foundation, Child Rights Connect, and Save the Children, bringing together civil society organizations, human rights institutions, United Nations agencies, and children and adolescents themselves.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen advocacy at local, regional, and global levels, with the support of key actors such as the Inter-American Children’s Institute of the OAS and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.
Cristina García, our LAC Regional Director, emphasized during the opening of the Dialogue:
"Listening to children and adolescents and creating spaces where their voices can influence decisions is part of our shared responsibility. Their leadership is essential to building more just and inclusive societies."
This first session marks the beginning of a collective journey grounded in participation, protection, and shared responsibility—because supporting child human rights defenders today means strengthening the future of our societies.
