Introduction
Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia) is a regional network of child rights organisations and Singapore Children’s Society is one of its members. Each year, CRC Asia organises the Regional Children’s Meeting (RCM) to provide a platform for children across Asia to share their experiences, insights and recommendations on various aspects of children’s rights.
This year, CRC Asia brought together 35 youth delegates at the Amara Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand from August 14 to 16. Two delegates from Singapore, Clarice, 15, a member of VOX @ Children’s Society and Xinyi, 17, were selected after round of interviews to attend the RCM. The theme of this year’s meeting focused on children’s rights in the digital environment.
The three-day event featured four interactive learning sessions, each addressing a different aspect of children’s rights and sparking vibrant discussions among the delegates.
Learning Sessions
In Session 1, CRC Asia led the discussion on children’s civil and political rights, encouraging delegates to reflect on how often their voices are heard in decisions affecting them. Our Singaporean delegates highlighted academic pressures sidelining other important issues, such as bullying. Session 2 by Childline Thailand introduced the concept of Child Human Rights Defenders (CHRDs), discussing digital tools as both empowering and potentially risky spaces, with delegates sharing concerns over rising cyberbullying and exploitation in their countries.
In subsequent sessions, CRC Asia and Meta examined children’s digital rights, including privacy and expression, with youth urging tech companies to proactively safeguard online spaces. Save the Children concluded with a session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), prompting youth to consider its impact on their lives—from environmental concerns to ethical issues. The discussion highlighted the importance of involving children in AI-related conversations to ensure their rights and interests are protected in the digital future.
Cultural Night and Market Booths
Beyond learning, delegates had ample opportunities to enjoy themselves, with Cultural Night on Day 2 being one of the biggest highlights. The programme was entirely self-organised, with delegates from different countries preparing performances and games to share their cultures. It was an evening of fun and meaningful cultural exchanges. They also learnt more about the other Asian countries at their respective market booths!
Group photo after the Cultural Night
RCM 2024 offered a valuable opportunity for young people to connect, learn and advocate for their rights. Throughout RCM, the youth delegates voiced their strong desire for greater involvement in decision-making processes that impact their lives, both nationally and globally. Many expressed frustration that while their opinions are sometimes sought, they rarely shape the final outcomes.
Xinyi and Clarice sharing their personal takeways at Tampines Secondary School
“Attending the Regional Children’s Meeting (RCM) in Thailand was an eye-opening experience. It was inspiring to have youth like me from different countries come together to discuss child rights and AI. We talked about how AI can help improve education and healthcare, but we also recognised the risks, like privacy concerns and the need for ethical use. We also shared our thoughts on how important it is for technology to be designed with their needs in mind. The learning sessions from Meta and the other children's rights organisations like Save the Children and Amnesty International were very interesting too, such as the fact that the usage of ChatGPT actually contributes to climate change, which I had not realised previously. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed attending RCM and learnt a lot of things as well as had a bunch of fun,”
“Attending the Regional Children’s Meeting was very insightful and exciting! The topics discussed such as the UN Convention on Rights of a Child, Generative AI, Meta and child rights, felt very relevant to me. I am extremely grateful to have had our voices heard and our suggestions brought back to Meta. It truly demonstrates that child rights exist and children also matter. Moreover, it was empowering to hear from peers across so many countries who are also passionate about advocating for our rights. I am glad to have made so many friends along the way and learnt more about their different cultures. Overall, this trip has also motivated me to continue being an active participant in advocating for child rights to ensure children can continue to have platforms to voice out their opinions.”
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