On November 21, 2024 GHRD successfully hosted its fourth human rights film festival in the Hague. This year’s edition was centered around children’s rights and attracted more than 160 visitors, among them various delegates of different embassies, policy officers, and children’s rights advocates, to the Pathé aan het Buitenhof. A series of documentaries, carefully selected by a jury of experts, offered captivating and compelling insights into the at times devastating reality of children’s rights around the world.
The powerful opening speech was given by Anghelina Severin, a young and dedicated child’s right activist from Moldova. Anghelina serves on the Children’s Advisory Team at Child Rights Connect, the Youth Board at State of Youth, and is an advisor to UN institutions in Moldova, including the UN Adolescent Youth Panel Moldova. She was also nominated for the International Children’s Peace Price. Her speech was followed by the screening of five movies discussing different children’s rights issues all over the world.
The first movie, Butterfly Butterfly, directed by Len Morris and released in 2022 raised the critical question of how we treat children in our society. Through the lens of child refugees and conflict survivors, it reflects on 30 years of promises made and the progress, but also the significant shortcomings in delivering children’s basic rights.
In Worth of a Girl: Hope and Survival of Child Brides, director Steven Ferri follows the lives of young girls forced into marriage, highlighting both their struggles and survival. The documentary sheds light on the physical, psychological, and emotional hardships girls on forced marriages endure, while also sharing inspiring stories of those working to end child marriage worldwide.
Next up, Children of War, directed by Bryan Single, examined the brutal realities of children living in conflict zones. While sharing stories of child soldiers and their journey toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society, it serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating impacts of war on young lives.
Another impactful movie, Hunger Ward, directed by Skye Fitzgerald, focused on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The documentary took the audience into clinics where children fight against famine, showcasing the effects of war on their health. It also tells the story of the heroic efforts of healthcare workers who battle against overwhelming challenges to save young lives.
Lastly, Interntaional Adoptions: A Global Scandal concluded the movie screenings. The documentary of directors Sonia Gonzalez and Christine Tournadre investigates the unethical practices surrounding international adoptions. It uncovers instances of trafficking, exploitation, and fraud around the globe, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and regulation to protect vulnerable children from abuse.
The documentary screenings were followed by a fruitful panel discussion involving four experts on children’s rights. Edith Bardel, Child Protection Officer at the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children, Dr. Sheila Varadan, assistant professor for children’s rights at Leiden University, Katariina Leivo, senior specialist at Protect Children and Priyam Ghandi-Mody, political communications strategist and author of three bestselling non-fiction books, talked about the importance of hearing children’s voices and safeguarding their rights. They uncovered and explained the impact of conflict on children, risks for children in the digital space, as well as legal and policy gaps in the protection of children’s rights. The panelist gave valuable insights into international cooperation on best practices surrounding children and their rights, the importance of advocacy and awareness raising, and prevailing challenges for the prevention of child exploitation. A particular emphasis was always the power of giving children a voice and thereby securing the protection of their rights in the future. The event was concluded by a powerful statement and testimony of GHRD’s Youth Ambassador Putheany Kim who highlighted the need to protect children in vulnerable positions, such as refugee children as herself, and to hear their voices in order to guarantee an equitable society, also for its smallest members.
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