Nina: “States Must Provide Complaint Mechanisms for Child Victims of Pollution and Climate Change”

Kuala Lumpur (monday, 30/6/2025) in Courtyard by Marriot
Nina Reveal Facts about Pollution and Climate Change Impacts on Children
in  Indonesia 

(Kuala Lumpur, 30/6/2025)* – “As a young person, I feel ‘invisible’—my voice doesn’t matter and is ignored by the government,” said Aeshnina Azzahra Aqilani at the AICHR Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in ASEAN, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 30 to July 1, 2025.

The Coordinator of Indonesia’s River Warrior Community further explained that, as a young victim of environmental pollution caused by the global plastic waste trade, Nina—Aeshnina’s nickname—has actively campaigned to stop the international plastic waste trade by writing letters to leaders of developed nations, urging them to halt waste exports to Indonesia. “The European Union even responded to my letter, pledging to stop plastic waste exports to Indonesia by November 2026. Yet, despite sending multiple letters, the Indonesian government has never replied,” Nina revealed.

Nina’s Recommendations to AICHR

Nina called on the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to integrate three key principles into a child-friendly complaint system:

1.      Recognition, The system must acknowledge children as rights-holders, not just future citizens. Children deserve a safe environment now, not someday. Every report—whether from an adult or a 13-year-old girl—must be taken seriously.

2.      Protection. Provide multiple safe reporting channels: online, through schools, trusted adults, or community centers. Children must be able to speak in their own words and language, free from fear of retaliation.

3.      Concrete Action. Establish binding agreements between governments, industries, and communities, clearly defining children’s rights, corporate responsibilities, and state obligations.

“We cannot live in a world where ‘no viral, no justice’ becomes the norm. Justice shouldn’t depend on social media trends—it must be guaranteed by law.”

A Call for Empowerment

Nina emphasized the need for education and mentorship:
“This system must ensure children understand their rights, know how to use reporting tools, and have adult allies to guide them. Reporting environmental harm shouldn’t feel like screaming into a void—it should feel like opening a door to change.”

 

Child Victims of Climate Change

Southeast Asia is home to a quarter of the world’s children, yet it is also the most disaster-prone region. According to UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index, every country in East Asia and the Pacific is at "high" or "extremely high" risk.

1. Environmental Threats to Children

·      140 million children are severely exposed to water scarcity. In Indonesia, 84% of drinking water comes from surface water, including rivers. Yet, over 90% of rivers are heavily polluted by industrial waste, domestic sewage, agricultural runoff, microplastics, and mining chemicals.

·      460 million children breathe toxic, polluted air. In Indonesia, 57% of waste is burned, accounting for 40% of the world’s burned waste. In one tofu-producing village, plastic has been used as fuel for 20 years. Dioxin levels in chicken eggs there were 80 times higher than WHO safety limits. Children in the area suffer from respiratory infections—yet the government still allows this practice to continue.

2. Climate Change and Mental Health

“93.2% of 1,183 Gen Z respondents expressed anxiety over environmental destruction caused by the plastic crisis and climate crisis, “ said Nina. Many young people struggle with climate anxiety, stress, and frustration, especially girls burdened by societal pressures.

 

A Southeast Asian study found that 64% of children said climate disasters increased their risk of physical or emotional abuse.

 

3. The Forgotten Crisis: Violence Against Children

A UNICEF report (Violence Against Children: The Forgotten Impact of Climate Change, April 2025) highlights:

• Girls are disproportionately sacrificed.
• Globally, 9 million girls per year face both climate disasters and child marriage—which increases their risk of gender-based violence and lifelong inequality

 

Key Message:

Climate change is not just an environmental crisis—it is a child rights crisis. Without urgent action, an entire generation will bear the consequences of pollution, displacement, and systemic neglect.

Dengue Fever Cases Among Children Due to Rising Temperatures
Cases of dengue fever, particularly among children, are increasing due to rising temperatures.

Unhealthy School Environment. In schools, children consume snacks packaged in plastic sachets daily. Between 2020 and 2023, childhood diabetes in Indonesia surged by 70%. Primary causes: Unhealthy food, toxic packaging, and lack of clean water. Across the Asia-Pacific region, the risks are even greater.

 

Profit-Driven Pollution

·         Air and water pollution are fueled by business practices that prioritize profit over people and planet.

·         Environmental violations must face strict penalties. What's needed is:

o    Real enforcement of environmental laws—not just regulations on paper, but actual monitoring, punishment, and follow-up.

o    Polluting companies must be fined or shut down if they violate waste management laws.

 

Nina's Call for Accountability

"Businesses must take responsibility for the impacts of their operations. They must comply with regulations, and governments must provide safe spaces for communities to report environmental violations—with clear systems to support victims, especially women and children."

Nina further explained that pollution causes severe health consequences:

·         Clean water, clean air, and safe housing are not luxuries—they are fundamental human rights.

·         Industries must adhere to waste treatment standards, particularly in high-risk sectors like plastics and mining.

·         "Stop focusing only on the economy. Think of the children breathing that air and drinking that water."