Under the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind in Asia and the Pacific”, the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) was a critical moment for assessing regional progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For World Vision and our partners, it was also an opportunity to highlight a crucial but often overlooked element of sustainable development—meaningful child participation.

At World Vision, we believe every child has the right to live free from harm. Yet, across East Asia, nearly 60% of children experience violence before they reach adulthood, and millions face the threat of trafficking, exploitation, and neglect. These realities demand urgent action.

World Vision’s Call to Action for the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

In East Asia, millions of women, girls, and people with disabilities face persistent inequalities that limit their access to essential services and lifelong opportunities. An estimated 43 million children in the region live with disabilities, many of whom are denied education and healthcare. Poverty forces nearly 1 in 10 children into child labour across the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, 1 in 5 girls are married before their 18th birthday, hindering their education and increasing their vulnerability to poverty.

In a significant milestone for the Tongogara Refugee Settlement (TRS), the newly renovated Safe House, facilitated by World Vision Zimbabwe, is now a sanctuary for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors.

Disaster Risk Reduction Programming in Asia and the Pacific

Paris was selected to join the National Children and Youth Council of Cambodia (CYC) as the youngest representative. Passionate about child nutrition and food security, he led a child/youth-led research project under the hashtag#ENOUGH campaign, aligning with hashtag#SDG3: Good Health and Well-Being. At the 12th The @Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) in Bangkok, Paris shared his research findings and experiences in two key side events, advocating for inclusive solutions for child health and emphasizing the role of children in achieving the SDGs.

Asia-Pacific is the most climate-exposed and disaster-prone region in the world. As many as 65% of children in East Asia are exposed to multiple shocks which are becoming increasingly frequent, especially flooding, drought, saltwater inundation, and climate-related diseases. Children and families living in poverty are particularly vulnerable, bearing the brunt of these recurrent crises and their longterm consequences.

This report presents the voices of 69 children—33 girls and 36 boys—aged 14 to 17 from 10 countries, sharing their experiences and perspectives on migration. Through consultations, they discussed key themes, including the drivers of migration, its impact on children, identity documentation, challenges in civil registration, and recommendations for strengthening civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems. The participating countries were Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In 2024, World Vision International – Cambodia (WVI-C) made a profound impact, reaching over 3 million children across the country. Through strategic partnerships with government institutions, donors, and civil society, we implemented programs in education, health, child protection, economic development, and climate resilience. These efforts directly contributed to Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping to break cycles of poverty and create sustainable opportunities for vulnerable communities. Key achievements this year included providing quality education to over 197,000 children, training more than 3,000 teachers, and expanding health and nutrition services to 54,000 children and 19,000 pregnant women. Our economic empowerment programs helped over 4,000 farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture, while social accountability initiatives improved public service delivery in over 60% of communes. Additionally, youth-led research on climate change influenced national conversations on environmental sustainability. These achievements would not have been possible without the collaboration of development agencies, corporate sponsors, and government ministries. With funding from organizations such as the World Bank, DFAT, EU, GIZ, and SDC, we continue to scale impactful solutions for Cambodia’s children. As we move forward, we invite development partners and stakeholders to join us in building a future where every child in Cambodia can dream, learn, and thrive. Together, we create lasting change.