MAHIMA SASHANK
ADVOCACY
CAMPAIGNS
Catalysing systemic change
ADVOCACY
WITH ASEAN
CALL TO ACTION AGAINST
CHILD LABOUR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
ABOUT
As part of Terre des Hommes’ advocacy agenda in Asia, I worked to influence ASEAN’s 2025 Roadmap to End the Worst Forms of Child Labour by bringing forward children’s perspectives. In partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), we convened a regional consultation with children from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and the Philippines to gather their lived experiences and recommendations. A content co-creation session with children was organised where the children together worked on the messaging.
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​I led the development of communication and advocacy materials in co-creation with children that presented these recommendations to ASEAN, including a call-to-action publication and a series of videos. Using child-designed avatars and storytelling, we highlighted children’s realities of child labour while amplifying their proposed solutions.
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Note : Please email mahima.sashank@gmail for the direct 'call to action video to ASEAN'
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One of the videos in partnership with the ILO calling for the inclusion of children's voices in the fight against child labour
The ILO promoting the communication materials on their social channels
OUTCOMES
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ASEAN integrated 6 out of the 10 children's recommendations into their child labour roadmap.
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ASEAN appreciated the materials and children's contribution, taking the posters to place them in their head office in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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The ILO also adopted the communication materials as part of their World Day Against Child Labour campaign, amplifying campaign visibility
ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN IN SOUTH ASIA
ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST
CHILDREN IN SOUTH ASIA
ABOUT
Terre des Hommes’ advocacy agenda in South Asia focuses on influencing the SAARC Secretariat and related bodies to integrate children’s voices into regional policies and national action plans. Within this broader strategy, communication materials serve as critical advocacy tools with both SAARC and the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC), SAARC's apex child protection body.
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I led two such initiatives: the co-creation of an animation film with a youth advocate, and the design of a position paper developed by children in Nepal outlining their recommendations to end online child sexual exploitation. As part of the ongoing advocacy process, milestones such as SAIEVAC’s sharing of these materials and their formal commitments are considered important indicators of progress toward policy influence.
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The animation video from the eyes of a youth advocate on a signed youth declaration at Thimphu calling leaders to end violence against children
A snapshot of the position paper drafted by children (designed by me)
presented to authorities of the Nepal government and SAIEVAC. Read the
full paper here.
OUTCOMES
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A child-led consultation event was organised by South Asia Initiative for Ending Violence Against Children (SAARC child protection body) in Kathmandu, Nepal in the month of December 2025 to gather children's recommendations on the South Asia Regional Action Plan Against Child Labour and Sexual Exploitation of Children 2023-2028. These recommendations will be taken forward to make amendments to the plan.