“Children’s Rights are at Multifaceted Risks of Digitalisation and Conflicts” Say Expert and JALAN Civic Lab Team
Bangkok, Thailand
On 25 April 2025, JALAN Civic Lab had the honour of co-leading a powerful workshop at Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, as part of the Global Campus Alumni (GCA) initiative. The session, co-facilitated by Matt Yutthaworakool, Executive Director of JALAN Civic Lab, and Ahmed Al Aydi (Palestine), brought together university students, educators, and rights advocates to examine how digitalisation and armed conflict intersect to impact the lives of children across Southeast Asia and the Arab world.
The workshop opened with an interactive session that helped participants explore key questions such as: What rights are most at risk in digital-conflict environments? How do war, surveillance, and inequality affect children’s safety, learning, and development? What kind of cross-sector strategies are needed to protect and empower children in these environments?
Participants later joined a World Café-style dialogue, where they moved between small-group conversations exploring how digital divides, literacy gaps, and inequality deepen rights violations—particularly in conflict settings. Many contributions from students were rich with lived experience and thoughtful reflection, highlighting the urgency of these issues and the creativity of youth-driven responses.
We were grateful to welcome two virtual panellists whose insights added regional depth to the conversation. Ahmed Al Aydi from Palestine shared powerful reflections on the Arab region, including Gaza, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, and Yemen. While digital tools provide children access to education and connection, they can also expose them to surveillance, recruitment, and trauma. He called for urgent policy action, including digital-specific child protection laws, better infrastructure for education, and stronger accountability from tech firms operating in conflict zones.
Ika Kurnia Riswandari, Managing Director of JALAN Civic Lab, presented a compelling perspective on Southeast Asia, focusing on Indonesia. Her talk addressed how states in the region use digital tools to suppress dissent, target youth activists, and restrict access to information. She provided a case study from Indonesia that illustrated the real-world consequences of online repression—from mental health impacts to the erosion of democratic participation. Her recommendations included legal reform, civic digital education, platform transparency, and stronger protections for youth defenders.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to keep these conversations going. A policy brief based on the workshop outcomes is in development and will be launched in June 2025 to further inform policy and advocacy work in the region.
JALAN Civic Lab extends its deepest appreciation to the students of Navamindradhiraj University, to the Global Campus Alumni network for the opportunity, and to our panellists and partners.
Interested in partnering on participatory workshops or trainings on digital rights, civic engagement, or social justice? Reach out to us at jalanciviclab@gmail.com.
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