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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Aug 29

On Monday, governments will debate a possible new UN treaty to make education free from preprimary through secondary. More than 8,000 children from 40 countries have weighed in. My colleague @bedeonkidrights.bsky.social shares their views: www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

Children around the World Speak out for Free Education

Children from across the globe have expressed support for expanding an international human rights treaty to require countries to provide free pre-primary and secondary education.

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 25

Last week the UN reported the highest number ever of grave violations against children in armed conflict. Today, the UN Security Council will discuss how to respond. Tune in live at 10 a.m. ET: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1s...

Effective strategies to end and prevent grave violations against children - Security Council, 9945th meeting

"Effective strategies to end and prevent grave violations against children" under the agenda item "Children and armed conflict"

webtv.un.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 20

Since Myanmar's 2021 military coup, the UN has verified > 1,800 cases of child recruitment, including children as young as 12. The junta is the sole state actor listed on the UN SG's "list of shame" for grave violations against children. More from @hrw.org:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

Myanmar: Stop Recruitment, Use of Child Soldiers

The Myanmar military’s recruitment and use of child soldiers has surged since the 2021 coup, including a significant number recruited after the junta enacted a conscription law in February 2024. The U...

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 20

Despite being added to the UN's “list of shame” for violations against children in armed conflict, Israel's and Russia’s abuses have only increased; neither has engaged with the UN to negotiate an action plan to end their violations. My new dispatch:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

Violations Soar Against Children in Armed Conflict

Last year was the most devastating year for children in armed conflict in two decades, according to the new annual report from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 20

In armed conflict, violations against children have soared. The UN SG reports more than 41,000 violations -- 25% above last year. My new dispatch on the SG's devastating new report:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

Violations Soar Against Children in Armed Conflict

Last year was the most devastating year for children in armed conflict in two decades, according to the new annual report from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 16

Today is the African Union's Day of the African Child. While African governments and leaders have made bold commitments to education, in practice, their investments have fallen short. New analysis from @hrw.org:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

Africa: Insufficient Domestic Funding Hinders Education Progress

Most African governments have consistently failed to meet global and regional education funding targets to ensure quality public education.

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 11

New global report from ILO and @unicefmedia.bsky.social finds 20 million fewer children involved in child labor compared to 2020, but 138 million is still far too many. www.ilo.org/resource/new...

Despite progress, child labour still affects 138 million children globally

New report shows an almost 50 per cent reduction since start of century, but world fails to reach elimination targets.

www.ilo.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 11

Today is the second-ever #InternationalDayofPlay! Learning through play is more than just fun—it builds critical thinking, language, and social skills. Every child should have a guaranteed human right to free preschool, to learn and thrive through play. #ChildRights

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Jun 2

Great news! Oregon has become the 15th US state to ban all child marriage. Before 2018, all 50 US states allowed children under the age of 18 to marry. Congratulations to Unchained at Last for its relentless advocacy.
www.unchainedatlast.org/another-vict...

Another victory: Oregon banned child marriage! - Unchained At Last

Once again we are doing a wild victory dance: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek just signed the bill we helped to write, introduce and promote to ban all marriage before age 18, no exceptions. !!! Yes, this is o...

www.unchainedatlast.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · May 22

New @hrw.org research on 200 asylum seekers, including 81 children, expelled from the US to Costa Rica in February. "It’s reprehensible to dump families in a country they never chose, with no process and no regard for their safety," says @michaelbochenek.bsky.social www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

US: Asylum Seekers Expelled to Costa Rica Detail Abuses

The United States should offer to bring back and hear the asylum claims of approximately 200 third-party nationals, including children, who were wrongfully expelled to Costa Rica in February.

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · May 20

A devastating decision from a Florida court would eliminate access to abortion for young people unable to get written, notarized parental consent.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

US: Florida Set to Trample Young People’s Rights

A devastating decision from Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeals would eliminate access to abortion care for young people unable to get written, notarized parental consent, Human Rights Watch and...

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Apr 30

Over 50 children from Trinidad and Tobago have been stranded for years in NE Syria. @hrw.org calls on T&T's newly elected prime minister to bring them and other T&T nationals home. www.hrw.org/news/2025/04...

Trinidad and Tobago Nationals Remain Stranded in Northeast Syria

Trinidad and Tobago’s newly elected prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, should act quickly to repatriate more than 90 of the country’s nationals, including at least 50 children, who remain unlawfu...

