Jillian, a dedicated child rights advocate of Educo Philippines, recently joined fellow advocates from nine Southeast Asian countries in the Regional Consultation on the 2nd ASEAN Plan of Action to Eliminate Violence Against Children (2026–2035) held in Indonesia last May 2025. The consultation brought together children and young leaders from across the ASEAN region to directly contribute to shaping a safer, more inclusive, and child-centered Southeast Asia.
At the heart of the discussions were pressing issues faced by children today such as online exploitation, child migration, climate change, and various forms of violence. Jillian stood with her peers in boldly declaring that all forms of violence against children: physical, emotional, mental, and sexual, are unacceptable.
“We urge the government to strengthen ASEAN’s safe school initiatives and to implement the program nationwide in order to ensure children affected by climate change receive the necessary education they need,” Jillian said during the consultation.
She emphasized that safe school initiatives must go beyond the classroom, “this includes disaster-resilient infrastructure to ensure students are safe and less exposed to the risk of natural disasters. We also call for the government to integrate climate education and mental health into school curricula, with adequate budget allocations, and to ensure access for out-of-school children through inclusive and community-based approaches.”
A message to her fellow children
Representing the voices of children from the Philippines, Jillian carried with her the hopes, concerns, and dreams of Filipino youth.
“To my fellow Filipino children, as your elected national delegate, I carried each of your voices with me, as a child, as a friend, and as someone who believes na lahat tayo ay may karapatang marinig, mahalin, at protektahan. Your stories, your dreams, and even your struggles matter. Let’s continue to be brave, to speak up, and to support one another. We may be young, but together, we are powerful,” she sincerely said.
Words of gratitude
Jillian also expressed deep thanks to the organizations that made her participation possible.
“To Educo Philippines, thank you for trusting me with this responsibility. Thank you for always reminding us that our voices count. Because of you, I have learned that even as children, we can be leaders too. It was an honor to represent our country with humility, strength, and heart, bringing with me the hopes of every Filipino child who dreams of a safer, more caring world.”
“To CRC Asia, thank you for organizing this meaningful and empowering event. Through your efforts, children from across the region were given a space to connect, to learn, and to lead. Thank you for making sure that our voices don’t just echo, they are heard, respected, and acted upon. You’ve shown us that meaningful child participation is not only possible, it’s powerful,” the Educo ChildRep added.
A call for action
Jillian’s words, and those of the many child participants, serve as a powerful reminder to leaders across ASEAN that children are not just stakeholders of tomorrow, they are leaders of today. Their lived experiences and insights must be central in shaping the policies, structures, and systems that affect their lives.
As ASEAN works toward eliminating violence against children by 2035, Jillian and her fellow advocates continue to lead the way, reminding us that every child deserves to be protected, respected, and heard.
