Hosted by ChildFund Alliance, the event aims to define actionable steps to incorporate children's own recommendations into funding priorities and programs that address not only immediate needs but also long-term development.
The conversation will be guided by the 2024 ChildFund Alliance World Index, a newly released global report ranking 157 countries on their application of women’s and children’s rights.
Built on quantitative and qualitative data, including insights from over 10,000 children and adolescents across 41 countries, the Index reflects a mosaic of urgency, unmet expectations, and clear demands.
“I don’t feel safe walking to school.”
“No one asks what we think.”
“I want to learn, but my family can’t afford it.”
These are not isolated concerns. They’re lived realities. And they expose a widening gap between the systems meant to support children and the experiences of those most affected by them.
“The 2024 World Index makes it undeniably clear,” says Meg Gardinier, Secretary General of ChildFund Alliance.
“Children aren't merely recipients of aid; they are active agents in shaping their own futures. Our challenge now is to dismantle the barriers that prevent their meaningful inclusion in policy decisions. We must shift from seeing child participation as a 'nice-to-have' to recognizing it as a non-negotiable right.”
Key findings from the Index:
● More than 1 in 4 children believe adults don’t fully promote their rights.
● Nearly 1 in 3 say adults rarely or never ask for their opinions.
● 4 in 10 feel unsafe due to violence, war, and crime.
● Children from marginalized groups report significantly lower recognition of their rights.
Across countries and regions, a clear message emerges: children want to be heard. They demand dignity, safety, and a meaningful role in decisions that shape their lives. The event will feature:
● A keynote address by Cecilia Strada, Member of the European Parliament, tackling the most urgent challenges in global development and humanitarian action.
● A presentation of the Index by Dina Taddia, CEO of WeWorld.
● An expert panel discussion including:
Edouard Junior Ndeye, Sahel Director, Educo.
Elena Colesnicova, Community Center Coordinator, WeWorld Moldova.
Adel Anna Sasvari, Policy Officer, DG INTPA, European Commission.
Enric-Sol Brines i Gómez, Head, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
Benoit Van Keirsbilck, Executive Director of DCI-Belgium, UN-CRC Committee Member.
● Closing remarks by Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF Representative to the EU Institutions. Followed by a joint call to action from the Joining Forces coalition, delivered by Meg Gardinier, urging structural inclusion of children in policy-making.
The event will also include the screening of “Amal”, a short animated film produced by WeWorld and Factanza, telling the story of a young Syrian girl navigating barriers to education in a conflict zone—a powerful mirror of the millions of children denied access to safe, inclusive learning environments.
Children’s voices will not just inform the event — they will drive it. And ChildFund Alliance, active in over 70 countries and reaching nearly 30 million children, continues its mission: not just advocating for change, but engineering the conditions that make it unavoidable.
“Children do not need protection from participation. They need protection through participation.”
Resources:
● World Index 2024 Full Report