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Apr 28

12 US Senators condemn cancellation of $500 million in grants to address child labor and trafficking worldwide. "The only winners here will be the multinational corporations who want cheap labor, and our adversaries that benefit from these practices."

www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

www.duckworth.senate.gov

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Apr 24

Today @hrw.org issued 100 Human Rights Harms in Trump's First 100 Days. Harms to children include cuts to school lunches, food banks, gender-affirming care, restrictions on school curricula, and programs to combat child labor worldwide. See the whole list here: www.hrw.org/feature/2025...

100 Human Rights Harms in 100 Days

To mark the first 100 days of President Trump's second term, Human Rights Watch has cataloged 100 of the administration’s executive policies, orders, and actions that pose significant risks to the hum...

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Apr 23

HRW joined 100+ civil society organizations to call on US DOL to restore $500M in funding to combat forced labor & child labor. These funds are essential to protect children and to end human trafficking. These cuts put lives at risk. #ForcedLabor #ChildLabor stopchildlabor.org/civil-societ...

Civil Society Groups Alarmed by Cuts to ILAB Grants to Address Forced Labor and Child Labor – Stop Child Labor – The Child Labor Coalition

stopchildlabor.org

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Reposted by Jo Becker

Centre for Research in Early Childhood @crecuk.bsky.social · Apr 22

The United Nations has issued a critical call for information to help shape the global understanding of children’s right to education. Take part here:
buff.ly/kf3kO80
#UN #EarlyChildhood #ChildrensRights

The UN needs your expertise on pre-primary and secondary education - World Education Blog

The United Nations has issued a critical call for information to help shape the global understanding of children’s right to education. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity for education experts to…

buff.ly

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Apr 23

It's bad enough that Texas has a total abortion ban. Now lawmakers want to make it a crime -- punishable by up to 20 years in prison -- to transport a young person under age 18 out of state for an abortion without their parents' permission. Read more:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/04...

Texas Bill Would Criminalize Those Transporting Youth for Abortion Care

A harmful bill in the Texas legislature would criminalize transporting youth younger than 18, or funding their transportation, out of state to access abortion without written parental consent.

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Apr 7

Three independent reports within 1 year all urge the Ugandan government to provide free pre-primary education for its children, paving the way for equality and prosperity. My op-ed together with @iseruganda.bsky.social director Angella Kasule Nabwowe: www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/...

Build prosperity through free pre-primary education

Ugandan children’s access to nursery should not depend on their parents’ ability to pay fees.”

www.monitor.co.ug

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Mar 21

Trump cuts have jeopardized efforts to find thousands of Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia and Belarus, and may have compromised evidence of war crimes by Russian officials. New dispatch from @billvanesveld.bsky.social
www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...

Trump Administration Shutters Research Lab Tracking Stolen Ukrainian Children

The Trump administration has jeopardized efforts to find thousands of Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia and Belarus, and in doing so, may have compromised evidence of war crimes by Russi...

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Mar 12

On Monday, Congress confirmed Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the new US Secretary of Labor. One of her big challenges: addressing hazardous child labor in the US. More from my colleague Margaret Wurth: www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...

New US Labor Secretary, Congress Should Act on Child Labor

President Trump’s pick to lead the United States Department of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, will soon oversee the federal government’s response to labor rights issues across the US. One of her key prio...

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Mar 12

A new op-ed by Jonathan Todres in @cnn.com makes a powerful case for education to curb child trafficking. edition.cnn.com/world/guest-...

Guest essay: To be anti-trafficking requires support for education rights | CNN

Instead of attending school, millions of children are exploited in forced labor. But education itself can be a key solution to tackling child labor, writes law professor Jonathan Todres.

edition.cnn.com

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Feb 12

If you missed yesterday's terrific webinar on the proposed free education treaty, you can access the recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM8E...

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Feb 11

New report out today from Human Rights Watch: A New Jersey law that allows prosecutors to unilaterally decide whether children are tried as adults is causing devastating harm, particularly for children of color. Read about it here: www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...

US: New Jersey Indiscriminately Prosecutes Children as Adults

A New Jersey law that allows prosecutors to unilaterally decide whether children are tried as adults is causing devastating harm.

www.hrw.org

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Feb 10

Looking forward to a great webinar tomorrow on the proposed treaty to guarantee free education for all children, from pre-primary through the end of secondary. Tune in to hear some great speakers! Register: hrworg.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Jo Becker @jobeckerhrw.bsky.social · Feb 5

If you care about education, I hope you'll consider joining this February 11 webinar on the exciting initiative for a new treaty that would guarantee free pre-primary and free secondary education for all children.
Registration link: hrworg.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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