An international symposium commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has concluded today with youth representatives from Europe, Asia, and Taiwan joining together to share their insights and make collective recommendations. This two day-event—hosted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)—featured discussions on critical issues such as students’ rights, rights of children with disabilities, immigration, digital violence, the right to development and leisure, mental health, and youth suicide. NHRC Chairperson Chen Chu was present at the event, actively engaging with young delegates from Scotland, Ireland, Australia, the Philippines, and more than 100 youth representatives from Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities. Their conversations highlighted the critical role of youth in shaping decisions that affect lives, with Ellie Craig, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, passionately asserting, “Do not make decisions for the youth without their participation!” Craig also highlighted the importance of Article 12 of the CRC, which guarantees children the right to voice their opinions and have them be taken into account. Bruce Adamson, Vice Chair of the Global Child Friendly Governance Project, also encouraged both youth and government officials to listen to young voices and urged for societal changes that would reflect their needs and concerns. Chairperson Chen noted that the insights gained from this event will aid in establishing a child rights monitoring mechanism in Taiwan and help guide the NHRC in providing independent assessments during international reviews.
Former Youth Advisor for the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS), Finlay Anderson, emphasized the vital role youth played in enacting the CRC into Scottish law. He pointed to the significant of the "10,000 Voices" report, which gathered insights from ten thousand young individuals to shape both regional and national policies. In a pre-recorded video, Irish youth representatives Aisling and Alfie showcased the Irish Youth Parliament as a vital platform for fostering direct communication between the youth and government officials. Similarly, Australian youth representatives Bella, Sebastian, and 13-year-old Ruben echoed this call, advocating for the necessity of incorporating the perspectives of the younger generation in governmental decision-making processes. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s youth delegates, Liu Rong-yu and Cheng Tien-li, illustrated how both central and local youth delegate systems empower young people to champion the issues that matter to them. NHRC Commissioners Lin Wen-cheng and Tien Chiu-chin facilitated these important discussions, promoting ongoing youth engagement and emphasizing the significance of integrating mother tongues into educational frameworks.
The event featured a Global Café that allowed local and international attendees to openly discuss six key topics: mental health, student rights, disabilities, issued faced by migrants and immigrants, digital violence, and the right to rest and leisure. Participants in each group put forth practical suggestions, including the creation of a national complaint system, enhancements to psychological support for individuals with disabilities, and strategies to combat digital harassment on platforms like Instagram Stories. These innovative proposals highlighted the compassion and ingenuity of Taiwan’s youth. During the symposium, Vice Chairperson Wang Yu-ling stressed the critical need to truly listen to the voices of young people. Commissioner Yeh Ta-hua, an expert in youth affairs, presented a video showcasing Taiwan’s youth-friendly complaint systems and led discussions on human rights metrics, the right to education, and the involvement of youth in public decision-making. The event wrapped up with considerations for developing monitoring indicators and integrating youth advisory mechanisms—underscoring the significant contributions made by the young participants.