#CovidUnder19
Whether they are under lockdown and out of school, in refugee camps or in crowded villages, detained, or living on the streets, institutionalised or on the move, children and young people have the right to be heard. But their views are hardly ever sought out by decision-makers and their ideas are rarely listened to. The #CovidUnder19 initiative aims to change that.
The logo of the #CovidUnder19 initiative was created and chosen by children and young people.
From the outset of the Covid pandemic, child-focused organisations were confronted with the challenge of how to adapt child participation in the context of a global health emergency. In April 2020, Terre des hommes launched the #CovidUnder19 initiative by mobilising a group of young people, child rights activists, civil society organisations and UN stakeholders. The initiative set out to understand children’s views and experiences about life under Coronavirus, and amplify their voices to inform policymakers, professionals working with children, and governments.
#CovidUnder19 is creating spaces for children across the globe to be meaningfully involved in the discussions about responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and to contribute towards shaping the post-Covid-19 world.
On 28 May 2020, the initiative launched a global consultation survey to understand children’s experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic and their views on how they wish to get involved. The survey was designed by child rights experts and 270 children from 26 countries, and translated into 25 languages and an easy read version. Children and young people aged between 8 and 17 years old were invited to participate in the survey until 30 July 2020. Child protection practitioners as well as parents and caregivers were encouraged to facilitate the participation of children. A facilitator's pack was developed to guide practitioners in supporting children to complete the survey. It was available in English, Spanish, French and Dutch.
The survey was also accessible on U-Report, through Facebook Messenger, Viber and Whatsapp.
Based on the results of the consultations with children, the initiative will accelerate the design of responses to the pandemic in the short and long term, while increasing opportunities for children to interact with each other to collectively create and innovate.
To stay up to date with the initiative’s news, you can follow its profiles on social media:
Najat Maalla M’jid, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
Co-leads of the initiative
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
Terre des hommes is the leading Swiss child relief agency, improving the lives of millions of the world's most vulnerable children: www.tdh.ch/en
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of organisations, academics, youth-led organisations and children.
Terre des hommes is the leading Swiss child relief agency, improving the lives of millions of the world's most vulnerable children: www.tdh.ch/en
Partners
ChildFund Alliance is a global network of 11 child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities: https://childfundalliance.org/
Inspiring Children's Futures is a joint initiative at the University of Strathclyde.
The Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) is a network of ten national organisations with headquarters in Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland (comprising two organisations: the Terre des hommes Lausanne Foundation and Terre des Hommes Switzerland). TDHIF is working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.
> www.terredeshommes.org
ChildFund Alliance is a global network of 11 child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities: https://childfundalliance.org/
Inspiring Children's Futures is a joint initiative at the University of Strathclyde.
The Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) is a network of ten national organisations with headquarters in Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland (comprising two organisations: the Terre des hommes Lausanne Foundation and Terre des Hommes Switzerland). TDHIF is working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.
> www.terredeshommes.org
