Children’s Rights

Article

The Practice of Kindoki: A Child’s Rights Perspective in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This article examines the phenomenon of Kindoki in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its devastating impact on children accused of witchcraft. It explores how poverty, conflict, social instability, and unregulated religious practices contribute to violence, abuse, abandonment, and severe human rights violations against vulnerable children. The article also analyses the gaps between existing legal protections and weak enforcement mechanisms that allow these harmful practices to persist.

Press release

Highlighting Human Costs and Structural Causes: A Screening of SOLD. A Child Trafficked

On 18 February 2026, Global Human Rights Defence, in partnership with Just Peace Movie Night, hosted a screening of SOLD. A Child Trafficked at The Hague Humanity Hub, followed by an expert panel discussion on child trafficking and sexual exploitation. Bringing together filmmakers, practitioners, and independent monitoring expertise, the event reflected on the human cost of trafficking, the structural drivers that enable it, and the progress made, and still required, in preventing the exploitation of children.

Article

Child Poverty as a Violation of Human Dignity under International Human Rights Law

Child poverty is a significant yet overlooked issue, impacting millions globally despite legal frameworks that recognize it as a violation of human rights. The article emphasizes that poverty affects not only the economic well-being of children but also their development and future opportunities. Various international treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, obligate governments to ensure every child’s access to essential needs like nutrition, education, and healthcare. The persistence of child poverty, particularly in the EU where over 20 million children are at risk, highlights the gap between laws and actual conditions, urging a need for political accountability and effective resource allocation to improve the lives of affected children.

Child with Rock near Coupe
Article

Breaking the Cycle: MP Esmah Lahlah on Combating Child Poverty

As the European Union prepares a new Anti-Poverty Strategy, child poverty remains one of the most pressing and persistent challenges facing the Union. Affecting nearly one in four children, poverty undermines not only material well-being but also children’s fundamental right to dignity. In this interview, Dutch Member of Parliament Esmah Lahlah reflects on the long-term consequences of child poverty and explores how law and policy at national and EU level can break entrenched cycles of disadvantage.

Article

Sudan’s Women on the Frontlines: An Interview with Mariam Shaw, President of the Youth Future Alliance

In an interview with GHRD, Mariam Shaw, a Sudanese activist and President of TYFA, discusses her motivation to advocate for women and children affected by armed conflict in Sudan. Shaw, who has experienced war and displacement since childhood, highlights the dire situation in Sudan where millions are displaced, facing trauma, hunger, and a lack of basic necessities. She emphasizes the oppression by military factions and the urgent need for humanitarian aid, calling out the blocked support and atrocities against civilians, especially women who endure sexual violence. Shaw criticizes the international community’s inadequate response and implores for justice and protection for those suffering in Sudan.

6th GHRD International Film Festival: Human Trafficking Edition
Submission Deadline: 9th August 2026
Submission Form