#CovidUnder19 is a broad-based coalition of children, young people, organisations, academics, and youth-led organisations that works towards including children and young people in decision-making that affects their futures.
Our child advisors

Brian

Dhruv

Renatta

Satria
Habituellement appelé Satria, il est étudiant à l'Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia et se spécialise dans l'éducation spécialisée. Satria aime les questions d'organisation, en particulier le bénévolat. Ses hobbies sont l'observation et la recherche, ainsi que l'écriture. Satria est un conseiller pour les enfants #CovidUnder19. Ses sujets de prédilection sont l'éducation et l'environnement. Satria est originaire d'Indonésie, plus précisément de la ville de Bandung. L'éducation spécialisée est son principal centre d'intérêt car elle joue un rôle important pour faire progresser l'égalité dans les ODD sur les droits universels et le sentiment d'appartenance.

Mothibi

Samikshya
Samikshya Dahal,17,is currently studying in bachelor 1st year BSC general science , Loudest girl of girls out loud nepal,executive board of Ayon - Young female leadership forum ,Member of national adolescent girls network and child advisor of covid under 19.She also a vice-president of the brainy bunch ,a federal youth parliament nepal-2079 B.S. she is an enthusiastic young girl ,On the occasion of international day of girl child 2022,oct 11-she takeover the position of CEO at SDG studio a media advocacy group for SDGs from the incumbent CEO,pradeep Lamichhane as a part of #Girls takeover Campaign .being a member of different active youth organizations and believes that she is with curious nature too and passionate to learn and work on the issues of child rights and young adolescent girls .She balances her academics and her learning curiosity . she accepts the challenges and believes in the change nature . She along with concerning girls issues and different social & cultural issues . Indeed keen interest to work in the field of child , adolescents ,education and advocates for climate action .she supports campaigns and excellence .

Osish
Osish Niraula is a 16 year old child rights and human rights activist from Nepal. He favours humanity above everything. He is a tech enthusiast who wants to connect children and technology so that their voices are heard by everyone. He is an active member of local clubs of Nepal working for the rights of children. He is also concerned about the environment and climate change and believes that the future would be a better place for everyone to live.

Jeshis
Jeshis, a #CovidUnder19 Child Advisor, is a Child Right Activist from Nepal, advocating for the rights of children since 2017. He served as the President of a school-level child club (2020/2023), where he organised events, raised awareness, and mobilised his peers to take action on child rights issues. Jeshis aims to create a safe society to support children (especially vulnerable marginalised children) so they can live free from danger, discrimination, violence, or exploitation. Jeshis believes in empowering children not just to be able but capable of speaking up for their rights.
Our peer mentors

Ali
Ali is a Pakistan based 17 years old passionate Human Rights Activist with focus on promoting the plight of Child Protection and Child Justice. Alongside with that, he also is a young Cricket analyst at Local Television in Pakistan. Ali is a member of the Child Rights Movement Network (CRM) and the Human Rights Children and Youth Task Force (HRCYTF).
He was part of the Child Advisory Group for shaping the World Congress 2021 on Justice with Children. He aims to create impact around the globe with his untiring efforts and impactful advocacy. He has fervent experience of column and feature writing on different topics, mainly focusing on child protection and justice for children.

Amrit
Amrit is a young child rights advocate and a Human rights defender from Nepal. He is a medical student at Kathmandu University, and also an actively advocating medical education campaigner. Amrit is a peer mentor at #CovidUnder19 Initiative, where he works on child rights-based research and advocacy. He has been a notable leader in the field of child rights since 2016. He is most recognized for his work as a facilitator for Child-Friendly Local Governance, along with contributions to ending child violence, youth leadership, and Human Rights defence. He believes in the power of diversity and aspires to create a World that is both safe and welcoming to children.

Januka
Januka, a #CovidUnder19 Peer Mentor, is a Child and Youth Rights Activist from Nepal. She has been working in close collaborations with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organisations, and communities since 2015. With expertise in the field of child rights and youth empowerment, Januka is a Facilitator for Child-Friendly Local Governance. She led the Municipal Child Club Network of the Itahari sub-metropolitan as the President from 2018 to 2021. Januka is one of three founders and executives of Lakshyadeep, which aims to empower youths to contribute to building a sustainable and equitable future. She believes in the change-making power of youth leadership and is always eager to explore new challenges.

