Ein Mädchen streckt die geballte Faust nach oben und lächelt in die Kamera. In der Hand hält sie ein selbst geschriebenes Schild mit der Aufschrift "Education is my Right".

Children and youth rights

Millions of children and young people worldwide live in poverty. Every child has the right to protection, support and participation. AWO International supports children and young people in exercising their rights.

Children and young people are the largest population group in many countries. The proportion of under 25-year-olds is up to 70 percent. They are the sources of hope in their countries. However, the reality of their lives is often marked by poverty, lack of prospects and exploitation. Their rights are violated in many ways. Together with our partners, we have one goal: to make children's and youth rights a reality worldwide.

A woman stands in a field and smiles at the camera.

AfricaUganda

Food Security and Empowerment of Refugees and Host Communities in Uganda

West Nile is the biggest host of refugees and asylum seekers in Uganda. Majority of them face persistent realities of food insecurity, malnutrition and climate change. Together with our partner RICE West Nile, we support refugees and asylum seekers to improve their situation and strengthen their resilience.

9 Personen auf dem Foto sehen zu, wie Pilzbällchen zubereitet werden.

South AsiaNepal

Youth groups for social change in Ilam

In Ilam, a district bordering the tea plantations in Darjeeling, India, AWO International works together with the Human Rights Forum Nepal, HuRF for short. The project focuses on strengthening youth groups who work for safe migration and against human trafficking in their communities.

Lobbying for safe migration: IMUMI demonstrates to draw attention to the death of migrant children (Photo: IMUMI)

Central AmericaMexico

Lobby work to strengthen the rights of young migrants and returnees

The focus of our Mexican project partner IMUMI is mainly on lobbying. Together with a network of NGOs, IMUMI campaigns for the allocation of protection measures for unaccompanied minors and advocates access to education for children and young people of transnational families.

In trainings and workshops children and young people learn about their rights and how they can fight for them. (Photo: AWO International)

Southeast AsiaPhilippines

Halting child trafficking and sexual exploitation

Time and again, children and women on the Philippine island of Mindanao become victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. In addition, cases of sexual abuse on the Internet are becoming more frequent. Together with our partner organization Child Alert Mindanao, we implemented protective measures and education programmes to strengthen the awareness on and protection of the rights of children and women.

A group therapy by our partner organisation Talikala for girls who have been victims of sexual abuse. (Photo: AWO International)

Southeast AsiaPhilippines

Fight against sexual exploitation of girls and women in Davao

Poverty and unemployment are the main causes that push many girls and women in Davao to become prostitutes and victims of human trafficking. Many girls are only 14 years old. Together with our partner organization – Talikala, we work to protect women and girls from sexual exploitation.