Joint Child Rights Initiative Statement for Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025

World Vision delivers this statement on behalf of the Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts, a coalition of over 30 agencies committed to child rights, which leads on the Multistakeholder Pledge on Child Rights.

Across the world today, children fleeing conflict and persecution face increasing challenges and risks.

We know that strong and inclusive national child protection systems are lifesaving, cost-effective and sustainable. Yet, the growing scale and impact of conflicts, combined with rising refugee populations, have strained the ability of national systems to respond effectively to the needs of refugee children.

At the same time, funding cuts have forced many organizations to reduce essential programs that protect children from harm and provide vital support. The result is a devastating gap in services—just as the number of refugees and asylum seekers reaches historic levels. Today, 19.1 million refugees and asylum seekers are children—children who urgently need safety, stability, and access to basic services, but instead face escalating risks and shrinking support.

This dangerous combination of surging needs and dwindling resources means that, without decisive action, millions of children will be left without healthcare, without education, and without protection. We must scale up support for children forced to flee and their host communities to protect hard-won progress.

The 2023 Global Refugee Forum catalysed important commitments towards child protection, child participation, education, and socio-economic inclusion, linked to the Multi-Stakeholder Child Rights Pledge. Leadership at all levels will continue to be critical in championing the rights of forcibly displaced children, but it will bear fruit only if matched with resources, meaningful investment, and political will.

At the same time, children and young people bring insights and solutions that make policies more effective, sustainable, and responsive to their needs. All children, including children fleeing emergencies, hold the fundamental right to participate in decisions that affect them. Enabling children to influence decision-making at all levels, therefore, requires not only our commitment, but clear resources, investment, and renewed urgency.

In this spirit, the Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts calls on governments, donors, and other stakeholders to:

• Reaffirm and deliver on their child rights commitments, mobilising resources creatively to turn pledges into progress for every child. Tag your existing or new pledges to the GRF Child Rights Pledge, if not already done;
• Be Strong defenders of children’s rights—speak out, stand firm, and lead by example;
• Invest in child participation, ensuring children can meaningfully shape the policies that affect them; and
• Invest in and deliver resilient child protection systems that include all children.

Together, we must take urgent action so that every child—regardless of status or origin—can grow up safe, protected, and able to learn and thrive.

Organisations:

• Save the Children
• Terre des Hommes
• World Vision
• Violence Against Children
• MYCP
• The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
• ICMC
• ICVA
• KIND
• International Rescue Committee
• UNHCR
• Plan International
• UNICEF
• International Detention Coalition