Lumos Attends 2026 Annual Day on the Rights of the Child, Joined by Young Advocates

17.03.2026

 

This month, we took part in the UN Human Rights Council’s 2026 Annual Day on the Rights of the Child (ADRC) in Geneva, which this year focused on Children’s Rights in Armed Conflict.

Armed conflict has a devastating impact on the rights of children everywhere. It can be a driver of family separation and children living in alternative care are often particularly impacted. Education for children during an armed conflict can also be seriously disrupted. This is particularly true for those children who have a disability or other special educational needs. Barriers to accessing education can also drive the separation of children from their families and their placement in institutional care.

Lumos engaged with the ADRC to highlight the importance of ensuring that all children are supported to grow and thrive in safe and loving families, even during times of conflict, and to advocate for the provision of safe, inclusive, and accessible education for all children.

 

Pictured: Ukrainian youth advocates Sofiia (left) and Yevhenii (right) with Svitlana, Child and Youth Participation Officer from Lumos Ukraine at the United Nations in Geneva.

 

At the ADRC, we were joined by two youth advocates from the Lumos Ukrainian Youth Advisory Board, Sofiia (16) and Yevhenii (15). They travelled to Geneva to take part in the ADRC and have their voices heard at UN level at a range of different events including:  

  • The Key to My Freedom: Approaches to Ensuring that Every Child Can Access Safe, Inclusive Education in Situations of Armed Conflict: This Lumos side event brought together leading experts from across the sector to discuss examples of good practice in providing education to children in times of conflict. It was the only side event on education in emergency situations which took place over the ADRC.

Watch the powerful statements about from Sofiia and Yevhenii about their experiences of growing up in Ukraine during the ongoing war:
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  • Interventions to the Human Rights Council: On Monday, the day of the ADRC itself, Sofiia spoke representing Lumos and the Ukraine Youth Advisory Board. She shared about the immense impact that the conflict in Ukraine is having on the lives of children, saying “it has interrupted education, separated families, and created deep emotional challenges.” She called for strong support systems in times of war to keep families together, and said that young people must be part of shaping solutions.

 

The day after, Aisling Ledwith, Senior Advocacy and Campaigns Officer for Lumos, also made an intervention, this time as part of the interactive dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children.

 

  • Participation in a child-led side event: Sofiia took part in a child-led side event, organised by a group of children who were attending the ADRC, with the support of Child Rights Connect. Sofiia’s intervention focussed on the work of the Lumos Youth Advisory Board, and the importance of working together with children to protect their rights, saying “When young people know their rights and have the opportunity to speak, they can help change systems and support other children.”

 

Our presence in Geneva was a vital opportunity for relationship building with key partners in the child rights space and for continuing to raise awareness about every child’s right to a safe and loving family.   

 

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