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Intervention by the Lublin Triangle States delivered by Mr. Arūnas Jievaltas, Deputy Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

Thank you, Mr. (Vice) President, 

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Lublin Triangle states – Poland, Ukraine and my own country Lithuania.  

We thank the Special Rapporteur Ms. Mary Lawlor for her activities and the report and highly appreciate the recommendations on how to better protect child and youth human rights defenders. 

As you rightly stated, children and youth are a huge force, leading  global climate justice campaigns, calling for an end to war, fighting gender-based violence, working towards the achievement of the 2030 SDG Agenda. They want to be heard. They strive to create a world where human rights of all individuals are upheld. 

Yet they face great personal risk, repressions and legal, administrative and practical barriers to participate in civic activities. Those risks can be doubled in the situation of armed conflicts. Today children and youth of Ukraine cannot defend their rights as they face forcible deportations, indoctrination and illegal adoptions by Russia.

We are concerned regarding your findings that authorities use intimidating tactics to discourage child and youth defenders from participating in peaceful assemblies and deny access to lawyers. It is also alarming to witness that girls and young women are exposed to oppression, gender-based discrimination, sexual violence and gender norms that seek to silence and marginalize them. 

Madam Lawlor, 
In your opinion, what are the most urgent actions that States should take to ensure meaningful participation of children and youth in civic activities?

I thank you.