Everyone, everywhere, has rights.
It doesn’t matter what country you were born in, what race you are, if you were raised in a particular religion, have a disability, or identify as part of the LGBT+ community. We all have rights.
In order to protect these rights – and people’s ability to challenge their country’s government if they believe their rights are not being met or upheld – the United Nations signed into being the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10, 1948.
That’s also why every December 10, we celebrate Human Rights Day – to recognize the anniversary of the UDHR and what it means for every person around the world.
It’s important to note though, that while the UDHR is perhaps the most important document for human rights in existence, there are some rights – specific only to children – that it doesn’t cover, which to the creation of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1954, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
To celebrate Human Rights Day for 2024, we’re putting the spotlight on three children who are campaigning for their rights, and the rights of other children.
“Us children should not be taken for granted.” – Pohamba, 14, Zambia
Pohamba, 14, lives with his mother and his brother in Lusaka, Zambia. He has had fibrous dysplasia, which is a disorder that affects bone growth and bone development, since he was three years old. Because fibrous dysplasia is a progressive condition, it's likely to become worse as Pohamba grows up. Currently, Pohamba needs crutches to walk and he can't lift heavy objects. Pohamba is a climate change and disability advocate. He says that, thanks to Save the Children, his career aspirations have changed. He used to dream of becoming an accountant, but – now – he’s passionate about children’s rights and healthcare. As such, he’d like to become a doctor while advocating for disability and climate change at the same time. As a doctor, he wants to learn more about his disorder – fibrous dysplasia – so that he can better advocate for other youths living with disabilities. As a climate change advocate, he plans on continuing to lead by example (i.e. picking up trash) so that his community is inspired to take action in support of the environment as well. For children like Pohamba, extreme weather patterns such as droughts, heatwaves, freezing cold, and floods threaten their future and stand in the way of their dreams. Pohamba told Save the Children that weather patterns in Zambia have changed rapidly over the last few years. For example, the extreme heat or the freezing cold make concentrating at school difficult for children like Pohamba. In the summer months, he compares the extreme heat to feeling like you’re being cooked. If people don’t start treating the environment with care, Pohamba is fearful that things will get worse especially for youths living with disabilities. Regardless, Pohamba is hopeful that if people start taking care of the environment, climate change will become a thing of the past. He suggests using clean energy instead of relying on industries that pollute the environment, planting trees, and more. Save the Children was put in touch with Pohamba via a partner organisation called Advocacy for Child Justice. Save the Children supports Advocacy for Child Justice financially to implement programmes with a focus on child rights. In addition, Save the Children has directly supported Pohamba with his disability advocacy by creating platforms and opportunities to engage stakeholders including the President of Zambia, senior Government officials, and the UNCRC Committee Chairperson Ms. Mikiko Ōtani. Moreover, Pohamba was supported to become one of the keynote speakers during the launch of Save the Children Zambia’s Strategy Plan 2022-2024.
Pohamba, 14, lives with his mother and his brother in Lusaka, Zambia. He has fibrous dysplasia, a disorder that affects bone growth and bone development.
Pohamba is a climate change and disability advocate. He says that, thanks to Save the Children, his career aspirations have changed; where he used to dream of becoming an accountant, he’s now passionate about children’s rights and healthcare.
“I want to be an advocate for children and people living with [disabilities]. That’s my passion and I hope that I can take it up and really make a difference in people’s lives,” Pohamba says.
Pohamba has decided, because of his newfound passions, he would like to become a doctor while also advocating for disability and climate change at the same time.
As a doctor, he wants to learn more about his disorder – fibrous dysplasia – so that he can better advocate for other youths living with disabilities. As a climate change advocate, he plans on continuing to lead by example, such as picking up trash, so that his community is inspired to act in support of the environment as well.
“Why I campaign is especially because I want to see a better future for people, children and youths, that have a disability,” Pohamba explains. “There are some jobs that require mobility. For those ones, maybe a deaf person can do that job. So, we might try to make the environment sustainable for people that have disabilities and make sure that in every situation we, as people who have disabilities, we have the same chances of acquiring [an] education, of getting a job [like] everyone else. We want to be chosen because of our skills.”
“The future can be changed in the present.” – Anai, 16, Peru
,-Child-Campaigner-from-Peru-attending-the-Summit-of-the-Future-2024-ch11158080.webp/6nqbig1kw2uyvd08g7ffth2mq12layfa.jpeg?g=0.5x0.33&w=2562&format=webp&itok=Tnt0vlVQ "CH11158080_Anai (16), Child Campaigner from Peru attending the Summit of the Future 2024")
Anai, 16, attended the 2024 UN General Assembly in New York. She has been actively involved in Save the Children’s Generation Hope Campaign to address climate change. Anai is particularly interested in human rights, climate change, gender equality, and children’s rights. She is curious about the achievement of the SDGs and what the future means for children. She has experience in engaging with high level authorities in various influencing spaces, including Peru’s Ministry of Labour, Congressmen, the Ombudsman's Office. Anai is also part of National Movement of Organized Child Workers in Peru (MNNATSOP) as a national representative.
Anai, 16, was born in Andahuaylas, Apurímac, a high Andean region of Peru that has historically been affected by poverty and a lack of access to basic services in rural areas. Her family is Quechua-speaking, a language many speak but few authorities listen to, and because of this, Anai grew up understanding the importance of having a voice.
Since she was 8 years old, Anai helped her family by selling food or different products in markets and fairs. For this reason, at the age of 10, she became involved in the National Movement of Organized Working Children and Adolescents of Peru (MNNATSOP), whose library became a space to meet other children who, like her, wish to change the world.
After several years of activism, Anai was elected the national delegate of the movement she represents. To fulfill this role, she was chosen by her peers to be responsible for the MNNATSOP headquarters in Lima, always with the support of her family. Over these years of activism, she delved into various issues related to children's rights, such as gender equality and climate change.
Anai has participated in different training activities organized by Save the Children and was chosen to represent many children and adolescents from Peru at the global Summit of the Future in New York.
“I [was] very happy and excited,” Anai says of her experiences in New York. “We want a better world, a dignified world of peace and security” which Anai feels can only be achieved by having governments and world leaders listen to children.
“I am looking forward to... a bright future for many other girls in my community.” – Asia, 17, Tanzania
On 26 August 2026, a massive flash flood swept through communities along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli river corridor in Nepal, with hundreds of people reportedly missing and thousands impacted. The full extent of casualties and damage is still being assessed; however, more than 10,000 households are reportedly affected. Save the Children has activated its humanitarian response and deployed an immediate response team. Sirish Burlakoti/ Save the Children
Asia, 17, who lives in Zanzibar, Tanzania, has been working for several years to campaign for children rights and the fight against violence in the Isles. She is a member of the Save the Children-supported children’s council, where she discusses issues affecting children and advocates for positive change.
"Through the trainings, I have learned and benefited in many ways,” Asia says. “I have gained confidence, as [as] a young girl I was not confident enough to stand in front of people and speak but now I [can] do that with confidence."
Asia believes children in Zanzibar face a number of challenges, including a lack of understanding about their rights – or that they even have rights – and as such, they sometimes are afraid to report abuse against them. The children’s council works to educate the public, especially those in rural areas, on the importance of protecting children’s rights as well as registering children to participate in the councils.
“We have visited various schools, educating children on their rights... and [how] to report issues of violence. We [also] have been educating parents on the importance of protecting children,” Asia adds.
Asia urges the government to strengthen policies and laws to punish those who have been abusing children.
“My dream is to become a child right lawyer... I am looking forward to my bright future as well as a bright future for many other girls in my community.”
