Noticias

On November 27, 2025, the city of La Paz hosted a milestone event for the child rights agenda in Bolivia. In the year of the Bicentennial—and 35 years after Bolivia ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child—the conference “Through the Eyes of Children: Dreams, Rights and Futures,” organized by Save the Children Bolivia as part of the Joining Forces alliance, brought together civil society organizations, government authorities and representatives of girls, boys and adolescents who infused every discussion with a deeply human and urgent perspective.

The day began with a powerful act: a group of girls, boys and adolescents opened the event by reading the collective letter “The Bolivia We Dream Of.” Their words, filled with hope yet grounded in profoundly legitimate demands, reminded everyone present that rights are not abstract concepts—they are lived experiences that children and adolescents in Bolivia long for every day.

The program revolved around four key themes.
The first highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the child protection system in the face of forms of violence that continue to shape the lives of many children. Panelists and participants emphasized that behind every statistic lies a painful story—and that a strong protection system can be the difference between vulnerability and opportunity.

The second theme focused on the imperative of having clear data and sufficient public investment. Participants noted that planning without information is moving blindly, and that investing in children has never been an expense but rather a direct investment in the country’s present and future.

The third theme underscored the importance of listening to girls, boys and adolescents—not as a symbolic gesture, but as an ethical and political responsibility. The conference highlighted experiences where their voices had already shaped local policies, reaffirming that their participation improves decision-making and strengthens democracy.

Finally, the discussion turned to the profound impact of climate change on children’s daily lives. Stories from communities affected by floods, fires or droughts were a stark reminder that protecting children’s rights also means protecting the environment they depend on.

The conference took on special relevance within the country’s new political-institutional landscape, shaped by the recent inauguration of Rodrigo Paz as President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. The presence of Congressman Marcelo Solís Valencia—President of the Human Rights Committee of the Chamber of Deputies—created a valuable bridge between civil society and the new authorities, opening a direct channel for dialogue that helped position the child rights agenda as a priority in the new political cycle. His public commitment during the sessions resonated strongly with participants, generating a sense that this new period could become an opportunity to place children’s rights at the center of public policy.

The event also featured an intergenerational dialogue between the President of the Human Rights Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, the Municipal Secretary for Human Development of La Paz, and two adolescents. Together, they discussed challenges and potential solutions related to child protection against violence, public investment in children, child and adolescent participation in public policy, and community resilience in the face of climate change impacts on children’s lives.

The conference closed with remarks from a teenage participant and Save the Children Bolivia’s Director of Program Quality—an ending that symbolized the shared commitment to building a country where every girl and boy can grow up with dignity, safety and the freedom to dream.