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Children have their say Youth groups are nothing new. Bringing young people together is a great way to increase their confidence and teach them life skills. But for many children and teenagers in the Asia-Pacific region, joining a group is a new and exciting experience. In some of the region's most disadvantaged communities, they're learning for the first time about child rights, empowerment, health and child protection. It may look like just another fun activity for children, but it's so much more. Children's clubs can actually reduce the incidence of trafficking and forced labour. Through the clubs, young people have access to accurate HIV/AIDS and sexual health information, and girls learn about their right to education and equality. Club activities improve children's knowledge of their own cultures, traditions and behaviours. Just as importantly, the clubs encourage young people to have their say on issues in their community and how to solve them. Many become peer educators, passing on their knowledge to schools, family and neighbourhoods. Through the club network, children can be brought together from different villages, different regions, even different nations, to form child congresses and parliaments. Here they find common ground. They talk about war and conflict, education and work, violence and gender issues - all the injustices they've learned to recognise as child rights violations. Youth representatives approach governments, media and local authorities to ask for change. Through these clubs, children are finally having a say in creating a fairer world, for themselves and future generations. What do they say? Throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the issues children want to talk about remain very similar. They are asking for: - Protection from war and displacement, and the right to live in peace
- Access to education no matter what their circumstances
- An end to domestic violence, sexual violence and exploitative labour
- The time to play and have fun with other children
- Recognition and respect from their community; to have their voices heard
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