Every Child Has a Voice: LGBTQI+ Youth
According to the UNCRC, when children’s rights are realised (Article 2) no children or young people should be facing discrimination. Despite improvements in legislation, public attitudes and a growing visibility of diversity of gender and sexuality in popular culture, LGBTQI+ children and young people remain at heightened risk of violence and discrimination in school, within the family, […]
Every Child Has a Voice: Children with Disabilities
Children with disabilities are one of the most marginalised and excluded groups in society. Estimates suggest that there are at least 93 million children with disabilities in the world who, according to UNICEF, are among the poorest members of the population. They are at particular risk of discrimination, abuse and social exclusion, and the lack of […]
The Smile of the Child: 23 years supporting children and their families
On 9 November 1995, young Andreas Yannopolous wrote in his diary of his vision to found an organisation that would ensure that all children received what he had so generously enjoyed: love, care, true interest and respect. Andreas passed on shortly after writing his message. His dream, however, became reality, when the Greek organisation “The […]
Day of the African Child 2018: Stories from Zimbabwe #2
From a life of misery to a life of hope… A 7-year-old girl was admitted to hospital in a village in Mashonaland Central after sustaining serious injuries on her head, lips and hands. Finding these injuries to be suspicious, the attending doctor referred the case to Childline Zimbabwe. After the child disclosed that her mother would […]
Day of the African Child 2018: Stories from Tanzania #1
Early in 2018, Joseph lost his wife and mother of their 3-year-old daughter. Different people were caring for his daughter, but when she dramatically lost weight he called the Child Helpline in Tanzania, seeking advice on what could be wrong. He was worried that perhaps his daughter wasn’t being fed properly. Mary, a counsellor at the […]
Day of the African Child 2018: Stories from Zimbabwe #1
Childline Zimbabwe made a follow-up visit to a family with eight children, none of whom were in school. It became apparent, though, that a number of other families living on the same farm also had children who were not in school, mainly because they were under the care of single mothers who were unemployed. Their fathers were […]
Day of the African Child 2018: Stories from Tanzania #2
A young girl called the Tanzanian National Child Helpline, asking for help in between sobs. Her call was answered by Lillian, who calmed her down enough to talk about why she was so upset. The girl explained that she had been taken to Dar es Salaam to work as a housekeeper – but what she thought […]
Travel and trafficking: tackling the links between tourism and child sexual exploitation
The International Summit on Child Protection in Travel and Tourism brings together the global tourism business, law enforcement agencies, representatives of governments, the UN and civil society will agree on a long-term agenda that will end the sexual exploitation of children through the travel industry. Together with several of our Child Helpline members, we’ve been […]
The ‘Tuesday Chat’: International forum discusses missing and runaway youth
Gordon Vance, Director of Programs at the National Runaway Safeline in the US, kindly agreed to represent Child Helpline International at the May 2018 UN/DPI/NGO Tuesday Chat Series. The event was hosted by Child Helpline International’s partner, ICMEC (International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children) in New York City. ‘I was thrilled to participate in this international forum to discuss […]
International Child Helpline Day 2018: Fiji
The National Child Helpline is a free number that children can call on any phone from anywhere in Fiji. It is operational 24/7 and tended to by professional counsellors. Through outreach projects, the message about the service is taken out to rural areas. Medical Services Pacific staff run Child Protection sessions and show children how they […]