The Voices of Children and Young People In Asia Pacific Ravi R. Prasad Head of Policy and Research Child Helpline International The Voices of Children and Young People In Asia Pacific Ravi R. Prasad Head of Policy and Research Child Helpline International Giving a voice to children and young people

Child Helplines around the World Child Helpline International is a unique, global network of national civil society and government organisations providing counselling, care and protection to children and young people in their countries. CHI has 173 members in 141 countries. Established in 2003, CHI is marking its 10 th anniversary this year. Over the past 10 years more than 126 million contacts have been made with child helplines around the world by children and young people seeking care and protection. In ten years, 45 million contacts were made in the Asia Pacific Region.

Child Helplines In the Asia Pacific? CHI has 34 members in 29 countries. 19 out of 23 countries have child helplines that operate free of cost. Contacts increased from 3.7 million in 2003 to 5.4 million in The most common issues that children and young people contacted child helplines concerned: *Family relationships (21%) *Psycho-social mental health (15%) *Problems with peers (15%) *Abuse and violence (14%) *School related problems (7%)

During disasters children experience: injury, loss of family, displacement, upheaval and sometimes violence During these time, child helplines step in and provide special services, counselling and support.

Friendships and Peer Relationships

Emerging Issues Psych-social Mental HealthHomelessness and Basic NeedsThe Exploitation of Children and Young People

Psycho-social Mental Health Issues - in Very High HDI levels

Homelessness And Basic Needs – HDI Levels

The Exploitation of Children

You Can Make a Difference Listen to children and young people – they speak to child helplines Support and strengthen child helplines Child helplines are the key access points for children and young people to reach services Use child helpline data as evidence for policy making

THANK YOU for Listening to Children and Young People