Rights Without Borders: Children and Youth Set the Agenda for Climate Migration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bangkok, 07 May 2026 — During the 2026 IMRF (International Migration Review Forum) side event, “Bridging Regions, Building Futures: Asia–Arab Youth-Led Solutions on Climate Mobility,” children and young people from Asia and the Arab regions issued a powerful call to action, asserting that their voices are essential in addressing the growing crisis of climate-related migration.
The event, co-organised by UNICEF Centre of Excellence in Bangkok, World Vision, the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP), and the Pacific Youth Forum, showcased child-led research, art, and consultations highlighting the realities of displacement and resilience across both regions.
Eleanor Monbiot, Regional Leader for World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe, said, “In fragile environments across Asia and the Middle East, climate shocks are rewriting the futures of an entire generation. We cannot manage migration effectively if we continue to speak about young people rather than with them. To build a future of dignity and safety, their inclusion in decision-making must be non-negotiable.”
According to UNICEF, nearly 1 billion children globally, or nearly half of the world's child population, are at extremely high risk from climate impacts, with particularly high exposure in regions such as the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Over 43 million children were displaced in a recent six-year period due to weather-related disasters, equivalent to approximately 20,000 children being forced from their homes every single day.
From Reality to Action: Key Youth Demands
Through the premiere of the video, Beyond Borders: A Video Narrative of Children and Youth on Migration, and an accompanying virtual art gallery, presented by children from Vietnam (Naomi and Hien), Cambodia (Sengleap), Fiji (Joseph), and Iraq (Yar), participants were presented with a powerful synthesis of data and lived experience. By sharing their climate mobility challenges and calls for peace, these young agents of change are asserting their right to be at the centre of policy discussions, calling for the following urgent actions:
- Safe and Informed Migration: Governments must ensure safe, legal, and informed pathways for communities and children forced to move due to conflict and climate shocks and not become victims of smugglers and traffickers, said Abrar, a young leader from Iraq.
- Stronger Support and Protection: There must be guaranteed access to education and safeguarding for children and youth, whether they are left behind or on the move, said Thawdar, a young leader from Myanmar.
Meaningful Consultation: Instituting children and youth’s voices in decision-making is not optional; it is essential. Sustainable solutions require the meaningful inclusion of children in all policies that affect their futures, said Ador, a young leader from the Philippines
The event successfully connected regional realities to the global International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) process through expert input and a multi-stakeholder panel, including representatives from UN ESCAP, the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, and the Philippines Department of Migrant Workers, all committed to carrying these child-led messages forward.
Sabine Henning, Chief of the Sustainable Demographic Transition Section at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) said, “International migration is a megatrend in our regions, yet many migrant children remain invisible. At this International Migration Review Forum, we must move beyond acknowledging problems to implementing child-centric programs. To protect them, we must ensure access to legal identity, abolish immigration detention for children, and guarantee access to essential services—because safety and dignity for children and communities should not be a matter of debate; they are a non-negotiable right."
Yousif Muayad of the Ministry of Environment emphasised that Iraq is committed to a future in which climate resilience and education go hand in hand. “By submitting new project concepts to the GCF for sustainable schools — utilising solar energy and clean water—we are ensuring that children and communities most affected by climate change and migration are equipped with the infrastructure and support they need to thrive."
Jerome Alcantara from the Department of Migrant Workers underscored our dedication to strengthening child-sensitive migration governance. “Our focus remains on expanding psychosocial support and improving evidence-based policymaking to address the social costs of migration, ensuring that children and OFW communities are protected through inclusive policies and enhanced local partnerships."
In her closing remarks, Sarah Bearup, COO / Senior Director of Operations for World Vision South Asia and Pacific, reinforced the central message of the event: "Migration is not an abstract policy debate. It is the lived reality of millions of refugee and migrant children and young people navigating displacement, loss, hope, and resilience every day. At this IMRF, success should not be measured only by the commitments we review, but by whether children are genuinely safer, heard, and able to shape the decisions that affect their lives. These young people are not just impacted by migration — they are leaders, advocates, and part of the solutions. Safety and dignity should never depend on where a child is born.”
-ENDS-
For arrangements with media, please contact:
Evita Jourdi | Evita_jourdi@wvi.org
Communications and Advocacy Senior Adviser, World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe
Aaron Aspi | aaron_joseph_aspi@wvi.org
Communications Adviser, World Vision South Asia and Pacific