Youth Speak Up on Digital Divide, Online Threats, and Mental Health: A Global Call for Action

On Thursday December 12th, in observance of World Human Rights Day a powerful virtual event titled, “The Commitment of the Human Rights Council to Youth and Human Rights: Addressing the Digital Divide, Online Threats, and Mental Health,” brought together young voices from Ecuador, India, Peru, and South Sudan. The event, organized by Vides International in collaboration with the IIMA Human Rights Office, Fondazione Comboniane nel Mondo, Congregation of our  Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Sisters of Our Lady of Missions, co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Romania to the UN, and other international organizations in Switzerland with the support of Misean Cara, focused on the critical challenges young people face in the digital era. It also highlighted the significant impact of mental health on their well-being and human rights.

The panel featured four girls and young women from Ecuador, India, Peru, and South Sudan who shared their personal experiences; and insights on the digital divide, online threats, and the importance of mental health in their respective countries. The panel featured representatives from the Permanent Mission of Romania to the UN and Other International Organizations in Switzerland and from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Sanchita from India: Overcoming Barriers to Digital Education

Sanchita, a 16 year old girl from rural India, spoke passionately about the challenges girls face in accessing education, especially digital technology. She emphasized the intersectionality of difficulties about gender discrimination, poverty, and lack of infrastructure that hinder girls’ access to education. Specifically, the limited availability of digital tools, unreliable internet connectivity, and power shortages further exacerbate the problem. Drawing from her experience in a school run by the Sisters of Our Lady of Missions, Sanchita expressed hope that digital education would be systematically integrated into school curriculums. This is in an attempt to overcome existing barriers, ensuring that girls in rural areas have the same opportunities to learn as their urban counterparts. She appreciates the international efforts made to address these issues, which give her hope for a brighter future.

Luciana from Peru: The Pandemic’s Impact on Education and Online Safety

Luciana, a 13-year-old from Peru, shared her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many girls were excluded from virtual education due to lack of internet access. This exclusion not only impacted their education but also increased their vulnerability to online threats like cyberbullying and scams. Despite these challenges, Luciana was empowered through a joint project run by the Congregation of our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd and other partners. Here, she  learned about protecting young peoples’ rights in the online world. Luciana concluded her speech with a call for universal and safe internet access, emphasizing that non-discriminatory access to the internet is a human right, essential for allowing girls to pursue their dreams and goals.

Sami from Ecuador: Mental Health and the Struggles of Adolescence

Sami, a 17-year-old student from a Salesian Sisters’ school in Ecuador, spoke about the importance of mental health for adolescents. She recalls how mental health issues are often stigmatized in her community and can prevent young people from fully enjoying their human rights. She highlighted that  challenges such as depression, anxiety, and stress can affect adolescents’ ability to study, connect with others, and engage with their environment. Sami shared her experience in school workshops on bullying, violence, and emotional well-being. She emphasized that the combination of poverty, environmental crises, and societal pressures significantly as factors that worsen mental health for adolescents in Ecuador. Sami called for more mental health workshops to help young people manage their emotional health, and urged global leaders to prioritize mental health as part of their human rights agendas.

Maria from South Sudan: Mental Health and the Struggles of Young Women

Maria, a 22-year-old from South Sudan, discussed the impact of mental health on the human rights of young people, especially during the critical transition from childhood to adulthood. As a volunteer with the Comboni Missionary Sisters, Maria empowers girls and young women in her community. She shared how mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and academic struggles are often amplified by societal pressures and the subsequent stress, particularly for young women. These difficulties are exacerbated by other human rights issues, such as forced marriages, early pregnancies, and lack of access to education. Maria and her team have organized “youth for youth” workshops in schools, reaching over 2,000 girls and raising awareness about mental health. She called for greater attention to mental health needs of young women in vulnerable situations and expressed her support for the United Nations’ focus on mental health in the context of human rights.

In reply to the questions raised by the young speakers, Ms. Maria Mihailescu, Permanent Mission of Romania, shared the efforts carried out by Romania at the domestic level to address the digital divide, online threats, and mental health issues for young people. At the international level she reiterated the commitment of Romania as a member of the core-group of States in charge of the Human Rights Council resolution on youth and human rights.

Finally, Ms. Helen Griffiths, Child and Youth Unit (OHCHR) spoke about the meaningful participation of young people in UN human rights mechanisms and processes. She emphasized OHCHR’s commitment to placing young people at the center of its work embracing their important contributions to peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights; and working to ensure that young people’s right to participate is recognized and realized in practice at all levels.

The event shed light on the diverse challenges faced by young people in different regions of the world and the urgent need for global action to address them. The young speakers emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment for youth. They called for universal access to digital education, the prioritization of mental health, and the protection of human rights for vulnerable groups, particularly girls and young women. The discussions reinforced the need for international cooperation and policy changes that can empower youth, foster emotional well-being, and ensure that young people’s rights are upheld in the digital age.

In conclusion, VIDES International is deeply committed to supporting young people in addressing the most urgent and pressing issues of their lives, navigating both challenges and opportunities. This event encourages us even more to strengthen our efforts in collaborating with young people to find solutions that can make their lives fairer, more just, and more dignified. Through this shared commitment, VIDES aims to empower youth, offering them the tools and support needed to build a better future. Together, we strive to create lasting change that ensures every young person has the opportunity to thrive in an inclusive and respectful environment.