Children Human Rights Defenders and the Digital Environment

Global Lessons to improve local practices

Abstract

Child Human Rights Defenders Online (CHRDs Online) is a research project looking to understand the challenges children promoting and protecting human rights in the digital environment face and the opportunities this environment provides them. Despite the work of countless children around the world promoting and protecting their own rights and the rights of others, it was only until last year that the Committee of the Rights of the Child officially recognised Children as Human Rights Defenders. Despite the recognition, there is insufficient evidence on specific challenges they face making it difficult for multiple stakeholders to influence policies and advance practices that better support, protect and empower these children.

The project is being funded by the New Foundations Award by the Irish Research Council and undertaken by Dr Gabriela Martinez Sainz from the UCD School of Education in partnership with Child Rights Connect, an international NGO working for the realisation of children’s rights through partnerships with an international network of almost 100 independent organisations.

Aims and Objectives

The project is a qualitative study aim to to better understand the experiences, motivations, organising strategies and practices of CHRDs in the digital , as well as the actual impact of their actions. In particular, a better understanding of the impact of the digital environment for the work of CHRDs is needed to develop adequate policies, structures and mechanisms to ensure safe, sustainable and meaningful child and youth involvement in the protection and promotion of human rights. Better support of CHRDs will not only reinforce their capacity and decision-making as citizens but will also strengthen local, national, regional and international mechanisms for the promotion and protection of rights. Evidence on CHRDs and the digital environment is urgently needed. At the moment, there is plenty of research about adult human rights defenders uses of technologies to advance their work as well as the risks they face. Emerging evidence on children and technology is insuficient for policy and decision-makers to develop policies that fully respond to the particular needs of CHRDs as data focuses mostly on ‘everyday’ childhood experiences and not specifically about children actively working to protect and promote rights. The lack of evidence also affects local and regional organisations working to support the protection and participation of these children.

1

To develop a better understanding of the processes, structures and mechanisms that enable, hinder or foster the work of CHRDs in the digital environment.

2

To identify the experiences of rights (provision, protection, participation) -or their breaches – by CHRDs in the digital environment.

3

To give an account of CHRDs’ learning trajectories of rights and citizenship within or mediated by the digital environment.

Work Packages of the Project

1

Research and evidence

The project explored the experiences and perspectives of CHRDs using the digital environment through open-ended methods such as interviews and focus groups.

The project also generated evidence on the digital skills and competencies of CHRDs through an online self-assessment questionnaire.

2

Capacity building

One of the key outcomes of the project is the development of online courses for CHRDs. The courses focus on relevant content about human rights, mechanisms they can use as defenders to promote and protect these rights, and how to effectively and safely use the digital environment as a defender.

3

Knowledge exchange

The findings of the project and evidence generated informed the drafting process of the General Comment 25 of the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child. In addition, the findings also served to develop guidelines for NGOs, civil society and practitioners on how to better support the work of CHRDs in the digital environment.

4

Dissemination of results

The project planned for a wider communication with researchers and organisations working on children’s rights and human rights advocacy. Outputs including academic publications and presentations, child-friendly materials and practical guidelines helped to foster public awareness of the challenges CHRDs face.

3

To give an account of CHRDs’ learning trajectories of rights and citizenship within or mediated by the digital environment.

2

To identify the experiences of rights (provision, protection, participation) -or their breaches – by CHRDs in the digital environment.

1

To develop a better understanding of the processes, structures and mechanisms that enable, hinder or foster the work of CHRDs in the digital environment.

4

Peer-reviewed academic articles

3

Guidelines for NGOs, civil society and practitioners supporting child human rights defenders using the digital environment.

2

Knowledge exchange workshop with organisations around the world that are supporting, protecting and empowering CHRDs in the digital environment

Deliverables and Outputs

The deliverables and outputs are open access and listed below.

1

Input for the General Comment 25 of the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment.

2

Knowledge exchange workshop with organisations around the world that are supporting, protecting and empowering CHRDs in the digital environment

3

Guidelines for NGOs, civil society and practitioners supporting child human rights defenders using the digital environment.

4

Peer-reviewed academic articles