Children’s livelihoods are at stake because of the human rights abuses that are child marriage, child labor, and limited access to education.

Jo Becker, Advocacy Director of the Children’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, gave a presentation on issues that globally impact children at a talk in the Humanities Institute Conference Room at Homer Babbidge Library on Nov. 14, spotlighting those three as the most pressing during her talk to UConn Early College Experience Human Rights Instructors and UConn students. She then outlined ways students can get involved to make changes by addressing laws and policies.  

The work that Becker and Human Rights Watch performs can be encapsulated in just three words — investigate, expose, and change. Researchers investigate human rights abuses in over 100 countries, and then work to expose those abuses by publishing reports and spreading the word through social media and other channels. From there, they meet with policymakers and others who are in positions to change policies, enforce laws, and serve justice, Becker said.

“There is no better way to improve children’s lives than education,” said Becker, noting that, globally, some 251 million children are not enrolled in any school.

During her talk, Becker explained how these three global human rights issues manifest in the United States. She illustrated each type of abuse by sharing real stories from children who were victims, and followed by elaborating on the changes that have been made globally and in the US. 

Every year globally, 12 million girls are married under the age of 18. Becker shared the work of an international network called Girls Not Brides that is composed of over 1,400 organizations fighting to end child marriage. Efforts like this have contributed to the United Nations making ending child marriage by 2030 one of its sustainable goals. In the United States, 13 states have set 18 as the minimum age for marriage without exception, protecting 10 million kids around the country. 

Globally, 1 in 10 children are defined as working in the labor force, Becker said. Countries have been making progress in decreasing child labor by ensuring children have greater access to education and addressing economic factors that have forced families to put their children into the workforce. Human Rights Watch worked alongside organizations that protect domestic workers worldwide, including children. Becker said that once Human Rights Watch’s research was published, they started hearing from members of the US Congress who wanted to contribute to the effort to curtail child labor. 

Becker finished her talk by offering action suggestions for students. Having students write letters to legislators or sign open letters are effective methods for high school teachers to incorporate human rights into classrooms and contribute to driving change, she said.

There are ongoing abuses in the United States and around the world that children are uniquely vulnerable to, but it is possible to make a difference, Becker said.

“To make change you need anger, hope, and a belief that you can make a difference. Anger alone isn’t enough to sustain us over time. We need hope that things can change, and a belief that we can make these changes.”

Becker’s presentation was made possible by Human Rights Education, a Dodd Human Rights Impact Program at the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute, with the support of UConn’s Office of Early College Programs / Early College Experience.