Prathit

Reece

Ojaswi

Vio

Splendour

Tajdar

Tin
Child Advisors are children aged between 13 to 17 years. They participate in training and capacity-building programmes, including policy meetings, consultations, and working groups to amplify children's voices and co-create child-friendly resources. Child Advisors provide input and feedback on child-centered policies, programs, and strategies and advocate for policy changes. They also advocate for inclusive child participation in planning and decision-making processes.
Peer Mentors are young people who provide mentorship and guidance to Child Advisors. Most Peer Mentors are over 18, but some children who have been with the project for over one year also take up that role. Peer Mentors design/organise workshops, training, and campaigns to support Child Advisors' work. They are responsible for the design of the nomination and the selection process of the new cohort of children. Peer Mentors contribute to the development of child-centered policies, strategies, and programs by collaborating with policymakers and other stakeholders.
We would also like to thank the former child advisors for their commitment in the past: Diana, Fariha, Firman, Jeffrey and Naval.
#CovidUnder19 is spreading the word!
Events
- Child Leading the Future - A child and youth-led celebration of World Children's Day 2022
- An Interactive Dialogue with the SRSGVAC about the Climate Crisis - #ReportingToChildren
- Eyes on the Horizon: Rallying Children and Young People for Intergenerational Partnerships and Meaningful Participation in SDGs Summit (HLPF 2022)
- Building Back Better - Learning from the Crisis for Human Rights (CYP HUB and CREAN Webinar)
- Investing in Integrated Services to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Children
- March 2022 SRSGVAC briefing to children
- 2021 Child Rights Festival - Re-imagining a better world for every child
- Session 1: Conversation, Connection, Community: Intergenerational Partnerships for empowering children to claim their rights in the post-pandemic world
- Session 2: Celebrating Child Rights Activism through poetry, fine art, film, and design
- Session 3: Call to Action - Children's demands for respecting children's rights in building back better
- We Speak Up - A child and youth-led event during the HLPF 2021
- #CovidUnder19 High-Level Launch Event 2020
- What should aid actors focus on to make data collection processes & tools more child-friendly? (GEONG)
- #CovidUnder19: Co-creating with Children to Inform Child Protection Policy and Practice (The Alliance)
- Children’s Voice: Maintaining and Adapting for Safe Child Participation during COVID-19 (GPC)
Statements
- #CovidUnder19 Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in response to the consultation on General Comment 26 on Children’s right to a healthy environment with a focus on climate change
- Open Letter to the United Nations Secretary-General
- #CovidUnder19 Joint Intergenerational Statement to the 2022 HLPF
- #CovidUnder19 Press Release (11 March 2022)
- A statement on behalf of #CovidUnder19 at the UN Human Rights Council
- #CovidUnder19 Statement and Call to Action during HLPF 2021
- Open Letter to World Leaders: Uphold children & young people's rights in the digital world
- #CovidUnder19: Life Under Coronavirus - Results of the Survey
Articles
- Ingredients for Meaningful Relationships and Participation
- Life Under Coronavirus: Children’s Views on their Experiences of their Human Rights
- Partnerships with Children as Core to Partnerships for the Goal (p.10)
- Children as agents of positive change (UN SRSG VAC)
- Children’s Right to be Heard: We’re Talking; Are You Listening? (Joining Forces)
- Inspiring Children’s Futures Announce Latest Learning Report: Children’s Participation
Other
- Climate Resource List
- Najat, the SRSG VAC, appreciates the #CovidUnder19 Initiative
- Interview with Shaamela and Amrit by Zarmala
- Interview with Vijay and Januka by Tin
- Januka and Amrit's Advocacy Animation
- Jeshis and Osish's Animation Video
- Mental Health - Children’s Perspectives on the Challenges and Ways Forward (Global Campus International Conference)
How did children experience the pandemic?
- 60% of children and young people said they had access to better education before Covid-19
- 36% feel safer now
- 38% felt that they were not heard when decisions were being made about the Covid-19 crisis
In April 2020, Terre des hommes launched the #CovidUnder19 initiative by mobilising a group of young people, child rights activists, civil society organisations and UN stakeholders. The initiative set out to understand children’s views and experiences about life under Coronavirus, and amplify their voices to inform policymakers, professionals working with children, and governments.
In the spring of 2020, the initiative launched the “Life Under Coronavirus” global survey to understand children’s experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic and their views on how they wish to get involved. The survey was designed by the Centre for Children's Rights at Queen's University, Belfast, with children, for children aged between 8 to 17 years, available in 27 different languages alongside an easy to read version.
26,258 children and young people aged 8 to 17 from 137 countries participated in the #CovidUnder19 survey. The results published in December 2020 shed light on their opinions: “Children are not as clueless as you think they are. They have a voice, and no voice should be shut out. Being a child doesn't mean our voices are less credible,” said a 10-year-old boy from the Philippines.
The global results of the survey are available here.

Follow #CovidUnder19 on social media
Co-leads of the initiative

Terre des hommes
Switzerland's largest child relief organisation, committed to improving the lives of millions of disadvantaged children around the world.

Child Rights Coalition Asia

IICRD

Inspiring children's futures

International Youth Catholic Students

QUB - Centre for Children's Rights

UNSRSGVAC
The Special Representative acts as an independent global advocate to promote the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. She provides mediation and facilitation functions in all regions and in all settings and areas where children are likely to be victims of violence.
Partners

Institut international des droits de l'enfants (IDE)
Founded in 1995, the International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE) is a recognized training centre for children's rights, a Swiss foundation under private law and a scientific centre solicited by numerous networks of experts and institutions working for the respect of children's rights.

Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection

Child Helpline International

Child Protection Hub

Child Rights Connect

Cure Violence

Defence for Children International

Eurochild

Global Kids Online

Group Development Pakistan

IGLYO

London School of Economics - Media and Communications (LSE)

Plan International

Scouts

SOS Children's Villages

Teens4World

Together for girls

World Vision

Leiden University
