The IYTT Youth Panel at the Human Rights Justification Conference

On 6 December, we (Youth Fellows Miranda & Jonathan) had the opportunity to present our global child rights survey at the Human Rights Justification (HR Just) Conference hosted by the Law Department of Stockholm University. The HR Just Conference explored how states increasingly use human rights not as safeguards for individuals but as tools to justify political decisions and governance practices. Three program points sought to examine these consequences and raised important questions about gaps in protection for individuals.

First, young Swedish activists who grew up in socially marginalized districts showed a film that described how new legislative proposals in Sweden (such as curfews, stop-and-search zones, and ankle bracelets for children perceived as disrespectful) disproportionately affect migrant children. The ensuing discussion showed how these measures deepen identity challenges, social division, and inequality in Sweden. Though the young people voiced deep frustration with recent developments in Swedish politics, they were anything but powerless. Their message was clear: strengthen local communities, invest in social services and, most importantly, invest in young changemakers, so that dignity and respect can be restored where they are most needed.

Second, two leaders from StreetSolid in the United States conducted a workshop. Their contributions added a powerful practical dimension to the conference. StreetSolid is a US-based organization dedicated to supporting the social, emotional, and cognitive development of under-resourced and justice-involved youth and adults through trauma-informed outreach and evidence-based programming. StreetSolid’s mission came to life in the way they interacted with all participants. During the workshop, they facilitated a communication exercise in which two people sat back-to-back while one described an image the other had to reconstruct using building blocks. The exercise vividly demonstrated how easily misunderstandings arise without trust, clarity, and patience. Their message aligned closely with many themes we heard throughout the day: that no person is an island, we are all in this together, that empowerment begins with listening, and that communities already possess strengths worth building on. Hearing these accounts right before our own presentation made our survey results feel even more pressing and relevant.

As the final speakers of the day, we wrapped up the program by sharing the key patterns emerging from our global child rights survey. Participants were extremely interested in our findings and fascinated by the striking recurrence of themes across countries, with young people everywhere describing similar experiences of HR justifications used against them, limited participation and segregation. Together with participants, we discussed how adults can create learning environments where young people feel safe, confident, and heard.

We were also deeply inspired by the broader perspectives shared during the discussions of our presentation. Discussions on the origins of the child rights movement, the importance of crossing social and cultural boundaries, and examples from the United States, Sweden, and Taiwan underscored how segregation and unequal opportunities persist globally. Concepts such as bonding, bridging, and linking social capital resonated strongly with us, reinforcing the need for community-building approaches that connect young people, their communities, and policymakers. The curiosity around our methodology and results will inform our next steps. Leaving the conference, we felt deeply affirmed in our work – and committed to continuing to uplift young people’s voices across contexts.