HRC52: Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child

This statement was submitted to the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child on March 10th, 2023. Watch a video of the statement here.

Distinguished Delegates,

I am Shiwa Karmacharya and I am making this statement on behalf of the Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW).

Digital Learning became one of the key methods of delivering education and information during and after the pandemic. Unfortunately, access to digital education is a privilege not enjoyed by every child and adolescents in the Global South. One of the severe examples elucidating the gap in access is of a 15 year old girl from Kerala, India who ended her life during the pandemic because she did not have access to her school’s online classes[1].

When children are deprived of access to digital learning, they are also vulnerable to being deprived of correct and accurate information about their sexual and reproductive health which is one of the crucial elements for their health and overall well being. When a certain number of children are not attending schools, online platforms among others play an essential role in education.

Children can face several threats in the digital space including online harassment, cyber stalking, cyber grooming, and revenge pornography which has consequences offline. Recently a man was arrested in Nepal for allegedly  luring young girls below 18 through social media by buying them gifts and then eventually sexually abusing them[2].

We therefore call on the member states to take actions on the following recommendations:

  • Children’s access to technological devices and safer internet should be increased especially for those who are geographically and socio economically marginalized.
  • Digital learning opportunities should be improved with increased access to comprehensive sexuality education and access to SRHR information and services for children and young adolescents.
  • Formulate policies for keeping children safe in the digital space avoiding protectionist approaches and keeping their agency at utmost consideration.
  • Recognise online violence as a form of violence and improve mechanisms to address them.

[1]https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-class-x-girl-ends-life-allegedly-over-lack-of-access-to-online-classes/article31728470.ece

[2] https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2023/02/26/chinese-national-arrested-for-allegedly-sexually-abusing-girls

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Vietnam

  • Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Sri Lanka

  • Bakamoono;
  • Women and Media Collective (WMC),
  • Youth Advocacy Network – Sri Lanka (YANSL)

Singapore

  • End Female Genital Cutting Singapore
  • Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Philippines

  • Democratic Socalist Women of the Philippines (DSWP);
  • Galang;
  • Healthcare Without Harm;
  • Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities;
  • Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health;
  • Nisa UI Haqq Fi Bangsamoro;
  • PATH Foundation Inc. (PFPI);
  • Women’s Global Network for
    Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Pakistan

  • Aahung, Centre for Social Policy Development (CSPD);
  • Forum for Dignity Initiative (FDI);
  • Gravity Development Organization; Green Circle Organization;
  • Indus Resources Center (IRC);
  • Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aaghai (ITA);
  • Rehnuma – Family Planning Association Pakistan;
  • Shelter
    Participatory Organisation;
  • Shirkat Gah;
  • The Enlight Lab

Nepal

  • Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC);
  • Blind Youth Association of Nepal;
  • Blue Diamond Society (BDS);
  • Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA);
  • Visible Impact;
  • Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC);
  • YPEER Nepal;
  • YUWA

Myanmar

  • Colourful Girls Organization;
  • Green Lotus Myanmar

Maldives

  • Hope for Women;
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Malaysia

  • Federation of Reproductive Health Associations of Malaysia (FRHAM);
  • Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG);
  • Justice for Sisters (JFS);
  • Reproductive Health Association of
    Kelantan (ReHAK);
  • Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM);
  • Sisters in Islam (SIS)

Lao PDR

  • Lao Women’s Union;
  • The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Health
    Sciences (UHS)

Indonesia

  • Aliansi Satu Visi (ASV);
  • CEDAW Working Group;
  • Hollaback! Jakarta;
  • Institut Kapal Perempuan;
  • Kalyanamitra;
  • Komnas Perempuan;
  • Remaja Independen Papua/Independent Youth
    Forum Papua (FRIP/IYFP);
  • Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI);
  • Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta;
  • Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi;
  • RUTGERS Indonesia;
  • Sanggar SWARA;
  • Women on Web;
  • Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP); 
  • YIFOS Indonesia

India

  • CommonHealth;
  • Love Matters India;
  • Pravah;
  • Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC);
  • SAHAYOG;
  • Sahaj;
  • Sahiyo;
  • SAMA – Resource Group for Women and Health;
  • WeSpeakOut;
  • The YP Foundation (TYPF)

Fiji

Cambodia

Morocco

  • Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF),
  • Morocco Family Planning Association
HRC52: Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child

This statement was submitted to the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child on March 10th, 2023. Watch a video of the statement here.

Distinguished Delegates,

I am Shiwa Karmacharya and I am making this statement on behalf of the Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW).

Digital Learning became one of the key methods of delivering education and information during and after the pandemic. Unfortunately, access to digital education is a privilege not enjoyed by every child and adolescents in the Global South. One of the severe examples elucidating the gap in access is of a 15 year old girl from Kerala, India who ended her life during the pandemic because she did not have access to her school’s online classes[1].

When children are deprived of access to digital learning, they are also vulnerable to being deprived of correct and accurate information about their sexual and reproductive health which is one of the crucial elements for their health and overall well being. When a certain number of children are not attending schools, online platforms among others play an essential role in education.

Children can face several threats in the digital space including online harassment, cyber stalking, cyber grooming, and revenge pornography which has consequences offline. Recently a man was arrested in Nepal for allegedly  luring young girls below 18 through social media by buying them gifts and then eventually sexually abusing them[2].

We therefore call on the member states to take actions on the following recommendations:

  • Children’s access to technological devices and safer internet should be increased especially for those who are geographically and socio economically marginalized.
  • Digital learning opportunities should be improved with increased access to comprehensive sexuality education and access to SRHR information and services for children and young adolescents.
  • Formulate policies for keeping children safe in the digital space avoiding protectionist approaches and keeping their agency at utmost consideration.
  • Recognise online violence as a form of violence and improve mechanisms to address them.

[1]https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-class-x-girl-ends-life-allegedly-over-lack-of-access-to-online-classes/article31728470.ece

[2] https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2023/02/26/chinese-national-arrested-for-allegedly-sexually-abusing-girls

Bangladesh

Maldives

  • Hope for Women
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Mongolia

  • MONFEMNET National Network