Advocacy

As we work alongside communities to build a better world for children, our advocacy challenges the policies, systems, structures, practices and attitudes that make it difficult for vulnerable children and their families to experience life in all its fullness.

By addressing the systemic contributors to and causes of poverty, World Vision’s advocacy work ensures that community transformation is sustainable and scalable. World Vision advocates at the local, national, regional and global levels, informed by our experience working with communities.

<br>We're taking action against modern slavery.

We believe in a future where everyone, everywhere is free from slavery, safe at work and treated with dignity. But there are more people trapped in slavery than ever before.

In New Zealand, we're connected to children, women and men trapped in slavery through the clothes we wear and the products we buy. Unlike many other countries, New Zealand has no accountability for companies creating our products. Our government can pass a law to make this happen.

It's time to make slavery in our products history. Together, we can stand against slavery in our supply chains by taking action to pass modern slavery legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Child labour should have no place in our makeup bags, but sadly this isn’t the case. Millions of children are losing out on a safe and healthy childhood to work in dangerous or exploitative conditions, farming and mining essential ingredients for common cosmetics including lipstick, mascara, and blush.

Our latest report explores the stories behind the production of six beauty product ingredients that have a high risk of child labour in their sourcing: palm oil, cocoa, vanilla, shea, mica and copper.

Read the report to learn more

Children advocating for change in the Solomon Islands

In 2022, you helped launch a three-year project aimed at ending violence against children in the Solomon Islands. SIEVAP is a coalition funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with ChildFund, Save the Children and World Vision.

We're partnering with the Solomon Islands Government and local children and communities to change harmful behaviours and strengthen laws that will ensure children are safe and protected. In particular, we're advocating to raise the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18 years old in the Solomon Islands.

Strengthening New Zealand’s child trafficking laws

Did you know New Zealand’s definition of child trafficking doesn't align with the international definition? As Chair of the Human Trafficking Research Coalition, we've been advocating for New Zealand’s definition to be amended so that the prevalence of child trafficking in New Zealand can be ascertained accurately and addressed appropriately.

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Ending violence against children

We believe that a world without violence against children is possible.

As part of a five-year campaign across World Vision offices globally, we are encouraging governments and communities around the world to do more to end violence against children, highlight it when it occurs, and hold those responsible to account.

We particularly work to address the high rates of physical and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste and Vanuatu.

Special Ukraine Policy Survey

In March 2022, the New Zealand Government announced that the Special Ukraine Policy would be open for one year. While this policy allows up to 4,000 people to enter New Zealand, to date, only 569 Ukrainians have arrived in New Zealand on the Ukraine Visa.

World Vision with Mahi for Ukraine surveyed nearly 200 Ukrainians living in New Zealand to understand current barriers to accessing the visa, and produced a report with recommendations for the New Zealand Government. Following the report release, World Vision was involved in a consultation with the government to negotiate key changes to the policy.

In February 2023, the Government agreed to several of the policy changes, which will allow more Ukrainians to seek safety in New Zealand.

Read the full report here.

Fair for all refugee quota

In 2019, we campaigned to change discriminatory refugee quota restrictions – and we succeeded. We called on the New Zealand government to end restrictions that blocked refugees from Africa and the Middle East settling here.

While the number of people fleeing conflict in Africa and the Middle East has increased, policy restrictions like needing family members already living in New Zealand have meant that since 2011, only 12 refugees from South Sudan had been allowed to resettle here.

In October 2019, the government announced they were finally scrapping the family link policy.

Advocacy

Join the movement: advocate for lasting change.

We want all children, everywhere, to live in safety and dignity.

We're taking action against modern slavery.

The High Price of Beauty: Child labour in global cosmetics

Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children.

Children advocating for change in the Solomon Islands

Strengthening New Zealand’s child trafficking laws

Ending violence against children

We're advocating with refugees forced to leave everything behind.

Special Ukraine Policy Survey

Fair for all refugee quota

When people in power understand the rights and needs of children, lives can be transformed.

Advocacy Resources

Risky Business Report

Policy Report - Solutions to Prevent Violence Against Children

Protecting Children topic sheet

What works to end violence against children?