Advocacy - Is the value of having children speak out worth the risks? : Rebecca L. Root / DEVEX

Harassment, death threats, and burnout: The risks of child advocacy

Kyoka Shodladd

“I’ve faced verbal harassment and threats from strangers … simply for holding protest signs or responding to their questions. Initially, I felt terrified, but over time, those feelings of terror turned into numbness as I became accustomed to negativity,”

Kyoka Shodladd, an 18-year-old activist from Thailand.

Click here for the article

Kyoka began taking to podiums, attending global dialogues, and working with international NGOs at 11 years old. Kyoka has advocated for climate justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and democracy, encouraged and supported to do so by various local and international organizations.

"It is increasingly common to see young people speaking at global summits, explaining how issues such as climate change and mental health are affecting their generation. Passionate and oftentimes armed with strong personal stories to share, they can make compelling advocates for international organizations."

"...while participating in these big platforms provides unique opportunities for young people, former youth advocates told Devex it also comes with consequences that nongovernmental organizations don’t always consider or offer support for. That can include online harassment, physical threats, and mental health ramifications."

"I really was happy that people respected me as a person. I felt like people really mentored and respected me so it was a very positive experience,” she said. “But I didn't really realize how alienating the [Earth Summits] were until I was older. … I started seeing the same people, and I [thought] this is weird because it feels like we're doing something by just going to these conferences, but we're not.” Eventually, she shunned such events in favor of community-level activism around conservation and Indigenous rights.

-  Severn Cullis-Suzuki, a Canadian activist who became well-known in the development sector when she spoke at the U.N.’s Earth Summit in 1992, when she was 12 years old.