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MANILA — Violence Ends with Us (VEWU), Terre des Hommes (TdH) Netherlands, and Kindernothilfe, with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, will host the Youth Innovations Marketplace: Scalable Solutions to End Violence Against Children on November 17, 2026 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Pasay City.
The Youth Innovations Marketplace is an official satellite event of the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which will be held in the Philippines from November 18 to 19, 2026.
The event will showcase more than 24 youth-led innovations from around the world addressing critical issues such as child exploitation, child labour, child, early and forced marriage, corporal punishment, climate change, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Youth innovators themselves will talk about their initiatives, share early results from their implementation, and highlight key lessons learned, offering insights on how youth-led solutions strengthen existing child protection systems.
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“Children and young people are among those most affected by violence, abuse, and exploitation, yet they are often sidelined in decision-making”
Building on the success of the Violence Ends with Us: Asia-Pacific Youth-Led Summit on Ending Violence Against Children held in April 2026, which provided 150 child, youth, and survivor leaders aged 13-25 from 23 countries with the opportunity to develop and pilot innovative solutions, the Youth Innovations Marketplace will take the next step by connecting these young innovators with government representatives, civil society organisations, development partners, and private sector actors. An afternoon session entitled, “Intergenerational Dialogue: From Youth Innovation to Systems Change,” will provide a platform for dialogue and cross-sector collaboration, fostering partnerships and exploring opportunities for mentorship and funding to help enhance and scale youth-led initiatives. The dialogue will also examine how these innovations can inform policies and contribute to global efforts to end violence against children.
“As young people, we are claiming our power to break cycles of violence – turning our experiences, ideas, and determination into solutions that make our communities safer for children. Governments and partners must match that leadership with real investment, sustained resources, and shared decision-making so that the solutions we are building can transform the systems we are growing up in,” said Bryanna Mariñas, Founder & Executive Director of Violence Ends with Us (VEWU).
Globally, up to 1 billion, or 1 in 2 children aged 2-17, have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect, with potentially lifelong consequences for their health and well-being. In the Philippines, 80% of children aged 13-24 have experienced violence, with physical violence (64.2%) psychological violence (61.9%) and online violence (51.3%) among the most prevalent forms. LGBTQIA+ children also face high levels of violence, with 75% disclosing physical maltreatment and 78.5% experiencing psychological abuse.
Recognising the urgency and scale of the issue, the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children was held in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2024. The conference mobilised global action to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 16.2: end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children by 2030. It brought together approximately 1,400 delegates from 130 countries, and generated around 120 concrete pledges for action, of which 112 were official Member State pledges. However, while these global commitments mark important progress, much more needs to be done to translate these pledges into meaningful action.
“Children and young people are among those most affected by violence, abuse, and exploitation, yet they are often sidelined in decision-making and child protection efforts. The Youth Innovations Marketplace helps bridge this gap by providing a platform for young people not only to showcase their initiatives, but also to amplify their voices, engage with decision-makers, and influence change,” said Anna Abelinde, Philippine Country Director of Terre des Hommes Netherlands.
“At Kindernothilfe, we believe that ending violence against children begins by listening to young people, recognising their agency, and sharing power in decisions that shape their lives. This is a shared responsibility across generations: when young people’s voices meet the commitment, influence, and resources of adults, ideas become action, and action transforms systems. Together, we can move beyond protecting children to empowering them as partners in building a safer world for every child,” added Saskia Metz, Advocacy Officer of Kindernothilfe.
The Youth Innovations Marketplace hopes to spark meaningful partnerships, inspire decision-makers to invest in young people’s ideas, and help turn promising innovations into lasting change. Ultimately, it aims to ensure that children and young people are not only heard, but can also shape policies, systems, and actions needed to end violence against children and create a future where every child is protected and able to thrive. (/)